Chiefs linebackers: 2016 stat projections
By Bill Robbins
Two more very important pieces to this Chiefs linebacking corps puzzle for this season are Josh Mauga and Dee Ford. Mauga is the incumbent starting ILB along with Derrick Johnson and Ford will likely start the season at Houston’s OLB spot until he is healthy again. I see Mauga having a similar year as last year stats wise and I’m projecting Ford to see more production in that department with the increase in playing time that he should receive this season.
Rounding out the rest of this group is former UDFA Justin March, second-year men D.J. Alexander and Ramik Wilson, veterans Frank Zombo and Dezman Moses and rookie Dadi Nicolas. I don’t expect too much from these guys this year as far as stats are concerned, but look for many of them to make an impact in special teams or in certain sub packages that Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton will roll out there during the campaign.
Derrick Johnson
Tackles: 111
TFL: 7
Sacks: 3.0
PD: 7
INT: 2
FF: 1
Josh Mauga
Tackles: 61
TFL: 4
Sacks: 1.5
PD: 2
INT: 0
FF: 0
Tamba Hali
Tackles: 49
TFL: 4
Sacks: 5.5
PD: 2
INT: 1
FF: 1
Justin Houston
Tackles: 16
TFL: 3
Sacks: 3.5
PD: 2
INT: 0
FF: 1
Dee Ford
Tackles: 45
TFL: 4
Sacks: 7.5
PD: 4
INT: 0
FF: 1
D.J. Alexander
Tackles: 15
TFL: 0
Sacks: 0
PD: 0
INT: 0
FF: 0
Justin March
Tackles: 12
TFL: 1
Sacks: 1.0
PD: 0
INT: 0
FF: 0
Ramik Wilson
Tackles: 22
TFL: 1
Sacks: 0
PD: 1
INT: 0
FF: 1
Frank Zombo
Tackles: 16
TFL: 1
Sacks: 1.5
PD: 0
INT: 0
FF: 0
Dezman Moses
Tackles: 8
TFL: 0
Sacks: 1.0
PD: 0
INT: 0
FF: 0
Dadi Nicolas
Tackles: 4
TFL: 0
Sacks: 0
PD: 0
INT: 0
FF: 0
Next: Overall impact on defense