onejayhawk Posted June 10, 2022 Author Share Posted June 10, 2022 (edited) This is more about the defense generally, even though it focuses on a LB. The departure of Mathieu, Ward, Reed, HItchens--all starters--creates an identity gap in the defense. Younger players, Justin Reid, Sneed, and particularly Nick Bolton are stepping up, reshaping the identity of the defense. Not to be overlooked is the raw energy That George Karlaftis is bringing. This will definitely be a new look defense.https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2022/06/10/kansas-city-chiefs-nick-bolton-young-defenders-leadership-roles-2022-nfl-season/https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/06/12/nick-bolton-its-time-for-young-chiefs-defensive-players-to-step-up/https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/chiefs_productive_young_lb_duo_is_ready_for_takeoff_in_2022/s1_16631_37582969 Edited June 12, 2022 by onejayhawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onejayhawk Posted June 13, 2022 Author Share Posted June 13, 2022 (edited) Pride has a Hot Take that the Chiefs have a top 5 defense this season. Based on scoring, the Chiefs were #8 in 2021, so it's sort of plausible, but they were #26 in yards allowed. https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2022/6/13/23165194/lets-argue-chiefs-will-have-a-top-5-defense Edited June 13, 2022 by onejayhawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onejayhawk Posted June 15, 2022 Author Share Posted June 15, 2022 Here are a couple on Juan Thornhill. He famously said that he was going to be All-Pro, or at least deserve it. That was not the end of the interview. He talks about how he, the new players particularly Justin Reid, and the rookies are bonding as a unit. Both Thornhill and Reid have shown leadership in what is suddenly a stacked secondary. In defense of Thornhill's claim for All-Pro status, he the perfect deep safety for this bunch of big, press CBs.https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2022/6/14/23167830/chiefs-s-juan-thornhill-on-2022-im-expecting-an-all-pro-seasonhttps://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2022/06/15/kansas-city-chiefs-juan-thornhill-progress-report-rookies-trent-mcduffie-bryan-cook-joshua-williams/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onejayhawk Posted June 16, 2022 Author Share Posted June 16, 2022 (edited) Chris Jones speaks. While acknowledged as one of the best DL in the NFL, Jones tends to be low profile. He talked about his injury last year and how he draws incentive from the AFC title game loss. It's worth noting that Jones seems to be mentoring rookie DE George Karlaftis. The two working together can do some damage. https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2022/06/15/kansas-city-chris-jones-provides-update-2022-wrist-injury-recovery/https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/06/16/chris-jones-missed-sack-in-afc-title-game-served-as-offseason-motivation/https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2022/06/15/kansas-city-chiefs-george-karlaftis-learning-from-chris-jones-mandatory-minicamp/ Jones was asked to comment on the whole defense.https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2022/06/16/kansas-city-chiefs-chris-jones-willie-gay-gritty-defensive-identity-2022/ Ah, gritty. Gritty if you want to sum it up in one word. You’ve got to be a gritty defense, and that’s from the coaching staff to the players on the sideline to the players are starting. There’s got to be grit. Don’t let go of the rope. We’re always fighting. And once we attain that mentality, I think we can push for it from that. Edited June 16, 2022 by onejayhawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onejayhawk Posted June 22, 2022 Author Share Posted June 22, 2022 This article is a nice recap of how we reached this point regarding DEs. I then throws out names of some older veterans who might be useful--JPP, Justin Houston, Carlos Dunlap. The cherry on the sundae is Robert Quinn, for whatever that may be worth. Personally, I am looking for a significant uptick in the pass rush from a healthy Jones, a healthy Clark, more production from Danna and Wharton, and of course Karlaftis and maybe the LB. A simplified attacking scheme would suit our personnel. https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2022/6/22/23178655/examining-the-chiefs-remaining-options-at-defensive-end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onejayhawk Posted June 24, 2022 Author Share Posted June 24, 2022 Will this be the best defense of the Mahomes era? Maybe. It was a topic for discussion.https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2022/6/24/23181444/lets-argue-this-will-be-the-best-defense-of-the-mahomes-era Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onejayhawk Posted June 27, 2022 Author Share Posted June 27, 2022 (edited) It appears PFF likes the work the Chiefs have done on their secondary. https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2022/06/27/kansas-city-chiefs-pff-ranks-secondary-14th-in-nfl/ Justin Reid says the team wants him to command the back end. I'm good with that. I'm also good with Thornhill commanding the back end. https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2022/7/5/23195330/justin-reid-says-chiefs-want-him-to-command-the-back-end One on the CB as a unit.https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2022/07/07/kansas-city-chiefs-rashad-fenton-ljarius-sneed-snubbed-touchdown-wire-top-cornerbacks-list/ Edited July 8, 2022 by onejayhawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onejayhawk Posted July 6, 2022 Author Share Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) What would you trade for the Mighty Quinn. This article thinks a 2nd and a 4th is reasonable. https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/recent_mock_trade_has_chiefs_acquiring_pro_bowl_pass_rusher/s1_16631_37649889https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/it_just_makes_sense_chiefs_should_trade_for_robert_quinn/s1_16631_37660700 Edited July 9, 2022 by onejayhawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onejayhawk Posted July 13, 2022 Author Share Posted July 13, 2022 (edited) With Training camp just a week away, we are already starting to get some of the shape of the new-look Chiefs defense. Losing Tyrann Mathieu cost us the vocal leader of the defense. We also lost our MLB Anthony Hitchens, who wore the green dot as the guy with the radio. That will be Nick Bolton this season. This article will shape the defense as he takes over at MLB. https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nick_bolton_built_to_become_new_leader_on_chiefs_defense/s1_16880_37675979 Another emerging leader is Mathieu's replacement, Justin Reid. Here are takes of the team's first round draft picks. https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2022/07/13/kansas-city-chiefs-justin-reid-trent-mcduffie-george-karlaftis-first-impressions-nfl-network/ Edited July 14, 2022 by onejayhawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onejayhawk Posted July 21, 2022 Author Share Posted July 21, 2022 I have been talking about the new defense for months. At the very least we will start new players at DE, SOLB, MLB, CB, and S. Three of them could be rookies. This article traces some of the same steps. https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/does_youth_movement_create_faster_start_for_chiefs_defense/s1_16880_37700285 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefer Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 (edited) Starting DefensE Danna-Nnadi-Jones-Karlaftis Gay-Bolton-Lee McDuffie-Thornhill-Reid-Sneed edit: joshua williams running with the 1s in nickel, FC seems to have a minor injury Edited July 27, 2022 by Chiefer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onejayhawk Posted July 28, 2022 Author Share Posted July 28, 2022 (edited) Clark is out with "an illness". He was on campus with someone, so the reason may not have even been physical. Josh Williams running with the A-team is also very good news. It's beginning to look like there are seven DB who are in the mix--Reid, Thornhill, Cook, Sneed, McDuffie, Johnson, maybe Williams. Lee vs Carter vs Chenal is going to be interesting. Justin Reid is making an impact in the secondary. On the field he has been a playmaker, with another interception Wednesday. In the locker room, deeply in the process of building unit identity, he's Tyrann Mathieu's replacement, so the stakes are high. He had some comments:https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2022/07/28/kansas-city-chiefs-justin-reid-defensive-indentity-attitude-physicality-dominant/ There’s something to be said about a fresh start. This is a new-look defense, you could say. We have a lot of new faces and a lot of guys who are gritty and have been hungry for the opportunity to prove their worth and show who they are as players. We want to be an attitude defense. We want to come out and set the tempo, we want to be physical, we want to be dominant. When it comes to the end of the game and we have a lead, we want to be the ones to finish it and not have to rely on the offense to go out and do anything. That’s the attitude that we’re building and that’s the attitude that we’re going to continue with the whole season. Edited July 28, 2022 by onejayhawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefs82 Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 I think it's Sneed/McDuffie/Williams come start if the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onejayhawk Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 3 minutes ago, chiefs82 said: I think it's Sneed/McDuffie/Williams come start if the season. Don't forget Johnson. At safety we have Thornhill, Reid, and Cook. Johnson can also play that role. That makes seven DB. We keep at lest one more primarily for ST. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefs82 Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 44 minutes ago, onejayhawk said: Don't forget Johnson. At safety we have Thornhill, Reid, and Cook. Johnson can also play that role. That makes seven DB. We keep at lest one more primarily for ST. Yeah I meant that start on the field. I think Spags will have the rookies out there early and often Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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