Pass rush is going to be interesting to watch. I'm not sure the numbers are going to be that far off last year's, it just maybe isn't going to only come from two guys. It's just really hard to tell with what they didn't show in the preseason.

Based on the tiny bit of evidence we have from the preseason, I believe that we'll be better against the run than we were last year. Of course, that's not that hard to do, as we were almost the worst team in the league against the run in 2018.

And while we didn't make any big moves at CB, we did at least get rid of Nelson and Scandrick. When we picked up Scandrick last year I was almost physically ill. I think we'll be much better at safety, which should make our secondary better than last year, and might make us better against the run as well. If Matthieu can stay healthy.

I believe it's obvious that our defensive line is much improved over 2018. We may not get as many sacks at the end of the year, but we should be more consistent against the run, and we should be able to get pressure at those critical moments.

Honestly I don't like our LB corps. They didn't look that great in preseason. They might be our Achilles heel in 2019.

What I hope is that our defense makes some strides as a unit this year (some wishful thinking here if our LBs are really as ineffective as I think they are) and they become a middle tier unit. Ideally somewhere around 14th or 15th (I think the SB champion team with the worst defense was around 15th). Anything better than 17th in the league and I think we win the SB.

I fear this defense will prevent us from hoisting the Lombardi trophy.

Top 5 in run defense

Bottom 5 in Pass Defense

A Pro Bowl safety!? We're talking about a year-on-year comparison. Berry played in a grand total of 3 games last year and was limited in 2 of them. We lost a Pro Bowl safety in 2017. And if that's the argument, Matthieu was an All Pro in 2015 so we've replaced like with like.

In all seriousness, tackling. We need to tackle better. Our pass rush was outstanding last year and highly underappreciated on CP in my view. I worry about it too but I think we have a better all-around defensive unit. Dee Ford was a monster coming around the edge a la DT but Clark will be much more well-rounded and that's what this team needs.

I'm excited to see something new and don't blame the Chiefs for a second if it fails. They revamped the defense (and weren't meek in doing so) and that's we could realistically ask for after several years of becoming Suttoned.

19-0

If we can stop the damned run consistently, I'll be happy.

Just don't suck.

I think McCoy and Darwin will contribute to a very effective short passing game that will produce sustained scoring drives and keep opposing offenses off the field once the Chiefs get a 2 TD lead. The Chiefs defense will be a lot better statistically if they're watching the Chiefs offense from the sideline most of the game.

I honestly think the defense as a whole will be very good the second half of the year and will be able to have some very impressive outings to start the year against a few bad offenses.

Top 5 safeties
Top 7 DL
Average linebackers
Average but thin CBs

Pick 2 of these guys to have a breakout year and the defense could sneak into the top 12 by the time we go into the playoffs...and causing a lot of turnovers:

Breeland
Fuller
Hitchens
Lee
Thornhill

If 2 of those guys break out, this defense has a chance to be flat out nasty