Chemistry, Versatility and Development: How Chiefs High Stakes Secondary Game Could Pay Off – With the start of the season rapidly approaching, most starters are well set, for the Kansas City Chiefs. The lone mystery remains the secondary. After Juan Thornhill and Tyrann Mathieu, the greatest draft capital Chiefs have spent on any single secondary piece is, 4th round picks: L’Jarius Sneed and Armani Watts. Charvarius Ward, Daniel Sorensen, and Antonio Hamilton entered the league as Undrafted Free Agents. Rashad Fenton and Bopete Keyes were selected in the 6th round so the Chiefs investment at that position is startlingly small. However, there’s reason to believe that DB coaches, Dave Merritt and Sam Madison, can have their units performing as more than the sum of their parts.
The Chemistry Advantage
Back in 2019, Sam Madison noted his concern to Brett Veach, over the lack of Cornerbacks drafted. Veach, at the time, indicated to Madison that there would be some guys available in 2020. True to his word, Brett Veach brought in two CBs: L’Jarius Sneed and Bopete Keyes. In a zoom interview, Madison’s excitement about the guys Veach had picked was palpable. While Chiefs certainly seem to look for a particular athletic profile at CB, Madison’s excitement centered around the conversations he’d had with the players: “These guys have been spot on, very good with the questions that we ask on a consistent basis.” This speaks to the clarity created by Chemistry... something DC Steve Spagnuolo has been talking about since his time with the Giants.
Unlike man-coverage-heavy defenses, which Chiefs fans became accustomed to under Bob Sutton, Spags scheme relies heavily on communication between secondary members. For the Chiefs, that communication is massive. As Brett Veach prepared, for the 2020 season, he and his crew checked in on Logan Ryan (per Nate Taylor of the Athletic) and while Ryan possesses the physicality, mindset and athletic profile which the Chiefs covet, they ultimately decided not to bring him in. So, the salary cap was not the only concern. Instead, the Chiefs have worked diligently, to make sure all of their personalities mesh.
The Versatility Advantage
Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme is pointedly detail oriented. He tailors their defense to the specific strengths and weaknesses of the individual players. This allows defenders, like Rashaad Fenton, to thrive, despite sub optimal traits.
However, that specificity has a price. To maintain very specific roles for less talented players, K.C. needs extremely versatile defenders. The NFL moves fast, so alterations schemed up too simplistically will be adjusted to quickly by opposing offenses. The genius of Spagnuolo’s scheme is his ability to maintain limitation for his weakest players, while displaying a ton of variation with his proficient and more adaptable players such as, Tyrann Mathieu and Juan Thornhill. For this reason, a DB like Antonio Hamilton, who Veach signed in Free Agency, had a ton of appeal. He’s not elite in any one regard, but he’s very smart and can play a number of roles. His role has been compared to that of Kendall Fuller, late in the year. Sort of a Safety/Cornerback hybrid.
The Development Advantage
As good as Mathieu and Thornhill are, the defense will always be limited, if they have to cover for lesser players. Spags can scheme around the rookies for a while, but to keep opposing offenses guessing, rookies must continue to develop in the scheme. The “next man up” mentality for the DBs, isn’t just about replacing guys in case of injury, it’s also about taking on new roles. If a young CB, like L’Jarius Sneed, can improve his route recognition, it frees Spagnuolo up to call more single high safety looks. If Rashaad Fenton shows the ability to drop back, and play safety, it allows Thornhill to blitz at times.
As players develop and coverage responsibilities shift, it becomes critical that the entire secondary be on the same page. For the Defense to achieve their maximum potential, players can’t settle into a single style of coverage for too long. Like Spagnuolo, they must always be looking ahead to the next thing.
Chemistry, Versatility and Development: Conclusion
The Chiefs plan in the secondary has been unique. It can be effective, if team chemistry remains strong. The health of the Chiefs most versatile players will be key. K.C. doesn’t really have good options to replace either Mathieu, or Thornhill. If the defense hopes to reach the level they did last year, rookie DBs must continue to develop and take on new responsibilities.
With little time before the first game, K.C. will have to rely on chemistry and versatility. Bashaud Breeland’s absence may speed the development of younger CBs, but initial growing pains could cause the group as a whole, to take a step back. The real test of their investment strategy will be what the defense looks like by mid-season.
Ransom Hawthorne — ArrowheadOne
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