Chiefs: A Defense to Love

Laddie Morse

I must admit, I loved watching the Kansas City Chiefs Defense before this season. The reason may have something to do with having played the Middle Linebacker position when I was but a wee Lad. There’s nothing better than diagnosing a play, and then jumping in the running lane and blowing it up before it ever has a chance. Since I just used that as an example, that’s also a great place to start when focusing on these Chiefs on Defense: the Run.

Run Defense

If I told you the Chiefs Defense was going to rank fifth in the league in Run Defense by the end of the year, you’d probably think I was off my rocker. Well, now that I think of it… I think I did say something like that in the preseason, or maybe it was David Bell. From a Rushing Yards Allowed standpoint here’s Lineups.com comes with these stats (after 11 games).

.

.

This chart is based on the total number of yards allowed. You may also notice K.C. has only allowed 6 TDs via the ground and the Chiefs are tied for third in that category, placing them behind only the Titans (3), and the Patriots (4) and tied with four other teams. It’s worth noting that the Chiefs have already faced three out of four of the teams on this list.

For those thinking the Defense is the same kind of letdown defense the Chiefs have employed for the past several years, think again. Of course, the reason the Chiefs are so good against the run may have something to do with the Chiefs offense just being plain good. IOW, when K.C. gets a lead, other teams have a tendency to abandon the run and try to use their passing game more often, allowing them to catch up. Or at least that’s their “brilliant” idea.

Total Sacks

If you recall, the Chiefs came up with 31 total sacks in the 2021 season while this season K.C. already has 35 Sacks. Sadly, that placed them 29th overall (out of 32 teams). Can’t you just hear the offseason conversations between HC Andy Reid, DC Steve Spagnuolo and GM Brett Veach: “We have to fix this!” In fact, it makes you (and me) wonder if that wasn’t the Chiefs highest priority during the offseason. So, what did they do? They drafted a DE in the first round, in the person of George Karlaftis (30th pick overall), who is now tied for the league lead in key defensive stats with the second overall pick in this year’s draft: Aidan Hutchinson. The following data is from a month ago:

.

.

This is from yesterday:

.

.

From November 14th:

.

.

It looks like George Karlaftis has a solid foundation and excellent future with the Chiefs. It may help that he’s playing next to the best DL in the league in the name of…

.

DT, Chris Jones

.

Chris Jones is having perhaps the best year of his career. With 10 sacks in 11 games, many will agree, Stone Cold is having a Stone Cold great year… so far. One reason might be: health. In the past two seasons, CJ has played in 69% and then 68% of the defensive snaps. This year, he’s taken 84% of the D snaps. That’s a significant difference. Look at Chris Jones in the following video, where he blows right by the Rams Left Guard, #64 Matt Skura, then easily brushes RB, Cam Akers, aside (like a 16 wheeler brushing by a Mini Cooper) to take down the Rams QB, Bryce Perkins (I love this video so much I can’t stop watching it):

.

.

.

LB, Nick Bolton

It’s been said — and I believe there is some truth to it — that if your team’s strength is up the middle of your defense, the rest of your team will have a great chance at accomplishing there goal of a championship. The same holds true in Baseball, Basketball, and yes, Football. too. We already know that DT Chris Jones is one of the best, if not the best, DTs in the game. Now, if we can only find a great ILB, we’d be set. Oh Wait!

Although the following list shows Nick Bolton is ranked 10th overall in defenders with the most combined non-sack TFLs + run stuffs in 2022, he’s actually tied for 4th:

.

.

An overzealous poster on Twitter said he thinks Nick Bolton has taken a step backwards this year and to that I say: poppycock! In fact, I think the opposite has happened. Bolton has awakened and become one of the league’s best ILBs.

.

.

When you’re mentioned along with a LB name like Roquan Smith, you’e doing something(s) right. Along with fellow Chiefs Linebacker, Willie Gay, he and Nick Bolton have made a huge difference in the outcome of games this year.

.

DB, L’Jarius Sneed

Just this week, Seth Keysor wrote a piece called, “L’Jarius Sneed, The Chiefs Human Swiss Army Knife” in which he said:

Diversity of talent is an underrated skillset… In the NFL, a large number of players have a very specific skillset that places them into a certain niche. Slot cornerbacks have a certain skillset. Boundary cornerbacks have a certain skillset. Box safeties have a certain skillset…

And then there’s L’Jarius Sneed, whose skillset isn’t so easily contained.”

.

.

A lot of talk has been going on this year about how the Chiefs rookie first round pick, corner Trent McDuffie, has been so good. However, the selection of L’Jarius Sneed two and a half years ago in the 4th round, has had me much more impressed. It didn’t take Sneed long to establish is excellence in 2020 and when the national website called Draft Wire (USAToday) did a re-draft, Sneed came out ranked ninth overall and was then drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars (in the re-draft). Some say Sneed had a down year last year, but he’s built a resume as one of the best CB in the NFL and there’s no denying his skills. Here’s another look at Sneed’s second ever INT versus the Chargers in 2020:

.

.

With DE Frank Clark returning to the best version of himself, and DE Carlos Dunlap looking young and sprite, plus Khalen Saunders is having his best year, the Chiefs should be able to put pressure on any team it faces now. DC Steve Spagnuolo is making all the right in-game adjustments and with improved pressure on the quarterback because of improved coverage of receivers, add in a thumper at LB like LB Leo Chenal, and things are looking as good as they ever have on defense in the Andy Reid era.

While it’s been a long time since the Chiefs had a real top ten defense (and I can’t tell you how long that’s been), there’s one thing for sure, I love to watch this defense and it has a real chance to be a top ten unit this year.

.

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

.