The 2017 Kansas City Chiefs defense was, in a word, bad. Why they were so bad is a debate that we could have, but the fact that they were bad is not up for dispute.
The Chiefs were 28th in the NFL in yards per game allowed, 26th in yards per play allowed, 24th in quarterback sacks, 29th in passing yards allowed per game, 23rd in third down conversion percentage, 25th in rushing yards allowed per game, 23rd in rushing yards per carry allowed, and 27th in rushing touchdowns allowed.
If you watched every snap of last season you don’t need to see those numbers to know it to be true. You saw with your own eyes that the Chiefs defense got slow, soft, and sloppy.
The Chiefs set about this offseason to rebuild the defense. Gone are several big names like Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali, Marcus Peters, and Ron Parker. Johnson, Hali, and Parker were clearly not producing at a high level last season and it is understandable that the Chiefs would look for better options to upgrade those spots in 2018.
Marcus Peters, however, was without question one of Kansas City’s most talented players. The Chiefs (for whatever reason) decided that Peters was not a good long-term investment. Some believe it was tied into his anthem protests and more of an issue between him and the front office/ownership. Some believe it was a butting of heads with the coaching staff. Some believe it was simply a business decision and that the Chiefs decided Peters was unlikely to re-sign in Kansas City, so they dealt him now so they could get something back in return.
What I now find interesting is that it appears a big focus of Brett Veach’s overhaul of the Chiefs defense seems to be on character and chemistry. We are only a few practices into the Chiefs rookie minicamp and reports of their defensive draft picks beginning to bond are already coming out. Now, just because these players are bonding early on doesn’t mean they have the ability needed to succeed in the NFL as rookies, but that’s not something that can be proven yet. In the meantime, reports like the following by Chiefs reporter BJ Kissel are nothing but encouraging:
Speaks said he trained with Armani Watts during pre-draft process. Already knew him. Said it’s special that majority of his draft class was defense. Focused on “creating bond” with all the guys.
— Chiefs Reporter (@ChiefsReporter) May 5, 2018
Check out this one on Breeland Speaks and Dorian O’Daniel rooming together in camp.
"We’re rooming together & sitting in the hotel room like, ‘Alright, what’s your deal? Who are you? What are you about? I think that’s way it should be w/ teammates.
— Chiefs Reporter (@ChiefsReporter) May 5, 2018
“If we form a relationship off the field, it'll definitely show on the field."
~ #Chiefs' @Dorian on @Bspeaks9.
This article from Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest has several great quotes about the rookie class of defenders coming together already. My favorite was this one from new defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi.
"More from Arrowhead AddictFormer Chiefs cornerback in legal trouble in Las VegasChiefs Kingdom: Get ready to break contract newsChiefs news: Travis Kelce wants to host fan ‘chug-off’ in GermanyPodcast: Breaking down the Chiefs biggest roster battlesKC Chiefs send Dave Merritt to NFL coaching accelerator“They drafted me for a reason to be here for a reason work on defense, to try to improve the defense,” Nnadi said. “And come together all the defensive players that got drafted, we kind of clicked as soon as we met each other. I feel that’s a bond, since we’re already cool with each other we can really try to better ourselves that much more.”"
I’ve been following Chiefs rookie camp reports for years now and I can’t ever remember a year where there were so many reports about a group of draft picks bonding from day one like this. Maybe it’s because they are all on the defensive side of the ball, or maybe this is just a special group of guys that the Chiefs specifically targeted because they liked their personalities and mental make up just as much as they liked their game tape.
Again, I recognize that none of this means diddily-poo if they can’t play. However, if they can play, that chemistry can only help this defense—a defense that is already set to return their emotional leader in Eric Berry. The Chiefs had two Chiefs Hall of Famers on their defense last year in Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali. Both are unquestionable when it comes to their work ethic and character. However, I think they would both admit that they are more lead by example kinds of players as opposed to a vocal “rally the troops” kind of player like Berry is. Without Berry last season the Chiefs defense just seemed to be missing some fire. When things started going down hill you never got the sense that the defense was coming together and saying “Enough! This stops now!”.
Instead guys just seemed to go out play after play and focus on their job. That’s fine in theory, but in a physical and emotional game like football sometimes you need some fire, you need some energy, and sometimes it takes a teammate to bring that out in you (especially if you have a mild mannered defensive coordinator). That is why I am encouraged by these early camp reports. The Chiefs not only seem to have injected some youth/speed/talent into their defense they seem to have done it by adding guys that are going to really work well together as a group.
And it doesn’t stop with the rookies.
In a great read by the aforementioned Kissel, he talks about how linebacker Reggie Ragland has already gone out of his way to welcoming in all the Chiefs defensive draft picks. It’s well worth a read as it highlights how Ragland not only called all the new rookies to welcome them to the family, but has gone out of his way to help them in whatever way he can. That includes driving Derrick Nnadi to Wal-Mart to pick up some things and Facetiming with Darion O’Daniel to answer questions he had about the defense.
It’s only May. Training camp is still months away. In the meantime most of the talk about this defense being improved will continue to be speculation. However, the little things we can get a glimpse of now seem to be very positive. I don’t know if that will translate to a better product on the field, but it certainly can’t hurt. The Chiefs seem to have added some really good guys to an already good locker room. If they can gel as well on the field this fall as they are off the field this spring, the Chiefs defense may be in for a nice rebound from last season.
So what do you think Chiefs fans? Are you encouraged by these early camp reports or are you simply writing it off as filler until we get to actual play on the field? Do you think improved chemistry could lead to better results in 2018? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
As always, thanks for reading and GO CHIEFS!