I recently wrote about each position group on defense and concluded that the weak link is the Defensive Line. However, even in the article on the DL, I tried to demonstrate a reason for optimism.
Success From the 2022 Draft And Free Agent Signings
The Safety Group – One of Brett Veach’s first acquisitions was to bring aboard Safety Justin Reid. I firmly believe this is a good move and will be highly successful because Reid is 25, and has more physical stature than Tyrann Mathieu. In addition, Reid possesses speed and is a hard-hitting tackler. His stats match up well with Mathieu as well. I explained that I thought Justin Reid was a great fit for the Chiefs. Here is an article that buttresses my view: https://arrowheadaddict.com/2022/06/05/can-justin-reid-be-new-landlord-kc-chiefs/
All of these factors contain more than just “promise.” Reid has also begun to be more of a verbal leader, evidenced by his participation in the OTAs and press conferences. I view this as a positive move for the Safety group and defense overall. An encouraging sign for me is Reid’s Leaping INT in the OTAs. See the video here: https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1532784184686780416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1532784184686780416%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fchiefswire.usatoday.com%2F2022%2F06%2F04%2Fkansas-city-chiefs-justin-reid-elevated-interception-otas%2F
Then Let’s take a look at the draft. Veach complimented adding Reid by drafting Bryan Cook(Cincinnati). Again, physicality is the crucial ingredient in what Cook brings to the safety group. The more I dug into Bryan Cook, the more I dug Bryan Cook! Laddie Morse had a very nice article a few days ago on Cook. go here to read it: https://arrowheadone.com/chiefs-bryan-cook-be-cookin-by-laddie-morse/
Gone is Dan Sorensen, who was a weakness in 2021. Many fans called for his head, and rightly so. Complimenting Reid and Cook is Juan Thornhill, who was clearly more talented than Dirty Dan. During the 2021 season, Thornhill was shunted aside, and things were not pretty for several games until he was re-inserted. He came up with a big INT vs. the Bills.
Next, I will add two more players to the Safety room: Zayne Anderson and Devon Key. If the Chiefs carry five safeties, both players would be included in the safety group. From 2021’s camp and pre-season games, I thought Key showed a lot of promise. He is a more talented pass defender than Anderson, but Anderson’s aggressiveness fits the Chief’s “New Look Defense.” No matter how I look at the group, I believe that the safety group has a strong position value for the defense.
The Linebacker Group – For three seasons in a row, I was cheered by Brett Veach, drafting linebackers in each draft year 2020-2022. Adding Willie Gay, Nick Bolton, and now Leo Chenal(Wisconsin) brought me great cheer. I love Chenal’s intensity!
Brandan Daly has a full complement of capable defenders, with Bolton as the MIKE, Gay as the WILL, and Chenal taking on the SAM role. In Free Agency, Veach brought aboard Veteran LB Jermaine Carter, another solid move. Of course, Gay needs to play an entire season of snaps on the off-ball side. Chenal is a rookie that must get blended in, much as Gay and Bolton gradually saw the workload increase as Coaching Staff trust grew in the previous two seasons.
The Linebacker group is powerful for 2022. I am pleased as punch.
The Cornerback Group – The Secondary defenders worried me as the off-season progressed. The Chiefs lost Charvarius Ward and Mike Hughes to Free agency. On the roster at this point was Deandre Baker. Baker was added Brett Veach in 2021 from the Giants. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending injury in his initial game with the Chiefs. Baker was a former round one draft pick who fit Brett Veach’s player acquisition profile. Baker was retained. Hughes was not(another former round one pick). Then Veach signed veteran Deon Bush(28), a move that aided in stabilizing the group. Bush is entering seven years in the NFL and had a successful 2021 season with a career-high in tackles(40), 9 PBU’s, and 2 INTs with the Bears. Bush adds experience to the position group where the loss of two significant players was noticeable. At best, he is in the rotation and offers special teams prowess for Dave Toub. I also want to mention that Veach signed another Texian Free Agent, Lonnie Johnson who has 4 years of experience. That is adding ammunition to be used in the secondary and on Toub’s Special Teams. Rashad Fenton is also returning for 2022, exceeding expectations since arriving in the 2019 draft.
At this point, my thoughts arrive at L’Jarius Sneed, who is the most capable corner of the group as the team enters OTAs and then training camp. Sneed can play inside and outside. I believe Jerry will be a starter on the boundary but move to the slot when called upon to do so. Unfortunately, Sneed had a dropoff in performance in 2021. I regard this as an anomaly.
The draft brought to the Chiefs Cornerback group, Washington CB Trent McDuffie. We all have heard the story about how Brett Veach moved up to pick 21 in order to select McDuffie. Trent will be a successful boundary cornerback out of the gate. In round four, Brett Veach also drafted Joshua Williams and picked up Jaylen Watson in round seven. Williams out of Fayetteville St. may be a big surprise to all the newcomers.
I judge the Cornerback room to have a solid group of hands at this juncture.
The Defensive Line
On Sunday, I covered the Defense Line. Two position Groups, DT and DE, are my biggest concern about the defense. We don’t know the whole story yet, and it won’t likely have any changes until and if Brett Veach makes a move to sign a Veteran Free Agent or he makes a trade to acquire a player for either position group. Either might occur after the OBJr contract is completed. See that article here: https://arrowheadone.com/no-matter-what-happens-with-the-de-position-its-the-weak-point/
George Karlaftis cannot be the only Rusher who pushes into the pocket, throws the timing of the QB off, and gets sacks. Besides that, he is a rookie and though I have high expectations, I do not see him garnering 10 sacks. That must come from Frank Clark at the same time. The pass rush is going to have to be multi-faceted and something that the QB can’t get easy reads on. If the Chiefs do that and we get effective QB pressure from Karlaftis, Clark, and Jones, it should open up opportunity for the left side DT. Keeping the QB guessing has also got to be a key. LB’s Chenal and Bolton both should be able to get home and cause mayhem. I am very curious about Malik Herring and Josh Kaindoh. Also, keep in mind that Mike Rose played the outside role in college.
We are in the typical wait for the anti-climax of Training Camp and pre-season games to witness how it all sorts out. I am highly encouraged by three facets of the defense. We need to see how things unfold for the DL and how the Chiefs rush the passer.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne