Chiefs DC: How Good/Bad is Bob Sutton?

The Kansas City Chiefs are entering their fifth season of the Andy Reid/John Dorsey era and it is also the fifth season for Bob Sutton, the team’s defensive coordinator. When Andy Reid was the head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999 to 2012 he had the notable Jim Johnson to serve as his defensive coordinator most of that time (until 2008). While many may see the years under JJ as the winning years for Andy Reid — feeding the idea that Reid can only win when he has a stellar DC — the reality is that once Johnson left after 2008, Reid went 29-19 the following three seasons. It wasn’t until 2012, his last season in Philly, that his record took a nose dive. You can also be sure that the team’s record suffered that last season because of personal issues related to his son dying from an accidental heroin overdose.

So, where does that leave the Chiefs current DC? Just how good/bad is Bob Sutton?

The normally Chiefs friendly NFL media analyst Bucky Brooks ranked the top ten defensive coordinators last summer but Bob Sutton wasn’t anywhere to be found on his list. Here is Brooks take:

1. Rod Marinelli, Cowboys
2. Vic Fangio, Bears
3. Romeo Crennel, Texans
4. Teryl Austin, Lions
5. Sean McDermott, Panthers
6. Wade Phillips, Broncos
7. Dean Pees, Ravens
8. Dennis Thurman, Bills
9. Gregg Williams, Rams
10. Kris Richard, Seahawks

The Bills, Broncos, Panthers, and Rams, all have new defensive coordinators this year so maybe Sutton would make this list now. The Kansas City defense has been better than the offense for the past four seasons and their performance and talent level has had a lot to do with that. Here is the ranking of the defense AND the offense for the past four seasons based on TOTAL POINTS ALLOWED and TOTAL POINTS SCORED:

• 2013: D – 5th —  O – 6th
  
• 2014: D – 2nd — O – 16th
• 2015: D – 3rd —  O – 9th
• 2016: D – 7th —  O – 13th

Clearly, Andy Reid’s offense has consistently been ranked lower than Bob Sutton’s defense in the past four seasons. The defense has always been a top 7 defense in points allowed while the offense has had two top ten seasons. There’s a lot to be excited about there if you are a Kansas City Chiefs fan.

One question I’ve always had is whether or not Bob Sutton has had a strong voice in the drafting process? That may be answered by asking whether or not Sutton has had a voice in the post-season evaluation of talent on the defensive side of the ball? Why wouldn’t he? Pro Football Focus posted an article about the “3 Draft Needs for the Kansas City Chiefs” in which they name 1) a QB of the future, 2) a Right CB, and 3) a Running Back as the 3 biggest needs. Sometimes PFF hits and sometimes they miss and I think this was a time that they missed because the fact the the Chiefs didn’t draft a right-side CB near the top of the draft shows how much they know. In fact, it must have been the opinion of Bob Sutton that Terrance Mitchell (and a combination of Steven Nelson and Phillip Gaines) could handle the R-CB chores in 2017 but taking a potential DL beast Tanoh Kpassagnon shows that Sutton’s voice must have been heard (at least to some degree).

One way Bob Sutton’s voice is going to have to bear fruit in 2017 is in his belief of Dee Ford. There’s no way the Chiefs extend Ford without Bob Sutton’s blessing. However, the production of the whole OLB pass-rush crew in 2016 was less than inspiring. Here’s a chart by PFF showing the Chiefs OLB ranks graphically:

There were games, like the late season game vs. the Broncos, in which the Chiefs were able to put consistent pressure on the quarterback and in fact Justin Houston got 3 of his sacks in that game. However, until that group grows up and the stock the Chiefs have invested in this group comes to maturity, this team will likely not reach the lofty heights they aspire to.

Three of the Chiefs last four first picks in the draft have been defensive players: Dee Ford, Marcus Peters, and Chris Jones. They also chose DL Kpassagnon with their second round choice (59th pick) this season with the idea that he can help produce some pressure on the QB. This year.

One advantage Dontari Poe provided, even when his back was less than ideal, was his ability to push the pocket straight backwards. While Bennie Logan may be able to slide and help minimize the number of wide open running lanes and improve the rushing defense, putting pressure on the QB may not be his strength. Enter, CJones, Allen Bailey, Kpass, and the OLB corps. I believe that’s the general plan this season: improve the back end coverage — allow the front seven pressure crew to do their thing — and use Bennie Logan, a healthy ILB bunch and possibly Rakeem Nunez-Roches, or someone like a Cam Thomas, to help shut down the run.

In his first four seasons as the Chiefs DC, Bob Sutton’s defense has allowed the following number of points per game (and rank):

• 2013: 19.1 (#5)
  
• 2014: 17.6 (#2)
  
• 2015: 17.9 (#3)
  
• 2016: 19.4 (#7)
  

You can’t ask much more from your defense than what Bob Sutton’s defense has given us… or what he’s gotten out of this crew. Sure, he’s had premiere players at Safety, OLB, ILB and CB to work with but think about the second-level-Safeties he’s had to bring in each year and the ILB’s he rotated around DJ. Plus, D.J. has played just 30 of the last 48 regular season games so Sutton has had to work with a limited group at inside linebacker… not to mention a DL that was missing both Jaye Howard and Allen Bailey most of the year. While the stars have been shining — for the most part — much of the rest of the defense has been a patchwork that Sutton has had to stitch together each season.

Yes, we’re talking defense here however, it highlights the fact that the so called “promise” of an offense that could take control of a game, especially since the it’s largely the brainchild of the head coach, is lacking, and inconsistent, while the defense has pretty much thrived. We’re going on season number five and the defense has shown much more promise than the offense while –four years ago — it was the hope of a “better offense” that Reid brought to town, namely his West Coast scheme. While there was no initial intent for this piece to be an edict for the offense, it’s clear that Bob Sutton has been good while Reid’s offense has often left us “wanting more.” Sutton has been quiet yes, but very, very good. In the meantime, we’re waiting for the offense to dominate like Sutton’s defense has done much of the time over the past four seasons.

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