This Defense Going Forward

[T-post Tom]

What do YOU want to see changed on the defensive side of the ball?

Note: This is not a call for debate on whether or not the defense caused yesterday's loss. It's about improving the defense. Lot's of good football knowledge at CP, so I'd like to see what ideas are out there.

That said, other than hiring Tony Romo for DC (He was anticipating plays better than Sutton or anyone on the Chiefs' defense.), here are a few suggestions that come to my mind while still numb & bitter from last night's game:

1. Hire the best DC you can get. Duh. Someone with recent success and preferably someone with successful playoff experience. Prior experience in beating Belichick would be a plus. Does that NEW DC's scheme matter? I don't care if he's a 4/3 or 3/4 guy. Maybe converting to a 4/3 would take longer, maybe it wouldn't. If it takes players a year to learn Sutton's system, then I'm not too concerned about adapting to a new scheme. Short time pain for long term gain is good by me. Just get a DC that knows how to game plan for an opponent and make game time adjustments. Someone that will put the right players in the right places and WIN.

2. DO NOT extend/sign/draft any defensive player until you hire a new DC. Let him decide who stays and who goes. Veach and Reid should completely abdicate personnel decisions on the defense. Other than maybe a veto for Veach on major impacts to the cap.

3. Berry/Houston/Hitchens will account for nearly 25% of the 2019 cap under current contracts. Berry and Houston both turned 30 recently. This needs to be addressed in some fashion.

4. Draft or sign SMART (at least football smart) players on defense. Current players seem to always be out of position and do not anticipate the opposing offense. (With a few exceptions.) And the stupid penalties....

5. Get at least one enforcer on the defensive side of the ball. We need a nasty tone-setter. I'm thinking LB or Safety.



Looking forward to great ideas from the CP brain trust. Maybe SR can compile the best ideas and forward them to Veach via Facebook.

[notorious]

6. Cut dumb ****s that can’t manage to line up properly.

[T-post Tom]

Originally Posted by notorious

6. Cut dumb ****s that can’t manage to line up properly.

I feel that fire. He won't have to be cut. His contract is up.

[cmh6476]

I can imagine finding an up and coming DC is tough. You know the guys on your team but they've been operating uber the same scheme. Position coaches likely don't have experience. Guys that are not currently employed, well there's probably a reason. Do you look for a scheme you want to run them interview assistants in that system?

[kcpasco]

Stupid penalty or not if you are gonna continue with this outdated scheme you might as well bring Ford back another year on the franchise tag.

[T-post Tom]

Originally Posted by cmh6476

I can imagine finding an up and coming DC is tough. You know the guys on your team but they've been operating uber the same scheme. Position coaches likely don't have experience. Guys that are not currently employed, well there's probably a reason. Do you look for a scheme you want to run them interview assistants in that system?

I agree, but I think the Chiefs' have a huge bargaining chip in Mahomes and the Chiefs' offense. I think there are potential DCs out there that would LOVE to come to a team like the Chiefs. A team that just went into overtime in the AFCCG.

[Jerm]

Draft or sign playmakers...don't care if it's at a position of need or not, we woefully lack players that can make gaming changing plays on that side of the ball.

Also whoever they bring in *IF* Sutton is jettisoned, and I'm skeptical Reid will do it, needs to run an aggressive downhill scheme that is about attacking.

[T-post Tom]

Originally Posted by kcpasco

Stupid penalty or not if you are gonna continue with this outdated scheme you might as well bring Ford back another year on the franchise tag.

We're looking for changes. Concrete examples of what this team can do to change this defense into a contender. If it helps, here are the top 15 defenses from the 2018 regular season. I'm sure there's someone on one of those staffs that could be hired as a new DC and lift this KC defense from #31 to a top 15. That would really change the playoff outlook for this team next year and going forward...

1. Baltimore
2. Buffalo
3. Chicago
4. Minnesota
5. Jacksonville
6. Pittsburgh
7. Dallas
8. Tennessee
9. LA Chargers
10. Detroit
11. Indianapolis
12. Houston
13. San Francisco
14. New Orleans
15. Carolina

[Buckweath]

Originally Posted by Jerm

Draft or sign playmakers...don't care if it's at a position of need or not, we woefully lack players that can make gaming changing plays on that side of the ball.

Also whoever they bring in *IF* Sutton is jettisoned, and I'm skeptical Reid will do it, needs to run an aggressive downhill scheme that is about attacking.

You mean like Marcus Peters?

[chinaski]

Find a DC that can innovate. Since the NFL has morphed into an offensive 'pass happy' league, you need to think outside the box and bring in somebody with fresh ideas that will explore strange new concepts, seek out new schemes and and new combinations. To boldly coach where no coach has coached before...

[Dayze]

we don't even need to be a 'top' defense. that's the frustrating thing .
With the offense, even if we're in the 15 to 20 range and can reduce our defensive penalties by 1/2, we would be wrecking souls.

[Chris Meck]

Well, I want Ben Bloom, LB coach of the Cowboys for DC. Hitchens previous position coach who had him playing well. Has experience in 3-4 and 4-3 fronts, previously was a pass rush coaching specialist. Has coached multiple position groups and is overshadowed a bit by Richards.

Switch to 4-3. (although you'll be in nickel mostly of course, as the rest of the league). Even front protects LB'ers a bit more. Hitchens, O'Daniel is your coverbacker, and FA/Draftee/Niemann(?)and Ragland in short yardage only. Speaks to LDE, play at a beefy/ fit 280. Kpass backs up at DE. Jones and Nnadi start at DT, Williams backs up. Houston plays RDE. (bull rush is mostly all he's got left anyway.) We lose some sack totals but would be better against the run with the added bulk up front.

Let Bailey walk. cut Sorensen. Let Nelson, Scandrick, Murray all walk.
Sign a 2nd tier CB to man Nelson's spot and compete with Tremon Smith, who still has a lot of upside and excellent speed. Ward, Fuller are decent talent.

Berry for surgery at 8am this morning.

sign a vet S; would love Landon Collins on a long term deal. Earl Thomas probably would be cheaper on a shorter deal. When/if Berry plays GREAT. Not banking on it. Watts/Lucas plus FA vet will be decent.

Tag and trade Ford for a 2nd or 3rd, whichever. he's too one dimensional and is a liability in the run game. Sacks are like INT's; it's the money stat but doesn't take the whole game into account. Use the money for a S, or CB.

with first 4 picks and whatever we get for Ford in the tag-n-trade (rds 1-3 we have a 1, 2 2nds, and a 3rd) draft best defensive player on the board. No reaches, no projects. We need help at all three levels. After draft, look for cheap FA's and June cuts to fill spots.

Mid rounds I draft OL.

[T-post Tom]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Well, I want Ben Bloom, LB coach of the Cowboys for DC. Hitchens previous position coach who had him playing well. Has experience in 3-4 and 4-3 fronts, previously was a pass rush coaching specialist. Has coached multiple position groups and is overshadowed a bit by Richards.

Switch to 4-3. (although you'll be in nickel mostly of course, as the rest of the league). Even front protects LB'ers a bit more. Hitchens, O'Daniel is your coverbacker, and FA/Draftee/Niemann(?)and Ragland in short yardage only. Speaks to LDE, play at a beefy/ fit 280. Kpass backs up at DE. Jones and Nnadi start at DT, Williams backs up. Houston plays RDE. (bull rush is mostly all he's got left anyway.) We lose some sack totals but would be better against the run with the added bulk up front.

Let Bailey walk. cut Sorensen. Let Nelson, Scandrick, Murray all walk.
Sign a 2nd tier CB to man Nelson's spot and compete with Tremon Smith, who still has a lot of upside and excellent speed. Ward, Fuller are decent talent.

Berry for surgery at 8am this morning.

sign a vet S; would love Landon Collins on a long term deal. Earl Thomas probably would be cheaper on a shorter deal. When/if Berry plays GREAT. Not banking on it. Watts/Lucas plus FA vet will be decent.

Tag and trade Ford for a 2nd or 3rd, whichever. he's too one dimensional and is a liability in the run game. Sacks are like INT's; it's the money stat but doesn't take the whole game into account. Use the money for a S, or CB.

with first 4 picks and whatever we get for Ford in the tag-n-trade (rds 1-3 we have a 1, 2 2nds, and a 3rd) draft best defensive player on the board. No reaches, no projects. We need help at all three levels. After draft, look for cheap FA's and June cuts to fill spots.

Mid rounds I draft OL.

[jjchieffan]

Originally Posted by Buckweath

You mean like Marcus Peters?

No. I think that we would rather have someone that is willing to tackle and won't be a team cancer.

[FloridaMan88]

End the bend but don't break strategy that gives up long 10+ drives.

Even if that strategy technically achieves its goal, in terms of keeping the opposing offense out of the end zone, it is ultimately failing the Chiefs by keeping Mahomes iced on the sideline.