In 2023, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs ranked second in each factors and yards allowed — and seventh in defensive DVOA.
Despite the fact that the group is thought at the start for famous person quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight finish Travis Kelce and the sensible offensive thoughts of head coach Andy Reid, it was the protection that carried the Chiefs by means of the lengthy 2023 season — and finally to their second straight Tremendous Bowl victory.
However that was final 12 months. Within the NFL, you’ll be able to’t grasp onto yesterday’s laurels. You possibly can, nevertheless, problem your self to fulfill the subsequent problem head-on.
That’s the mindset defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is making an attempt to instill in his unit.
“We’ve challenged one another to be pretty much as good — if not higher — than final 12 months,” he informed reporters after Tuesday’s coaching camp follow at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph. “However we’re going to should take it one sport at a time.”
That begins at 6:00 p.m. (Arrowhead Time) on Saturday, once they journey to Duval County, Florida to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024’s first preseason sport.
In keeping with Spagnuolo, he’ll be monitoring a lot of issues.
1. Is there a silver lining to all the group’s accidents?
Kansas Metropolis’s protection is extra banged-up than it could desire. Whereas defensive sort out Derrick Nnadi and cornerbacks Jaylen Watson and Nazeeh Johnson are all again from damage, linebacker Nick Bolton (elbow), defensive sort out Chris Jones (shoulder), security Justin Reid (quad), and cornerback Kelvin Joseph (hamstring) all missed follow on each Tuesday and Wednesday.
Spagnuolo doesn’t prefer it — however throughout coaching camp, there’s one benefit to the state of affairs.
“The silver lining is we’ve received guys that wouldn’t usually get all these reps,” famous the coordinator. “It’s one thing we received to combat by means of. We’d prefer to get this out of the way in which and get a few of these guys again. I imply, Jaylen received on the market at the moment. I feel Nazeeh received some reps, which is sweet.”
2. How will the younger guys fare?
Following that very same prepare of thought, Spagnuolo will likely be watching his rookies rigorously — particularly within the secondary.
“We need to see what we’ve received occurring the continuity and the chemistry of these younger guys who will talk within the warmth of battle… The largest factor I need to see is guys which are unknown to me [in] their toughness and tackling.”
Spagnuolo has already informed the gamers what’s on the road.
“[Among] the fellows I’ve been round which are right here, I do know which guys are powerful — and which guys are faux powerful,” mentioned Spagnuolo. “I’m looking for out if guys are powerful sufficient to play on this league and do the issues we have to do.”
3. Can the protection cease the run?
After we’re speaking about defensive toughness, we’re referring to tackling, profitable battles within the trenches and stopping the run. Spagnuolo believes that in camp, the final of those is the most important unknown.
“The onerous factor is we don’t actually know the place we’re at in opposition to the run,” he famous. “We don’t see a variety of runs [in training camp]. We’re not tackling reside. So we’d prefer to see that… the block destruction — and the way the linebackers operate off of our D-linemen — is all the time actually vital.”
4. Who will step up at cornerback?
There aren’t many defensive positions the place the starter isn’t already decided. However there’s an energetic roster battle for the second outdoors cornerback throughout from Trent McDuffie. There are a variety of gamers within the combine. Spagnuolo is in search of some particular attributes.
“The psychological a part of it’ll be first,” he mentioned, “and you then want that man to be as productive as whoever we put on the market… We’re looking for these guys that know what they’re doing and may make performs doing it. And we received some guys that we that may work there. We simply received to search out out which one surfaces to change into that.”
