Chiefs Chris Jones and Frank Clark: The Two Edged Sword

From “Camelot,” my favorite musical:

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King Arthur : Ginny, Ginny, suppose we create a new order of chivalry? A new order where might is only used for right! To improve instead of to destroy. Look, we’ll invite all the knights, all the kings of all the kingdoms, to lay down there arms to come and join us. Oh yes, Ginny. I will take one of the large rooms in the castle, put a table in it, and all the knights will gather at it.

Guinevere : And do what?

King Arthur : Talk across it. Debate. Make laws. Plan improvements!

Guinevere : But, Arthur, do you think all the knights will ever want to? To do such a ridiculously peaceful thing?

King Arthur : We’ll make it a great honor. Very fashionable! Everyone will want to join! Only now, the knights will whack only for good. Might for right. Might for right. Might – for – right. That’s it, Ginny. Might. No, not might is right. Might – For – Right!

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Tis time to bring the Two Edged Sword — and the whack for good — to battle against the forces of evil (any other NFL team).

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be had early in the draft… and… if GM Brett Veach decided to go that route, he’d have to abandon the idea that there would be an offensive tackle who would be able to step in on day one this year. Enter Brett Veach the Roster Magician: he signs DT Jarran Reid — who’s played with, and had success with, Frank Clark before — and he trades for Pro Bowl Tackle Orlando Brown thereby solving both line issues. While the offensive line has been the hot topic of discussion this offseason, the defensive line should be getting a lot more attention because the addition of Jarran Reed not only makes the Kansas City Chiefs defensive line better up the middle, but his presence allows DC Steve Spagnuolo to move Pro Bowl DT Chris Jones outside to DE giving the Chiefs that two edged sword they’ve been wanting since the early days of Justin Houston and Tamba Hali.

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While many have speculated in the past that Chris Jones only wanted to move to the edge to get paid more, a year ago he signed a 4 year, $80M deal which included $60,000,000 guaranteed (for an annual salary of $20M), so now it’s just a matter of, wanting to win.

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While playing the edge should free Chris Jones up to do his damage, it also means the offenses the Chiefs face will have to locate Chris Jones every time they line up. The OC is often thought of a a “Choreographer” and calls the blocking assignments as he gets ready to snap the ball. By moving CJ around, it gives the OC one more thing to think about. Whether CJ rushes from the edge, or comes on an inside stunt — and winning inside against one blocker is what he’s known for — it’s totally, Advantage Chiefs. If CJ gets fewer double-teams by lining up at DE, it only makes Frank Clark better, and opens the door for more pressure from the inside too.

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Chris Jones had more than that to say on Wednesday:

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“I feel like I can be productive inside or outside – wherever the team puts me – but I think there’s more advantages on the outside because you can’t really double team me [out there]. You can chip, but you’re not really getting as many double teams as a three-tech would in this defense. I’m excited about that.”

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When a team makes changes, it effects everyone on the team, not just a single unit. Even the offense and defense are intertwined. –> The less successful the offense is… the more the defense is on the field. It’s even more true each unit. The DL plays together, but it also plays with the LBs and the success of the defensive linemen has a huge effect on the DBs, and how long they’ll have to stay in close coverage on any given play.

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Consequently, the more production the Chiefs get from one DE position — like when Chris Jones is lined up there — the more other teams will roll their blocking to that side… which in turn opens up the field for the Chiefs other DE, namely Frank Clark. Clark, some say, had a problem beating single coverage blocking last year, at least we know Clark’s heart is in the right place:

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It’s great to have goals, but Frank Clark must come through for the Chiefs in 2021. Two years ago, in the offseason, Brett Veach signed him to a 5-year, $104M deal plus a $19M signing bonus, with $62,305,000 in guarantees. Clark is to make $20.8M annually, so he’s not been as productive as the Chiefs would like, or need. Clark also said this week:

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“If I’m not looking at myself and… chasing MVP numbers and competing with Aaron Donald… I’d be a fool. I’ve got to set my standards high so if I do fall short I’m not disappointed.”

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Not disappointed? If K.C. doesn’t at least make it to the Super Bowl this year, and if Clark is not a reason for them getting there… that’s the only disappointment fans will care about. The good news for Clark is, the stars appear to be aligning for him to have a breakout season. He’s healthy now, and that’s a biggy for him. We also know he’s played at a high level next to DT Jarran Reed, so that’s a positive. Having Chris Jones to challenge him in a contest to see who can get to the QB first, should only help his cause as well.

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While it may sound like Chris Jones is making a permanent move to DE, he’s not. DC Steve Spagnuolo said this about the move of CJ to DE:

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“He is an imposing player inside. We all know that. Hopefully, we will gain something on the edge. When somebody changes a position, obviously the first part of it is the mental part of it. Chris is working through that. That’s important when you change a position. It’s just not that easy to pick up a whole new spot. There are some different things with a defensive end. He’ll play out there a little bit. We’ll move him back inside when we have to.”

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Keeping Taco Supreme

Taco Charlton may be the scheduled starting DE (he had 90 defensive snaps in 7 game for K.C. in 2020), but I can see that when Spags bumps CJ outside — on occasion — it should help Charlton whenever he is in. Charlton has had some injury issues in the past, so part of the move to get CJ snaps on the edge, will be to give Taco the periodic breaks he needs to stay healthy. If you were a betting man, would you bet against Taco missing time this year with an injury?

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Versatility and the Long Season

I see the Chiefs as hedging their bets here by having CJ move to DE whenever needed, so they can rest Taco — or any other DE, like Mike Danna — keeping them fresh for when they do get on the field. This is especially true in a new 17 game regular season. K.C. has played in 19 games each of the past two seasons and it’s highly likely their headed for a 20 game year in 2021. That makes for a long season… at any position…. but it’s particularly long for linemen, who are hitting other giant people on every single down. Giving the coaches an extra player to add to the rotation at any position, is going to be important, perhaps another reason the Chiefs like to keep players who are versatile (can play more than one position).

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DTs > DEs

I see the Chiefs Defensive Tackle position as being better, and deeper, than the Chiefs Defensive End position. So, what also makes this move to DE possible for CJ, is the improved play of Tershawn Wharton and the steadiness of Derrick Nnadi, both of whom will rotate with Jarran Reed, giving K.C. a potent inside run stopping barricade, even when CJ makes the jump to hyper-space, at DE. I don’t see Khalen Saunders as having much of an impact for K.C. in the 2021 season and I won’t be surprised if he’s cut prior to the season. What do you think, is it a positive in your mind, for Chris Jones to play the defensive end position this year? Plus, do you think Frank Clark will be better off, because Jones will get a lot of snaps at DE?

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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