Chiefs Defensive Pluses and Minuses in 2019 – the Kansas City Chiefs of 2018 were a whisker’s hair from making the Super Bowl and when you add that up, plus the changes they’ve made during this offseason, it’s time to take a look at the advantages, and/or disadvantages of the defense, for the 2019 season. Let’s begin today with the offense. I’ll be using a rating system that looks like this: plus-plus (++) or, plus (+) or, even ( 0 ) or, minus (-) or, minus-minus (- -). That will look like this (the key):
Special Teams – Let’s begin with Long Snapper, #41 James Winchester, since we usually leave him for last, and with no competition for his role in camp this year, he should be as steady as ever. Although, he and holder Dustin Colquitt will need to be more consistent to allow their young place kicker, Harrison Butker every opportunity to make critical field goals in must-win situations. Butker was given a 5-year, $20M deal earlier this offseason (scoring more points in his first 2 years in the league than anyone ever) and should give the Chiefs a top-tier Field Goals kicker for the next half decade. Punter Dustin Colquitt could be replaced by UDFA challenger Jack Fox… but I doubt it. Colquitt is on the verge of playing more games for the Chiefs than any other player ever. Kickoff returner, Tremon Smith will most likely be replaced by speedster Mecole Hardman who will also serve as Punt returner until Tyreek Hill is available. However, if Hardman has early success there, Hill may be saved for offensive duties exclusively. The plus here is Hardman and the progression of Butker, but if Colquitt is gone in favor of Fox, STs could slide downward.
Defensive Ends – the defensive ends position will be compared to the outside linebackers of 2018 and that’s not a good thing for the DEs of 2019 because Dee Ford and Justin Houston will inevitably be better than Frank Clark and Alex Okafor. Unless…. unless the push up the middle by the defensive tackles is so strong that the DEs are the beneficiaries. Frank Clark will be as good as Dee Ford was last year, and much better against the run, but Justin Houston, even though he hasn’t played his best ball in 5 years, is substantially better than Alex Okafor has been. Now, that could easily change, but it will take a number of other factors to improve (and I think they will) like the LBs playing better and the DBs covering for longer periods of time to allow the DEs to get to their target, the opposing QB. So, while the DEs are projected to be less effective than last year’s OLBs, even with a rotation including Emmanuel Ogbah, the defense as a whole may be much improved… in which case the DEs won’t be seen as a liability.
Defensive Tackles – while the DT position will be the trickiest position to execute in Steve Spagnuolo’s 4-3 defense, they should be improved with the addition of Khalen Saunders and the progression of Derrick Nnadi. The reason that the DT tackle position will be more complex to execute is… the flipping back and forth from the 4-3 to the 3-4 or ling up in the nickel… which changes the roles of those players more than any other positions. The return of interior DT Chris Jones is critical to the success of this group but if he decides to sit out a year — which few expect — then all bets are off. The combination of Nnadi, Saunders and Jones should be lethal when they are in the 4-3 alignment. Since we know Spags likes his DL to be able to jump and play inside or outside, Chris Jones may well be seen lining up at DE to keep him on the field when in the 3-4. If that happens often enough, I may have to rethink what the Defensive Ends production could become in 2019.
Linebackers – the overall changes to the defense including a new DC, new linebackers’ coach, new front line, and the additions of Damien Wilson and Darron Lee, has me legitimately excited about the Linebacker’s play in 2019. The opportunity to play downhill, meaning: the LBs will no longer be second guessing their every move. That’s going to make watching them a delight. While the defensive engine in the Chiefs defense — the defensive line — may have been overhauled this offseason, the linebackers have been fine tuned — like a carburetor — bringing the engine to a combustion level not seen in years. Moving to the Weak Side Linebacker position (WILL) will be Anthony Hitchens who said this about his move there: “A lot of over-under 4-3 defense so, very similar situation [compared to Dallas] just different terminology… It lets you run free a lot, covered up by the 3-technique for most of the downs, for the WILL linebacker: what I’m playing.” Also, Reggie Ragland will be playing the Middle Linebacker (MIKE) position, one he seems well suited for. The addition of strong side linebacker (SAM) Damien Wilson, and speedy coverage LB Darron Lee, plus Dorian O’Daniel and Ben Niemann, they all make the linebacking position into a corp which could end up the strength of this defense by the time the playoffs roll around in January. If that happens it is because scheme and coaching will mean everything to their success.
Cornerbacks – Bashaud Breeland and Charvarius Ward will be better than Steven Nelson and Orlando Scandrick. While Nelson logged the most minutes of all the Chiefs DBs in 2018, he also led the team in penalties. In fact, he was tied for 6th place in the league in penalties. Some will argue that Nelson was a good DB but he played in 52 of a possible 64 games in his four years with the Chiefs and had a total of 4 career INTs and averaged .67 passes defensed per game (35 PDs in 52 games). We may well have seen the upside of Steven Nelson, who is now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but I don’t think we’ve nearly seen the ceiling for Bashaud Breeland or Charvarius Ward. Others will debate whether or not the few games Ward started at the end of 2018 is enough to count on him but if you go back and watch his game tape, he was by far the Chiefs best coverage DB in those games. Orlando Scandrick served as a bridge from David Amerson to Charvarius Ward and was a non-factor in most games he started for K.C.. Kendall Fuller will shine again and Keith Reaser should prove his worth beyond his all-star status in the AAF. Tremon Smith will likely find himself on the cutting room floor with the addition of Rashad Fenton, who also has returned punts in college. Yes, I’d like to see Brett Veach add another solid CB to the mix to help with depth, but this group should be a step up.
Safeties – this group of Safeties, one could argue, is as strong a group as any other position group on the 2019 Chiefs. Tyrann Mathieu is one of the best Safeties in the NFL and he now plays for the Chiefs. Rookie Juan Thornhill was one of the best Safeties in the 2019 NFL Draft, in a strong class for Safeties. In fact, Brett Veach has commented that they had Thornhill ranked as a low first round/early second round pick (in a draft that was strong on defensive prospects). Beyond that, Daniel Sorensen is still on the roster and provides mentorship for this young group which also includes last year’s 4th round selection, Armani Watts. Watt’s was having a very strong first season when he suffered a core groin muscle injury for which he had surgery and was available at the end of the season but the Chiefs had a limited number of players they could bring back and chose to make Watts sit. Now, he’s back and stronger than ever and reports from OTAs show he’s raring to go. Also, Jordan Lucas, who had one of the best INT-run-backs of the season last year, is awaiting his turn at the plate as well.
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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