KC Chiefs: Veteran Led Defense Is Best In Years

KC Chiefs defense is loaded with talent, but veterans Johnson, Hali, Berry and Smith are the reason they’re the best in years.

The Kansas City Chiefs defense this season is tied for seventh in the NFL with 240 points allowed, and tenth in the league in yards against. Since allowing 31 points to the Broncos, 38 points to the Packers, and 36 to the Bengals in consecutive weeks, the Chiefs defense has been as good as any in the game.

While there’s young talent like Dontari Poe, Jaye Howard and Marcus Peters, it’s the veteran Chiefs players who built this defense into a contender after a rough first four weeks of the season. It’s linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali, cornerback Sean Smith, and safety Eric Berry who are heart and soul.

All four are in at least their sixth professional season.

Johnson has been here longer than anyone. He and punter Dustin Colquitt are 11-year veterans and life-long Chiefs. Johnson feels as good as ever and, despite the miles on the engine, he doesn’t take days off, according to KCChiefs.com:

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"“He doesn’t miss practice,” [Jaye] Howard said of Johnson. “He’s leading by example with us younger guys. I know that’s one of the guys I look up to in the locker room,”“He’s been here through the rough times and some good times. With us going through the situation we were in earlier in the season and just seeing him put in the work day in and day out, that really helped the defense."

DJ’s 69 total tackles are good for eighth in the NFL. He’s added four sacks, an interception and he hasn’t missed a game this season. The 33-year-old middle linebacker is a key component once again for the Chiefs.

Hali is in his tenth season, all with Kansas City, and he’s also played in every game this year. He’s on pace for nine sacks and has forced two fumbles playing opposite All-Pro Justin Houston. Hali is another lead-by-example veteran responsible for this defense’s performance. According to NFL.com’s Marc Sessler:

"“We believe in what we’re doing the entire time,” linebacker Tamba Hali said. “Things aren’t always going the way we planned, but we keep playing. That’s something our coach has instilled in our culture.”"

Hali is now tied for 48th all-time with 86 career sacks and he’s 11th all-time among active players.

Sean Smith, after missing the first three games of the season, returned to his spot as the team’s No. 1 cornerback. He has two interceptions on the season and has been an every-down cornerback for Kansas City since the day he signed with the Chiefs. He’s yet another veteran leader on this defense. Only Johnson, Hali and Tyvon Branch have played more seasons in the NFL than Smith (Husain Abdullah is also in his seventh NFL season).

Maybe the best of the bunch has been sixth-year Chief Eric Berry. He’s currently rated as the number one safety in the NFL by Pro Football Focus, and, just as a casual observer, Berry deserves it.

"“He has great speed, tremendous range and is a very physical player,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said of Berry. “He can really limit deep plays and keep them under control. I think he’s tackling and being as physical as he’s ever been. He’s got a little bit of a sixth sense to go get it back there.”"

He’s high-energy and fearless, flashy and yet tough. For the Chiefs defense, Berry is the head of the rattlesnake.

He plays the run game like a linebacker, but has the athletic ability of a cornerback. He can do just about everything on the football field and he’s in the middle of his prime at nearly 27 years old.

Next: Champ Bailey Calls Chiefs Super Bowl Dark Horse

The KC Chiefs host the San Diego Chargers this Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. How do you think this Chiefs defense will handle quarterback Philip Rivers?

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