I don't know how many plays I've seen over the last few games where I was thinking "man, DJ would have knifed through and stopped that screen/run". :(

Ah it was this guy... Mike MaSLOWski....

:hmmm:

fair enough...

Didn't some Chugger 6th stringer and Denvers AWFUL backs have plenty room to run? ? But but they had low "bluffs" or some shit

Missed San Diego, didja?

The run stats would be much better if the Chiefs could tackle better. How many times have we seen the defender in the backfield, but fails to make the stop. Many times it is the 3rd and 4th contact that finally brings down the runner.

That shit is not going to fly in the playoffs. Having DJ out really hurts.

It's worth mentioning that the Chiefs give up runs because they play a shit ton of dime.

Which they're doing to prevent the big gains.

That's going to be a problem against the Steelers however. The Steelers have maybe the one back in the league that can win a game on his own. Go dime all game against the Steelers and you're basically dating Bell to rush for 200 yards and win the game on his own.

What do we do? Go full power in the front seven and bracket Brown all game? Can the Steelers beat us with Darius Heyward-Bey?

Except the Tampa game, unfortunately.

Which game? The Chargers were 3/10 on 3rd down in week 17, so surely you don't mean that one.

With Rivers at QB and a 6th string RB I doubt if the Chiefs even game planned to stop the run. Against Denver we were up 21-0 in a flash and with Kubiak insisting on showcasing Siemian's passing prowess I wouldn't be surprised if Chiefs were amused by Denver even trying to run the ball.

Bell is a completely different challenge though.

That sure has helped overcome weakness on both sides of the ball

Excuses. We've been gashed ALL season. Part scheme, part poor tackiling.

Nickel/Dime personnel are on the field to match what the Offense is showing, not to "prevent big gains". If they steelers are showing posse/311 personnel, you want to match with nickel/dime. The problem is when you have 6 in the box, vs the offenses 6. Unless someone beats their block, offense has the advantage. Bring a safety down or in the alley, make it 7 vs their 6 and you have the numbers advantage. This is the chess match part of football. You don't want to put base personnel on the field vs 3 or 4 WR sets.

DJ was very good at beating his block and getting to his gap assignment, which was why they could stop the run and still keep 2 safeties high.

This.

I'd add that we're very light at ILB. We're playing our 4th and 5th options at ILB right now. Assignments and gaps are going to be missed.

On top of that, we seem to be playing a lot of dime and scooting Dirty Dan up in the box as a pseudo lb.

Excellent answer. thanks for explaining.