Heading into the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ season, I’m persevering with my “10 Greatest Questions” sequence in regards to the group. This time, we flip our consideration to an essential place in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s protection: security.
Since Spagnuolo took over the unit in 2019, his defenses have been constructed across the play of their safeties. Shortly after his arrival, the group acquired two: free agent Tyrann Mathieu and second-round draft decide Juan Thornhill. Each are versatile gamers with ball expertise.
Early on, the whole lot revolved round Mathieu’s distinctive versatility. He excelled not solely as a slot defender but additionally within the Robber function, wherein he lined up in the midst of the sector about 10-15 yards behind the road. Spagnuolo used each attainable pre and post-snap rotation shell to get Mathieu into these spots, constructing his whole protection menu round his place. The methods offenses might assault the Chiefs have been restricted — particularly when he was used as a robber,
Spagnuolo additionally used three-safety shells wherein Mathieu, Thornhill and veteran Daniel Sorensen could possibly be moved round at any level within the play. They might blitz, come downhill, play beneath (in both zone or man protection) and even bail right into a deep zone to cowl half of the sector. Missing elite protection expertise in his linebackers, Spagnuolo typically needed to resort to four-safety shells and dime personnel to get pace on the sector.
Whereas all three gamers at the moment are gone, Spagnuolo nonetheless makes use of his safeties in comparable methods. There have, nevertheless, been some changes. Together with his totally different physique sort, Justin Reid can’t do fairly the identical issues Mathieu might. Whereas he’s greater (and rather more bodily), he lacks Mathieu’s fluidity. It took the Chiefs about half a season to determine it out, however retaining Reid within the field — the place he might sort out and defend tight ends in man protection — proved to be his greatest function.
So as soon as once more, the remainder of the protection took form across the veteran security. In 2023, Spagnuolo might use cornerback L’Jarius Sneed towards No. 1 broad receivers as a result of he might belief two of his gamers in one-on-one protection: Trent McDuffie within the slot and Reid towards tight ends.
However with Reid nearer to the road of scrimmage, Kansas Metropolis’s different safeties needed to play deep extra typically. The Chiefs began 2023 with Bryan Cook dinner and Mike Edwards because the safeties of their dime rotation — and whereas neither did something distinctive, their play allowed the Chiefs to run extra aggressive man-coverage shells and nonetheless get into their funky rotations.
Cook dinner was misplaced for the season with an ankle damage he sustained in Week 13, which pressured rookie Chamarri Connor to step in because the third security — one thing he did exceptionally properly. Coming into the league, we didn’t fairly know precisely what Connor might do — however within the playoffs, he was a giant shiny spot; he proved his skill to do various things as a security in Spagnuolo’s scheme. I’m enthusiastic about what he might do in 2024.
Reid, Cook dinner and Connor will all be again. Edwards can be changed by Washington State rookie Jaden Hicks, who was my prime security from final spring’s draft class. Stylistically, he jogs my memory a variety of Reid. Whereas he’s a much bigger security with good tackling skill and downhill explosiveness, he struggles with agility when enjoying deep. As a participant who thrives close to the road of scrimmage, he tasks properly as Reid’s post-2024 substitute.
So I feel the Chiefs can credibly say they’ll play 4 safeties — however I feel the function every performs can be attention-grabbing. With Sneed gone, the protection may rely much less on man protection; it might need to play extra conservatively on the again finish.
What would this imply for Kansas Metropolis’s safeties — notably Reid? Can the group proceed to get away with him enjoying near the road and touring with tight ends, or will he need to play deep to guard the cornerbacks? How will Spagnuolo use the opposite safeties? Following his damage, will Cook dinner once more be a starter — or did Connor’s late-season play give him the within monitor? How will Hicks determine into the rotation? With their comparable talent units, can the Chiefs play Hicks and Reid on the similar time? Will both Cook dinner or Connor emerge as a participant who might substitute Reid — or will Kansas Metropolis re-sign the veteran earlier than his age-28 season?
At this level, I’ve to provide Spagnuolo the good thing about the doubt. Yr-over-year, he’s confirmed that he can discover one of the best methods to make use of his safeties and construct his protection shells round them. I absolutely anticipate he’ll determine it out once more. Nonetheless, with out Sneed for the primary time in 4 years, it’ll be attention-grabbing to see how all of the defensive items match collectively.
