Revised form emails by David Bell
Chiefs Secondary
Both Laddie and I agree that Tyrann Mathieu should eb re-singe (if possible). We are also both in accord with the fact that Dan Sorensen’s last year as a Chief was the 2021 season. Go from there. We said previously why we need to retain Mathieu. Charvarius Ward should be retained if possible to bolster CBs. Two players we have in-house are up-and-comers: Devon Key and Zayne Anderson and we’ve seen a bit of both Key and Anderson. They could be in the mix, but no one on the roster comes close to what Tyrann brings to the table. Even if they retain Mathieu, they should try to find that special player with juice, who can be added to the mix [in the defensive backfield].
We both believe in Juan Thornhill and know what Armani Watts accomplished in his first year. However, he hasn’t returned to form, or, there is a trust issue about Watts. This perplexing consideration means that the way I see it, the Chiefs need to retain both Mathieu and Ward.
The side issue for pass defense is the Front Four pass rush and having LBs that can cover the pass and read plays effectively. We have 2 of those [Nick Bolton and Willie Gay] plus the potential of Dorian O’Daniel as well. If we have to retain Ben Niemann, so be it.
They may not be able to retain Mathieu (and or Ward) because of the high emphasis on the pass rush, which means:
- Get Ingram re-signed and,
- Go get Emmanuel Ogbah back in the fold plus,
- Draft a Defensive End
Speed of the Pass Rush
The speed with which the pass rushers get to the QB is all-important and in general, has got to be achieved within 2.5 to 2.7 seconds. QB Hits and Pressures/Hurries are a big part of it. Having the DL reduce the coverage time only aids the Secondary in covering route runners.
My first and primary concern: The aerial game is the way every team has developed to stay competitive. Obviously, acquiring a top-tier QB goes along with that in terms of player acquisition. It’s where the surprise of 2021 arrived in the person of Matt Stafford. He got nothing in Detroit but was better than I thought he could ever be with the Los Angeles Rams. That shows what you can do in terms of getting the aerial game on a competitive level with a QB signing–As long as he has the tools around him to make plays. I hesitate to put him in the top Tier category, but he is close. He gets too many INTs for my view, then again he proved me wrong in the Super Bowl.
At any rate, this highlights the offenses that the Chiefs will face which is a slew of teams with a good aerial game. I think then you could look at the AFC Championship game for the corollary — with a pass rush, the Bills got pressure, hits and sacks on Burrow. In the end, you ghave to get there.
Signing DE and DT in F/A for the Draft Formula
Here’s a list of the top 54 DEs and DTs listed by SporTrac.com:
Improving Coverage to Help the Pass Rush
I then take a look at the possible players in the mix to man the CB role, we need another outside CB as a starter. Fenton is the only player I’d trust to be the starter outside aside from Sneed. We just don’t know how well the rest of the players will handle a starting role. That includes a worry about Hughes and Baker. We have players who are new commodities on the roster. Dicaprio Bootle for example. I fear that Chris Lammons shot himself in the foot so badly that he won’t be a Chief in 2022. At that point, Veach and Co must look at the player mix in-house and worry about a F/A if they do not retain their proven commodity: Charvarius Ward.
We don’t know the capability of the up-and-comers on the roster. L’Jarius Sneed is our most capable defender and should play the slot as dictated by the offense that is fielded against us. Otherwise, he can play outside. When 3 CBs are needed though, he should take the slot.
Of course, we can once again insert here the import of both Tyrann Mathieu and Ward. Mathieu is a great mix’n-match player who could move up and play outside on a given play, or even inside, but we still need a CB that can cover in the slot, handling moves inside, out, and deep. For me that is Sneed. Hence, Ward’s import outside.
This demonstrates the importance of retaining Charvarius Ward, who has grown in his time as a Chief. He is a very dependable, solid outside CB and the Chiefs Most Improved Player in 2021.
The Chiefs are going to have to get a F/A corner for the outside or otherwise hope that Mike Hughes or Deandre Baker are signed back since both of them are free agents also. Lammons, as noted, may not even be truly considered due to the recent criminal charges in Vegas. I think Chris Lammons was being groomed to move into the mix. He is an Exclusive Rights Free Agent. Of course, I have no idea that he was part of the actual plan, but I’d bet money on it. Plus, Zayne Anderson and Devon Key don’t really fits being a constant player in either CB roles. Back to CBs:
We have Bootle, Fenton, Sneed, followed by Hughes and Baker who are both free agents. If Ward departs, it almost assures me that we must draft a CB with one of our first two picks, and at the same time, this probably means that Veach must sign both Hughes and Bake, or find the right player. Both Baker and Hughes are now familiar with the defense. That is a plus.
New DL Coach: Joe Cullen
Joe Cullen In 2021 he was in FL with the Jags, his lone year as DC. Now he’s 54 but it’s important to remember, he only had 1 year as DC for Jacjsonville. He was not a failure. The team under Urban Meyer failed overall and the Jags moved on from several position coaches in this offseason. I think Cullen did well maximizing the potential of new players. the defense general kept the jags in a position that the offense could win. Matt Connor, at ArrowheadAddict, wrote a piece called: “What does Joe Cullen bring to the KC Chiefs?” in which he said:
“The Jags’ run defense was pretty solid in the first half of the season. In the first eight weeks, they only gave up 100 rushing yards or more just twice. However, they struggled in the second half, surrendering 100 rushing yards or more in seven of the last nine games.”
With the Ravens (2016-2020) his defenses were highly thought of and they never ranked in the bottom half of the NFL. In general, they were top 10 defense both against the pass and run while he served in Baltimore as DL coach for 5 years. Let’s accentuate this: Cullen will get the best of the DL with his whole focus on that task alone. Joe Cullen will benefit the Chiefs players on the DL.
Conclusion
If the Chiefs get the right pieces in the draft and we hire Ingram back, I would think the DL will pressure the passer, but my overall thinking is that regardless: speed to pressure is key. Power rushing isn’t really the answer for most teams. It has to have speed, bend, and dynamic pass rush moves even from the inside. It all depends on who the Chiefs get in Free Agency and… who they draft.
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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