Arrowhead Addict
FanSided

The Kansas City Chiefs will be much better in coverage in 2019

By Lyle Graversen

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 23: Free safety Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Houston Texans celebrates an interception by inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney #55 (not pictured) against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on December 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 23: Free safety Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Houston Texans celebrates an interception by inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney #55 (not pictured) against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on December 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 10: Darron Lee #58 of the New York Jets intercepts the ball, runs it in for a touchdown in the second half against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 10, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 10: Darron Lee #58 of the New York Jets intercepts the ball, runs it in for a touchdown in the second half against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 10, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

This past week the Chiefs traded away next year’s sixth round draft pick to acquire Darron Lee from the New York Jets. While many Jets fans were disappointed in Lee’s overall performance since being drafted in the first round, Lee did show great strides in pass coverage last season. Just take a second and look at Lee’s Pro Football Focus numbers next to Anthony Hitchens’ who led K.C. in coverage snaps at linebacker last season.

Anthony Hitchens: 591 coverage snaps, 51.0 coverage grade, 0 interceptions, 0 pass deflections
Darron Lee: 423 coverage snaps, 84.8 coverage grade, 3 interceptions, 5 pass deflections

Lee’s PFF coverage grade was tied for 4th best in all the NFL last season while Hitchens ranked 74th out of qualifying linebackers. Words can’t describe what an upgrade that is in passing situations. Lee’s arrival means that Hitchens won’t have to stay on the field on passing downs. Even if the Chiefs want two linebackers on the field in the sub package, the Chiefs have the option to use second-year man Dorian O’Daniel as the second guy over Hitchens. While O’Daniel’s 65.2 coverage grade wasn’t amazing, it was still markedly better than Hitchens and it was only O’Daniel’s first season.

The addition of Lee and the continued development of O’Daniel should lead to much better coverage numbers for the linebacker position in 2019 and that’s the spot where the Chiefs were the worst last season. That’s great news for the defense but the good news doesn’t stop there. Next let’s look at what the Chiefs have done at the safety position.

Home/Kansas City Chiefs News