The DL is more self-suffient.
 

Some factoids about our passrush:

The Chiefs ended the year 2nd in the league in sacks, with 55 total.

Jones had 15.5 -- ridiculous.
The next four top sack-rackers were our DEs, which I guess is good. Karlaftis 6, Clark 5, Danna 5, Dunlap 4.

Saunders/Wharton/Williams combined for 5 sacks on the season.

The blitzers put up 14.5 all year.

7 from the LBs.
7.5 from the DBs.

I noticed around the bye week that blitzers accounted for roughly a third of our sacks. I haven't looked up pressures, but I'm going to assume the numbers are similar there.

End of the season, they accounted for 26% of our sacks.

The number dropped exactly for the reason you think:

Week 12 vs. Rams: 3 total sacks, 1 from blitz
Week 13 vs Bengals: 1 total sack, 0 from blitz
Week 14 vs. Broncos: 6 total sacks, 1.5 from blitz
Week 15 vs. Texans: 1 total sack, 0 from blitz
Week 16 vs. Seahawks: 2 total sacks, 0 from blitz
Week 17 vs. Broncos: 4 total sacks, 1 from blitz
Week 18 vs. Raiders: 6 total sacks, 1 from blitz

The last seven games of the season, blitzes accounted for 4.5 out of 23 sacks, or 19%.

I don't know if Spags is blitzing less, or if the blitzes are getting less effective.

I think the biggest factor is that the DL is rushing somewhat more effectively, led by Jones and Karlaftis.
--> In that same 7 week timespan, Jones has put up 6.5 sacks, and Karlaftis has put up 5.5 sacks.

Considering how important it's going to be to beat Burrow (and maybe Allen?) without blitzing, that's a very big development for the defense.

Danna seems to have a knack for knocking the ball loose when he gets to the QB. I really like him.

I'd like to see Georgie continue his hot streak into the playoffs, and playoffs Clark to come out of the wood work.

He got better and better as the year went on. Bodes well for the playoffs. :clap:

If you can add a real edge bending speed guy across the from Karlaftis and have Jones and add maybe another interior DT, this DL gets really interesting.

We do need a Parson's type guy (Who doesn't) but a speed rusher would be huge for us.

I want nothing more than for Clark to set the all time postseason sack record

Danna had a much better performances than I gave him credit for during the last couple games. Looking forward to him continuing that trend. DL has been making some plays recently. Also, someone recognized it; Spags is blitzing quite bit less the last few weeks, and we're still getting sacks.

It's interesting how the defense looks better against shitty teams.

He’s the most improved player on the team this season and it was evident from week 1. He had 6 pressures in Arizona, he hit Herbert twice in week 2 (one of those was Herbert’s injury).

He’s been a valuable Jack of all trades player who has been an excellent interior rusher next to Chris Jones on passing downs.

I wonder if Veach tries to extend him early to a team friendly deal?

Say what you want but this was a fantastic draft pick for a day 3 guy

If I'm not mistaking, I actually saw a double team on George at one point last game. He's had an even bigger impact than what's been said. Partly as a result, Jones had a field day. Lol

(One of the few games our pass rush was stale was against CIN. They had a pair of good T's and doubled Jones. Since then George has been ramping it up and CIN lost a key piece in their OL with Collins going to IR. We're going to need to have every ounce this DL has in order to disrupt Burrow and the three headed monster that is CIN's passing game.)

He's a lot like Saunders; a solid rotational player. Veach will probably make him some kind of offer.

Lol, is there a defense that doesn't?

The '03 Chiefs?

We're sacrificing some elite edge setting for pressuring the QB but so far it appears to be working.