Let’s get one thing straight right up front, the reason the Kansas City Chiefs will be dominant this year — and for the foreseeable future — is Patrick Lavon Mahomes II. However, they’ll be better in 2021, than in 2020, and the reason is simple: the trenches. What do they say? “It all begins in the trenches,” and nothing could be truer this season than ever before. Both the Defensive Line and the Offensive Line will be improved and tracking that improvement isn’t a hard task either.
.
The Defensive Line
There are three basic reasons the Chiefs defensive line will be improved in 2021.
.
1) The addition of Jarran Reed on the inside
2) Moving Chris Jones to DE (for significant snaps)
3) The possible improvement of Frank Clark and Taco Charlton
.
Let’s go over each of these upgrades.
.
The Impact of Jarran Reid
We’ve all heard that the best season Frank Clark ever had was the last year he played in Seattle with Jarran Reed. That season Jarran Reed played in all 16 games with 10.5 sacks, 50 tackles, 24 QB hits and 13 tackles for a loss. If he even approaches those numbers the Chiefs interior will be better. What the addition of Reed really does is to draw some double teams away from Frank Clark, hopefully allowing Clark to go off as he did in his first season in K.C.. Also, when paired with Chris Jones on the inside those two perhaps make up the best pass rush duo from the inside in the NFL.
.
.
Moving Chris Jones Outside
A year ago many pun-ditzs, including myself, didn’t see any way the Chiefs could keep Chris Jones. Now that he’s been re-signed long term, the debate over whether or not to pay him DE cha-ching is over and DC Steve Spagnuolo can use him anywhere he likes without the danger of StoneCold demanding more mulah (for now anyway).
.
.
Using Chris Jones at DE on occasion will have a greater impact than the addition of Jarran Reed. However, it’s the addition fo Reed that makes the move of CJ to DE even possible. What this move does is change the way opponents defend the DL. Wherever Chris Jones is, there’s a higher probability that double-teams will appear. If Spags can predict where the double-teams will come from, he’ll have a much greater chance of planning blitzes and stunts that work to put pressure on the QB or get the sacks he’s wanting and needing. One move — as in moving CJ — changes the balance of the way the DL is utilized from play to play. We also know that Spags prefers to run his D as unpredictable as possible. That means, we may see CJ coming on an inside stunt when he’s lined up at DE, which usually means he’ll end up one-on-one and we all know what happens when CJ is one-on-one.
.
Frank Clark and Taco Charlton Can Improve
Yes, Frank Clark’s best year was in 2018 (his last year with Jarran Reed next to him) when he played in all 16 games and had 13.0 sacks, 41 tackles, 27 QB hits, and 10 tackles for a loss. All of which were the reasons Clark got a big contract from K.C. and Brett Veach traded for him. Once again, if Clark comes anywhere near to these numbers, the Chiefs will be big winners. Familiarity is important and knowing the player you’re playing next to — such as Jarran Reed — should have a positive effect on Clark and any kind of decrease in double-teams that Clark sees should help his game. We now also know that Clark played much of 2020 hurt. Since coming to K.C., Clark has fought a neck problem, a shoulder problem, a stomach virus, and a knee problem. While we can project that Clark won’t be injured in 2021, that may be wishful thinking. If Clark can’t stay on the field, he may be headed for the Eric Berry solution (cutting him).
.
.
Taco Charlton has been good… when he’s been on the field. If both Charlton and Clark are healthy, the Chiefs DL will be a force. If not… that may be a reason Chris Jones will be getting increased DE snaps this year. With Mike Danna, Joshua Kaindoh, Tim Ward, Demone Harris, and Malik Herring all waiting in the wings and ready to get their shot, it may not matter if Clark and Charlton are good to go or not, but we can hope.
.
.
Another reason Chris Jones may be getting more reps at DE is the progress of DT Tershawn Wharton on the inside. Wharton had 2.0 sacks, 24 tackles, 4 QB hits, and 4 tackles for a loss while playing less than half the defensive snaps. If he progresses this year, it only makes the DL more formidable.
.
.
The Offensive Line
The offensive line is no longer in the Blueprint phase, and it’s currently “UNDER CONSTRUCTION”… for the most part. GM Brett Veach has waved his wand and miraculously altered the roster, from which HC Andy Reid and OL Coach Andy Heck will do their hard hat best. A happy task I’m sure.
.
Let’s start from the future and work backwards. Here’s my Nostradamus view of the Chiefs offensive line… beyond this season:
.
.
In 2022, the Chiefs starting OL will likely be:
LT, Orlando Brown – LG, Joe Thuney – OC, Creed Humphrey – RG, Trey Smith – RT, Lucas Niang
.
This season, the three men on the left should be starters. Both Trey Smith and Lucas Niang will be in the mix this year on the right side, but knowing that Andy Reid prefers to start veterans, we’ll probably get Kyle Long (or LDT, if he’s still around) and Mike Remmers at RG and RT, to begin the year.
.
Lucas Niang was the toughest tackle in college that DE Chase Young ever went against (Young was the 2nd player drafted overall in the 2020 NFL Draft and also made the Pro Bowl his rookie year). Here’s a look at one snap of their battle:
.
.
The point is, Niang could end up being the starting right tackle for K.C. sooner rather than later and play he’ll for a long time, at a high level. Even if Mike Remmers starts this year, Niang will push him, and if he doesn’t respond, Remmers will sit.
.
.
So, what are others saying about the Chiefs offensive line in 2021? A “real” Chiefs insider is Will Shields. Whatever Shields has to say, I trust his opinion much more than those who call themselves insiders. He’s interviewed by Joshua Brisco here and in this first segment (1:39) he talks about adding Orlando Brown and Joe Thuney:
.
.
Shields recognizes that Orlando Brown is a Pro Bowl level LT. Brown has his own goal:
.
.
I won’t play the whole interview because it’s over 48 minutes. In this next segment (1:46), Shields talks about “buy in”… “cohesiveness”… and the importance of the offensive linemen learning each others “nuances.”
.
.
.
.
.
Next, Shields talks about the evolution of the game (0:27) and what current offensive linemen must deal with:
.
.
Lastly, Shields talks (0:16) about the quality of the offensive linemen the Chiefs have acquired.
.
.
I’m often surprised when a national source gets it right about the Chiefs. CBS Sports ran a piece this week that rated the best Offenses and gave the Chiefs OL a 4 out of 5 and the whole offense the top billing. They used a grading system and each team was given a 1-through-5 ranking: 1 = terrible, 3 = average, 5 = elite — while rating the following areas:
.
- QB Quarterback
- PC Play-Caller (HC or OC)
- OL Offensive Line
- WR/TE Pass-Catchers
- RB Running Backs
.
Here’s how they ranked the top three offenses:
.
.
While we’re all aware that the Chiefs QB is 5 out of 5 (one mistake they make is that the Tampa QB is no longer a 5 out of 5), it’s the OL I want to focus on here. Although they only give the K.C. OL a 4 out of 5, the future looks oh so bright, not only this year, but in 2022 and beyond. The more they play together, the better and better they’ll get.
.
.
This offseason, GM Brett Veach not only improved the team, he won the battle of the trenches without even blocking anyone. What do you think?
.
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
.
If you are viewing this in Apple News and would like to join the Discussion, [GO HERE.](http://arrowheadone.com/one-straightforward-reason-the-2021-chiefs-will-be-even-better/#disqus_thread)
.