Chiefs Defense: Sudden Impact Force

Chiefs Defense: Sudden Impact Force

Laddie Morse

There’s no denying, this year’s Kansas City Chiefs Defense, is not like any we’ve ever seen. In the last week, the Chiefs have signed DE Carlos Dunlap and earlier today they wrangled DT Danny Shelton. The most sacks Shelton ever had in a season came in 2019 when he had 3.0. Dunlap, on the other hand, has had 7.5 sacks in a season in 8 out of the 11 years he’s played in the NFL. Although Shelton may be known more for stopping the run, his size is what makes him especially useful in Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme. Shelton weighs 344 pounds and stands 6-foot-2. If you want to compare his size to Dontari Poe, Poe was one pound heavier and one inch taller: 6-3, 345. Aside from Chris Jones, none of the Chiefs current DTs is taller than 6-2… and none weighs more than 324 (and that’s Khalen Saunders who stands, 6-foot-0).

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Danny Shelton’s birth name is “Danny Saileupumoni Shelton” and is also known as “Feast Mode.” He played his college ball at Washington and and was taken with the 12th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.

What we can anticipate is a sudden impact force on the defensive side of the ball for K.C.. Why, mostly because of Shelton and Dunlap, but also because of new DL coach Joe Cullen, who Chris Jones said repeatedly of on Monday,

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“He’s my guy, he understands me and he

has the same theory of rushing the QB as I do.”

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Any time you can get on the same page with your star DT, it’s a good thing. With Shelton in the lineup, K.C. can stop the run on 1st and 2nd downs, and then Dunlap can help clean up the down and distance by helping to rush the passer. Shelton now gives K.C. that immovable force inside which they’ve been lacking ever since Steve Spagnuolo came to town and replaced Bob Sutton and his 3-4 defensive base.

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Matt Connor at ArrowheadAddict reported earlier today that:

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“The Kansas City Chiefs have bolstered the defensive interior with the signing of free agent defensive tackle Danny Shelton to a one-year deal. NFL reporter Adam Schefter had the news on Tuesday.”

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Carlos Dunlap has already proven he’s a monster:

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By “bolstering” the defensive interior, Shelton gives the Chiefs defense a much better chance of, getting off the field asap. This gives K.C. a rotation of:

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• Frank Clark – about to have a resurgent season

• Chris Jones – long been the second best DT in the NFL right behind Aaron Donald

• Danny Shelton – 100 games of experience in a 7 year career

• Carlos Dunlap – has averaged 12 sacks per year over the past 6 seasons

• George Karlaftis III – rookie first rounder

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With the Danny Shelton signing, the Chiefs are heading into the season without a weakness. David Bell had long told me that he expected Brett Veach to sign a DT and a DE before Training Camp was finished… and I guess he was 100% right! With Dunlap and now Shelton signings, the Chiefs defense has a shining chance to have a sudden impact force thereby making every other defensive position better. Much better.

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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