A Fanatical Die-Hard Fan Frothing For the Chiefs Defense
Laddie Morse
You may recall that last week our own David Bell wrote a piece called, “A Chiefs Fanatical Die-Hard Club is Forming at ArrowheadOne” in which he mostly focused on the Offense. Being the mathematical palindromisist that I am, plus, the fact that I am growing more and more fond of this defense, it’s time to look at all the pluses the Kansas City Chiefs and DC Steve Spagnuolo have going for them in 2022.
Coaches and Coaching
It all begins with the coaches, as people. Chris Jones said recently, that, “Joe Cullen, He’s my guy.” New Safety, Justin Reid, offered this assessment of Steve Spagnuolo’s defense:
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“I love it, man. It’s electric, his defense.“
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Scheme – 3/4 and 4/3
Here’s what some Chiefs players are saying about the scheme that DC Steve Spagnuolo brings to the table:
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“The playbook… is very deep.”
“The defense is so versatile.”
“The highest IQ defense I’ve ever been a part of.”
“Once you learn it, it’s like second nature.”
“We will attack. He let’s his players play.“
“Guys [are] coming from all over the place.”
“Coverage [is] spinning in different directions.”
“The culture here is really good in the DB room.”
“At the end of the day, there should be no
more thinking, we just come out and play.”
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Spagnuolo’s style is to use two, three, or even four DEs to pressure the QB, but you have to have the players to make that happen. This year, it looks like he has the right size Defensive Linemen to generate the pressure he wants.
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The Players – Defensive Ends
If you ask most people with a high football IQ, they’ll likely tell you that the second most important position on the field is the Defensive End, with QB coming in first on everyone’s score card.
DE Frank Clark – it’s hard not to be excited about the kind of offseason Clark has had up til now. By cutting out red meat and alcohol, he’s sculpted his own body into the shape of a powerful and quick defensive end. He’s also becoming the kind of man many fans feel much more comfortable cheering for. He met with HC Andy Reid early in this offseason and Reid told him:
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“You know what type of player you are, I know what type of player you are. You didn’t show that this season. Flat out. I understand that.”
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For fans to hear Clark admit his shortcomings makes him a more endearing person. So, aside from the fact that he didn’t play well last year (or the year before), it’s a lot easier to identify with a guy who isn’t perfect, and that’s exactly a side of Frank Clark shown to us this offseason.
Rookie DE George Karlaftis – watching Frank Clark put time in with GK after practice was over, showed another admirable side to Clark. For Karlaftis, he’s already shown in the first two preseason games, that he is the man without an off switch and has registered a sack in each of his first two preseason games. If he keeps that pace up, he’ll shatter the Chiefs rookie season sack mark of ten, held by Derrick Thomas.
DE Carlos Dunlap – Dunlap should have the similar affect upon the offenses he faces that Terrell Suggs did for the 2019 squad, when K.C. won it all. Meaning that, even if Dunlap can’t present the same physical presence that he has in recent years (he had 8 sacks last year on limited snaps, 38%), it’ll be a plus for the Chiefs. Dunlap is sitting out the Chiefs Practices right now with an injury: Reid says he has an “inflammation in his Achilles” but adds “it is getting better, however.” My experience with Achilles injuries is that, they rarely get better after they’ve become inflamed. So, we’ll see. Either way, as long as Dunlap can get on the field, his presence can have an impact.
DE Malik Herring – Herring has fought his way back from injury himself. He had an ACL injury when he was attending the Senior Bowl week as a member of the Georgia Bulldogs two years ago. So, while he’s not played in any real NFL games yet, his progress has been positive, and I’d place him ahead of Josh Kaindoh.
DE Mike Danna – Danna is great against the run, but doesn’t show very much ability to rush the passer. Although ESPN shows him as a starter, his 6-foot-2, 257 lbs. frame isn’t big enough to hold up, especially as a starter. He has some value as a rotational player, but that’s it.
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The Players – Defensive Tackles
DT Chris Jones – Let’s hope the experiment of moving CJ to the outside (DE) is over and done with, because Stone Cold is one of the very best defensive tackles when lined up inside.
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DT Derrick Nnadi – Nnadi has traditionally been a run stopping DT and remains such to this day. While we won’t be counting on him to pressure the opposing QB, he can help stop the opponents rushing attack.
DT Khalen Saunders – yes, Saunders has earned his way onto this roster. While Khalen only had one tackle and one TFL against the Bears in PS Game #1, he had 2 Tackles, two TFLs and added a sack vs the Commanders. Here, you’ll find Saunders is the DT lined up behind the goal post.
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DT Danny Shelton – Shelton presents a huge (6-foot-2, 345 lbs.) Tackle and can take on double teams and triple teams while his teammates do the dirty work. He will be a big reason the Chiefs will be able to shut down opposing team’s running games this year.
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DT Tershawn Wharton – Wharton has continued to progress if his performance during Training camp is any indication.
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Getting Center Creed Humphrey to move off his spot is no small task. Bravo, Mr. Wharton, Bravo!
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The Players – Linebackers
LB Nick Bolton – if there is any player aside from Chris Jones, on this defense who will be deserving of making a Pro Bowl, I’d say that person is Nick Bolton. There’s a good reason the Chiefs were comfortable moving on from Anthony Hitchens and the reason is: Nick Bolton.
LB Willie Gay – Willie Gay has the Juice. He is the Juice and he brings the Juice to every other defender on the Chiefs side of he ball. Gay admitted recently that he still calls Hitchens to talk to him, but mostly about life advice.
LB Leo Chenal – Chenal has already cemented his reputation as a hit man. He presents Steve Spagnuolo with the challenge of how to get him on the field more.
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LB Elijah Lee – Lee has looked good this spring and summer.
LB Darius Harris – I have to go with the LB who has been around with the Chiefs for more than one year and that’s Darius Harris. He signed as a UDFA in 2019 with the Chiefs. Also, he’s someone who David Bell says should fill out the LB roster.
Like David Bell, I think the Chiefs other linebackers, Mike Rose and Jack Cochrane, end up on the Practice Squad while Jermaine Carter is released.
The Players – Cornerbacks
CB L’Jarius Sneed – Sneed is the Chiefs clear cut top CB. I love how Sneed comes in at the end of this play to finish off the Washington RB.
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CB Trent McDuffie – McDuffie already plays like a veteran. He and Sneed give the Chiefs one of the best tandem CBs in the league. McDuffie has made a name for himself in Training camp:
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CB Rashad Fenton – If Fenton is available come opening day, he’ll give the Chiefs a formidable threesome at CB.
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CB Joshua Williams – the surprise of Training Camp, on defense, has been the Chiefs 4th round pick, Joshua Williams.
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The reference to the Fab Five is about the five DBs Brett Veach drafted this year in:
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- Trent McDuffie
- Bryan Cook
- Joshua Williams
- Jaylen Watson
- Nazeeh Johnson
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While I expect all of these DBs to make the roster this year, Nazeeh Johnson should end up on the Practice Squad, as he is an athletic CB.
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The Players – Safeties
S Justin Reid – Reid is taking the Tyrann Mathieu role in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.
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S Juan Thornhill – Juan has already caused quite a stir by proclaiming that he will make the Pro Bowl this season. If he comes anywhere near to that kind of performance, the Chiefs defense will be in great shoe this year.
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S Bryan Cook – Back in May, I wrote a piece called: “Chiefs: Bryan Cook Be Cookin’ ” and in that piece I stated that”
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“Of all the tape I watched on potential draft picks for the Kansas City Chiefs this year, my favorite was of Safety Bryan Cook. I heard one draft analyst compare him to Buddha Baker, but my comparable and first impression was of Ronnie Lott….”
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I won’t be surprised at all if Cook ends up looking more like Lott than Baker.
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S Deon Bush – Bush has made it quite clear, he’s making this roster.
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With big hits like that, it will be hard for the Chiefs power that be to keep Bush off the 53-man roster.
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As you can see, I’m quite taken with the Chiefs defense. I won’t be shocked at all to see them in the top ten of all the NFL’s best defenses. It may take some time for them to gel, but their day is coming.
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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