Chiefs: How Special is the 2019 Defense? – for Kansas City Chiefs fans who have been around awhile, we’ve had the great fortune to witness some pretty special defenses over the years and decades. This year’s defense looks like it’s rounding into one of those in the “Special” category.
Sometimes it seems that the only thing Chiefs fans have had to hang their hat on, is the defense… simply because K.C. hasn’t had an offense worth a plug nickel. That’s not the case now. In fact, ever since kids have been singing, “Andy Reid is Coming to Town”… oh wait… wrong big guy in a red suit… but ever since Big Red has been in K.C. the offense seems to have been consistently better than the defense. Yes, we had Dontari Poe and Derrick Johnson and one good year out of Sean Smith… but the defense hasn’t fallen under the category of special… until, possibly, now.
It’s really been 22 years since Kansas Citians have had the kind of defense that struck fear into the hearts of opposing offenses and opposing OCs. In 1997, our Kansas City Chiefs defense allowed a league low 14.5 points per contest and leading the NFL in that category.
Marty Schottenheimer was the head coach at that time and although the Chiefs won the AFC West, they lost to the John Elway led Denver Broncos 14-to-10. Denver went on to win the Super Bowl. However, that doesn’t take away from the defensive accomplishments of that Chiefs defensive squad because the Broncos happened to lead the league in points per game that year at 29.5 point per. So, holding them to 14 points was to be lauded.
While the numbers for this years defense over the course of the whole season don’t place them in the realm of those Chiefs of old… what they have accomplished recently is notable.
By only allowing 31 points in the past four weeks,
the 2019 Chiefs defense has had it’s best month in 22 years,
since the 1997 “D” gave up 9-0-7-13 in consecutive weeks?
So, let’s take a stroll down memory lane to see just who was on that 1997 Chiefs defense. Let’s begin with the Defensive Line:
Neal Smith had exited that year for the Denver Broncos so he’s not pictured here. So, what did Marty do? He signed a couple of older players in Leslie O’Neal and Michael Dean Perry (not pictured). In any event, this group still ranked 7th in giving up rushing yards per game. Now, let’s take a look at the Linebackers who had something to do with stopping the run:
This LB corp was third in the league in sacks led by Derrick Thomas. Thomas is one of my top two Chiefs players of all time and with Donnie Edwards in that lineup too, it was a formidable group. Now let’s take a look at the DBs:
Seems like just yesterday that Dale Carter and James Hasty were locking down the edges. The additions of Tongue and Woods at the Safety position helped to make the season bright… and that defensive backfield the best in the league.
That was a “Special” defense but… they didn’t win the big one. Winning the Super Bowl makes any unit more memorable but, that group should not be forgotten. Will this year’s team get that far? That has yet to be seen but this Steve Spagnuolo defense of 2019 is shaping up nicely with some high expectations to live up to.
What makes me feel even more sure of this defense is someone who isn’t even on the field. That would be defensive line coach: Brendan Daly. Daly was a Defensive Assistant for the New England Patriots in 2014 before moving to the Defensive Line Coach position, from 2015 through 2018. He has three Super Bowl rings to show for it too. Like any great cook, you have to have the right ingredients to make a great meal. It’s hard to think of a better list of ingredients for Daly to work with than Frank Clark, Chris Jones, Terrell Suggs, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Mike Pennel, Derrick Nnadi, and Khalen Saunders.
While I’d take this year’s DL over the 1997 group, I’d have to go with the 1997 crews at LB and DB. Then again, if the 2019 Chiefs can go all the way… and they just might… then, you never know. They sure seem to have the right ingredients… and cooks!
So now, I’m hoping for some hot Christmas Pie and sizzling New Year’s Stew! Plus a February Parade would be nice.
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
P.S. A very Merry Christmas Eve everyone!
If you are viewing this in Apple News and would like to join the Discussion, [GO HERE.](http://arrowheadone.com/chiefs-how-special-is-the-defense/#disqus_thread)