Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s greatness and other Chiefs lessons from Week 1
By Jake Kokoris
Cautious optimism surrounds the defense
The most shocking part of week one, for me, was how well the defense played.
The majority of the first quarter looked rough. Texans running back David Johnson exploited what looks to be the weak point of the Chiefs D: the defensive line and linebacking corps. One immediate takeaway was that the Chiefs sorely miss Mike Pennel’s superb run defense. However watching the struggles of Anthony Hitchens, Ben Niemann, and Damien Wilson begged a question: where was Willie Gay?
Gay did not see a single defensive snap on Thursday. His explosiveness and solid coverage skills should position him for a larger role down the road, especially given the struggles of Hitchens and co. when it comes to run defense and tackling.
On the flip side, the pass defense looked superb. Deshaun Watson, who in my book is easily a top 5 quarterback, looked pedestrian. He failed to connect on many big plays, and struggled to construct sustained drives. Enough cannot be said about the immediate impact rookie cornerback L’Jarius Sneed has made in the Chiefs secondary. He consistently kept pace with Will Fuller, one of the faster receivers in the league, and showcased both his coverage chops and ball skills.
Chiefs safety Tyrann Matthieu also had a great performance, the highlight of which was his forcing an interception, one that landed comfortably in Sneed’s hands.
So why should our optimism on the defensive side be cautious? Well, Charvarius Ward, an essential part of the Chiefs secondary, exited the game with a fractured hand. Throw in injuries to linemen Khalen Saunders and Alex Okafor and you have room for concern. My focus will be on how the secondary adjusts to the loss of Ward. Mind you, we are still weeks away from Bashaud Breeland’s return from suspension.
Steve Spagnulo will have his hands full this week in restructuring the secondary. I would not be surprised if we see Matthieu playing some slot corner, which would most likely increase Tedric Thompson’s role in the defense. Keep an eye on BoPete Keyes’s status, too, as the loss of Ward may elevate him into the mix.