Andy Reid thinks Defense is ready

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2018...son-right-now/

By: Wesley Roesch | 21 hours ago

Chiefs coach Andy Reid seems to be much more confident in his defense than the fans are right now.

Many folks believe Kansas City needs to focus on defense in the 2018 draft, filling holes like safety, cornerback and defensive line. It doesn’t appear that Reid agrees.

During Monday’s presser, Reid said that he thinks the Chiefs could step in and play right now. He doesn’t think the Chiefs have many holes to fill in the draft so they can select the best player available instead.


BJ Kissel
✔
@ChiefsReporter
Andy Reid says he believes the #Chiefs are one of the few teams that could step out and play right now. Don't need to fix "holes" in draft. Basically, can take the best player regardless of position.


Terez A. Paylor
✔
@TerezPaylor
Reid on what the Chiefs learned about their 2017 defensive scheme after self-scouting themselves: "I know how solid the scheme is. We've been a pretty good defensive unit over the years here. So I trust we'll be right back on that and rolling."


Reid on carrying five running backs for the time being: “Let’s have some competition there and see what happens.”

Reid emphasizing he doesn’t believe the #Chiefs have to draft for need after some of the offseason moves made. “Don’t have to force one,” he says.

This is an interesting take but it’s not far off from what I expected from Chiefs brass. The team has clearly been focusing on the offense rather than the defense during free agency. I wouldn’t be shocked to see them add more receivers, tight ends or offensive linemen high in the draft next week.


From a logical standpoint, I’ll have to disagree with Reid about the defense not having holes. Obviously Reid knows way more than I do about football and his team but I don’t feel comfortable with David Amerson at cornerback and Eric Murray/Daniel Sorensen at safety. Those guys have the potential to play well but have all struggled recently.

The return of safety Eric Berry should help the defense turn things around though, as could the possible return of a healthy linebacker
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Ragland and Jones lost weight and ready to kick ass!

https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2018...ing-offseason/

Several Chiefs defensive players are taking steps to get leaner and faster.

During Monday’s presser, Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones and linebacker Reggie Ragland both said they shed some weight during the offseason.

Jones said he lost 25 pounds, turning fat into muscle, while Ragland dropped 10 pounds in order to improve his coverage.

Tom Martin
✔
@TomKCTV5
Chris Jones says he’s dropping weight, “turning fat into muscle.” Says he could play more on the outside this year.


Matt Derrick
@mattderrick
Reggie Ragland says he’s dropped about 10 pounds. Trying to take better care of himself so he can be faster in coverage and chasing running backs.

It’s awesome to see some of the Chiefs’ top defensive players work so hard to keep improving their bodies and their game. Jones looks great and his weight loss is very noticeable based on the photos (seen above). Jones dropping some pounds could be the difference-maker when he goes after opposing quarterbacks.

Ragland shedding weight in order to improve his coverage is interesting. Ragland has been known as more of a run-stuffer in the pros but the Chiefs signed linebacker Anthony Hitchens to be their top run defender. Ragland’s weight loss and added speed could mean he’ll see more looks as a coverage linebacker on passing downs

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ALL players showed up for voluntary camp. The Mahomes effect ?

It doesn’t look like there will be a no-show controversy this year for the Chiefs.

The first day of Kansas City’s offseason workouts was Monday, and everyone on the team showed up according to coach Andy Reid. That includes safety Eric Berry and linebacker Justin Houston, two players who didn’t show up to organized team activities last year.


Terez A. Paylor
✔
@TerezPaylor
Andy Reid says Eric Berry, Travis Kelce and Justin Houston are present for the start of offseason workouts


BJ Kissel
✔
@ChiefsReporter
#Chiefs coach Andy Reid said everyone is here, as well.


Reid added that it was good to have the leaders of the locker room present on the first day. Many agree, as shown last year after several fans and media members were upset that Berry, Houston and former Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters didn’t show up for OTAs. Reid acknowledged several times last year that OTAs were voluntary, although he did seem a bit annoyed when asked about it.

Of course, there’s still a possibility that a player decides to skip OTAs, but considering the backlash last year it seems unlikely. That’s probably a good thing anyway because, like Reid said, the leaders of the locker room need to be there.

[Toad]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

The D didn't suck with peters when the D made sense. Sure peters brought the scheme down some, but the scheme brought peters down a lot moreso. From a coverage standpoint he was terrific. About as well as you could expect in a scheme where the pass rush forces mistakes and forces you to cover for a million hours man on man. The defense will probably be better and that's mostly because of scheme. The defense would improve even moreso with peters in it. Fair point to ask if his attitude is worth it, but there's no doubt he's a huge loss for the defense even with his shortcomings. We had a ball hawking corner and we decided the best use for him was to sit back in dime even when we knew it was hurting our pass rush? We don't trust peters against the run so our solution was to throw more dbacks on to the field.. Suttons scheme was a big issue last year and I hope that gets fixed.

In a vacumn, MP was great in coverage and turnovers. He will. That will be missed.

From a 'what's best for the team' perspective, he was not good.

As Halfcan said, the PI calls, unsportsmanlike calls, anthem nonsense, yelling at refs, fans, and coaches, fighting with coaches and his mom was not good for the team.

The defense was 💩 with him (28th in the league in yardage), so it can't be much worse without him. The upside without him should result in a more cohesive team.

[Rausch]

I disagree with Andy.

To be fair Hali and Ford didn't do squat last year, Berry was out injured, and we played our best game of the year against the pass with Peters benched.

I don't think this D is playoff ready right now but with a solid draft and a piece or two after preseason cuts we might be good enough to get by...

[Simply Red]

[Bewbies]

Originally Posted by Rausch

I disagree with Andy.

To be fair Hali and Ford didn't do squat last year, Berry was out injured, and we played our best game of the year against the pass with Peters benched.

I don't think this D is playoff ready right now but with a solid draft and a piece or two after preseason cuts we might be good enough to get by...

Defense was worse last year. And we had a QB unable to overcome even slight adversity. And yet, we should have won a playoff game.

Our LB's have been completely remade, with improvements at 3-4 spots from where we started last year. DB's will have different 4 than we had last year. D-line probably has 1 maybe 2 new starters there too.

Clearly the team believes talent was the problem...

[ct]

If we add a couple pieces from the draft, i think this D will be fine.

Ragland and Hitchins as full time ILB will be a huge boost to the run D, though i would like some upgrades to the DLine rotation if we can get a good 5 tech in the draft.

Pass rush depth is still an issue that we do need pieces in the draft. Starters however, if we get Ford back will be better than LY with zombo filling in. i'm not sold on Tano but remain hopeful he can develop as a rotational rusher as well. the Q with he and Fords health is where we absolutely need a developmental prospect here, if not an immediate contributor in rush situations if we can get good value.

Overall i think the front 7 is good for starters but couple depth pieces are needed.

Secondary will be fine as is, as long as Berry is healthy. I say fine, not good.

I'm in the camp i fully expect Fuller and Amerson on the outside, with Nelson in the slot in nickel. that's worst case, which aint terrible, and not any worse than LY imo. Given nelson injuries and the garbage rotation across from Peters, those 3 alone isnt awful. of course, a blue chip starter prospect would be HUGE for our defense, which could A) slide Fuller and rookie as #1/2, push Amerson to the bench (or cut), and again Nelson in the slot or B) Amerson comes in nickel with fuller sliding inside, which keeps nelson as #4. That is HUGE upgrade imo with 1 pick.

if we happen to grab 2 good prospect CBs or LY's UDFA diamond in the rough potential Lampkin returning from ACL and this may very well bump amerson off the roster entirely.

Safety depth with Berry back is so much better than w/out him. Let the competition play out among Murray, Golden, McQuay and a draftee or undraftee prospect, with Sorenson firmly as situational package guy and i'm ok with it. Snag a SOLID prospect like Reid in teh draft and now we are cookin! Unfortunately, that likely comes at the price of a top bluechip CB which i feel pays more dividend for us right now, so i'm looking for S in 3rd/4th along with pass rushers and 2nd rookie CB pick.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

In NFL terms this team is ****ing loaded. NO team is stacked at every position. The team has holes, but no more than any other high end team. If Mahomes is what we thinks he is....look out

[Simply Red]

RAGLAND BACK WITH THE PESCATARIAN!

[Coochie liquor]

Originally Posted by Randallflagg

It's not that Sutton is necessarily a BAD D Coordinator. The thing is that every team in the NFL KNOWS when they play the Chiefs exactly what the D scheme is. Sutton has been around so long - and his patent refusal to "change" his scheme from time to time - that you can almost see the O Coordinator on the other side of the field smiling.

I think that we all can call his defense from play to play. Just been using the same plan for far too damned long.

I remember back, quite a few years ago when Cunningham was D Coordinator - don't remember who they were playing at the time - but Gunther called Blitzes on EVERY down - to keep them out of the end zone. No one in their right mind thought he should do that - but the game was won on that goal line stand. The Coach of the other team called it "pure genius".

THAT is the kind of thing that Sutton has completely lost (imo). Far too damned predictable.

Hard to not be predictable when your starting corners opposite Peters were garbage. Sutton had to put the fires of crappy players out all year. I think when he can put good players in then he will have more success. But I can’t lie, him allowing our number 1 cb to not follow the oppositions number 1 wr drives me nuts!

[scho63]

1. If Andy is saying this to put a good face on a bad situation and provide confidence in what we have, I'm OK with that.
2. If Andy said this because he truly believes it, shame on Andy and his delusional fantasies.

I hope it's answer #1

[Beef Supreme]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

RAGLAND BACK WITH THE PESCATARIAN!

Sabby Pescatarian?

[ping2000]

"Doesn't matter what Andy thinks. I'm still here to make sure our defense underachieves."

[Easy 6]

I've stood right there in your shoes, ping

It gets better, back away from the ledge... take my hand and trust me

[scho63]

Wouldn't mind buying that same windbreaker.

Originally Posted by ping2000

[TrebMaxx]

I wouldn't expect Andy to say what way the team will go in the draft. Saying the D is good could be a rouse or a attempted rouse. This time of year it's a game within a game that the front offices of NFL teams play.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

We don't pick until 54 and you guys think he's trying to mislead teams