Kansas City Chiefs: 3 questions for Steve Spagnuolo
By Josh Fann
Why is the run defense continuously an issue every year?
While the Chiefs have made additions to the roster in past years like Bolton, Reed, and “all-world run-stoppers” like Derrick Nnadi and Frank Clark the run defense is still bottom of the league each year and league worst so far to start the year.
It’s not just a two-week sample size. The run defense has been an issue for several years.
Yes, the Chiefs did face two of the best rushing attacks in the league in the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens but these are both teams the Chiefs could potentially face later on. Secondly, even though they’re two of the best rushing offenses, the Chiefs have invested way too much in their front seven to still be this bad.
Also, the Ravens are down three running backs, including J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards and they face the Chiefs without All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley. That should have been a game where the Chiefs had more success stopping the run.
Instead, they let Devonta Freeman have his longest run since 2017 and UDFA running back Ty’Son Williams who no one wanted a few weeks ago run all over them.
That leaves the question for Steve Spagnuolo of why is the Chiefs run defense still so bad? Is there something schematically or technically he’s coaching the players to do that isn’t being executed well? Is he not recognizing players’ strengths and weaknesses?
Regardless, this team can’t stop the run and given the fact they’ve stopped the run in stints before it’s really frustrating how the team continues to make additions to the front seven and nothing seems to change. At some point, it’s a reflection of Spagnuolo’s coaching or the entire defensive staff for that matter.