This is not quite criticizing Mahomes for not throwing a TD pass, but it's probably the next level down. Interior defensive line is so important. We just saw that with the Bucs and Vea. Teams would kill to have an interior presence like Jones who can rush the passer.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Aaron Donald is on his own planet.<br><br>Double team rate as a defensive tackle (x) by pass rush win rate as a defensive tackle (y), 2020 regular season. <br><br>(Y axis is overall PRWR, not just vs. double teams). <a href="https://t.co/N0d8FAmih2">pic.twitter.com/N0d8FAmih2</a></p>&mdash; Seth Walder (@SethWalder) <a href="https://twitter.com/SethWalder/status/1350481704193060871?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

But teh sacks!

How I hate the off-season.

Spags is maximizing what he has. Our best personnel = nickel. We don't have the LBs to run a base 4-3. Hell, other than potentially Gay, we don't really have even a mediocre LB corps. Veach brought in a bunch of Dallas scrubs. He needs to address it. Hitchins & Wilson are meh at best. Niemann, O'Daniel, and Harris are JAGs at best. Gay is a maybe, but way too early to call

Do they have a graphic like that for offensive linemen?

I'm curious to see where Andrew Wylie stacks up.

You're seeing something that isn't there because you value LB way more than the modern NFL does.

It isn't 1995 anymore.

If Spags wanted to run a base 4-3, he would. Regardless of personnel.

Don't kid yourself into thinking he's running what he believes to be an inferior base defense because the LB's suck. It just isn't true.

You're talking about finding impact players right away though. Try to win a SB again while the core is strong. One of these players would have to come in and immediately give us what Clark or Kpassagnon didn't all season. Yes, it's possible to find such a player late in the first round (or any round). But don't forget they need impact players at OL and WR also. They pretty much have to draft the best player available unless they trade up for someone they want. I'd prefer either OL or DE before WR, but we don't have much after Hill at WR.

It will be an interesting draft for sure as they have multiple needs.

Daelin Hayes in the 3rd-5th round.

I don't think Chris Jones is a problem... not even close... might wanna start with those linebackers standing behind him

Meh. Wilson and Hitchens both had solid seasons. We need to find an edge rusher.

Nickel isn't "inferior" unless you face a strong running game. Then it might be. I just look at it this way: the formula for beating KC is to get pressure with front four alone (much easier said than done), deep shell coverage, run the ball and eat up clock, use play-action off the run game, screens to counter aggressive blitzing, and hope a couple of things bounce your way (e.g. piss poor officiating). Now, that strategy has come close numerous times this season, and worked exactly twice: Oakland and TB.

Our DL does a good job of disrupting the LOS. We have a legit playmaker in Jones. Our secondary does a good job in coverage, and a great job of capitalizing on mistakes due to three playmakers. Our LBs, no. Too many arm tackles, too many whiffs, too many missed assignments, too many bad reads, too slow, bad angles. Get someone at the second level who can make plays, and this defense is stacked. Stuff the run, bring in nickel when teams are forced to play catchup.

Doesn't have to be our first pick in the draft. We just need to look for a playmaker at LB. Someone disruptive. They don't have to be the "best" LB in the league. Hell, would you rate Mathieu, Sorenson, or Sneed as best in the league at their position? No way, but they are playmakers. When opportunities arise, they step up and make big plays. Sometimes they whiff. Sometimes they take bad angles. And sometimes they turn a game around by making a huge play. We need that in our LB corps.

edit: or maybe we need new coaches for our LBs?

Get a real edge rusher. Not some Okafor guy. Don’t draft some loser like Speaks and say, “oh he’s great because he was always around the ball and you can move him inside on 3rd down...”

A real ****ing edge rusher.

Yeah, on paper LB is their weakest defensive position. However, they did win a SB last year with a weak group at LB. And made another SB this year. The pass rush was great in the playoffs last year. It masked their weakness at LB.

Gay played well late in the year. Hitchens wasn't bad. That's about it, though. They should be able to sign some cheap free agents who can replace Niemann or Wilson. It's a position I wish they were better at, but their needs at other positions are just stronger now.

Chris Jones was routinely double and triple teamed if you watched the actions in the trenches. Dumb thread.

Veach and Reid have their work cut out. Gotta keep adding talent through the draft if you want to stay in contention.

This, and it's a pretty sizable need