Sutton's Defense Won't Dictate Or Attack

[petegz28]

His defense lacks any sense of toughness and attack. He doesn't dictate anything. When he blitzes he blitzes to blitz and not to dictate what the ofense can and cannot do.

Take Wade Phillips on the other hand. The guy instantly upgrades any defense he coaches regardless of talent. Why? Because he has a defense that dictactes what an offense must do. Not sit back trying to defend against any and everything possible.

Preseason or not, toughness and an attacking mentality are something that shows regardless. Sutton's defenses are soft, reactionary and undisciplined.

How this guy still has a job bogles the minds of most. But I am afraid what we've seen the last few years is what we will see again. Minimal attack, dependency on a turnover. Lots of time on the field defensively.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by kgrund

The 2015 Chiefs D, with healthy bodies, was playing near the level of the 2015 Donks.

Nah. That 2015 Broncos defense was one of the best of all time. Probably right up there with the '02 Bucs and '08 Steelers but not quite as good as the '13 Seahawks or '00 Ravens.

Our D was fantastic in 2015 but not at that level.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by RaidersOftheCellar

Denver has been one of the best in yards allowed and KC one of the worst. How the hell are the stats similar?

Low PPG is nice and all, but sucking between the 20s is not ideal.

Exactly.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by TEX

Exactly.

It impacts the game. Controlling the ball is not meaningless. Watching that PIT playoff game, second half last year. Not being able to slow them down when impacted the momentum of the game. That's subjective but I also think it was pretty universally felt.

[RunKC]

The Chiefs allowed only 3.3 YPC last night without Hitchens, Ragland and Berry.

That’s progress and it’s exactly what they wanted to work on. Remember that 3rd and long was vanilla. There were no blitzes or anything.

I think if we figure out the #2 corner issue we’ll be okay.

[OKchiefs]

Originally Posted by RunKC

The Chiefs allowed only 3.3 YPC last night without Hitchens, Ragland and Berry.

That’s progress and it’s exactly what they wanted to work on. Remember that 3rd and long was vanilla. There were no blitzes or anything.

I think if we figure out the #2 corner issue we’ll be okay.

You really think we can really count on any of those three to be healthy? Bailey was also out with injury and now Nelson is injured, again. This defense is a nightmare.

[mcaj22]

figure out the #2 corner position.... little late for that isn't it lol

[TEX]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

It impacts the game. Controlling the ball is not meaningless. Watching that PIT playoff game, second half last year. Not being able to slow them down when impacted the momentum of the game. That's subjective but I also think it was pretty universally felt.

Totally agree. Plus, when you finally do get the ball back, you press b/c you know your chances will be limited.

[Chief Northman]

Sutton is an awful 3rd down play caller.

[Easy 6]

Like everyone else, Sutton has infuriated me in the past... but to make such bold proclamations about this years defense after two preseason games is silly

Not only are Berry and others not playing in these games, but there is no game planning at all, its all about evaluating guys strengths and weaknesses at this point

The word has been out for quite a while now...

1) there will be a strong focus on the run
2) they will be playing a more aggressive press scheme

Everyone take a deep breath, and wait until the real bullets start flying to judge this years squad

[King_Chief_Fan]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Like everyone else, Sutton has infuriated me in the past... but to make such bold proclamations about this years defense after two preseason games is silly

Not only are Berry and others not playing in these games, but there is no game planning at all, its all about evaluating guys strengths and weaknesses at this point

The word has been out for quite a while now...

1) there will be a strong focus on the run
2) they will be playing a more aggressive press scheme

Everyone take a deep breath, and wait until the real bullets start flying to judge this years squad

The voice of reason...yes.
But, Sutton d has always been middle of the road

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Like everyone else, Sutton has infuriated me in the past... but to make such bold proclamations about this years defense after two preseason games is silly

Not only are Berry and others not playing in these games, but there is no game planning at all, its all about evaluating guys strengths and weaknesses at this point

The word has been out for quite a while now...

1) there will be a strong focus on the run
2) they will be playing a more aggressive press scheme

Everyone take a deep breath, and wait until the real bullets start flying to judge this years squad

I don't know how you can say that the defense is going to be improved with the same coordinator, same scheme, having lost the defense's best playmaker, and with no really pivotal personnel changes. (other than Berry returning, who did not manage to singlehandedly turn the last defense he played on into a good one)

"more emphasis" and "more aggressive" aren't going to change the things that really matter, like the people on the field, the scheme, or the people running the defense. "emphasis" and "aggression" are tweaks you make when everything else is in place.

If this defense manages to not finish in the bottom third of the league in most categories we might be able to say some progress has been made, but there are no indications that's going to happen so far.

[Buckweath]

I really hope Veach acquires a legit #2 CB. If he doesn't want to use that Rams 2nd round pick, at least use a lower pick. This defense could be pretty good with another good CB.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Eleazar

I don't know how you can say that the defense is going to be improved with the same coordinator, same scheme, having lost the defense's best playmaker, and with no really pivotal personnel changes. (other than Berry returning, who did not manage to singlehandedly turn the last defense he played on into a good one)

"more emphasis" and "more aggressive" aren't going to change the things that really matter, like the people on the field, the scheme, or the people running the defense. "emphasis" and "aggression" are tweaks you make when everything else is in place.

If this defense manages to not finish in the bottom third of the league in most categories we might be able to say some progress has been made, but there are no indications that's going to happen so far.

You're spot on here. I think people argue that it will have many new starters from last season and will get Barry back (but he's not back yet), so it's got to be improved... IMO, it's just a JAG Collection run by a DC who should have been fired after last season. I'm not expecting much improvement.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Eleazar

I don't know how you can say that the defense is going to be improved with the same coordinator, same scheme, having lost the defense's best playmaker, and with no really pivotal personnel changes. (other than Berry returning, who did not manage to singlehandedly turn the last defense he played on into a good one)

"more emphasis" and "more aggressive" aren't going to change the things that really matter, like the people on the field, the scheme, or the people running the defense. "emphasis" and "aggression" are tweaks you make when everything else is in place.

If this defense manages to not finish in the bottom third of the league in most categories we might be able to say some progress has been made, but there are no indications that's going to happen so far.

The OP states this defense wont dictate or attack, and my point is that there is absolutely no way of knowing that about this years defense... we'll start to get an idea week 1

The goals of better run defense, and a more attacking pass rush style have been clearly laid out... Sutton may be a lot of things, but I dont why he'd be lying about that

The simple fact is we're not seeing what this D can really do because of both vanilla preseason gameplans, and critical starters not playing

A healthy Berry can make a tremendous difference, disagreeing with that is just arguing for the sake of it

Throw in pro bowl Hitchens, and Ragland who has proven to be a potent run stopper, and we're missing some serious talent out there at the moment

[FloridaMan88]

Sutton's defense is the "Death by 1,000 Scratches Defense"... it is so focused on avoiding giving up the big play that instead it gives up 10-12 play drives.

And yes getting Ragland and Hitchens back will help, but it is questionable what type of impact Eric Berry will have when he returns coming off a second major leg/foot injury and now continuing to be hampered by heel issues.

To expect a 29 year old, going on 30 years old in December safety with significant leg/feet injuries to magically cure all that ails Sutton's defense is a major reach.

And to those who think that Berry's "leadership" presence will significantly help the defense when he returns (despite any potential regression in his physical skills)... see Derrick Johnson last year. "Leadership" with declining talent has a limited impact.