Teicher|Sutton on Chiefs’ defense: ‘You don’t have to junk the system’

[Tribal Warfare]

Sutton on Chiefs’ defense: ‘You don’t have to junk the system’
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
New defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said the way the Chiefs go about their business next season probably won’t be much different than last year. They’re just hoping to do things better.

“One of the most important things in coaching is really to figure out who you are and not who you want to be,” said Sutton, who will retain the 3-4 defense used in recent seasons by former coordinator Romeo Crennel. “There’s a difference there. We’ve got to talk advantage of the talent in place and try to use that as the starting point of this whole thing. You don’t have to junk the system but you have to tilt it or slant it or move it in the direction of your strengths. That’s really what we’re doing right now.

“We’re not going to be tied to anything but the way I envision it speaking to Coach Reid when I came in here … it’s got to be tailored a little bit to the personnel here.”

Meanwhile, the Chiefs filled the last remaining hole in their coaching staff Tuesday by hiring Andy Heck as their offensive line coach. Heck, 46, spent the last nine seasons coaching the offensive line for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A former first-round draft pick from Notre Dame, Heck played 12 seasons in the NFL as an offensive lineman for Seattle, Chicago and Washington.

Heck replaces Jack Bicknell Jr., who spent one season as the Chiefs offensive line coach. The Chiefs spoke with at least two other candidates, veteran offensive line coaches George Warhop and Tony Sparano.

The Chiefs also hired Kevin O’Dea as assistant special teams coach. O’Dea, who worked under Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub with the Bears last season, has also been a special teams coach for the Jets and Cardinals.

The Chiefs may make an additional coaching hire in former Vikings head coach Brad Childress, who would be a senior offensive assistant.

One of Sutton’s first jobs after being hired last week was to sort through the defensive talent. Linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali and safety Eric Berry are Pro Bowlers and linebacker Justin Houston and cornerback Brandon Flowers are first alternates, meaning they could be going to Hawaii as well.

“We’ve got some good football players here,” Sutton said. “It’s a good group, played hard, played physical. Those two attributes are ones that everybody in our league wants to have when you’re coaching on defense.

“We’ve got some pieces in place and really, no different than any of the other 31 teams, we probably have some areas where we probably need to improve on.”

Sutton inherits a defense with three Pro Bowlers in outside linebacker Tamba Hali and inside linebacker Derrick Johnson and safety Eric Berry.

“We’ve got some good football players here and guys who played well … played hard … were physical, those two attributes are ones everyone in our league wants to have on defense,” Sutton said. “If you’re physical, tough-minded, serve you well for a long time. Those parts are here. That’s encouraging and exciting.”

Sutton said he was familiar with the Chiefs’ defense under former coach Romeo Crennel from working with Jets head coach Rex Ryan.

“It’s a great system of defense, the true 3-4. When Rex came into the Jets, it had many similarities to this, but has a little more multiple and more schematically how we lined up,” Sutton said. “A lot of the principles stayed the same in how our up-front players attacked blockers. …

“A lot of the players have the characteristics we’re looking for.”

Two of those are pass rushers like Justin Houston, who finished with 10 sacks, and Hali, who finished with nine.

“They’re exciting guys coming off the edge,” Sutton said. “One of the things I learned from Rex is it’s great to have sacks, but the key thing is to hit the quarterback. You’re trying to affect the quarterback and not let him feel comfortable. The bottom line is we don’t want that guy standing back there and feeling comfortable.

“You need guys whether it’s coming through pressure or unconventional means to get there, you still need people to defeat a blocker and get to that quarterback. We’ve got two guys who have proven they are capable of doing that.”

The Star’s Randy Covitz contributed to this report

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

What did you expect him to say? We're going to sit back and give the QB 10 seconds to throw the ball?

The fact that they actually evaluated what's here and decided which defense is the best fit instead of just going with what they've done in the past is good to hear.

[RustShack]

I take it as, we are keeping the 3-4 but switching gaps.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by O.city

The fact that they actually evaluated what's here and decided which defense is the best fit instead of just going with what they've done in the past is good to hear.

Yeah, this. Using the talent here in the best way possible may seem simple but plenty of coaches go the other route. I really don't think this D is that far away if they just get the Dline to do something, anything. With our cap and spot in the draft, we should be able to fix the CB/S spots, probably ILB as well. Enough at least, that I don't think drastic steps in changing the entire defensive scheme was needed.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by RustShack

I take it as, we are keeping the 3-4 but switching gaps.

Over simplified mon frere, but yes.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

What did you expect him to say? We're going to sit back and give the QB 10 seconds to throw the ball?

That's essentially what his scheme was asked to do under Mangini and what our scheme did under Romeo.

So yes, saying he wants to attack is a strong statement and one that should make people happy.

I like the words. Hopefully I'll like the results.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

[B][SIZE="5"]Sutton said he was familiar with the Chiefs’ defense under former coach Romeo Crennel from working with Jets head coach Rex Ryan.

“It’s a great system of defense, the true 3-4......."

I guess it means the "Bend/Don't Break" will be back. This doesn't really thrill me.

Originally Posted by RustShack

I take it as, we are keeping the 3-4 but switching gaps.

Will this thrill me?

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by Frankie

I guess it means the "Bend/Don't Break" will be back. This doesn't really thrill me.



Will this thrill me?

Sutton was in the two gap that we run under Mangini. Then they switched to Rex's 1 gap attacking 3-4 and got a lot better. He is bringing the version he learned under Rex, not the one he was in under Mangini that Crennel runs.

He is experienced in both, on top of several other types including Herms Tampa-2 Lol.

This is his first time running a defense, he had the title of DC under Mangini, but he wasn't running it or had a say in what defense the Jets ran. The Jets also didn't have the pieces in place to even run it.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by RustShack

Sutton was in the two gap that we run under Mangini. Then they switched to Rex's 1 gap attacking 3-4 and got a lot better. He is bringing the version he learned under Rex, not the one he was in under Mangini that Crennel runs.

He is experienced in both, on top of several other types including Herms Tampa-2 Lol.

This is his first time running a defense, he had the title of DC under Mangini, but he wasn't running it or had a say in what defense the Jets ran. The Jets also didn't have the pieces in place to even run it.

Thx, man. I always have a hard time keeping track of those terminologies. I googled it and got this:

"The one-gap lineman is only responsible for the one gap in the offensive linemen and he typically lines up directly in this gap on the defensive line. The two-gap lineman is technically responsible for the gap on either side of the offensive lineman that he is lined up across from. The main purpose of the one-gap technique is for the defensive lineman to get past the offensive lineman and either sack the quarterback or tackle the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage. On the other hand, the main purpose of the two-gap technique is for the defensive line to "clog" the line of scrimmage which allows for the more athletic linebackers to make plays on the outside of the play or gives them time to support in case of a run up the middle."

I guess this means a more attacking style of 34. Happiness meter pointing up again.

[WhiteWhale]

I think the new practice restrictions, which has made pass blocking much worse league wide, certainly encourages 1 gap defenses where everyone is trying to get in the backfield.

At the same time there is no defense that 'attacks' like Gunther Cunningham. That's why you can gain 20 yards every time you run a draw play against Detroit. They attack with no responsibility... and that's Gunther's defense.

So yeah... guys need to attack, but I've seen defenses that 'attack' without a brain and it's ugly.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

I think the new practice restrictions, which has made pass blocking much worse league wide, certainly encourages 1 gap defenses where everyone is trying to get in the backfield.

At the same time there is no defense that 'attacks' like Gunther Cunningham. That's why you can gain 20 yards every time you run a draw play against Detroit. They attack with no responsibility... and that's Gunther's defense.

So yeah... guys need to attack, but I've seen defenses that 'attack' without a brain and it's ugly.

THIS.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Phobia

I like the words. Hopefully I'll like the results.

This.

[jjchieffan]

Originally Posted by Frankie

Thx, man. I always have a hard time keeping track of those terminologies. I googled it and got this:

"The one-gap lineman is only responsible for the one gap in the offensive linemen and he typically lines up directly in this gap on the defensive line. The two-gap lineman is technically responsible for the gap on either side of the offensive lineman that he is lined up across from. The main purpose of the one-gap technique is for the defensive lineman to get past the offensive lineman and either sack the quarterback or tackle the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage. On the other hand, the main purpose of the two-gap technique is for the defensive line to "clog" the line of scrimmage which allows for the more athletic linebackers to make plays on the outside of the play or gives them time to support in case of a run up the middle."

I guess this means a more attacking style of 34. Happiness meter pointing up again.

Based on this, I would think that we would want the 2 gap system. It frees up our pass rushets, Halo and Houston. A one gap has the dline rushing. Our dline sucks at rushing the passer.

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

I think the new practice restrictions, which has made pass blocking much worse league wide, certainly encourages 1 gap defenses where everyone is trying to get in the backfield.

At the same time there is no defense that 'attacks' like Gunther Cunningham. That's why you can gain 20 yards every time you run a draw play against Detroit. They attack with no responsibility... and that's Gunther's defense.

So yeah... guys need to attack, but I've seen defenses that 'attack' without a brain and it's ugly.

Well, you've got to have smart physical inside LB's to make the 1 gap style work or you will give up big plays up the middle.

I defer to Ray Lewis' statements on Rex's 34 defense -- something to the effect of constantly getting mauled by linemen.

If your DL take the right gap to the ball, you did good. If they take the wrong gap, your backers had better man up.

[tomahawk kid]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

This.

Ditto.