How would YOU try to improve the defense?

[UChieffyBugger]

Amid all the hysteria over our two wins and offensive performances, I'm just wondering what can realistically be done to improve the defense? Now we know Berry will hopefully be returning soon which should be massive, but with the way this offense is looking, just a slight improvement on defense could take us to the promise land yall. So does Veach sit, be patient and hope Berry is enough to improve things? Should he get on the phone and beg Breeland to join the kingdom? Or should he seek to make a trade of some sort?

I think I'd probably go with trying to get Breeland in and with Berry added to the mix I think the unit would be vastly improved.

...Breeland...Berry...Parker...Fuller...

With Nelson In the slot. Surely that would be enough?

[O.city]

Those guys we signed late in the preseason should be getting up to speed here fairly soon so I'd think they may be phased in a little bit.

Getting Berry back will help, but they need the guys out there to play better.

[O.city]

It's also where they really ****ed up in the remaking of the D IMO.

They built a high octane offense that's gonna score a lot of points and then try and build your D around stopping the run.

That's what they needed with Alex at QB. Now they needed to load up on pass rushers and DB's.

Whoops.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by O.city

It's also where they really ****ed up in the remaking of the D IMO.

They built a high octane offense that's gonna score a lot of points and then try and build your D around stopping the run.

That's what they needed with Alex at QB. Now they needed to load up on pass rushers and DB's.

Whoops.

Best way to stop a high powered offense is to run the ball and keep the opposing teams offense off the field. I like that we prepared for that.

Veach also planned for a rotational pass rush. Almost every DL and OLB can play inside or outside. They are constantly being moved around and it has worked.
Pass rush has actually been really solid. The problem is that Big Ben is the best at avoiding pressure and getting away in time and Rivers is great at quick throws.

The biggest improvement we could make is getting Eric Berry back at the level he was at last year.

People need to understand the effect Berry has on our defense. He can single cover a TE, which means another defender can help cover somewhere else. At worst it’s 5 WR’s vs 8 coverage players, but with Berry it’s technically 4 receivers vs 7 coverage players.

[Toad]

Originally Posted by kccrow

I agree with not supporting the "blitz" mentality. We are, essentially, running a 4-3 alignment anyhow with 2 down-lineman and 2 OLBs. Teams ran a 4-man rush 65% of the time last year with a 30% pressure rate. Teams ran a blitz 26% of the time last year with a 43% pressure rate. Teams aren't blitzing all the time, obviously. Teams ran 2-to-3-man rushes 8% of the time with a 26% pressure rate.

KC used the 2-to-3-man rush more than all but New England last year and, and boasted the 8th-best pressure rate from it at 29.5% which is on par with the 4-man rush average across the league. KC ranked 14th in the NFL in pressure percentage with a 4-man rush and 17th in the league in a blitz (5+ rushers). They were also among the best when sending a DB, ranking 5th in the league at 63%.

So, the stats don't support the notion that KC doesn't generate pressure on the opposition. What I think most are wanting is to see pressures in specific situations they are not or have not in the past. Blindly calling that Sutton's defense creates no pressure though is absurd and unfounded.

I will say, this season, I'm not overly impressed with what I've seen on the field in terms of player execution of the scheme. Whiffing easy tackles and losing underneath coverage assignments are the two big ones. This team doesn't need All-Pros at every position for Bob, they need players that can execute at a fundamental level. I think the Chiefs are severely lacking in that department in a few spots. Based on my shitty view on the TV screen, it appears Hitchens looks good as a run and hit tackler, but it seems he's losing coverage assignments and Ragland is absolute shit in coverage, but again I don't really get to see the play develop in its entirety. Eric Murray is absolute garbage at everything, I don't need All-22 for that lump of shit. This defense is really missing Berry and Sorensen right now. Given that O'Daniel hasn't seen action isn't promising for a Sorensen replacement as the coverage-backer. I wouldn't mind seeing what Watts could do out there in that role because he's a hitter.

Anyhow, this is getting to be a book...

Good post. Appreciate the insights.
I guess my question would be....What is the data source's definition of "pressure rate"?

For example, we saw Rivers & Roethlisberger get a little pressure, then take a slight side step, then have some tea and cookies before proceeding to toss for huge gains. In other words, pressure may mean very little if an opposing QB can simply side step and wait until a man comes open.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

I think Jimmy G. is pretty pedestrian, really. I hope they kick the crap out of the Niners this week.

I agree that JG has been anointed too early and will look for the most part pedestrian in the long run, BUT against our defense he could look good.

Regardless of our lack of defensive talent, the one HUGE factor that will really help them not feel the pressure 'as much this year' and help them relax more and make more plays creating turnovers is the PM2 effect.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Best way to stop a high powered offense is to run the ball and keep the opposing teams offense off the field. I like that we prepared for that.

Veach also planned for a rotational pass rush. Almost every DL and OLB can play inside or outside. They are constantly being moved around and it has worked.
Pass rush has actually been really solid. The problem is that Big Ben is the best at avoiding pressure and getting away in time and Rivers is great at quick throws.

The biggest improvement we could make is getting Eric Berry back at the level he was at last year.

People need to understand the effect Berry has on our defense. He can single cover a TE, which means another defender can help cover somewhere else. At worst it’s 5 WR’s vs 8 coverage players, but with Berry it’s technically 4 receivers vs 7 coverage players.

I mean, teams can try and run the ball and keep the CHiefs offense off the field. But even then, you're gonna have to score points.

They're gonna be in a lot of games this year where the other team is gonna have to throw it a lot. If you can't stop the pass in today's NFL you're toast.

[mcaj22]

They need to make a trade with the Cards that benched all their 3-4 guys that dont fit their new 4-3 scheme. Hasson Reddick comes to mind. Could be the coverage backer needed here.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

They need to make a trade with the Cards that benched all their 3-4 guys that dont fit their new 4-3 scheme. Hasson Reddick comes to mind. Could be the coverage backer needed here.

I had thought about him earlier this year.

They've got a few players I'd like to have.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by O.city

I mean, teams can try and run the ball and keep the CHiefs offense off the field. But even then, you're gonna have to score points.

They're gonna be in a lot of games this year where the other team is gonna have to throw it a lot. If you can't stop the pass in today's NFL you're toast.

And the other teams 'will be able to run and score on our defense' for sure and especially pass on our defense. Our secondary is toast NOW.

Getting Berry and Sorenson back will NOT make this a top 15 defense BUT will provide just enough 'key stops' so that we keep right on scoring on offense to win the majority of games IMHO.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Chiefshrink

And the other teams 'will be able to run and score on our defense' for sure and especially pass on our defense. Our secondary is toast NOW.

Getting Berry and Sorenson back will NOT make this a top 15 defense BUT will provide just enough 'key stops' so that we keep right on scoring on offense to win the majority of games IMHO.

The Chiefs run D is fine.

But in the NFL today, that doesn't really matter.

[MahiMike]

I would say that our run defense has definitely improved. Teams are throwing at will now.

Only way to fix it is to get rid of our overpriced guys and stock up some picks for next year.

[Easy 6]

Outside of Veach spending big at the deadline, there is no magic bullet... but a confluence of various happenings would certainly help

Berry coming back ready to roll
Ward and Smith earning their way onto the field
Gotta Turn Kpass loose on obvious passing downs

All 3 of those will go a long way to putting some dazzle back in our razzle

[DRM08]

Offense is good enough to win the whole damn thing if the defense can just be mediocre instead of terrible. Push all the chips to center of the table. Trade whatever draft picks required to land some legitimate defensive talent from another team (or teams).

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by Toad

Good post. Appreciate the insights.
I guess my question would be....What is the data source's definition of "pressure rate"?

For example, we saw Rivers & Roethlisberger get a little pressure, then take a slight side step, then have some tea and cookies before proceeding to toss for huge gains. In other words, pressure may mean very little if an opposing QB can simply side step and wait until a man comes open.

Well, the data comes from Football Outsiders who get pressure data from Sports Information Solutions. Neither post the exact definition of a "pressure" on their website, and SIS basically doesn't post much of anything. SIS partners with ESPN and FO as well as provide data and decision lens metrics to clubs directly (MLB and NFL). So, I'm assuming that whatever they term as a "pressure" is respected by league personnel and two websites built on sports data. I'd love to answer your question more directly, but I don't know that answer.

[Rasputin]

Develop guys we drafted and get them on the field. Getting Eric Berry back soon will be the most immediate impact we can make for this defense.



Eric Berry can make Bob Sutton look like a genius DC at times.