Chiefs: Defense First Half Review

Laddie Morse

Last week I offered a piece called, “Chiefs: First Half of 2023 Review” which was made up of — almost — all Offensive plays. Since we know that the Chiefs Defense is one of the NFL’s best, it’s time to give them their due. So, here is a — mostly — video review of the Chiefs Defensive plays. This past week, Zack Eisen wrote a piece for SI.com called, “Athleticism Is a Major Component of KC Chiefs’ Defensive Improvement” in which he says:

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“While defensive structure and philosophy are complicated, the Chiefs’ improvement on the defensive side of the ball is more straightforward than that… Their personnel is more athletic and faster than in previous years, which allows Spagnuolo to use his creative designs as a trump card instead of a necessity…

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Zack Eisen goes on to say:

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Defense, at its core, is reactive. You have a play call or scheme you are running, but once the ball is snapped, the defense must react to what the offense is doing. Having athletes who can close on ball carriers, eliminate angles, and cover a larger area of the field helps prevent explosive plays from happening.”

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Be sure not to miss out on Lisa Foxx’ piece called: “Mid-season Team Awards” …

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Above is the reason why… mostly. The actual plays are the proof in the pudding. Let’s take a look.

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Against Detroit

With the score tied 7-to-7, on a 3rd down and five to go for the Detroit, DL Mike Danna made a strong move to the Lions QB and garnered the sack (0:09):

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Devon Clements – credit

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Mike Danna not only had the sack, seen above, but was in on six (6) tackles a=which included a Tackle for a Loss (TFL). George Karlaftis, the second year DE, was in on seven (7) tackles and also had a TFL. Keondre Coburn was in one one (1) tackle whic was a TLF and Second year CB Trent McDuffie led all defenders — for both teams — with 8 tackles.

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Against the Jaguars

George Karlaftis has made a name for himself. This was a game when Chiefs star DT Chris Jones came back and hd a sack, but so far this season, GK has made as much of an impact as CJ has.

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Devon Clements – credit

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nahThatstuff – credit

Against the Bears

The Chiefs won this game 41-to-10 plus K.C. put up lots of numbers against the (currently) 3-and-7 Chicago Bears. Patrick Mahomes had a rating of 127.3 while the Bears QB, Justin Fields, had a rating of 58.7. The Chiefs ended up with over 300 yards passing, even though backup QB Blaine Gabbert threw two INTs and Field didn’t break 100 yards passing for the game. Defensively, Chris Jones netted another sack:

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Mike Danna Had another ver ygood game and had a sack along with three (3) tackles including one for a loss (TFL) and one QB Hits (0:09).

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While I am shairng loads of sacks and the DL has had a very good first half oF the season, the back end has been the beneficiaries. While placing so much pressure on opposing QBs, the DBs and LBs in coverage have made sure the Defensive Linemen have time to get there by making sure they have alls the Wide Receiving outlets covered like a roof.

The game against the Bears was also the first game of the 2023 season in which we saw Drue Tranquill take over at middle Linebacker, becasue of an injury to Nick Bolton. Bolton has been playing at a Pro Bowl level for more than a year now but the offseason signing of Tranquill makes the loss of Bolton “Bear-able”… 😆.

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q30.com – credit

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Against the Jets

Mike Edwards showed up in thi game. He had a sack, three (3) tackles, a Pass defensed and a QB Hit. All in 26 snaps for the game. That’s darn good production fo so few snaps. Here’s Edward’s sack in that game (0:08):

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Devon Clements – credit

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Chris Jones had a sack in that game too(0:08):

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Devon Clements – credit

In the game versus the Jets, the Defense had 4 Tackles for a Loss, 3 Passes Defensed, and 10 QB Hits. Hwne you’re putting that much pressure on an opposing QB, it’s hard Not to win.

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Against the Vikings

The Vikings have had quite a season losing their starting QB to an Achilles Injury. HOwever, Kurt Cousins wasn’t out of the game with K.C. and he went 29-of47 for 284 yards passing. So, how did K.C. win that game? With efficiency on defense. They had 13 QB Hits, 8 Passes Defensed, 5 Tackles for a Loss to go with three (3) sacks. Another one for Chris Jones of course:

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Devon Clements – credit

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Here’s a great explanation from RGR Football of why the Chiefs have been winning this year –> DEFENSE (0:39).

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Ryan Tracy- Performance Consulting, Craft Industry – credit

Against the Broncos

The Chiefs played a different Broncos team when they faced them the first time. If ended up as a 19-to8 Chiefs win but things have changed in Denver since then. Sean Payton has brought a new attitude to the team and they’ve begun to win games. Back then though, the Chiefs won even though the offense didn’t score a lot. However, the defense held them to 8 points and that’s considered a win for the D.

K.C. had 4 sacks, five (5) tackles for a loss, nine (9) passes defensed, and seven (7) QB Hits, to go along with two interceptions, one by Justin Reid and one by Nick Bolton. Here’s a look at the INT by Justin Reid:

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Here’s the one by Nick Bolton (0:11):

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NFL NEWS – credit

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Against the Chargers

The Chiefs had five (5) sacks, five (5) Tackles for a Loss, seven (7) passes defensed, with eight (8) QB Hits to go with two (2) INTs… one by Bryan Cook and one by L’Jarius Sneed. Below is a breakout sack by Charles Omenihu. He was suspended the first 6 games of this season and this was his first game back. What a way to come back (0:11)!

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Here’s Bryan Cook’s INT to close out the game against the Chargers (0:34):

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Jonathan Reyes – credit

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Against the Broncos II

When the Chiefs faced the Broncos for the second time this year (a 24-to-9 loss), in Denver, it was the 17th game in a row when they had the opportunity to beat them… but the Chiefs couldn’t do it. At some point, you have to figure the odds were against the Chiefs. The biggest problem I could see with that game was that K.C. could only muster 9 points! Nine measly points. Not that I don’t like Field Goal… but… I hate Field Goals. Now, I can hear some of you saying, “Yes, but when the team marches down he field, it’s better to come away with points.” I get that philosophy but I’m not so sure I agree with it. Sometimes… you just have to bite the bullet and go for it. Yes, the Chiefs gave the ball over on downs after an 11 play drive ealier in the game, but let’s not forget that they kicked a Field Goal after a 12 play drive in the doggone fourth quarter. To me, that unforgivable.

What’s more unforgivable is… that Patrick Mahomes threw two (2) INTs while Russell Wilson threw none. Wilson ended up this game with a 119.3 rating to PM’s rating of 59.1. That’s horrendous to even consider. The defense has given up more than 21 points just once this year… and this was that game. The Chiefs defense had 6 sacks in this game to keep it respectable. However, a loss is as loss, and a loss to the Broncos is even worse.

Here’s Cole DeRuse at “How ‘Bout Those Chiefs!?” reviewing George Karlaftis season so far and highlighting his performance against the Broncos (0:55):

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Against the Dolphins

The reason K.C. may have lost to the Broncos the previous week was that many of the players were lookign past those Broncos to the Miami Dolphins. I’m not sure you get any of them to admit that but the Dolphins game was one being circled on so many calendars that it’s hard not to think it was being circled on some of the Chiefs calendars too. K.C won this game 21-to-14 and the deciding play was one that involved Trent McDuffie and Tyreek Hill. The irony of that play is that McDuffie was drafted (in part) with one of the picks given to K.C. in the trade that involved Tyreek Hill being sent to Miami. Here’s that play (again)… and I’m well aware that we’ve posted this play multiple times… but who can balme us for doing so? (0:25)…

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Brad Henson Productions – credit

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Here’s Trent McDuffie being interviewed by Adam Schefter from ESPN about the upcoming game between the Chiefs and the Eagles next Monday Night (1:31):

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Adam Schefter – credit

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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