Dan4pres 125 Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 After hearing many experts, pundits, fans from other teams as well as members of Chief's Kingdom expound on how terrible the Chief's defense has been this year, I wanted to take a look statistically to see if the facts bear out that opinion. From what I can tell, I not only see weekly improvement by the Chief's D, but I see we are much closer to being a "middle of the road" defense than being one of the worst in the league. Here are my thoughts: 1) I am basing my opinion/claim purely on points scored/allowed. People who claim the Chiefs are the worst defense in the NFL are only looking at yards given up. In my opinion, that statistic is one of the worst definers of a defense you can use. In the Chiefs case, most of the games are out of hand by the 2nd-3rd quarter and it becomes garbage time. I would bet that most of the yardage given up by the defense skews towards the 4th quarter. 2) The defense often stiffens on 3rd down and in the Red Zone. Oftentimes, the Chiefs give up big plays due to poor positioning, poor tackling or blown assignments. All of those are fixable with either better coaching or better players. I think the defense is still a work in progress and I have no doubt Veach will address it this offseason. That being said, I see a grittiness in the defense the past few weeks that was simply missing the first quarter of the season. That is encouraging. 3) KC has played four of the top 10 scoring teams in the league already this year (Pittsburgh, LA Chargers, New England and Cincinnati). You could also argue that San Fran might have been a top 15 offense when we played them. Denver is top 20 and the only really weak offense we have played is Jacksonville. 4) Defenses are down across the league. That is just a fact. The Chiefs are currently 21st in points allowed per game. Not great but certainly not as terrible as some people keep spouting. There are currently only seven teams that allow less than 20 points a game (Baltimore, Dallas, Tennessee, Seattle, Washington, LA Rams and Philadelphia). You could consider these teams having good to great defenses. Then you have those that allow 20-24 points a game. There are only 5 additional teams on that list (Chicago, Houston, Jacksonville, Carolina and the LA Chargers). The next group goes from 25-26 points a game. Those include Denver, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, New England and KC. Not a bad group to be in, huh? In fact, the team that is 20th in scoring (one in front of the Chiefs?) is New England. You never hear "well their offense is really good but their defense will kill them in the playoffs". 5) As I stated earlier the defense is improving. In three of the last four games, the Defense held their opponent to less than their season average in points scored (the exception being the Pats game). The defense is missing some key pieces, no doubt about it. I am encouraged that some players are showing improvement and that some young guns have stepped up when called upon. Our draft this year was looking a little weak but suddenly the rookies are making major contributions. Hang in there Chiefs fans, I think we'll see a better defensive product as we go and next year should be great! DEFENSIVE POINTS ALLOWED Team Played Points Avg Team Played Points Avg Balt 8 137 17.125 Ari 8 199 24.875 Dall 7 123 17.57143 Buff 7 175 25 Tenn 7 127 18.14286 NYJ 8 200 25 Sea 7 131 18.71429 NE 7 179 25.57143 Wash 7 134 19.14286 KC 8 205 25.625 LAR 8 155 19.375 NYG 8 205 25.625 Phil 8 156 19.5 NO 7 183 26.14286 Chi 7 144 20.57143 Clev 8 210 26.25 Hou 8 167 20.875 Det 7 186 26.57143 Jax 8 170 21.25 Indy 8 213 26.625 Car 7 152 21.71429 Mia 8 219 27.375 LAC 7 163 23.28571 SF 8 236 29.5 Den 8 194 24.25 Cin 8 237 29.625 Minn 8 195 24.375 Atl 7 212 30.28571 Pitt 7 172 24.57143 Oak 7 218 31.14286 GB 7 173 24.71429 TB 7 233 33.28571 OFFENSIVE POINTS SCORED Team Played Points Avg Team Played Points Avg KC 8 290 36.25 Sea 7 171 24.42857 NO 7 234 33.42857 Det 7 171 24.42857 LAR 8 264 33 NYJ 8 192 24 NE 7 214 30.57143 Den 8 188 23.5 Pitt 7 204 29.14286 Phil 8 178 22.25 Indy 8 231 28.875 Mia 8 174 21.75 TB 7 201 28.71429 SF 8 173 21.625 LAC 7 195 27.85714 Clev 8 169 21.125 Chi 7 194 27.71429 Wash 7 146 20.85714 Cin 8 221 27.625 Dall 7 140 20 Atl 7 190 27.14286 Oak 7 138 19.71429 Car 7 178 25.42857 NYG 8 150 18.75 GB 7 175 25 Jax 8 134 16.75 Hou 8 197 24.625 Tenn 7 106 15.14286 Balt 8 197 24.625 Ari 8 110 13.75 Minn 8 197 24.625 Buff 7 81 11.57143 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FANATIC 852 Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 Yes they are awful. Imagine if the offense had a few more turnovers or special teams was not awesome. So the offense helps this defense play with a lead and usually a long field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamardirts 2,121 Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 It’s hot garbage that gets bailed out by our O and some turnovers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thegoatee 1,781 Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 I think the stats we need to see are average yards per play and number of plays over 15 yards. Breakout yards per play by pass and by rush attempt as well. Our offense is probably the best at scoring points, which is the only reason we are 7-1. Colquitt hasn’t had to punt much (least in league). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetlord 10,210 Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 I'm a numbers guy and like stats, but the Chiefs defense is also defined by the Donks drive just before the half yesterday, the Pats drive and the end of the game there, and the near miss at the end of the game in Denver where Keenum missing a wide open TD saved the Chiefs. When the game is on the line, no defense is always going to win, but we too often get the "here we go again" feeling when the Chiefs really, really need a stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FANATIC 852 Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 1 minute ago, jetlord said: I'm a numbers guy and like stats, but the Chiefs defense is also defined by the Donks drive just before the half yesterday, the Pats drive and the end of the game there, and the near miss at the end of the game in Denver where Keenum missing a wide open TD saved the Chiefs. When the game is on the line, no defense is always going to win, but we too often get the "here we go again" feeling when the Chiefs really, really need a stop. Exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kkuenn 3,613 Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 2 hours ago, Thegoatee said: I think the stats we need to see are average yards per play and number of plays over 15 yards. Breakout yards per play by pass and by rush attempt as well. Our offense is probably the best at scoring points, which is the only reason we are 7-1. Colquitt hasn’t had to punt much (least in league). They showed a stat yesterday that we were #1 in giving up plays 20 yards or more in the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FANATIC 852 Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 If you were picking fresh........What players are worth keeping for sure and based on current contracts/value? Forget whether you can or can not cut them. Who would you peeps keep? Jones, Scandrick, Ford, Fuller, Nelson for sure... I would cut Houston & Berry for sure. Speaks, Kpass, and this years draft picks based on low contracts and potential. Honestly there is not many worth keeping. Most of the others would be left unclaimed if waived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetlord 10,210 Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 1 hour ago, FANATIC said: If you were picking fresh........What players are worth keeping for sure and based on current contracts/value? Forget whether you can or can not cut them. Who would you peeps keep? Jones, Scandrick, Ford, Fuller, Nelson for sure... I would cut Houston & Berry for sure. Speaks, Kpass, and this years draft picks based on low contracts and potential. Honestly there is not many worth keeping. Most of the others would be left unclaimed if waived. Lucas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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