No Matter What Happens with the DL–It’s the Weak Point

DL coach Joe Cullin is pleased about both Chris Jones and Frank Clark being two of his starters and was complimentary in his portion of the presser about George Karlaftis. In my mind, I can see Derrick Nnadi as the starter opposite Jones. That is a good front four — but the weakness is the rookie must get up to speed immediately, Nnadi has to advance and build on his previous year, and Frank Clark has got to get back to 2019 form to be called a “good front four.”

I can’t tell what will happen next or when. Nothing will likely happen with signing a Free Agent or making a trade until the Orlando Brown Jr Contract extension is in the book. That must occur before July 15th. Let’s hope it gets resolved sooner than that by a fair margin.

The Chiefs have $16M+ in cap money available. Brett Veach knows who is out there and available. He knows the players who fit the Chief’s team persona. That eliminates several players who think they don’t meet the standard. It seems a reach to anticipate any player at this point. Free Agents will be available. The question becomes one of the monies and when Veach could make a move to obtain any player.

In House Depth Players – DE (Explosiveness and Agility are key)

Mike Danna is an experienced Vet. I do not regard Danna as a starter type DE.

At this point, Frank Clark will start on the right and George Karlaftis on the left. Without addressing the previous two seasons of Frank Clark’s performance numbers nor speculating how well Karlaftis orients himself to NFL Game Speed, Spagnuolo has two players that I consider part of the equation: 2nd-year DEs Josh Kaindoh and Malik Herring. Unfortunately, we didn’t see enough of Josh’s in-game snaps to be able to form a solid opinion.

Unfortunately, neither player has much to offer as evidence. However, herring came out of Georgia, so he has that credential for success in the NFL.

Herring did not play a single snap in 2021. He started his NFL career signed to the Chiefs as a UDFA, and his injury was probably the reason he went undrafted. However, I recall thinking about him as the Spring of 2021 unfolded. Herring can play the 3-tech DT but probably belongs outside. He did not stack up high numbers of sacks in collegiate ball in the SEC, but he had many QB pressures. Herring has the tools and size for DE – 6-3, 283. He is strong and has the speed for the role.

FSU’s Josh Kaindoh’s snaps were curtailed due to injury. Both players spent almost all of 2021 on the IR. While it is true that the Chiefs know both players, out here in fan-land, we have little to go on. The lack of experience is the primary reason I think Brett Veach will sign a Veteran DE–too many unknowns exist to enter the NFL season with such inexperienced depth players. Both Kaindoh and Herring will get snaps if their participation demonstrates their progress throughout camp and pre-season games.

DE Free Agents

Success might come down to the fundamental question of experience and: “who ya’ gonna’ call? Alex Okafor, who has two years of experience with the Chiefs, could return. Beyond that? Your guess is as good as mine. Carl Nassib(Raiders F/A) might be a good choice. He is 25 and would have a contract value in the $4-5M range. There are still 20 other vets available. Derek Barnett(Philly F/A) would fall into the same age range and salary level as Nassib. Or Veach could bring aboard a more expensive though older vet. Who knows who that might be.

The Chiefs DT Group

The starter on the right is Stone Cold Jones. On the left is Derrick Nnadi. I am comfortable with the pair but would like to see Brett Veach Acquire a 3-down DT, a solid pass rusher from the left side.

If All Worked Perfectly, Adding a Veteran DE would Aid the Cause

Above, I mentioned three names, and those are just three among many. Alex Okafor would add experience as a depth player, and he is also familiar with Spagnuolo’s Defensive PlayBook. At the same time, the defense is in the process of growth and change. There will be an inevitable learning curve for rookies and veterans alike. Recently, I converted the Safeties, Cornerbacks, and Linebackers. I believe that these three groups are going to be solid. I am comfortable that these three position groups are going to be solid.

The DT group is at least solid and Dependable

Laddie Morse will attest to our many conversations about the DL altogether. In 2021 we both were lobbying for a pass-rush DT to join Chris Jones. Derrick Nnadi is a solid run-stopper. Behind Jones and Nnadi, the depth is there to handle the load.

The Big Question: Will the Shark get Back to Form

Laddie also would attest to my view of Frank Clark. I was all for releasing Frank Clark. What happened was Clark was retained for half his previous contract. Then Veach Drafted George Karlaftis in round one of 2022’s draft. Clark has had health issues and personal problems the past two seasons. Perhaps he can get beyond that in 2022. That is a hope we can all offer a prayer to the football gods to help fulfill. If Clark is the Shark Again and George Karlaftis develops quickly into a force rushing the passer, the DL would be far improved over what we witnessed in 2021.

The Front Four Project Continues

I do believe Veach needs to draft to the DT and DE roles heavily in the 2023 draft. The Chiefs need to get younger at both positions and more capable of pressuring the QB. I like Derrick Nnadi, but he has not provided pressure on the pocket from the DT position. Khalen Saunders has not shown growth in the role either. We all may like and give credos to Tershawn Wharton, which I think is warranted but he is a depth player as well. Signing Veteran DT Taylor Stallworth is a move to shore up the interior. That all looks good to me. For all we know on the outside looking in, Derrick Nnadi will again be a force inside. He has steadily improved since starting out in the NT role. Craig Stout observed this about Derrick: “Nnadi showed growth from 2019 to 2020, culminating in his best statistical season in 2021. In only 10 games, Nnadi logged 38 combined tackles with three sacks and two tackles for loss. His five quarterback hits in 2021 dwarfed his previous career-high of one. 2021 was a real step forward, but advanced analytics said he was middling for the most part. It was an underwhelming performance in a contract year…” Let’s hope for a huge step forward for Nnadi in 2022.

could advance his credentials by adding a true left-side interior pass rush in 2022. Stallworth might add to the “force” inside as well. But, it is not all bad news.

The “New Look Spagnuolo Defense”

The defense, as Spagnuolo observed, is making progress that he can see in the OTAs. Foote coined the defining identity as the “New Look” Spagnuolo Defense as Jordan Foote named it in a recent article at the Arrowhead Report. It’s undoubtedly going to be a new Look. To quote Jordan:

“Replacing key elements of a defense is never easy, but the team opted to put its complete faith in several new players for the 2022 campaign. Whether that trust pays off remains to be seen, but as Spagnuolo mentioned, the early signs are positive.”

Future Possibility?

I am not opposed to a significant trade either if there is indeed a worthy DE or DT who has caught the eye of Veach’s Scouting Staff. With 14 WRs in camp, a Trade could offer a trade possibility maximized for the DL.

Bottom Line?

Things are unfolding in Reid’s organized plan for the OTAs at this early point in the season. It’s a true drill, and it stages from one group to the next in prep for the Mandatory Mini-Camp. But I think the signs are encouraging for the Front Four and the Defense overall. I hate to add this to my “Wai-n’-see list,” but that’s the case.

David Bell – ArrowheadOne