The underwhelming Kansas City Chiefs pass rush was at it again in Week 8, accruing only a single sack and constantly giving Bo Nix time in the pocket to find an open receiver or scramble down the field. Through seven games, the Chiefs as a team have mustered a poor nine sacks, which ties for worst in the entire NFL.
The defensive line, while it was among the best units at creating pressure earlier in the year, is not nearly as good over the Chiefs' two-game losing streak. It's having a seriously negative impact on the defense and games as a whole.
Chris Jones failed to record a single stat on the sheet yesterday, and aside from George Karlaftis playing really well, and a couple of nice run stuffs by Ashton Gillotte and Khyiris Tonga, defensive line coach Joe Cullen's unit is not performing to capacity.
Kansas City can't sack the quarterback with a defensive line that many thought to be the best they've had in years
We came into this year expecting big things from KC's front four. Gone were the days of Derrick Nnadi, Mike Pennel, and Mike Danna eating snaps. Brett Veach brought in a whole crop of young talent, including rookies Peter Woods and R Mason Thomas, as well as free agent nose tackle Khyiris Tonga. Felix Anudike-Uzomah was entering a contract year fully healthy, and Ashton Gillotte was meant to take a second-year jump.
While the Chiefs have had middling contributions from all those guys at various levels, it was George Karlaftis and Chris Jones who were at the center of it all. To his credit, Karlaftis has played really well this year, given the fact that he hasn't had much help.
Karlaftis is easily on pace to eclipse his single-season tackle record, already has a career-high eight passes defensed, caught his first career interception in Week 3, and leads the team in sacks (2) and QB hits (16).
As for Jones, this year has been one to forget so far for him. Just half a sack to his name and a handful of pressures from a guy who has the biggest cap hit on the team at over $44 million. Jones' massive dip in play is clearly an issue and something that needs to improve, or this team will not be a true contender.
But even more so, the coaching and overall play have to improve. Kansas City has gobs more talent than last season, and while I get it, they are young players who will make mistakes; the sacks need to start pouring in. If not, it's time for Spagnuolo to overhaul how the Chiefs play defense.
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