The Arising of the Chiefs Defense

David Bell

In a recent commentary, I have touted the Chiefs Defense as a rising force. Directing your attention to a central point that I have made, adding a significant piece to the defense would go a long way to bolstering an already good defense — that puzzle piece could be brought about by adding a veteran Edge Player who will be an advisor/educator and leader for Joe Cullen’s front line. I have also posited that the Chiefs should resolve the CJ extension and bring back Frank Clark or Carlos Dunlap, possibly both, having worked with George Karlaftis in his rookie year.

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The Defensive Line

Most assuredly, the signing of Charles Omenihu was a coup — an adaptable DL — who can play both inside and out. Just the kind of guy both Joe Cullen and Steve Spagnuolo love. GM Brett Veach also pulled off a silent coup by being able to draft Keondre Coburn, a Defensive Tackle from the University of Texas. The more I investigated adding Coburn to the fold, the more I came to appreciate what he brings to the Front Four. Sure, he is a rookie, but his selection in the 5th round made a ton of sense. I am not sure how the DT will look for the final 53, but Danny Shelton will have to play lights out to maintain a role inside and hold off Keondre Coburn. At the same time, Tershawn Wharton returns to play after his 2022 season ended with an injury.

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Keondre Coburn, University of Texas

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My thinking about this topic relates to the progress that George Karlaftis (GK) made as the season progressed through 2022. Having added Felix Anudike-Uzomah as the first-round selection in the 2023 draft, I can see the same experience would be of similar benefit to him in the soon-to-be-coined 2023 season, and that would be money in the bank, so to speak. I am most assuredly positive that the Chiefs were looking to add OU LOT Anton Harrison with their first-round pick, but he was selected by the Panthers at pick 28, so selecting FAU was a default choice Brett Veach made after Harrison was gone. Checking out the FAU highlight film should whet your appetite for what he brings to the table – video here (5:05):

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Laddie pointed out that Mike Borgonzi compared FAU to Chiefs legend Tamba Hali. You have to love FAU’s 2022 results too: 46 tackles, 11.0 TFLs, 8.5 Sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup… in 14 games.

I’ve also referred to Yannick Ngakoue recently and I am adding another reference to him by Kenneth Teape of NFL Analysis Network, which provides another view of Ngakoue’s fit for the Chiefs. Teape’s piece is called: “Chiefs Are Best Fit For Yannick Ngakoue Now In NFL Free Agency” in which he said:

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“Yannick Ngakoue has played in the NFL for seven seasons and has recorded at least 8.0 sacks in each season. He has double-digit quarterback hits every year as well. Regardless of where he ends up, he has found his way into the opponent’s backfield to make some plays.”

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In the past two seasons, Ngakoue tallied 19.5 sacks.

For now, I would posit that Charles Omenihu will get significant reps as a DE, but he can be moved inside as well due to his versatility. This bodes well for JoeCullen’s DL Group, which boasts Chris Jones inside (a future HoF player). There is a lot to be said for any of these three Veteran Edge players. mentioned here. We know the value of Clark and Dunlap, and adding Yannick would bring a younger player who possibly fits the Chiefs mold and mindset.

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Myself? I would truly prefer to have the “shark” patrolling the pond. Charles Omenihu’s use bodes well for Joe Cullen’s DL Group which boasts Chris Jones inside. There is a lot to be said for any of these three Veteran Edge players: Ngakoue, Clark, and Dunlap. We know the value of Clark and Dunlap, but adding Yannick Ngakoue would bring in a younger veteran (he just turned 28).

Possible signings later in the Summer:

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My point about adding a veteran to the group is that it would bring to the Chiefs an experienced player, one of whom would benefit Karlaftis, in his 2nd season, and FAU, a rookie Edge defender. After the second week of OTAs, it’s far too early to make an adequate prognosis about those possible additions. I want to get the players into camp, in pads, and see what force the DL group brings to the table then see what the young guys offer up in preseason games.

DC Steve Spagnuolo observed in his portion of the Chiefs presser, that it’s ultimately too early to know much about the defensive line group right now. He did have positive things to say about both BJ Thompson and Keondre Coburn. He also indicated that he was hopeful that both Malik Herring and Joshua Kaindoh are able to take a big step forward in 2023.

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The LB Corps

Another Biggie

When Brett Veach signed free agent Drue Tranquill (who was previously a LB for the Chargers), I was almost ecstatic. What that Cali outfit was thinking is beyond me. With Willie Gay, Nick Bolton, Tranquill, and Leo Chenal, the Chiefs will have a mix-n-match LB crew that will likely become the best LB crew in the NFL. They will make the front four, even more, effective — Count on It!

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There are too many credos to hand out to these players — Gay’s side-line-to-side-line speed, Bolton adding to his monster tally sheet by making tackles and forcing errors, add-in Leo Chenal’s hard-hitting talent, and Tranquill bringing pass coverage talent to an already impressive crew. So much so that the Chiefs did not seek to retain Darius Harris, another LB that both Laddie and I believed would be effective in 2022 and into the future.

With the leadership of LB Coach Brenden Daly and OLB coach Ken Flajole, the Chiefs saw extremely solid work from the LB group in 2022. I look for this group to be the strongest position group of all of the Chiefs defensive units.

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The Chiefs Secondary

The Pièce de Résistance

With the departure of Juan Thornhill in Free Agency, Secondary Coaches, Dave Merritt and Donald D’Alesio, clearly have faith in the leadership of Justin Reid, backed up by Strong Safeties Deon Bush and Nazeeh Johnson. It appears that Merritt and D’Alesio both have positive appraisals of how Bryan Cook, slotted as the starter at Free Safety, and recently signed FS Mike Edwards will each ball out. Behind those two, the Chiefs drafted Chamarri Connor to add to the mix.

At CB, the Chiefs feature L’Jarius Sneed on the outside or slot CB, along with Trent McDuffie, who really built up his play as a rookie in 2022. Both are completely solid players. Add to that prowess what we witnessed from Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson, both of whom surprised everyone with how solidly they performed for a Super Bowl winning team. Consider, too, that the Chiefs drafted Nic Jones, who could be another 7th-round master’s pick, to add to the mix. I have high hopes that Nic Jones is the right player to fit the group.

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Rock Bottom Line?

The Chiefs defense will significantly improve in 2023, even if Frank Clark is not brought back into the fold. Bringing Clark back would put the DL far beyond where it was in 2022. I firmly believe in Justin Reid’s leadership, on and off the field, for the Safety Group. Reid, I understand, has come back this year much improved physically:

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I am absolutely convinced that adding Drue Tranquill to the LB crew was a top-notch acquisition. I further insist that signing Charles Omenihu was another masterful Brett Veach acquisition.

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When all this is said and done, I am firmly aligned with analysts touting that the Chiefs Defense is a top-10 outfit!

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David Bell – ArrowheadOne

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