7 Things That Went Right For The Chiefs On Saturday

Aug 23, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel (16) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali (91) in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

WHEN THEY SEND IT, THEY GET THERE

Kansas City hasn’t blitzed much in the preseason but when they have it has been very effective. One example is Derrick Johnson, who rushed the passer only one time in Saturday’s game but it ended with him getting a sack.

In total, Kansas City received a +6.8 pass rushing grade from PFF. They sacked Matt Cassel three times, hit him another time, and pressured him on five other passing plays. Nico Johnson also provided another quarterback hit and Dee Ford added another pressure once the backups were put on the field.

It seems clear the Chiefs know they can rush the passer so they’ve spent a lot of time looking at people in coverage. For example, Hali spent six of his 30 snaps Saturday in pass coverage. Only seven times last season did he surpass six snaps in coverage in 2013 and that was while averaging 65 snaps per game.

Everything the Chiefs do on defense is based on their ability to get the quarterback. They don’t always have to sack him, they just have to cause pressure. We saw what such a strategy could do in the first nine weeks of 2013. Kansas City comes into 2014 armed with better depth at pass rusher and a healthy Justin Houston and Hali.

Kansas City’s front seven is going to come at you and they are going to get there.