A look at the NFL's best and worst front sevens
 

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article..._=W0Mvg#!W0Mvg
(highlights)

The Five Best Defensive Front Sevens
1. St. Louis Rams
2. Carolina Panthers
3. Buffalo Bills
4. San Francisco 49ers
5. Kansas City Chiefs

The most interesting thing about the Chiefs' front seven is that it is a front five or six. Bob Sutton used nickel or dime personnel on over 66% of defensive plays last season, a high percentage even by today's "all nickel, all the time" standards. The Chiefs used just one or two defensive lineman on almost exactly half of all defensive plays. They essentially used a 2-4-5 or 2-3-6 base defense, which is a reminder of just how silly the 3-4/4-3 distinction has become.

If you consider the Chiefs' front seven a front six, you have to be particularly impressed that two-thirds of them reached the Pro Bowl: Dontari Poe, Tamba Hali, Justin Houston and Derrick Johnson. Tyson Jackson is gone, but Dee Ford has arrived, and it is easy to stay deep on the defensive line when you only use linemen one or two at a time.

You would think that all the nickel personnel would wreak havoc on the Chiefs run defense, but they finished in the middle of the pack in most metrics. In Power Situations (goal-to-go, third-and-short) they held opponents to a 56 percent conversion rate, seventh best in the NFL. So when it's time for Mike DeVito and Allen Bailey to take the field and give the Chiefs a big, conventional front, they get the job done. But pass rush and disruption are the name of the game for this defense, and while Sutton and the defensive backs contribute to the cause, this is one nasty defensive front.

Worth Mentioning
Top Ten: Seattle Seahawks, Jets
On the Rise: Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons.

The Five Worst Front Sevens
28. Miami Dolphins
29. New York Giants
30. Cleveland Browns
31. San Diego Chargers.
32. Dallas Cowboys

I love the Chiefs front 7, but right now I just can't put them over Seattle.

Red Bryant and Chris Clemmons have taken their talents to Jacksonville, and there have been some minor surgeries too.

Another good write-up.

We just need a pass rush from our down linemen. If we go another season with no pass rush presence on the line aside from Poe, we'll continue to struggle putting pressure on good QBs.

It's about time we draft and start grooming DJ's replacement as well.

And that's why Walker was brought in.

Bingo

one or two defensive lineman in 50% of their plays...:facepalm:

last yr the chiefs had 7 defensive lineman, 9 linebackers, and 9 defensive backs.

With the chiefs using 2 or less down lineman for the majority of snaps, I wonder if the team carries less defensive lineman in favor of more defensive backs. This would also improve special teams.

The game has changed

top 5 because they beat up on bad teams and backup quarterbacks? where were they in the 2nd half in the season?

that is the direction the NFL is moving, thanks to rules that favor the passing game. Teams are giving up mass in favor of speed.
http://www.sbnation.com/2014/3/13/55...rs-nickel-dime
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/po...-dime-approach
Cowboys, Broncos, Bengals, and Packers also had a defense that featured 5 dbs over 70% of defensive snaps as of 10/10/2013 (date of article)