Chiefs’ Best Front Seven: Stairway To Heaven
By Laddie Morse
Who Has the Best Front Seven Defensive Ends?
Grouping the defensive ends together, the Chiefs will be bringing it with Mike DeVito, Allen Bailey, Mike Catapano (rookie Dee Ford will also get some time here) and newly acquired Vance Walker who the Chiefs list as a DT but, he’ll likely see more time outside at DE than he will inside. DeVito is solid against the run but doesn’t have much upside against the pass so he’ll probably be subbed for when the Chiefs go to obvious passing situations. Vance Walker gives the Chiefs a decided advantage over last year’s starter Tyson Jackson, especially when it comes to pressuring the QB. AA’s own Lyle Graversen pointed out that Walker had a QB pressure once every 23 snaps while Jackson had a QB pressure once every 59 snaps. When you add Walker’s increased ability to pressure the QB to the Chiefs’ other pressure cookers you get an award winning recipe called The Best Front Seven.
In San Francisco, DE Ray McDonald and superman Justin Smith look to do damage to opposing offenses. While Smith is heads and shoulders above anyone the Chiefs have on their roster, he does turn 35 in September and his totals in sacks have gone down the past two seasons. Also, with the primary responsibility of the DE to “set the edge against the run,” Frisco didn’t do much better defending the run than the Chiefs did in 2013.
In Seattle, stopping the run is an epidemic. They remain among the leagues best and like everything else they do defensively, they are stout. Michael Bennett and Chris Avril will continue to not only jam the run but combine to place great pressure on opposing QBs. However, against the run Seattle only allowed 6 yards per game less than the Chiefs did in 2013 and that’s not nearly enough to mention.
With both Allen Bailey and Mike Catapano gaining weight and coming on strong this off season and the addition of Vance Walker, Chiefs fans can expect increased success against the run and more pressure on the QB.
“Sing with me, if it’s just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away
Dream on, dream on, dream on.”
Dream On, Aerosmith, 1973
Next, let’s move on to see who has the best front seven inside linebackers among these three teams.
Click NEXT to read more of this post.