KC Chiefs: Justin Houston Most Important Non-Quarterback?
By Bobby Miller
KC Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston was recently named the most important non-quarterback on the team.
KC Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston has been quite a special player for the Chiefs.
In fact, Charlie Bernstein of Football Insiders named Houston ‘Most Important Non-Quarterback’ for the KC Chiefs in a listing of every such player in NFL.
Bernstein had this to say about Houston.
"Houston is the best player on the Chiefs and he makes the defense look better all around with his rush ability."
It is tough for anyone to question what Houston means to the KC Chiefs, but is he the most important player on the team besides Alex Smith?
On the defensive end, Houston is, without a doubt, the most important player for the KC Chiefs pass rush, but the run game is a different story.
Derrick Johnson may be the most essential player to the KC Chiefs rushing defense on their roster.
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In addition, Jaye Howard also proved to be the KC Chiefs defensive line’s best player last season for a unit adept at stopping the run.
On offense, Jamaal Charles remains a very important player to the KC Chiefs, but admittedly, the team did manage to have decent playoff success in his absence.
Jeremy Maclin may be the most essential non-quarterback to the KC Chiefs passing attack, but is this unit the most important to the KC Chiefs?
Also, some may argue that Travis Kelce is quite important in this regard and maybe even more so than Maclin.
All things considered, I personally have to agree with Bernstein’s assessment of Houston.
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The most irreplaceable player to any of the offensive or defensive units I have mentioned remains Houston in my mind.
Injuries to any of the corresponding players I mentioned would obviously be devastating, but each unit has at least one major contingency player.
Johnson and Howard have each other to fall back on for the KC Chiefs rushing defense, Charles has Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware for the running game, and Maclin and Kelce can both depend on each other to hold down the fort in their respective absences.
Although Tamba Hali is still a great player, his value is best utilized in the mismatches caused by Houston attracting extra blocking attention.
In the absence of Houston, Hali would still be effective, but would simply have the most trouble maintaining the productivity of the pass rush alongside Dee Ford.
For these reasons, I agree with Bernstein that Houston is the KC Chiefs’ most important non-quarterback.
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Do you agree that Houston is the KC Chiefs most important non-quarterback? If not, who do you think deserves this title?