Opponents Point Out Chiefs Have Done Nothing To Help Run Defense

I gotta believe that better coaching will get us better results, including on the run game.

That they saw something in our young players on “D” specifically our LB core that made them feel comfortable about not addressing those position’s of need.

By how much is unknown…

Coaching should help improve it but they did nothing significant this offseason to help an extremely poor run defense last season(as far as the front 7 is concerned). I’m not saying its a total negative but its true. They are banking on young guys getting better, other parts of the defense taking some pressure of them and improved coaching.

This is a real head scratcher, especially not addressing the NT situation.
It is almost as if when Troupe was drafted by Buffalo in the 2nd round, that Pioli said “Ah shit, my guy is gone” and didn’t draft anyone. I hate hearing how well Cam Thomas is looking in San Diego when he went in the 5th round.

but how much better the offense is. Last year was a double wammy, poor offense and poor defense. A good offense will automatically make the defense better, regardless of improvement.

Shaun Smith is the X factor. The ONLY time he’s played as a 3-4 NT in his NFL career was with Crennel in CLE. And he thrived in that position. There’s a reason Smith was brought in, and I wouldn’t doubt it was from Crennel’s recommendation.

If the DEs improve and our NT is average for a 3-4 NT, then guess what? Our run defense will have improved into the mid range ranking for run D. So, it’s wait and see for now.

Just look at Denver’s Defense last year. They have quite a bit less talent then we do and Mike Nolan turned that ship around immediately. There is no reason to doubt that Crennel cannot and is not going to do the same. We might not fly up into the top ten, but there should be a marked improvement this year.

If Berry turns out to be what everyone thinks he is than he will improve the run D leaps an bounds look at what a impact like Troy Palomino does to a teams run D. Oh and Dorsey, an Jackson will improve. as well as having a LB core that now knows where to be on the field. Romeo will help big time, last year i thought D scheme lost us atleast 5 games alone. I think we did things to help the Run D. maybe not adding a big name dline guy but i think we addressed it.

Someone mentioned that the better offense will have an impact by holding the ball more and longet keeping the defense off the field which is a good point. But I think the bigger impact that a better offense has is keeping the game close. We were losing alot last year and in quite a few games by alot of points. What do teams do when they get a decent lead? They run the ball. Being more competitive and in more games should in itself lower the numbers.

… and we’ve all known this for months … nothing new under then sun

1 first down and punt? 2 minutes of offense, no field position. The defense can’t be on the field NEARLY as much as we were last year and expect to be even decent when the 3rd-4th qrt rolls around.

to improve run D, so what. You can’t improve the whole entire team in one offseason. Had we drafted a d-lineman and a LB the stories would say the chiefs only have 1 playmaker on offense and a swiss cheese secondary, they didn’t improve those positions, BLAH BLAH. Point is when we add some pieces the front 7 and add a RT and maybe another interior lineman next year then what will they have to write?

being able to sustain an actual drive. Our defense won’t be as tired, so they will be able to get after the ball carrier in the fourth quarter. Also didn’t we have the caused the most three and outs, so if the offense gets better will be on the field a lot more.

2 #1 Picks on the DL, 2 #1 Picks at LB.
Going to be good.

I think they determined that there was not any major players early in the draft that would make a huge difference in improving the Run-d or pass rush. So, the other option was to scheme to address this issue which in turn may put more pressure on the secondary (one-one coverage). So, the other option was to scack the secondary, so that we can blitz or do more with our players up front.
But, I was also the same guy that wanted a big time NT in a big way.

Some Defensive secondary pressure to help the front-5. Maybe a new scheme for the ILB’s that should be part of the back-6 anyway. Like the Big-12 became 10, the ILB’s should be part of both conferences, the Rushers and the secondary

1) goodbye Clancy, hello Romeo….

2) better offense=better time of possession= less fatigue & lesser chance of opposing offenses getting in a groove.

3) better offense part 2= scoring more actually scoring= other teams not playing with lead, thus not being able to just run, run, run.

4) better coverage and returning on special teams= better offensive field positioning= better offense & worse starting field positioning for opposing offense.

5) Having a lead allows for more defensive risk= more blitzing= more confusion for opposing offense.

6) Working on secondary (Berry and Lewis)= no more extended drives, aka all those dang third down conversions for the opposing offenses= a lesser T.O.P & and less chances to run the ball!

7) Improved conditioning= duh, improved conditioning= not being gassed= not making as many mental mistakes & making more tackles.

8) Already One year in the 3-4 scheme= growing pains almost gone. also= Another year for our young DE’s.

9) Shaun Smith + Romeo in the past= almost pro bowl quality out of NT spot. Perhaps the same.

10) Charlie Weis isn’t going to call plays to kill our offense. I know, about half of these pertain to the offense. But I didn’t even mention a full year of Chambers, the addition of Urban, McCluster and Jones in the passing game. I didn’t mention switching to the zone blocking scheme on offense, adding Lilja over Smith nor Casey challenging Rudy. Nor did I mention adding a 1,000 yrd rusher.

No, offense isn’t defense, but a poor horrible, none-existent offense kills any hopes of a good defense. At the end of the day, all these small things will make a significant difference. Oh, and let’s not forget the last quarter of last season. That’s why we have hope.

If you’re Denver, do you want to play a team that killed your playoff hopes and then went on to add Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel, Eric Berry, Thomas Jones, Dexter McCluster, Casey, and Ryan (Lilja)?? Hmm….

And at the end of the day, we don’t need to have the best run defense this year. We just need a better offense and run defense than our AFC West counterparts.

Demorrio is an above average tackler and same with DJ. I really think we have a better chance with them at both of the ILB spots. Plus Dj is one of the best pass d lbs in the league