Three Questions: Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Line

Dec 8, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe (92) in the first quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Will Dontari Poe become an elite player in year three?

Poe took a big step from his rookie season to year two with his performance on the defensive line. He handled the interior against both the run and pass while managing to stay on the field for over 1,000 snaps. His stamina and athleticism to go along with his size made him incredibly valuable for the Chiefs.

The question with Poe is whether or not there is another level to his game. While he did lead all of the Chiefs defensive linemen in sacks with 4.5, he was only a little above average compared to his interior linemen peers in the NFL. Throughout the season Poe did not have an issue creating quarterback hurries, but his ability to actually hit the quarterback was basically non-existent after week five of the season.

If Poe is going to make a leap into the elite realm of interior linemen then he needs to be able to convert some of those hurries into quarterback hits and sacks. Whether or not he can do that without a true backup on the team to keep him rested is a concern, but the pass rushing abilities are the natural next step for Poe.