Kansas City Chiefs are nearly finished with complete defensive makeover

The Kansas City Chiefs have nearly completed a remarkable top-to-bottom renovation of their defense, a process that likely started before you think it did.

The Kansas City Chiefs lost in the 2018 AFC Championship game to the New England Patriots, and that loss can mostly be blamed on the abysmal defense coached by then-defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. Sutton had since been fired, which sparked a new beginning for the Chiefs’ defense, but this new beginning goes back farther than expected.

Going back to the 2015 season, the Chiefs had the second best season in terms of win-loss record under Andy Reid with several defensive starters making the Pro Bowl, like Justin Houston, Tamba Hali, Marcus Peters, Derrick Johnson, and Eric Berry. Just two years later, a trend could be noticed. The Chiefs were quietly turning over the defense as those Pro Bowlers started to decline. The Chiefs had just six defensive starters from 2015 start in 2017. The following season, the trend was much more noticeable.

In the 2018 season, the Chiefs had just five players on the entire defense that were with the team for the 2015 season. At the conclusion of the Chiefs’ 2018 season, safety Daniel Sorensen was the only defensive player that was with the Chiefs in 2015 who is still with the team. This means that 26 players on the Chiefs’ defense that were on the roster in 2015 have been cut, traded, or signed with other teams.

Timeline:

• 2015 season: 27 players on the Chiefs’ defense (53-man roster)
• 2016 season: 20 of the defensive players remained with the Chiefs from 2015
• 2017 season: 13 of the defensive players remained with the Chiefs from 2015
• 2018 season: 7 of the defensive players remained with the Chiefs from 2015
• 2019 offseason: 1 of the defensive players remained with the Chiefs from 2015

It’s not only the players who have endured major changes, but the defensive coaching staff has as well. There is not a single defensive coach that was at their position in the 2018 season, meaning that the entire defensive coaching staff had an entire revamp.

Player changes, coaching changes, a scheme change (from base 3-4 to 4-3), as well as a defense-heavy 2019 NFL Draft class have shaped the Chiefs’ defense to the point where it is essentially unrecognizable when compared to previous seasons.

Heading into the 2018 season, the biggest concern with the defense was the team’s secondary. The team had been consistently slandered for its abysmal secondary depth at both the cornerback and safety position,, and everything analysts had to say about the position was true. As the Chiefs prepare for the 2019 season, the biggest concern could possibly be the linebacker corps, but even that position is stout; headlined by Anthony Hitchens, Reggie Ragland, Damien Wilson, Darron Lee and Dorian O’Daniel.

With lots of talk circulating around the Chiefs and its defense, it is almost asinine to compare the 2019 team to any of the previous defenses under head coach Andy Reid’s era. When you look at what Veach and his staff has done throughout the last two seasons to shape the identity of the Chiefs’ defense, it is more than impressive. This unit could potentially end up being a top-10 defense over the next few years as the younger players garner more experience. The potential is certainly there with a dynamic new safety tandem and an absolutely loaded defensive line.

It is a long time coming, but the Chiefs should finally employ a competitive defense. Fans will be able to get a better look as the team begins training camp in July, but the 2018 season was a small taste of what is to come. The culmination of Veach and his staff’s defensive overhaul will take its shape in 2019. On paper, this is one of the best teams the Chiefs have ever had in terms of offensive and defensive talent, and most of the credit goes to Veach and the Chiefs’ front office.

While using the term “dynasty” may be a big sell, NFL fans could be witnessing the start of a new one emerging behind a completely rebuilt defense and the NFL’s most prolific offense.