Steve Spagnuolo must manage workload for KC Chiefs defensive line

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo management of the defensive line rotation may prove a key factor in a Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl run.

There are two weeks remaining in the regular season. The primary objectives for the Kansas City Chiefs, over the last two games, are to win out and stay healthy. Doing so will be essential for one particular position group: the defensive line. Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would be wise to manage the snap counts of his defensive front carefully. Kansas City’s postseason trajectory largely depends on how effective its pass rush can be once the playoffs get underway.

In the five matchups against presently-seeded AFC teams, the Chiefs have sacked the quarterback a total of 14 times. Five of those sacks were against Justin Herbert in the rematch with the Los Angeles Chargers. Five more came in the Week 10 contest with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The other four were spread across three games (Bengals, Bills, Chargers). Kansas City will need the pressure to be more evenly distributed during the postseason tournament.

Arguably, the best way to set the defensive line-up for success is for Spagnuolo to carefully manage the snaps of his horses down the stretch. Fans have noted how rookie George Karlaftis’ snaps have fluctuated throughout the month of December. Here are his snap counts over the past four weeks: 33 vs. CIN, 44 vs. DEN, 32 vs. HOU, and 31 vs. SEA. This is pure speculation on my part, but I believe Spags is trying to be mindful of Karlaftis hitting the proverbial “rookie wall.” For my money, that’s a smart strategy. Furious George appears to be rounding the corner in terms of his Year One development. Keeping him as fresh as possible is a wise decision in the lead-up to the playoffs.

One player who hasn’t been the beneficiary of rest is Pro Bowler Chris Jones. There was a stretch, between Weeks 9 and 13, where he played at least 85% or more of the defensive snaps in every game. That’s simply not sustainable if you want Jones to be effective in the playoffs. Fortunately for the seven-year veteran, he’s had a lighter workload over the past three games. The Chiefs face two opponents over the next two weeks who appear to have packed it in for the NFL season. The Denver Broncos recently parted ways with former head coach Nathaniel Hackett. The Las Vegas Raiders have made a controversial change at quarterback. Now’s a great time to spell Jones and have a more liberal rotation in the middle of the defensive line.

After a few recent practice squad elevations and the line getting healthier overall, the Chiefs have plenty of bodies to rotate liberally. The stiffest competition is just weeks away and the best way to help a young secondary is to keep them from having to cover for seven or eight seconds. Load management is a term more aptly applied to NBA coaches, but it has application to this Chiefs team. Steve Spagnuolo’s defenses typically trend upwards over the back half of the NFL season. Kansas City’s defense is blossoming later than normal in 2022, but that may not be the worst thing if they can carry fresh legs into the postseason.