Thoughts on defense

[oldtimer 8,686]

https://currently.att.yahoo.com/sports/chiefs-daniel-sorensen-leads-nfl-164558920.html

Chiefs S Daniel Sorensen leads NFL in missed tackles after Week 2

he Kansas City Chiefs have a tackling problem and right at the cusp of their problem is veteran DB Daniel Sorensen.

Sorensen has been the only Chiefs defender to play 100% of the defensive snaps for the team in back-to-back weeks. He’s also been good for a clutch play or two in each game so far, which is normal for the eight-year veteran. Still, it’s hard to ignore the glaring issues that he’s had when attempting to make tackles this season.

According to Pro Football Focus, Sorensen leads the NFL in missed tackles with nine missed tackles through the first two weeks of the season. That’s three more missed tackles than the next closest defender and seven more missed tackles than anyone else on the Chiefs.

If Sorensen continues to play 100% of the defensive snaps and miss tackles at his current rate, he’ll have 76 missed tackles at the end of Week 17. To put that number into context, the defender with the most missed tackles in 2020 had 22 missed tackles.

While Sorensen was missing tackles left and right on Sunday, third-year S Juan Thornhill played just 11 defensive snaps against the Baltimore Ravens. Asked about the decision to go with Sorensen over Thornhill, Chiefs HC Andy Reid said he’ll eventually get his chance to play.

“Juan and Dan (Sorensen), they do certain things the same and a couple of things different,” Reid told reporters on Monday. “It all kind of equals out and Dan really had the better camp and so on. Maybe a little bit more consistency there, but we love Juan and where he’s getting himself back to where he was his rookie year. I don’t want to take anything away from the effort that he’s put forward to do that. They all get a chance to play. I think we’ll take it step-by-step here and can’t have enough of those guys that can play.”

You can rest assured that the opportunity for Thornhill might come sooner than later if Sorensen continues to miss tackles at an excessive rate.

[Palangi 788]

Yeah but Sorensen had a great camp so…

[Iluvhouse24 1,808]

26 minutes ago, Palangi said:

Yeah but Sorensen has a great camp so…

I hope we don't have to start 1-2 to get the real wakeup call. 

[Lamardirts 2,114]

33 minutes ago, Iluvhouse24 said:

I hope we don't have to start 1-2 to get the real wakeup call. 

Good chance of it luv.   Took a miracle SB win, a offseason of no upgrades, a year of poor oline play and then an embarrassing SB loss to finally overhaul the line.  Hope it doesn't take something similar to get Sorensen and Niemann off the field.    

[AFCWEST 1,238]

7 minutes ago, Lamardirts said:

Good chance of it luv.   Took a miracle SB win, a offseason of no upgrades, a year of poor oline play and then an embarrassing SB loss to finally overhaul the line.  Hope it doesn't take something similar to get Sorensen and Niemann off the field.    

For me I accept the D will not be good. Just need a couple of stops and the Offense with an improving oline can win every game. D could not have been much worse than the Balt game and yet KC had that won if not for a turnover. I dont see how the D will get much better against decent teams. SO Mahomes is positioned to break every NFL record. He has the oline and oline depth. He has weapons and some depth. I dont see any defense able to stop KC. none.  This may not be a 13-3 team but who cares. Tamba Bay was a wild card. Just get to the dance. 

[DieHard 2,061]

For me the biggest issue is being blown off the ball. Especially inside. Everyone looks bad when the line gets blown up. Hopefully we can do a better job of that and that will help the LBs and secondary. If it doesn't improve, Jones has to move back inside IMO. I would start rotating him inside and Wharton outside on about half the plays to see if that helps.

[Lamardirts 2,114]

20 hours ago, Palangi said:

First someone in the game thread said Bolton was slow (ran a 4.60). Not he is too small (5’11” 237). Probably heavier now too. As most trim up to run faster. I bet he is around 245. Bolton is a thick, explosive guy. Very strong (24reps) too. Has 32” arms so he has good length and a 6’4” wingspan. 
 

go look at Devin White measurements you’ll see a very similar guy. 

Devin White is far more explosive.   Bolton isn't fast or quick.  He's got decent speed for sure but he lacks agility.  

Look I'm not making this crap up Palangi......these are scouts who get paid.    Comparing him to Devin White because they weigh the same and are the same height is like comparing me and Lebron James because both of us are 6'8" and 260.   I'm not saying Bolton is trash, I'm just saying he isn't and elite athlete like Gay or White.   He belongs in the Middle and I would already prefer him to Hitchens.  He will be a good LB but he is limited.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/nick-bolton/3200424f-4c67-8301-cd66-2b7e4543922a

Weaknesses

• Average lateral quickness traps him behind climbing blocks.
• Inconsistent to strike and separate from blockers.
• Needs to improve angles to elude box traffic.
• Might need to take a few more chances as a pro.
• Top-end speed appears below average.
• Loses ground when pursuit flows wide.
• Below-average lateral agility as open-field tackler.
• Will have to play quicker to deal with NFL slashers.

[Lamardirts 2,114]

3 hours ago, AFCWEST said:

For me I accept the D will not be good. Just need a couple of stops and the Offense with an improving oline can win every game. D could not have been much worse than the Balt game and yet KC had that won if not for a turnover. I dont see how the D will get much better against decent teams. SO Mahomes is positioned to break every NFL record. He has the oline and oline depth. He has weapons and some depth. I dont see any defense able to stop KC. none.  This may not be a 13-3 team but who cares. Tamba Bay was a wild card. Just get to the dance. 

I can accept that as well but they should at worst be middle of the road.   Sunday night was bottom 2-3 teams in the league.   

[Palangi 788]

1 hour ago, Lamardirts said:

Devin White is far more explosive.   Bolton isn't fast or quick.  He's got decent speed for sure but he lacks agility.  

Look I'm not making this crap up Palangi......these are scouts who get paid.    Comparing him to Devin White because they weigh the same and are the same height is like comparing me and Lebron James because both of us are 6'8" and 260.   I'm not saying Bolton is trash, I'm just saying he isn't and elite athlete like Gay or White.   He belongs in the Middle and I would already prefer him to Hitchens.  He will be a good LB but he is limited.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/nick-bolton/3200424f-4c67-8301-cd66-2b7e4543922a

Weaknesses

• Average lateral quickness traps him behind climbing blocks.
• Inconsistent to strike and separate from blockers.
• Needs to improve angles to elude box traffic.
• Might need to take a few more chances as a pro.
• Top-end speed appears below average.
• Loses ground when pursuit flows wide.
• Below-average lateral agility as open-field tackler.
• Will have to play quicker to deal with NFL slashers.

I was just comparing size. Didn’t say anything about ability. But he has plus speed at the LB spot. 
we also have professional coaches playing Neimann and Sorensen so let’s not act like they know everything. 
 

one thing that stood out in his college film was the way he exploded into tackles. And I think we have seen that at the professional level too

[Chiefmanzada 466]

Hmm. 

[DefensiveMan 758]

38 minutes ago, Chiefmanzada said:

Hmm. 

Dirty Ben and the Boys gettin after it.

[Lamardirts 2,114]

16 hours ago, Palangi said:

I was just comparing size. Didn’t say anything about ability. But he has plus speed at the LB spot. 
we also have professional coaches playing Neimann and Sorensen so let’s not act like they know everything. 
 

one thing that stood out in his college film was the way he exploded into tackles. And I think we have seen that at the professional level too

True!  

I agree he has a good burst to finish tackles.  I think he will be a major upgrade at MLB next year.  

[artsy 1,137]

19 minutes ago, Lamardirts said:

True!  

I agree he has a good burst to finish tackles.  I think he will be a major upgrade at MLB next year.  

Uhmm YES! At least he doesn't stand around and wait for linemen to come and block him!

Anyone is an upgrade over Nieman and Hitchens..

[oldtimer 8,686]

Chiefs HC Andy Reid addresses defensive struggles after loss to Ravens

Their one-point loss on Sunday at the hands of Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens has the Kansas City Chiefs doing some introspection, especially about their defense. Officially the worst team in red zone defense, and arguably the worst tackling team in the league through two weeks, Kansas City has hit a tough patch of defensive play early in the season.

Without a doubt, this is not where the team thought they’d be after their sterling preseason performances. Back-to-back Super Bowl appearances had the Chiefs looking forward to being one of a handful of teams to compete for three straight championships, but without marked improvement on defense, they’ll be lucky to get out of the first rounds of the playoffs.

Andy Reid is acutely aware of how bad the loss in Baltimore looked, assuring reporters that he and his staff have a handle on the situation in his press conference on Monday. Speaking of the team’s struggles defending inside the 20-yard line, Reid said defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has spent countless hours trying to find solutions, and that answers were likely to come when the defense does the basic things right consistently.

“Yeah, so listen. Spags [Steve Spagnuolo] spent a lot of time in the offseason with that. We worked it a ton in camp, and we haven’t had the results here,” Reid explained, “We’ll keep pounding that out until we get it right. It’s one of those things, everything gets magnified when you’re in the red zone, whether it’s good or bad.

“Even if you’re not tackling in the field, and it doesn’t happen in the red zone, you’re not giving up blocks up the field, then it’s going to get magnified in the red zone. Everything’s a little bit faster and all your strengths and weaknesses get magnified. So, you’ve got to make sure that you kind of get these fundamentals down and take care of it.”

Asked how hard it is to fix the tackling issues mid-season, Reid told reporters that he thinks there is some kind of mental block holding Chiefs defenders back.

“I thought we got better with it the second half,” He said of the defense’s inability to tackle. “Some of that’s a mindset, not being so cautious, rallying to the ball, narrowing space for runners, again when you’re being blocked, shedding and then wrapping up. Those are all important things, but some of it’s a mindset that you have to take care of, so that’s where we go with it”

The worst offender of the defense’s tackling issues is veteran safety Dan Sorenson, who leads the league in missed tackles two games into the season. Reid explained the decision to keep Sorenson on the field instead of third-year safety Juan Thornhill, saying they both have a similar skillset but that Sorenson had a better training camp.

“Juan (Thornhill) and Dan (Sorensen), they do certain things the same and a couple things different,” Reid said, “It all kind of equals out and Dan really had the better camp and so on. Maybe a little bit more consistency there, but we love Juan and where he’s getting himself back to where he was his rookie year. I don’t want to take anything way from the effort that he’s put forward to do that. They all get a chance to play. I think we’ll take it step by step here and can’t have enough of those guys that can play.”

Thornhill only played a handful of snaps against the Ravens, but he could see an increased workload given Sorenson’s struggles. While there aren’t any magic-wand solutions on the horizon for Kansas City, Reid seemed confident in the team’s ability to get back to playing winning football. With a Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers in store for their second game at home, the Chiefs are sure to feel they have something to prove after their embarrassing loss in Baltimore.

[Palangi 788]

1 hour ago, Lamardirts said:

True!  

I agree he has a good burst to finish tackles.  I think he will be a major upgrade at MLB next year.  

It will be interesting to see how he develops. Or how Bolton and Gay play next to each other. 

[arthur75 415]

38 minutes ago, Palangi said:

It will be interesting to see how he develops. Or how Bolton and Gay play next to each other. 

If Gay can ever stay healthy.......

[kkuenn 3,597]

3 hours ago, arthur75 said:

If Gay can ever stay healthy.......

Our new Watkins...

[Chiefmanzada 466]

Spags is being a Douche not playing Thornhill as much as Sorensen. 

Get #22's confidence up. He may be our future. Sorensen is most definitely not. He's had a good run with us and made some great plays. It's just time to be more DOMINANT  

[Chiefmanzada 466]

 

 

 

[AFCWEST 1,238]

4 minutes ago, Chiefmanzada said:

 

 

 

Yep. Spags blew it with his public comments. Very unprofessional. 

[Chiefmanzada 466]

Chiefs fans are pissed man. It's not like we haven't been talking about Sorensen and Niemann for a while now. 

Sick of this shit 

[Troyofoc 361]

2 hours ago, Chiefmanzada said:

 

 

 

Can't blame him the guy in front of him leads the league in missed tackles. While having more than double the amount snaps as him.

[DieHard 2,061]

Sounds like he is going to be aggressive when he gets his chance. Hope he gets in there and does well.

 

[Chiefmanzada 466]

Don’t like seeing Jones on the injury report. 

Also Think I’ve seen enough of this experiment to put him on the outside. He’s an interior lineman. Not a rusher. 

[DieHard 2,061]

I kind of agree. I think he can play DE well once he gets more reps, but his loss on the middle is huge. With Clark hurt again I don’t think they will do it this week.