Chiefs: Drawing to a Pair of Tough ILBs – Reggie Ragland

Chiefs: Drawing to a Pair of

Tough ILBs – Reggie Ragland

 · by David Bell

To prepare you for the Inside linebackers (ILBs), I wrote a short introductory and this is the first of three parts that will comprise a composite view of the Inside Corp.

At the time of GM Brett Veach’s trade for Reggie Ragland I wrote in an article and commented on the addition numerous times since Brett Veach traded a (low) 4th round pick for a high 2nd round pick in August of last season. We had to wait a bit to see what it was all about. Ragland, the former Crimson Tide ILB standout, was taken in the early second round of the draft but had to sit the entire 2016 season due to a pre-season ACL tear — (advantage Kansas City). In acquiring Ragland, Brett Veach shifted out a 2019 – 4th round pick for an almost immediate 2nd round pick (a wonderful major first move by Mr. Veach). To make room, Veach had to release Josh Mauga who missed 2016 as well. I like Mauga but he was out and Ragland was in.

When the 2016 draft was occurring, I had Ragland on my “must draft” list. I thought he would go in round 1 but indicated that the Chiefs should take him round 2 if he fell to them. It wasn’t going to happen. What did happen? The Bills acquired Ragland and they also sent Sammy Watkins (first round pick to the Rams). Following the 2017 season, the Chiefs obtained Watkins in a Free Agent signing deal (and he had a stellar OTA camp). Think on this: two high picks arrive at the Kingdom, both inter-related to Rex Ryan and his choices as GM of the Bills and also Ryan moved on as well. The Bills made room for the new GM to do his “good deeds”.

It was my view then, and remains so now, that the Ragland addition is exactly what the interior linebacking corp truly needed — someone beside DJ in the middle, a known thumper and hard hitting type of LB — and 2017’s season play proved me out. From game 5 on, Ragland took the bull by the horns and built on his success game by game. Ragland, a 6-1, 247 ILB from Alabama coming to the Pros, was already known for his stingy hard hitting play against the run. Let me add to this view of Ragland: I watched every play of 4 games of Ragland’s senior season and came away quite impressed, and not just for his pounding lumps on blocking offensive linemen and running backs alike (borrowing a Milo Hamilton phrase).

What I witnessed in the film study went far beyond just a big hitter. He has the speed to pursue the ball laterally though “speed” is one of his weaknesses. I can only observe that his instinctive play appears to me to overcome that deficiency. Ragland can pursue on the back side of a formation, tackle sideline-to-sideline and not miss a step. He’s able to move and fill to the strong side and will do so with high success with his new playing partner, Anthony Hitchens. Not known for speed but, certainly able to go to the sideline on the weak side and fill to the strong side. As well, I watched him drop successfully into Zone coverage and he also did some man up coverage about which Charley Casserly spoke before Ragland was drafted.

Casserly observed on NFL Network, that Reggie Ragland is able to run with Tight Ends down the field, provides big hits in run defense and is productive dropping into zone defenses against the pass. In college he was sometimes missioned to the Nickel as well.

The views I wrote specifically at ArrowheadOne in 2017 before the 2017 season are mirrored by Casserly’s remarks before the draft.

Ragland started 13 games during the season, proved his play and ability on the field, improving as he progressed through the season to it’s culmination for 2017 – 9 tackles in the playoff loss to the Titans. He sat the first 4 games as he was new to Sutton’s defensive system and also was in the end days of his rehab for a torn ACL. When he hit the field as a starter, he did not look back.

That speaks volumes. Casserly noted his weak areas… man coverage and speed. Still note my remarks about pursuit. Casserly gave him a mid-1st-round grade saying, “this guy’s a football player.”

After the draft? He was taken high, injured and had surgery and sat for the season. Meanwhile, Rex Ryan who had drafted Ragland, departed, as did Ragland, a perfect opportunity for Veach to make the trade. Keep in mind though, this is a lost pick to the 2019 draft. Veach had traded a low 4th round pick for a player who was top end of the 2nd round and graded to be a probable first round pick.

Again, credits to Veach. Loss, Ragland proved himself and since season’s end, he’s taken on a lot more internal team leadership and this showed long before the OTA’s as Ragland and another new ILB began an off-the-field friendship and camaraderie that extended to the OTA’s and incoming rookies, UDFA’s and Invitees. Ragland is working to lead the way. His toughness on the field was noticeable during the 2017 season as he became a solid NFL linebacker with a high ceiling.

It was unfortunate that Derrick Johnson’s season was below par. Had he been healthy, the linebacker corp and run defense would have been far stouter against the run. It was not to be. Now? Veach signed another ILB who was fronted by two other players at Dallas making him available to the Chiefs and Brett Veach. More on this newcomer, Anthony Hitchens to come.

What do I think about Ragland now? If he and Hitchen’s both play a full season together they will develop a kinship on the field that will translate into a pair of inside linebackers who will indeed be a force in stopping the run — and then some. In which case the starting ILB duo will be… “Some Kind of Tough.”

Next up? Anthony Hitchens: The Second Half of “Tough”

In a piece for ArrowheadAddict, called, “New ILB Duo Should Help Chiefs Run Defense” author Farzin Vousoughian writes,

“With Ragland and Hitchens as the new inside linebacker duo for the Chiefs, the defense should make progress with its run-stopping defense. According to Pro Football Focus, Ragland was rated 19th and Hitchens was 21st against the run among inside linebackers in 2017. If both Ragland and Hitchens can stay on the field for a full 16-game season, Kansas City’s defense will improve in many areas, especially against the run.”

Here’s one more “Hit” video for you, followed by some photos of Reggie Ragland.

Reggie Ragland photos are provided by AL.com:

Next up? Anthony Hitchens: The Second Half of “Tough”

David Bell – the NSLU

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