Chiefs’ defense goes on the offensive by scoring on returns

[Tribal Warfare]

Chiefs’ defense goes on the offensive by scoring on returns
By Randy Covitz
The Kansas City Star
The Chiefs’ practice on Thursday is not like any other for the team’s defensive players. It’s their day to play offense.

One of the assistant coaches throws a ball downfield, it’s intercepted by a linebacker or a defensive back, and … whoosh! … all 11 other players hot-tail it for the end zone.

Every time.

“Nobody says just the offense has to score,” said strong safety Eric Berry, who has returned two interceptions for touchdowns this season, including a 47-yarder at Oakland last week. “It’s our mentality every week to score points however we can.”

Consequently, the Chiefs lead the NFL with 11 miscellaneous touchdowns — five interception returns and one fumble return on defense; and two punt returns, two kickoff returns and a recovered fumble on special teams.

The 11 miscellaneous touchdowns are two shy of the NFL record set by Seattle in 1998 and match the Chiefs’ franchise record set in 1999 and 1992. The Chiefs are also the first team in NFL history to score multiple touchdowns on interceptions, kickoff returns punt returns and fumble returns in a season.

“We always say, the first objective is get the ball,” said defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. “The second one is we want to score. Any time you can take the ball back on defense is important, whether it’s three-and-out, or take it back by getting the ball.

“The next phase is you have to establish a mindset that you’re not satisfied with just getting the ball. We don’t want to be satisfied with just getting a takeaway. … You want to think score.”

Indeed, of the Chiefs’ 48 touchdowns this season, 11 of them — or 23 percent — have been scored by either the defense or special teams

That helps explain that while the Chiefs rank 17th in the NFL in offense and 22nd in defense, are third in scoring, averaging 28.5 points per game; and fourth in fewest points allowed, 18.2

In all, the Chiefs, 11-3 going into today’s noon game at Arrowhead Stadium against the Indianapolis Colts, 9-5, have scored on defense or special teams in nine of their 14 games, and have gone 8-1 in those contests. And they are one of just three teams in the NFL not to have given up a touchdown return or recovery.

All-time, the Chiefs are 103-27-2 in games in which they have scored a defensive touchdown, a winning percentage of 78.8 percent.

Little wonder the Chiefs spend so much time rehearsing the steps of returning interceptions for touchdowns.

“When we intercept in practice, we don’t want to just catch it and stop …” said Sutton. “No, you’ve got to up that sideline and the guys have to be hustling to build a wall. It turns into an offensive play.

“You have to have people running toward the ball when it’s thrown, because ultimately those are going to be your blockers. It’s like setting up a punt return. We’re going to try and get the ball to the nearest sideline, all the other defenders are going to build a wall. They’re going to look inside for anybody who is pursuing the ball …

When Berry intercepted his second pass of the game last week at Oakland, the intended receiver, Rod Streater, didn’t get blocked, and tackle Tony Pashos eventually tackled Berry at the Oakland 31 after a 49-yard runback.

“The two most dangerous guys to get the (interceptor) are the intended receiver, because he’s behind him …” Sutton said. “You don’t know where he’s coming from … get him blocked up … he can strip the ball …and the last guy is the quarterback, so you want to make sure you take care of those two players ….

“In practice, I tell them, you’ve got to get more hustle, get that wall built. A lot of times a ball is thrown, and an underneath defender or lineman thinks, ‘I can’t affect this play, it’s 30 yards downfield.’ But if we get the ball, we need to be heading in that direction It’s a habit. “

Once the ball is in the hands of a defensive player, he often reverts to his days as a high school or college running back or quarterback.

“They’d like to run all over the field,” Sutton said with a laugh. “Sometimes they do, unfortunately. It’s like a running play. They enjoy that part of it. They all think they should be and probably could be a running back. There’s a reason they’re on defense, usually.”

The Chiefs mustered a franchise-low 12 takeaways on six interceptions and six fumble recoveries and failed to score on a single defensive turnover in 2012.

The emphasis on creating turnovers was apparent this summer in Andy Reid’s first training camp when he had quarterbacks throw to defensive backs during drills. It provided the defensive backs a better feel for what a throw from an NFL quarterback feels like as opposed to an assistant coach.

“It’s smart to have those guys catch balls from quarterbacks,” said Chase Daniel, who as the scout team quarterback faces the Chiefs’ starting defense in practice every day.

“They’re ball hawks. Our defensive backs have some of the best ball skills as a whole I’ve seen since I’ve been in this league for five years now. It shows on game day. “

So far this season, the Chiefs — after forcing seven turnovers at Oakland last week — rank tied for third in the NFL with 20 interceptions, lead the league with 15 fumble recoveries and 35 total takeaways, and most importantly lead in turnover differential with a plus-21.

That comes off last year’s league worst minus-24 for a one-year swing of plus 45.

Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck, who has thrown just nine interceptions in 496 attempts, this season, has taken notice.

“You talk about turnovers, they do a great job,” Luck said of the Chiefs. “Obviously the defensive backs … but then (linebacker) Derrick Johnson running around the middle getting his hands on balls and either tipping them up or intercepting them …”

Even when the Chiefs don’t return an interception or fumble for a touchdown, they’ve set up the offense with short fields.

Against Oakland, the Chiefs offense took over at the Raiders 11, 16, 28, 31, 45, and 35 following takeaways, and counting Berry’s return, Kansas City converted those turnovers into 28 points.

For the season, the Chiefs have converted 35 takeaways into 140 points or 35 percent of the team’s scoring.

“Our special teams and defense …” Daniel said. “Scoring 11 touchdowns is unbelievable. I wouldn’t say it takes pressure off us, but it allows us as an offense to execute what we do.”

The defense isn’t satisfied with its six defensive touchdowns.

“Eight touchdowns on defense was our goal,” said safety Quintin Demps. “This is about us trying to reach our goal every week.”

Demps has contributed one of the miscellaneous touchdowns with a 95-yard kickoff return at Washington on Dec. 8. Demps leads the AFC in kickoff returns with a 30.2-yard average, and last week Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski, who has one of the best legs in the league, booted some ground balls and pooch kickoffs to negate Demps and Knile Davis, who authored a 108-yard kickoff return for touchdown against December on Dec. 1.

Still, Demps nearly broke one for a touchdown, fielding a bouncing ball and returing the opening kickoff 50 yards, setting up the game-opening touchdown pass to Jamaal Charles.

“We were close (to returning touchdowns) on a couple,” said special teams coordinator Dave Toub. “You have to be able to make them pay (for kicking short).

“You have to block ’em and create seams and have returners who are capable. Fortunately we have that situation here.”

[jjchieffan]

I have missed leading the league in takeaways. I see a lot of Marty in this team. Hopefully though this team will actually win in the postseason

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by jjchieffan

I have missed leading the league in takeaways. I see a lot of Marty in this team. Hopefully though this team will actually win in the postseason

It's ok...our time is due.

lol jk....we're Chiefs fans.

[Halfcan]

Record breaking year for the Chiefs!!