Kansas City Chiefs 2015 Team Needs: Some issues the same
Dec 7, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Josh Mauga (90) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Chiefs 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
5. Another strong run defender at DE or ILB
Defense is the least of the Chiefs worries, but their massive needs on offense are cut-and-dry, gaping, and don’t need over-analysis. But while the defense was the second-best in the league in scoring and one of the best in the league against the pass, they allowed over 2,000 rushing yards and an unacceptable 4.7 yards per carry.
Ron Parker and Josh Mauga missed far too many tackles, and the Chiefs sorely missed high-caliber run defenders Mike DeVito, Eric Berry, and Derrick Johnson. They can’t count on having Berry back, though, and I think they should keep an eye out for an impact run defender this offseason, though this is more of a “if we have the cap space” need than a “we really need to upgrade here” need.
The Chiefs have some nice 3-4 defensive ends behind DeVito who can stop the run in a pinch, so adding another strong player to a line that already includes Dontari Poe, Vance Walker, and Allen Bailey might not be the best allocation of resources. Bringing in some depth on the line wouldn’t hurt, though.
Adding an ILB next to Johnson might be a better idea, though Mauga is such an intriguing player due to his activity and all of the plays he makes. If he can cut down on mistakes, then he’s worth starting. That said, you can’t take the 103 tackles at face value, and I think adding a more steady, experienced hand at ILB to help out against the run would benefit the Chiefs. Mauga has more upside than your average 27-year-old player, but the Chiefs should play it safe and consider adding someone else there, even though they also have Joe Mays on the roster.
Again, this isn’t the most pressing need, since you’d have to think that they would have done well against the run with Johnson and DeVito. But the fact that two injuries caused the Chiefs to allow a whopping 4.7 yards per carry shows that they didn’t have enough impact players to defend the run. Whether the Chiefs decide to get someone at inside linebacker or defensive end (by the way, Mauga is an impending free agent, though it’s hard to see the Chiefs not bringing him back), they could use a top-notch run defender.