Kansas City Chiefs: 2018 Week 3 Defensive Pass Rush Film Review

The Kansas City Chiefs have struggled to bring down the quarterback in 2018. That was not the case against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3.

The Kansas City Chiefs got their first home victory of the Patrick Mahomes era on Sunday afternoon. While Mahomes is the center of most Chiefs conversations, we continue to look at the pass rush for the defense. While coverage has been a weakness for Kansas City over the first couple of weeks, it’s the pass rush that has been inconsistent at bringing down the quarterback.

Through the first two games of the season, Kansas City developed pressure on opposing quarterbacks but failed actually to bring them down. Each of the Chiefs first two games the defense came away with a single sack. Pressure isn’t always enough. Luckily, we saw more explosion from the front line and edge rushers on Sunday coming away with four sacks on the day.

With the help of the fans at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 3, the pass rush was able to rattle San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. We finally got to see Justin Houston hit the quarterback without the play being called back due to a holding in coverage. In fact, Houston sacked Garoppolo twice on Sunday while stripping the ball both times.

When watching the game live, I didn’t notice Houston as much. I went back to watch the film as I do weekly to check out the pass rush, and Houston stood out more than I was expecting. I charted him having four hurries, six pressures, and two sacks, and two forced fumbles. Of his 35 passing snaps, only 25 were rushing the passer. Of those 25 snaps that he was coming after Garoppolo, he pressured him every 4.16 snaps.

More from Kansas City Chiefs

The game against the 49ers is what we’ve all been looking for from Houston. He still doesn’t seem to have the speed that I’m used to seeing, but we got some sacks out of our top defender. I’ve received the question many times asking if he is fully healthy and considering that Bob Sutton is having him do some of everything including dropping into coverage, I have to assume so.

Another player that had an outstanding day against San Francisco should give you no surprise. Dee Ford continues his 2018 new look of being a consistent pass rusher. While Dee Ford only had one sack on the day, making it two total on the season, he pressured Garoppolo on seven plays, hurrying the quarterback five times. Unfortunately, Ford came away with a groin injury that could see him missing some time, or at the very least, not being as productive.

Defensive end Allen Bailey popped back up this week recording another sack making it two on the season for him as well. Bailey has not been known as a pass rusher, but more of a run stuffer. He’s looked more explosive this season, maybe because it’s a contract year for the massive defensive end.

Overall, I charted Kansas City coming away with 16 hurries, 22 pressures, and four sacks on the day. Garoppolo looked very uncomfortable in the pocket all day, especially in the first half when their offense couldn’t get anything going. I’m seeing improvements from the defensive front getting after the quarterback on a weekly basis, but with the new NFL rule when sacking the quarterback, I cringe every time we do get home.

Next. What Exactly Is Bob Sutton Being Paid For?. dark

All of this is being done with minimal blitz packages. Bob Sutton continues to play soft defense only sending three or four guys most snaps. We saw him drop Justin Houston into coverage ten times against San Francisco. Considering the coverage is being blown in the back end, Sutton needs to get aggressive to help his coverage.

Home/Kansas City Chiefs