Chris Jones and the future of the Chiefs defensive identity

The personality and passion of Chris Jones have become cornerstones for the Kansas City Chiefs defense. Here’s a look at the future of the defense.

During the second quarter of this season’s Jaguars vs. Chiefs matchup, Blake Bortles dropped back for a screen pass. The Jaguars were trying to gain yards and put themselves in scoring position before the half ended, as they trailed the Kansas City Chiefs 13-0. The lineman swung out to set up blocks, the running back trailed behind them with plenty of green grass ahead.

As the play developed, it looked like easy yards for Jacksonville, until a mammoth of a man shrugged off a chip block by the center, powered through the guard in front of him, read the play and got his hands up. Chris Jones snagged the ball from the air with his oven mitt sized hands and took it 20 yards for the score, which put the Chiefs up 19-0.

The Chiefs defensive unit has faced extensive criticism this year, and I will be the first to admit that I have been outspoken about their inconsistencies and inabilities. The reality is this Chiefs unit is still very new to each other. Jones is one of just six (including Eric Berry) returning starters from 2017, as he learns to play next to new players in Xavier Williams, Derrick Nnadi, Breeland Speaks, and Anthony Hitchens in the team’s front seven.

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The Chiefs are in a transitional year for their defense, a continued move away from the memories of Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson. As Eric Berry and Justin Houston approach the twilight of their incredible careers, defensive lineman Chris Jones is emerging as a leader on the team and is setting the example for the Chiefs’ new defensive identity.

Jones had one of the most unique introductions to NFL front offices at the 2016 NFL Combine in Indianapolis. During the ever-important 40 yard dash, the 6’6 defensive lineman from Mississippi State stumbled and dove chest first into the turf. In a regrettable decision, the television crew pulled up the slow-motion replay and as Jones sprinted down the sideline the cause for Jones’ stumble became too apparent. His shorts had slipped and Jones had his nether regions exposed. For many people, this would be the defining moment for Jones despite an overall solid combine effort.

It would be a few months later when Chris Jones opened up to Sports Illustrated and delivered one of my all-time favorite sports quotes. “I looked down and the hummer is out,” he says. “I try to cover it up. I’m thinking to myself, ‘little kids are watching.’”

Anyone who has seen an interview with Jones or watched a Chiefs game in the last three years has been exposed to the infectious smile and laugh of No. 95. It is easy to imagine that expression as Jones talked about an incident that most people would want to shy away from discussing, especially to the press. Jones has a special energy to him. He is frequently seen raising his arms to pump up the crowd, celebrating with teammates, and reacting to big plays with enthusiasm. He also has a dynamic personality that has endeared him to his teammates, coaches, and the fans. Of course, who could forget Jones’ campaign to play some quarterback for the Chiefs in 2016?

There is another side of Jones, however, one that resides beneath the surface of the class clown persona and contagious smile. It contains the intensity, a competitive drive, confidence and swagger that flashes when the pressure is on. It isn’t always as restrained as it should be. In the same game that Jones put six points on the board against Jacksonville, he would later be ejected for throwing a punch at the bottom of a pile on a field goal attempt.

During another game earlier this season, quarterback Patrick Mahomes had gotten pushed out of bounds on scramble. It was by no means a dangerous or flagrant shove, but there was some talking after the play and the defender began to approach Mahomes. Jones put an end to that quickly, placing his arm on the chest of the defender and directing him away. It was a subtle gesture, so subtle that I was unable to locate it on film again, but it stands out as a characterizing moment for Jones.

Jones brings an unashamed emotion and energy to the field, which is a welcome picture for a defensive unit that has been roughed up on more than one occasion and seemed to lack passion. More than anything else, Jones plays with a passion and apparent love for the game, and the Chiefs are banking on that passion being as contagious as Jones’ smile.

Early on, the word “inconsistent” was the label applied, one that goes back to his days at Mississippi State. From his draft profile on NFL.com, it’s noted that Jones “has a lot of upside and potential, but is inconsistent, both with technique and motor.” Elsewhere it says his “motor will run out of gas”. These are harsh indictments for a young man pursuing his dream of NFL stardom.

In the midst of his third season of professional football, and the most successful Chiefs team he has been a part of, Jones may have finally found consistency. Jones is riding an incredible streak of seven straight games with a sack, including back-to-back double sack games against the Rams and the Cardinals. Jones is sniffing double-digit sacks with plenty of football left to play. Pro Football Focus has Jones ranked as the #9 interior defensive lineman. It is crazy to think that at only 24 years old, Jones has found his name in conversation with the best defensive lineman in the league. Jones has also been a force against the run, tallying 13 tackles for loss this year, which is a career high and good for fourth in the league.

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Mahomes has been the talk of the town in Kansas City, but he’s not the only player in Red and Gold who has burst onto the scene of the upper echelon of NFL talent this season. Chris Jones is the real deal, and he is the perfect face for the Chiefs defensive unit and their future as the team grows together. He’s talented, intensely competitive, and a little messy at times, but more than anything else, he’s a lot of fun to watch.

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