The Chiefs New Defense, So Far
by Laddie Morse | March 19, 2019
Until you see the graphical layout of the Kansas City Chiefs new defense so far, you probably can’t fully grasp the scope of change and needs that remain in the process of the 2019 offseason. So, let’s take a look and then I’ll share some observations with you.
A few explanations first:
- 1) As I began to place the defensive players in some kind of order, the most obvious order was that of the best players at each position on the left, then working to the right.
- 2) The places where I thought there were still holes in the roster, I placed white needs rectangles.
- 3) Some of those white needs rectangles are placed next to players who may end up surpassing expectations of their current ranking, but for now, they remain there based upon their snaps, shown ability and projected usefulness in 2019.
The Current Safety Corp
Tyrann Mathieu is the clear cut best player here, and he may be the best player on the Chiefs new defense. What’s important to know is, that the Chiefs are intending on using him as a “Swiss-Army-Knife” which means they plan on moving him all over the field making it impossible for an opposing QB to get a read on the defensive formation, or coverage scheme that the Chiefs will be running on any particular play. It’s a brilliant concept… expect for one problem… balance.
That is best characterized as mathematical: “what you do to one side, you must do to the other.” You may have heard of that concept for solving equations if you ever took Algebra growing up. If the Chiefs don’t have another Swiss-Army-Knife to play next to Mathieu, then all that opposing QBs have to do to get a good pre-snap read of the Chiefs defense, is look and see who they’re running out there on a given play. If the Chiefs put a Safety in next to Mathieu who is typically good in the box… then how likely would it be for the Chiefs to send that Safety deep in coverage to protect their CBs over the top? Not very, right? Right, and vice-a-versa, the Chiefs aren’t going to run a Safety out there who is typically better in coverage but a dud in the box. Otherwise, it totally gives away the kind of coverage scheme the Chiefs will be using. This may mean the Chiefs go shopping for a Safety who can do all those things that Mathieu does… or is “multiple” as Ransom Hawthorne has suggested, in the draft… if that guy exists… and that may be a hard find.
I placed a white rectangle next to Tyrann Mathieu because after him, I still consider the Safety position a weakness. Could the Chiefs begin the season with the Safeties they have already on the roster? Sure, but there are too many unknowns in this group to feel comfortable with that prospect. I haven’t heard anything yet, but both Daniel Sorensen and Eric Murray have not been tendered and even if they are, it does not strengthen this group.
The Current Cornerback Corp
Some fans may think that signing CB Bashaud Breeland was for the purpose of him playing one of the outside CB positions but, the reality is, he’s mostly a slot corner like Kendall Fuller. In fact, he’s 3 pounds lighter than Fuller while they are the same height: 5-foot-11. That is the main reason I placed a white rectangle first because the Chiefs are still in need of a primary corner, one who can shut down one side of the field would be nice but not many of those guys even exist anymore.
Below is a comparison of Bashaud Breeland and Steven Nelson in 2018 which shows that Nelson was superior on many fronts. I agree with PBS Pinchback (whoever the “H” that is…), that the Chiefs still need a #1 CB:
Now do Bashaud Breeland vs Orlando Scandrick. The Chiefs still need a #1 corner.
— son of Duibhshíth (@eraser48) March 19, 2019
Unless the Chiefs sign another top corner in Free Agency — and there are no more top CBs in FA — then they will have to target a top corner in the coming draft. Just a note moving forward, Ronald Darby was not a top flight CB… and neither was Darqueze Dennard so, if you were still miffed about that, you can get un-miffed right now.
You may have noticed that I have shown space for 7 cornerback in this graphic and that is because Reid has said more than once, “You can’t have enough of those guys.” What this likely means is that the Chiefs will take more than one CB on draft day weekend.
The Current Linebacking Corp
I would have placed a white need rectangle ahead of Anthony Hitchens but I know the Chiefs aren’t placing LB as a primary target right now and they’re planning on using Hitchens and Damien Wilson in their base defensive sets. Besides, I know they want to see if Hitch is a fit for Spags new 43. If Mack Wilson lasts until the end of the second round, I can see them pulling the trigger on him, otherwise, I’d be very surprised to see Brett Veach sign a significant linebacker in Free Agency. Although I’ve been told privately — so shhhh! — that Reggie Ragland is not in the Chiefs plans, I’ll be surprised if he’s not given a shot as a middle linebacker in the new 43 base. Spags D also has a place for Dorian O’Daniel so he’s a keeper and Ben Niemann caught Reid’s eye in last year’s training camp and had some good snaps in the 2018 season so, he’ll be around too.
The Defensive Linemen Corp
Alex Okafor instantly became the Chiefs second best Defensive lineman when the Chiefs signed him last week. What that also means is that the Chiefs DL is still a weakness. While you can argue with me about the order I placed these DL in, its true, as Brett Veach has indicated, that both Breeland Speaks and Tanoh Kpassagnon (both 2nd round picks in the past two draft) are in the Chiefs 2019 plans. So, why do I have Kpass listed second to last? Because he got so few snaps in 2019, it has yet to be seen that he’ll be doing any heavy lifting. Last year Kpass played in 9.8% of the defensive snaps and Breeland Speaks played in over 40% of the defensive snaps. Both Derrick Nnadi and Xavier Williams rotated regularly so they appear here ahead of Kpass. Henry Mondeaux is on the roster but I think he may end up a camp body who is placed on the Practice Squad just before the season begins.
The Chiefs Defense So Far, in Review
Looking back over the Chiefs new D, I can see that Tyrann Mathieu and Chris Jones are currently their only two standout players. Does a team need more than that to have a Super Bowl defense? Not necessarily. All you need to do is take a look at the Super Bowl winners for the past 5 years or so and you’ll see that there was perhaps one team that won it because their defense was so very strong. What the Chiefs do need… and I believe they are in the midst of building now… is a defense that can disrupt the offenses they face long enough to get a few stops per game… and when you think about the Chiefs offense and how good it is, that’s really all the defense needs to do. Get a few stops.
So, what stands out to you about this year’s defense, so far? Has anything changed for you by taking a graphical look at Spags new crew?
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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