Kansas City Chiefs: Defensive overhaul focal point of training camp

By Leigh Oleszczak | Jul 26, 2019

KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 23: Kansas City Chiefs free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) and cornerback Bashaud Breeland (21) during OTA's on May 23, 2019 at the Chiefs Training Facility in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs begins this weekend and there’s a lot to look forward to in 2019 for Chiefs Kingdom. The defensive overhaul belongs in that category, which is a bit unexpected.

Cynthia Frelund of NFL.com wrote an article about training camp storylines and was able to tie in the Kansas City Chiefs by mentioning their defensive overhaul. Frelund wrote that the Chiefs new defense is something she’ll be tracking in training camp this year, not just in Kansas City, but throughout all of the NFL.

Frelund writes,

"The Chiefs are switching to a different base defense (4-3) under a new defensive coordinator (Steve Spagnuolo). They also added (defensive end Frank Clark, as well as safeties Tyrann Mathieu and second-rounder Juan Thornhill) and subtracted (pass rushers Dee Ford and Justin Houston) a bunch of key players. All of this means a number of new looks for Kansas City. While I have tracked Spagnuolo for a long time, the personnel and strategy changes — and how complementary the defense can be to Patrick Mahomes‘ high-flying attack — projects to be a big factor in my AFC playoff predictions."

Yup. She pretty much hit the nail on the head with that write-up.

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The Chiefs did part ways with some of their biggest and most popular players like Eric Berry and Justin Houston while also trading Dee Ford after his best professional season. Losing those players was rough, but all three struggled with injuries and they were all moves that needed to be made sooner or later.

While losing those players was a big deal, Brett Veach did an admirable job at bringing in major talent to replace those guys. As Frelund mentioned, Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu were brought in to help out on the defense. Clark was a trade piece from Seattle (in exchange for a first round pick) while Mathieu opted to sign in Kansas City on his own free will.

The Chiefs also drafted well, selecting rookie safety Juan Thornhill in the second round, a steal of a pick. Thornhill can come in and play right away for the Super Bowl contending Chiefs.

Oh another important aspect was that the Chiefs cut bait by relieving Bob Sutton of his duties as defensive coordinator. Steve Spagnuolo was hired to take his place and that in itself will be a big switch to the Chiefs defense this year because it’ll be a whole new scheme in Kansas City.

Next. Top Five Chiefs Defensive Players Heading into Training Camp. dark

When looking back at last year’s defensive production (or lack thereof perhaps), the season ultimately came to an end because the Chiefs D couldn’t force a stop on three straight third downs in the AFC Championship Game. They were a team that could generate turnovers and capitalize off of them, but stopping the other team was something they struggled with.

Here’s to hoping that changes in 2019. A Super Bowl appearance depends on it.

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