A Defensive Culture Change for the Chiefs

A Defensive Culture Change

For the Chiefs

by Paul Pulley | May 2, 2019

Changing the culture of the Kansas City Chiefs defense was something that had to be done. In my opinion, it came two years too late, but better late than never. The beginnings of the change was the overhaul of the defensive coaching staff starting at the top by bringing in new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. While Spagnuolo’s success in the NFL can be considered………. modest, there is no doubt that the defensive philosophy and approach to personnel accountability will be different.

Along with Spagnuolo are several new position coaches. The most significant of these are Defensive line coach/run game coordinator Brendan Daly, who spent the last 4 years as the DL coach for the Patriots. There is Linebackers coach Matt House, who for the past 2 seasons was the defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach for the University of Kentucky. Plus we have Defensive Backs coach Dave Merritt, a long time coach who worked under Spagnuolo with the Giants.

Parting Ways with Established Players

Continuing with the culture change included moving on from older players that may have been somewhat set in their ways and whose approach to game preparedness may not have been compatible with that of the new coaching staff. This meant the team felt the need to part ways with players such as Justin Houston and Allen Bailey, both whom were drafted by the Chiefs in 2011. The Chiefs also moved on from unproductive players or players that didn’t fit the new system such as Eric Berry, a 2010 draftee,  Steven Nelson, drafted in 2015 and Dee Ford, the Chiefs 2014 1st rounder.

The Remaining Defensive Roster

The current roster on the defense of the Chiefs, has exactly one solitary player with more than 3 years time under the old regime, and that is Daniel Sorenson, signed by Kansas City as an UDFA in 2014. The next most tenured Chief is 2016 draft pick Chris Jones, who will be playing his 4th year in Kansas City.

Projected Starters on Defense

By taking a look at (my version) of the Chiefs projected starters on defense, and their time as a Chief, we can see that this overhaul is complete and thorough.

• DE Frank Clark, 1st year, acquired by trade with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019.
• DT Chris Jones, 4th year, drafted by KC in 2016.
• DT Derrick Nnadi, 2nd year, drafted by KC in 2018.
• DE Alex Okafor, 1st year, signed as a free agent in 2019.
• LB Anthony Hitchens, 2nd year, signed as a free agent in 2018.
• LB Dorian O’Daniel, 2nd year, drafted by KC in 2018.
• LB Damien Wilson, 1st year, signed as a free agent in 2019.
• CB Kendall Fuller, 2nd year, acquired by trade with the Washington Redskins in 2018.
• SS Tyrann Mathieu, 1st year, signed as a free agent in 2019.
• FS Juan Thornhill, 1st year, drafted by KC in 2019.
• CB Bashaud Breeland, 1st year, signed as a free agent in 2019.

Chiefs Projected Backups

By taking a further look at (again, my version) of the projected backups, and their time as a Chief, we can see that this trend continues.

• DE Breeland Speaks, 2nd year, drafted by KC in 2018.
• DT Xavier Williams, 2nd year, signed from the Arizona Cardinals as a RFA in 2018.
• DT Khalen Saunders, 1st year, drafted by KC in 2019.
• DE Emmanuel Ogbah, 1st year, acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Browns in 2019.
• LB Reggie Ragland, 3rd year, acquired by trade with the Buffalo Bills in 2017.
• LB Ben Niemann, 2nd year, signed as an UDFA in 2018.
• LB Jeremiah Attaochu, 1st year, signed as a free agent in 2019.
• CB Charvarius Ward, 2nd year, acquired in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys in 2018.
• SS Armani Watts, 2nd year, drafted by KC in 2018.
• FS Jordan Lucas, 2nd year, acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins in 2018.
• CB Tremon Smith, 2nd year, drafted by KC in 2018.

As you can see, of my version of the projected starters and immediate reserves, only two players played more than one season under the previous defensive regime. Of the 22 players I listed, 9 of them will be playing their first season as a Chief. This is as complete and thorough a makeover on one side of the ball as could possibly be accomplished in a single off-season.

There is no doubt that this defense is going to have an entirely different look than what we became used to under previous DC Bob Sutton. The question will be if the new coaching staff can put all of these pieces together and make this defense a more productive one.

Pau Pulley — ArrowheadOne

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