Trap Check
MatchQuarters analyzes four Trap 2 pressures the Chiefs used in their Week 6 match-up against Josh Allen & Co., putting them into context with how the Chiefs win on defense.
“I ain't talkin' Nike when I'm talkin' 'bout a check
Bought your girl some Nikes when she asked me 'bout a check”
— 2 Chainz, Trap Check
By almost every meaningful metric, Kansas City is smack in the middle in regard to NFL defenses. KC’s defense was top 10 in yards per game rushing, but that can be explained away by the fact most teams were trying to play catchup with their elite offense (i.e. passing the ball). For context, the Chiefs sat #27 in rushing attempts against (Pro Football Reference).
This isn’t a knock on the Chiefs’ defense at all. In fact, you could argue what Kansas City did on defense was quite amazing. To finish middle of the road and defend the most plays in the NFL by over 100 plays is a tremendous feat. Winning the Super Bowl while six different rookies started games is extraordinary.
What Kansas City is doing proves how to win in the modern game. Have a great QB; check. Have an elite offense; check. Have a middle-of-the-road defense that can produce timely turnovers and stops; check. The modern trifecta to success.
In the past two years, the Chiefs have drafted starters: WR Skyy Moore, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RB Isaiah Pacheco, DE George Karlaftis, LB Nick Bolton, CB Jaylen Watson, FS Bryan Cook, and CB Trent McDuffie. That is nine of 22 starters drafted in the past two years. On defense, DE Mike Danna, LB Willie Gay, and L’Jarius Sneed were all from the ‘20 draft class. So, over half the Chiefs starters and eight of 11 defensive starters were drafted within the past three years.
» This is how you run an NFL franchise.
The Chiefs have leveraged their elite offense with a pesky but average defense. Last year, Kansas City finished 15th in DVOA, according to Football Outsiders. With an elite offense that scored a league-leading average of 29.2 points a game, the defense simply had to avoid losing games. When the offense did struggle, the unit had to hang on and give Patrick Mahomes & Co. a chance. The recipe so far has led to success.
Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has done a tremendous job in Kansas City. Tasked with being a DC on the other side of an elite offense, he has created a defense that leverages the talent given to him by the front office. The Chiefs run a majority of middle-of-the-field open (MOFO) coverages, which adds up to about 46% of their calls.
KC’s blitz rate is near the middle of the league as well, coming in 17th at 24%. Of those pressures, ~69% of them are of the five-man variety. The Chiefs Sim Rate, send a blitzer but only rush four, is ~9% (PFF).
Interestingly enough, the Chiefs came in second in sack total. Finishing the year behind the Eagles (70!) with 55. DT Chris Jones led the unit with 15.5. Jones is a monster in the middle of the formation and creates major issues for interior O-linemen. According to ESPN, Jones finished #1 in Pass Rush Win Rate (PRWR) for interior D-linemen (iDL).
As stated, the Chiefs’ defense uses MOFO coverages to work top-down on opponents, playing a bend-don’t-break style of defense. Kansas City uses pressure and coverage rotations as change-ups and to keep the offense honest. For the most part, on early downs, Kansas City will be predictable, running the coverage that matches their pre-snap shell (chart below). Most pundits that watch the Chiefs will comment on some of their funky Cover 2 rotations (NTTs), but in reality, that is a small part of their defense.
The chart above illustrates how often the Chiefs hid their coverages. Outside of the Broncos (Evero) and the Rams (Morris), with whom both DCs worked together, not many NFL teams are trying to disguise coverages at volume. In fact, both Denver and the Rams last year used rotations from two-high alignments, not the other way around (closed to open).
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