Say this for Chiefs defensive back Chris Roland-Wallace, he knows how to make an early splash.
In his first extensive playing time this season, Roland-Wallace put the Chiefs’ on the takeaway board for the first time when he intercepted a pass from Russell Wilson of the New York Giants.
He had played one defensive snap in the first two games.
Flash back to last season, when Roland-Wallace was an undrafted rookie. He recorded his first interception in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers ... after playing one defensive snap in the first five games.
Instant defense? It seems that way with Roland-Wallace, who wound up as the team’s highest graded player by Pro Football Focus in the Chiefs’ first victory, 22-9 over the Giants.
On the pick, Roland-Wallace made his duty sound simple.
“I kind of felt like I knew where he was going with the ball,” Roland-Wallace said. “I went over, Russell laid it out and I just grabbed it.”
The play occurred midway through the second quarter with the Chiefs leading 6-0. Roland-Wallace lined up at safety as Wilson looked to duplicate the success he had with the deep ball the previous week against the Dallas Cowboys, when he threw for 450 yards.
But Roland-Wallace read the play and put himself in a position to grab a slightly overthrown pass. His reaction?
“Honestly, I was more excited for the Jaylen Watson pick than myself,” he said.
Watson came up with an interception later in the second quarter to end a Giants’ scoring threat and continue the Chiefs’ superb play by the pass defense. Wilson was held to 160 passing yards.
“The turnovers were beautiful,” Andy Reid said. “We need to keep that coming.”
Roland-Wallace, who has seen about 60% of special teams snaps over his two seasons, is listed at cornerback, but the Chiefs quickly discovered he can play multiple positions. In training camp, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said Roland-Wallace would fill a role similar to Chamarri Conner, who has played cornerback and safety for the Chiefs.
“We had him at safety last year, and found out he could do those things,” Spagnuolo said. “He’s made a lot of plays.”
Coaches have cited his awareness and instincts when he gets the call.
“Just being kind of a football junkie, you kind of know places in the defenses that can beat you and know where your help is,” Roland-Wallace said.
Before last weekend, Roland-Wallace’s biggest moments came in a preseason game, when he recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff and came up with an interception against the Arizona Cardinals.
He wasn’t part of the Chiefs’ secondary rotation in the first two regular season games, but, like last year, he made the most of his opportunity when called upon. Look for more of Roland-Wallace as the season unfolds.
