The Kansas City Chiefs pass rush could use someone to step forward
By Matt Conner
Whether it’s Dee Ford, Tamba Hali, Tanoh Kpassagnon or someone else, Justin Houston needs help with the Chiefs pass rush.
Right now, the Kansas City Chiefs could use someone—anyone—to step forward as a pass rusher. Midway through the season, the Chiefs have one more hurdle before they get to a much-needed bye week to rest up, get healthy, refocus and all of that, and as they near the time off, the team’s pass rush is limping into the locker room, so to speak.
Justin Houston is a manbeast and has, at times, singlehandedly carried this team. However, each week he is now sitting out practices to rest and stay healthy, a hurting veteran doing what he must to stay the course. It’s a sign that even the best need help and that it’s going to take more work than years past for Houston to match his previous production.
To that end, the Chiefs have plenty of options who are suddenly not options, and it’s not only maddening for the fans but it’s frustrating on the field. The difference in milliseconds for a quarterback to find the open man makes all the difference in a win or a loss most Sundays, and the two losses on the Chiefs’ record can directly or indirectly point to a lack of a pass rush. Think back to how much time Ben Roethlisberger or Derek Carr seemed to have in the pocket and then keep reading.
The bottom line is that the Chiefs could use another sack artist, which is sad because they already should have one. A brief review: