Chiefs: Defensive Outlook Through the 1st Quarter of 2020

Chiefs Defensive Outlook Through the 1st Quarter of 2020 – Before the this season started, the Kansas City Chiefs media and fans all shared the same view of the team. Offensive outlook had nothing to worry about, meanwhile the defensive unit had numerous worries. With an offseason that did not fulfill the needs of the defense in the opinion of many outside of the Chiefs organization. Now four weeks into a new season, we have witnessed good things happening from the defense. It’s been “the next man up mantra” that has worked well, to benefit the Chiefs, as suspensions, and injuries have taken starters out of the lineup. I will cover defensively what has went well, and what still needs improvement, in the games, and the positives and negatives of the players.

Opponents Offensive Stats

Okay, yes while the opponents that we have played are not offensive juggernauts, The Chiefs have held them to below their league average. Of course a large part of that is that they are all adjusting to their normal way of playing mentally, because going into the games they are petrified of that QB on the other sideline. 

Chiefs 1st Q Defensive Stats

The bend but don’t break philosophy of the Kansas City Chiefs is why they are ranked #2. The bonus is they are tied with 6 other teams for 4th in the league with defensive scores. The play of the CBs and the pressure put on the QB is why they are 3rd in passing defense. Opponents QBR is 2nd best in the league, except for Herbert and the Chargers the other 3 opponents had lower QBR against the Chiefs than what there season average is at. The rushing defense is porous, but I would like to point out that the Chiefs defense has allowed what I call “Impact Runs (10+ yards) 13 times for 237 yards for an average of 18.2. Exclude them and the Chiefs have only allowed 109 for 407 yards an average of 3.7. Impact plays happen when a defense has mistakes, most commonly it’s a breakdown in communication. Impact plays are easily corrected! Solution: stop the mental errors.

The Position Groups

The Defensive Line has developed into the deepest most talented unit in the league. Starters have done well, injury replacements have produced, 2nd-3rd year players have excelled and rookies have surprised. Whether it’s been the rotation that Spags and Daly love to use, or the injury replacements, it doesn’t seem to matter who we see on that front four, they continue to make plays at key moments. 

The Linebackers haven’t done much that’s good (and they also make me cry in anguish). We finally got to see Willie Gay play a fair amount, and he showed more athletic ability than any other LB. This group continues to make poor decisions and incorrect reads, coupled with not getting off blocks, which is allowing running attacks to have their way. 

The Defensive Backs were a huge worry for many during the offseason, but Veach and the coaches have stuck to their beliefs. Now we have seen the top level plays from 5 different CBs, Sneed, Ward, Fenton, Hamilton (and Breeland is coming). If we could just get them all healthy and available to play together at the same time, would be a good deal. Along with the Safeties of Mathieu, Thornhill, Sorenson, and Tedric Thompson, this group of DBs are the deepest and most talented in the league.

So, two positions groups above par out of 3, is an ideal situation. Add to all that, having a punter who boots the ball 60 yards every time it’s needed. All of this is a lot for average offenses to overcome for 60 minutes.

Individual Defensive Players 

LDE – Tanoh Kpassagnon has been getting much of the starters reps. Tanoh has 87% of the snaps, and has produced quality plays, both in the run and passing game. Well enough to be the long term starter, and he doesn’t have constant injury issues. 

LDE – Alex Okafor is an above par DE, he shows the ability to set the edge on running plays, but also is able to get pressure into the backfield on the QB. He was injured early in the Houston game, then had limited snaps in his return with the New England game. When playing, he is an above par DE. 

LDT – Chris Jones is a monster that many OLs cannot manage to block. He’s had his fair share of critics that have said he is not good against the run. However, against Baltimore he excelled in both phases of the game. He didn’t play against New England because of a minor hamstring injury at Baltimore. 

RDT – Derrick Nnadi is still clogging the middle of the Defensive Line. Derrick is on the field mostly on obvious rushing downs. Between him and Mike Pennel, as the anchors, you don’t see many RBs making quality runs through their Guards and Center. 

DT – Mike Pennel missed the first 2 games of the year, while on a suspension, but now that he is back our interior run defense is tougher. He has returned this year, just as stout as he was last year. 

DT – Tershawn Wharton has been a pleasant surprise as a UDFA. Each game he’s continued to get more snaps, and last week he filled in admirably for Chris Jones in a starting role. 

DT – Khalen Saunders was playing well up till he was injured in first game of the year. He is now on a minimum 3 game injury list. Andy Reid stated at the time that it was a minor injury. 

DE – Mike Danna is another drafted rookie who is displaying his value as a much used rotational player. He continues to have a nose for finding the player with the ball. 

DE – Taco Charlton had his best game so far as a Chief vs the Pats. He had 3 tackles; 2 assists; 1 TFL; 1 sack; 3 QB hits plus 1 forced fumble on a crucial play. He did all of that as a rotational player, with only 17 snaps. Great find by Veach. 

RDE – Frank Clark is playing healthy and producing at his All-Pro level every game

LLB – Anthony Hitchens is slow and can’t get off blocks. He is a detriment to team play and in his last year with the Chiefs. 

MLB – Damien Wilson after last years adequate performance I had high hopes that he would produce again this year. Well I was wrong as he has taken a step backwards. 

LB – Ben Niemann gave us hope in preseason workouts, but it has not transferred to the regular season games. He is not a permanent answer to our LB group. 

LB – Dorian O’Daniel has the speed that is needed at LB, he just does not have the size to hold up to the physical play needed at LB. He has a safety body trying to play at LB. 

LB – Willie Gay Jr. finally got extended reps, so we have now seen his potential, and he has a good if not great future. He was only in the game for 3 LB sets, and was not in for obvious passing downs. Many ask why not for passing when that was what he was so good at in college? It’s been said now for numerous weeks, that he is being brought along slow, and the communication needed at LB takes time to learn. Rookie mistakes in run defense are a lot less harmful than rookie mistakes in the passing defense. However,Willie did show his speed of getting to the ball carrier on runs.

Even though he didn’t get many tackles, he’s getting into the gaps and rerouting the RBs. He is willing to take on the physical part of being a LB, but still shows the natural ability to be near the plays and not get washed away to where he becomes irrelevant (like Hitchens and Wilson so often do). With a very limited rep amount, he has clearly shown that he has more speed and more potential, than all of the other LBs. So, let’s be patient like the coaches are, and we will be rewarded by seasons end. I guarantee it

LCB – Bashaud Breeland has not played yet this year (served a 4 game suspension for off the field issues). I expect that he will return to last years form. Most usually a player will return from an extended suspension with a vengeance. They must prove their value to their own team as well as to other teams, in anticipation of free agency. 

RCB – Charvarius Ward suffered a broken hand in the Houston game. Then missed one game, and returned for the Baltimore game after L’Jarius Sneed injured his shoulder. Charvarius continues to show top level play even with an injured limb. 

CB – Rashad Fenton is playing better his second year than he did as rookie season. His play against the Patriots was his best yet as a Chief. Even though he gave up a TD it took a perfect fade pass to beat him. He was targeted 11 times, with only 5 completions, 1 interception, and an allowed QB rating of 55.9. 

CB – L’Jarius Sneed was having a very good year up till his injury. I believe he has a 4-to-6 week timeline for returning. He played well enough, that he should vie for a starting position upon returning and be up for rookie of the year among the Chiefs rookie class.

CB – Antonio Hamilton has been a reliable replacement, filling in as needed due to the injuries and suspensions. He mostly mans the slot corner position. 

SS – Tyrann Mathieu is the unquestioned QB of the defensive unit. He is also the lead spokesman for the good and bad of happenings on the defensive unit. He still excels with the top notch talent of an All-Pro Safety, but his best attribute is that he does not accept average production from his teammates on the defense. He continues to be outspoken in demanding better results from himself and cohorts. 

FS – Juan Thornhill has come along slow after his knee surgery from last year, but each game we have seen him becoming more evolved in making plays both in tackling and coverage skills, defending well vs the passing game. It appears that he is now playing at a 100% of his pre-injury level. 

S – Daniel Sorenson consistently does what he is asked to do. Because of his aggressive nature he sometimes gets caught out of place, but yet he is still reliable at making highlight plays at opportune times. 

S – Tedrick Thompson has averaged about 20 snaps per game, as a rotational substitution for the starters as needed. He has allowed 6 receptions on 7 targets, so not what we want to see from our back line defense. He is above average as a tackler, so he is being used more on obvious rushing downs as the season progresses.

P – Tommy Townsend (Tommy the Toe) is yet another rookie and UDFA having a Super year. 

Summary: 1st Quarter Defensive Report

That is 24 players that are all part of Spags rotational philosophy and all of them, except for the LBs, are playing exceptionally well. It’s almost magic how every player that Brett Veach has added this offseason has turned to gold. Much of the credit needs to be bestowed upon: “The Best Teaching of Fundamentals and Developing of Players Coaching Staff in the Entire League.”

Alan Haupt — ArrowheadOne

Come back at noon today to read a piece by David Bell called:

“Chiefs: Offensive Outlook Through the 1st Quarter of 2020“

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