Is a defensive 4-3 change coming to KC?

[ChiefsFanatic]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Yeah I mean it’s not like he fielded top 5 defenses two years in a row or anything when Houston and DJ were both healthy.

I know we have been having this disagreement, and I did respond with defensive rankings in response to you saying Sutton fielded the 3 best post-merger Chiefs defenses. And while I think I proved that wasn't true, but I also admitted that Sutton's rankings were much better than I remembered.

But I absolutely stand by my statement that Sutton doesn't adapt to the skills of his players. He is very rigid in his defensive concepts. Maybe it's the era in which he came up as a coach, or his time coaching a military team, but he is either unwilling or unable to change.

But, talking about speed at LB, DJ and Houston have never been fast. I know that I am not an NFL coach, but after years of watching all levels of football, I believe that slower linebackers can be protected a little more in a 4-3 defense, with true defensive tackles and defensive ends.

In a 4-3 a good defensive line can keep the offensive line from getting their hands on the second level, allowing slower linebackers to get to the ball carrier fairly unmolested. But we are playing a 3-4, and our slow linebackers seem to always have someone's hands, an offensive lineman or TE, on them and we continue to get gashed on run defense.

So, my statement saying that Sutton wouldn't know how to put fast linebackers in a position to win stands, because Sutton doesn't see fast, slow, or any other specific talent his players have or don't have. He sees LB, CB, SS, FS, DE, DT, etc. etc.

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[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by ChiefsFanatic

I know we have been having this disagreement, and I did respond with defensive rankings in response to you saying Sutton fielded the 3 best post-merger Chiefs defenses. And while I think I proved that wasn't true, but I also admitted that Sutton's rankings were much better than I remembered.

The problem with what you posted is that sandwiched in between 1995 and 1997 was 1996, in which the defense finished 11th in scoring defense and 18th in total yards.

From 2013 to 2016, the Chiefs finished 5th, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th in scoring. In 2013 and 2016, they were 24th in yards. So whether you take the period of 2013 to 2015 or the period from 2014 to 2016, those 3 years together are better than 1995-1997 because 1996 wasn't even top 10.

Forget "best 3-year stint", let's go 4 years. You can use 1994, in which they were 7th in scoring or you can use 1998, in which they were 22nd.

Bob's first 4 years here were the best of any DC since the AFL days. It's really not disputable. Marty's teams never put together back to back seasons of top 5 defense, ever.

Originally Posted by ChiefsFanatic

But I absolutely stand by my statement that Sutton doesn't adapt to the skills of his players. He is very rigid in his defensive concepts. Maybe it's the era in which he came up as a coach, or his time coaching a military team, but he is either unwilling or unable to change.

What does he need to change? When given the talent, they were a top 5 scoring defense in multiple years.

Originally Posted by ChiefsFanatic

So, my statement saying that Sutton wouldn't know how to put fast linebackers in a position to win stands, because Sutton doesn't see fast, slow, or any other specific talent his players have or don't have. He sees LB, CB, SS, FS, DE, DT, etc. etc.

Talk about semantics.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by ChiefsFanatic

But, talking about speed at LB, DJ and Houston have never been fast.

DJ ran a 4.5 and Houston ran a 4.6.

You are talking out your ass.

Our linebackers aren't even slow.

Hitchens and Ragland are 4.7 guys, which is fine for ILB. Ford is a freak.

The problem with this defense isn't speed. It's tackling and just general lack of coverage ability, and total shit at safety.