Dee Ford: From bust to booming

Unlike Eric Fisher, Ford always had a hill to climb with Hali and Houston ahead of him on the depth chart. Playing time was always limited for Ford until last season. The third-year man flashed, but hardly seized the opportunity that five starts afforded him a year ago. This season is a much different story. Ford has come alive post-bye, recording 5.5 sacks since Kansas City’s week off.

Houston will enter his third week of practice when the Chiefs get back to work on Tuesday. If (and when) he returns to form, the Chiefs may again have one of the most formidable pass-rushing duos in the National Football League. Ford’s on pace for 16 sacks in 2016. If he can sustain the level of play we saw on Sunday, he and Houston will give defensive coordinator Bob Sutton’s defense an entirely different dimension.

Over the past three weeks, Sutton has manufactured a pass rush with blitzes and creative scheming. If he can rely upon Ford and Houston to provide pressure, the net benefit should again make the rest of the Kansas City defense an even stingier unit. They’re currently the 14th-ranked pass defense in the NFL.

It’d be a coup if Ford were only rounding the corner as a pass rusher, but he’s also managed to become one of the most competent members of the Chiefs linebacking corps in coverage. He has work to do as a run defender, but he’s acquitted himself as a much more well-rounded outside linebacker overall.

As much as it pains me to say this, Hali’s not long for retirement. He’s currently playing on a bone-on-bone knee that limits him in practice and his snap count in games. The passing of the torch at his spot is both timely and necessary for a team entering its championship window of opportunity. His work with his eventual successor has clearly paid off. These days, Ford has a more diverse set of pass-rushing moves and deftly uses his hands to take advantage of offensive linemen.