Underrated Chiefs: Josh Mauga
The Chiefs have more players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016 list than any other team, but there are also a few key players that don’t get the attention they deserve.
The Kansas City Chiefs linebacking corps is arguably the best group of players on the team.
Take a look around the depth chart and you’ll find several key contributors to what has been one of the league’s best defenses in recent seasons.
Some names are more recognizable than others, especially on the outside. Justin Houston, the man who came just shy of breaking the single-season NFL sack record just two years ago. Tamba Hali, a tenured member of the Chiefs who is also one of the biggest pass rush threats in the NFL. Dee Ford, the Chiefs’ first-round draft pick from 2014 who has shown major potential and could be a future star.
Take a look on the inside, and really only one name is recognizable by most NFL fans. Derrick Johnson, a beloved veteran entering his 12th season as a Chief, has proven to be the leader of the KC defense. His play isn’t flashy, but he has become one of the best tacklers in the league and one of the most respected players out there.
Who is there to play alongside Super DJ? Another veteran player who certainly doesn’t play like a sidekick.
Josh Mauga is entering his seventh season in the NFL and his third in Kansas City. Before arriving with the Chiefs, he was a member of the New York Jets, with whom he only played one full season (2011). He never showed his full potential while wearing green, only having a maximum of 17 tackles in one season (also 2011). But since he started wearing red, he’s really shown what he’s made of.
The last two seasons, Mauga has recorded almost four times the amount of tackles he had in a Jets uniform. He had 58 combined tackles last season and an impressive 103 in 2014, 82 of which were solo tackles. He also had one sack during the 2015 campaign. These improvements can be attributed to more playing time, especially during the 2014 season when Johnson was sidelined with a torn Achilles tendon early on.
Last season especially, Mauga also showed his worth in the pass coverage game. He had two interceptions, which was tied with Johnson and Houston for most by a Chiefs linebacker. Compared to the other two, however, Mauga had more yards interceptions were returned with 70, including a 66-yard INT return Week 13 in Oakland.
So where will the former Nevada Wolfpack member fit in the fray this season?
Mauga is the clear number-two ILB on the depth chart, so he should see plenty of playing time in 2016. In defensive coordinator Bob Sutton’s base 3-4 defense, he and Johnson could prove to be a prolific run stopping duo in the middle of the KC front seven. Both are great tacklers and skilled at filling holes and stopping a running back dead in their tracks.
Both are also very skilled when it comes to zone coverage. Their ability to read and react to an offense makes throwing short, middle-of-the-field passes difficult for the opposition. Both also have the ability to get vertical and deflect passes, which will come in handy for any low-angle passes that may be thrown.
Mauga also brings experience to the table, which has forged his football IQ into what it is today. He is a smart player and won’t take any unnecessary risks that may result in a penalty or a big play for the opposing offense. That experience will also be useful mentoring the younger linebackers on the KC roster. He can help groom guys, such as Ford and Ramik Wilson, into smarter, more efficient players.
With as many big names that the Chiefs defense has, Mauga is often overlooked for his contributions the last two seasons in KC. He is a solid, smart player who has a great ability to get the ball carrier to the ground. He, along with Johnson, have the potential to be one of the most stout inside linebacker duos in the league this season.