Chiefs Roster: 3 notes on the defensive entrance towards Jaguars

Coming into the 2024 season, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are projected to have one of many NFL’s prime defenses. Whereas that is based mostly on the unit’s elite efficiency a 12 months in the past, it didn’t retain each contributor from its championship run; within the workforce’s quest for a 3rd straight Tremendous Bowl title, the protection will look completely different.

Throughout coaching camp, the battle for the second cornerback spot stalled when a number of rivals had been sidelined with accidents. The protection group — together with rookie security Jaden Hicks — has performed to expectation; throughout Saturday’s 26-13 highway loss within the preseason opener towards the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, Hicks made a robust first impression as a tackler in house.

So when watching the coaches’ movie from preseason Week 1, my focus was on the entrance seven: defensive linemen and linebackers. Listed below are three notes.

1. Felix Anudike-Uzomah can be most impactful on passing downs

On Saturday, the second-year defensive finish led all defensive linemen in snaps; we obtained an prolonged have a look at final 12 months’s first-round decide.

There have been solely two snaps the place the beginning protection confronted third or fourth down. On these, Anudike-Uzomah was the sting rusher over the left deal with, whereas defensive finish Mike Danna shifted inside to open up the spot.

On the primary of those snaps, Anudike-Uzomah penetrates the pocket by executing a bull rush, establishing the left deal with by popping out of his stance arduous and upfield, placing stress on the deal with to realize depth. That exposes the deal with’s inside shoulder. Anudike-Uzomah takes benefit with a fast burst, utilizing good pad degree to pry his approach into the quarterback’s private house.

On the following play, he rushes outdoors to press the again facet of the pocket. Because the quarterback steps up, Anudike-Uzomah feels it — and redirects towards the ball. Whereas this isn’t a formidable rep, it does present he’s monitoring the ball always. Even so, if linebacker Jack Cochrane hadn’t been capable of end the job, Anudike-Uzomah may need been capable of get a sack with an ankle seize.

Later within the sport, we see Anudike-Uzomah attempting out a inventive pass-rush transfer on a reserve left deal with. The cross-chop transfer prepares the deal with for an influence transfer — however the defender goes round him with a hop and a decisive chop to the arms. Whereas Anudike-Uzomah is unable to beat the blocker’s arms down, he’s nonetheless capable of rip his inside hand by. That provides him the nook — which he turns impressively earlier than coming near a sack.

The arrogance and luxury Anudike-Uzomah confirmed whereas coming off the ball in pass-rushing reps wasn’t there throughout operating performs. Whereas taking over operating blocks, he was persistently permitting the offensive participant — usually a good finish — to win the preliminary engagement and get their arms to his chest. He must play extra aggressively in these conditions; he can’t afford to be reactionary.

Anudike-Uzomah deserves credit score for his excessive effort — and for his consciousness of the ball. On the second play, he attracts a holding penalty when attempting to shed the tight finish’s block. That mentioned, it’s clear that proper now, the younger edge defender is at his greatest as a chosen rusher.

2. The linebacker group is thinner and fewer versatile

The workforce’s linebacker depth took a success when the Chiefs elected to not re-sign Willie Homosexual Jr. This was instantly examined when MIKE linebacker Nick Bolton missed Saturday’s matchup with an elbow damage. Happily, he returned to follow on Monday. However in Jacksonville, the two-linebacker packages had been dealt with by Drue Tranquill and Leo Chenal.

This shift uncovered Chenal when taking part in off the ball in house; he’s at his greatest close to the road of scrimmage or within the field. Over the starters’ two possessions, Chenal allowed two receptions by missing really feel or intuition in protection.

On the primary play proven right here, Chenal is offering man protection on the tight finish — however off the snap, he’s fooled by the preliminary run motion. By the point Chenal recovers from the error, the ball is on its method to a wide-open goal.

Within the second play, Chenal has zone protection over the center of the sphere. As he drops, he turns to learn the routes on the far facet — however whereas doing so, widens an excessive amount of. This opens a window for a 20-yard completion.

When everyone seems to be wholesome in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme, the beginning trio of linebackers complement one another effectively. However as Saturday’s sport confirmed, accidents may create a much bigger drawback than they did when Bolton missed eight of 10 video games in 2023.

3. Depth at defensive deal with is aggressive

Star defensive deal with Chris Jones didn’t play in Jacksonville. This allowed gamers behind him to make a mark.

A type of was fifth-year defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton, who was one in all Saturday’s most impactful defensive starters. He helped blow up two operating performs by firing out and taking part in by blocks — after which on two different events, beat a go block to penetrate the pocket.

When Jones wants relaxation this season, Wharton would be the key to sustaining inside disruption.

Right here, sixth-year lineman Matt Dickerson popped as a second-team go rusher. He overpowered a guard to the bottom, then hand-fought his approach into the quarterback’s face to tip a go. This was a robust reminder why the workforce rostered him in 2023.

Throughout his taking part in time, third-year nostril deal with Neil Farrell appeared the a part of a gap-plugger. Right here, he takes on a double workforce with authority — throwing the middle to the bottom because the guard stays on him.

Through the late stretches, undrafted rookie Fabien Lovett confirmed off his block-shedding potential on a lot of performs. On the NFL Scouting Mix, the nostril deal with’s arms measured 11 inches — which apparently interprets to a robust, controlling grip that may management a blocking engagement.

Whereas he wants to remain balanced as he makes these strikes — and be taught to carry up towards double groups — he made a really robust first impression.