Nelson, Sorensen, Bailey, Conley, Morse, Dat, Ware, West, Scandrick, Harris etc leaving should allow the team to get some decent pieces on defense imo and still keep Ford and Houston for another year. A good pass-rush is hard to come by and we had a great one last season. This defense was playing with crap like Scandrick, Parker and Sorensen as starters for God sake. It should be easy to improve the secondary and add a big piece to the lb group too imo.

I’m afraid that isn’t the case. After the tenders that are pretty much no brainer (e.g. 600k to have butker for another year) and 16m to tag Ford, there is literally only enough cap to sign the draft class unless you cut someone.

Yep.

No thanks. I've had enough 3-4 for a lifetime.

The Houston restructure just seems to make too much sense for it not to happen. Good at one price, not good at another. Houston isn’t worth what his contract is against the cap (few NFL players are), but he’s still a damn fine player. I personally don’t care what Clark has to pay out of pocket, and there is no luxury tax in this sport.

If we convert his money to a bonus and give him 2 extra years at value pricing, not only does he get more cash up front and the same sum total for 2019, but he also gets a little insurance for himself in the years ahead.

The other choice for him would be to bet on himself that his free market deal would give him more money over a 4 year period, which I’m just not sure about. Plus he’d be giving up on Mahomes and a chance to win a title with a team that I truly think he is invested in. Unless they flat out think he can’t play anymore (he’s proven otherwise on the field and I don’t see him falling off a cliff in the off-season) there is really no good reason not to make this happen.

The better the team can make itself with His freed up cash, the better they all look. His job will be easier and his value goes up. When it’s time for that new deal in 3-4 years, maybe he can squeak out one more payday on the heels of a couple of titles and above average statistical seasons.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Have you got some information that backs up that claim by any chance? Because I find it very hard to believe that we could let si many veterans go and not have enough cap space to make moves.

this just proves you have no clue what you are talking about.

Go to overthecap or sportrac and do your own research, dumbass. Requires the simplest of math. On second thought, better let someone else do it for you. Don't want you to have an aneurysm.

Wow, what an informative response from the forum toddler. Here, have a piece of candy for being so "smart"..

https://www.stayathomemum.com.au/wp-...ard-633159.jpg

There's a GOOD BOY!!

This new staff looks ****ing legit. Super excited to have a defensive coaching staff to match the offense.

Gonna be a fun few years.

Yep. Totally cannot wait to see what they start noodling with in camp.

SMH is this crybaby still wetting his diapers over my posts? ROFL

https://www.snopes.com/tachyon/image...cs/crybaby.jpg

HE disputed what I said you clown, so I asked him to provide some information. Because If that is the case then it contradicts what figures In Chiefs media such as Seth Keysor, Ryan Tracy etc have said regarding keeping those two and adding some free agents to the roster. But why am I even explaining myself to you anyway? You're a big mouth/fake tough guy on a chiefs forum who routinely talks from out of your rear end :) .

Yep. It'll be exciting to see.

I'm always excited for the offseason, but this one is gonna be so damn fun.

I like the 3-4 but this is just a bad idea all around. The personnel, especially the young guys, fits better in a 4-3. It just makes sense to switch now.

The thing you are forgetting is that the Chiefs have been signing guys to deals that balloon in later years, so while some players contracts are off the books, other cap hits are massively increasing. For example Sammy Watkins cap hit more than doubled.

I don't think it's whiny of people to ask you to do the research for yourself, it is actually quite fulfilling to work through it yourself and look at the options I think, but then I am a numbers guy in my day job.

Happy to do the math for you though. Per Spotrac here the Chiefs start with $25.5m to play with. If you don't want to believe either Spotrac or overthecap.com's estimates then I don't know what to tell you, they are taking the salary information from publicly available info and estimating where they need to, they are generally not out by more than a few hundred thousand.

This $25.5m figure is lower than many expected mid season. The reason for this is mainly proven performance escalators (PPE). Again worth a google but basically rookies who accrue enough snaps get a pay bump at certain milestones. As it stands, Murray, Robinson, Hill, Fuller, and probably a few I am forgetting all earned this and are looking at having their salary bumped up from 600k to $2m, which is the reason the Chiefs only have $25.5m to play with.

Getting on to the tenders, the Chiefs have the following people to tender as ERFAs, where the tender is $600k - Butker, Kemp and Hamilton. This is $1.8m of cap used. Then the RFA's, there are Lucas and T Smith. Definitely worth a google of how the tendering works but essentially if you wanted to make sure to keep either of these guys you have to tender them for $2m. I think Lucas probably gets that.

We're now at $3.8m of cap used. The latest estimate of the franchise tag cost for linebackers is $15.7m, which means if you keep Ford you have now used $19.5m of your $25.5m.

Now you have to sign your draft class. This is a little complicated to calculate because the cap is based on your top 51 roster spots, so every time you sign a draft guy you bump a guy off the bottom of the 51 spot and free up probably around $600k as you incur the cost of the rookies salary. You can look up the salaries per draft slot for rookies but of course it varies if the Chiefs trade any picks. Most people estimate about $3-4m of cap needed for signing the full class.

This takes you to $22.5m of cap used if we are generous and estimate at the $3m amount for the rookies, but that still only gives you $3m total cap space left, and most teams try to take around $5m into the season to be able to have room to make trades mid season if it would push them over the top.

And there you have it. Not a single FA signed, just Dee Ford tagged, and the Chiefs have no money for free agents.

Nicely done. Can we just like stick a pin in this post and put it over in the margin somewhere so we can just direct anyone to it that claims we can keep the big three defensive contracts and still go get some FA's?

:clap::clap::clap:

Oh, noes! It's a process: Spags first conference call with local news outlets.

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nf...226522090.html

Switch to 4-3? Chiefs’ Spagnuolo preaches ‘physical, competitive defensive football’

BY BLAIR KERKHOFF

FEBRUARY 20, 2019 02:15 PM

In his first interview as the Chiefs’ new defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo said he wants to evaluate personnel before he discusses alignment.

“We’re not going to get hung up on scheme right now,” Spagnuolo said. “What we should first do is find out what we have and how they fit then decide exactly what the scheme is.

“I do think today things are a little overblown. Let’s all recognize that in today’s football they put a lot of wideouts out there, so we’re in a lot of sub packages.”

And sub defenses are less about a 3-4, which the Chiefs used as their base under former coordinator Bob Sutton, or 4-3, which Spagnuolo traditionally had run in his years as a head coach with the Rams and coordinator with the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints.

When it comes to personnel, many decisions await a team that finished 31st in yards allowed despite tying for the NFL lead in sacks.

Much of the speculation has focused on how some of the team’s veterans, such as 3-4 outside linebackers Dee Ford and Justin Houston, will fit a base scheme that operates with two ends and two tackles up front.

A 4-3 would seem a better fit for the skill-set of Breeland Speaks, who lined up as an outside linebacker as a rookie but seems more like a natural 4-3 end.


Spagnuolo, who has met some but not all of the team’s defensive players as he begins to put in office hours at the team’s training facility, said it’s too soon to start fitting players into positions.

“You just get your best pass rushers out there and your best coverage people,” Spagnuolo said. “So once we get that figured out, we’ll start slotting people into where they should go.”

Don’t look for answers any time soon.

“This is a long process to figure out who and what we have, how it fits,” Spagnuolo said. “One thing I’ve always said, especially about defensive football, is you don’t really get a good assessment of your players until you put pads on and watch them play real defensive football, and that doesn’t happen until the end of July.”

But the mission is clear. Two days after the Chiefs failed to stop the New England Patriots in their AFC Championship Game loss — New England won the overtime coin toss and ended the game with a touchdown — Sutton was fired. And Spagnuolo was announced as his replacement before the end of the week.

Spagnuolo is charged with improving a defense that shares a locker room with an offense that led the NFL in yards and scoring.

“We’d like to think that can happen,” Spagnuolo said. “But this is process. There are no quick fixes. One person or a new staff coming in here doesn’t assure success.

“But I will tell you this. We will do everything to put something together that we are playing aggressive, challenging, physical, competitive, defensive football. That’s the goal.”

You're a whole day late, brah.

LMAO

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;The emphasis on fundamentals and just building a rock-solid foundation will be the main focus.&quot; 😤<br><br>Defense coordinator Steve Spagnuolo gives some insight on what he and his staff want to accomplish in the coming months. <a href="https://t.co/2mCSvl218W">pic.twitter.com/2mCSvl218W</a></p>&mdash; Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1098669489380622337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Aaaaand I'm in love.

Three things that the Chiefs were shitty at last year.

Yes yes they were, it’s said a lot on here that you don’t teach fundamentals at this level.i get that you shouldn’t half to, but that just isn’t the case on this team anyway. Evidently the d coordinator agrees. The fundamentals on d suck big time and damn sure need addressed. Better tackling would have made a difference this past season

This guy's gonna' bring some good energy to the locker room and sideline on game day. I'm pumped.

I just listened to that again for shits and giggles. Just a couple of things:

1) He's obviously zeroed-in on the main issue(s) and I think it's safe to say that his overall plan will be to reintroduce some concepts that have clearly gotten lost along the way, and then to hold players accountable for their execution and upkeep of said concepts.

2) This guy has a great demeanor and from what little I've seen, is VERY effective at getting his ideas and concepts across to players so that they can learn and absorb quickly, and feel intelligent while doing so. He's not a down-talker. He's also very active and engaged with his players on the sideline, continuously in coaching mode while attending to his duties as a D-Coord. After the last two years, this is like standing on a mountain top breathing fresh air after spending too much time in a glass jar with air holes in the lid.

And if he can't communicate it, maybe the other two DC candidates on this staff can.

.some giants fans think his coverage schemes are at times too complex. Matt house seems to prefer simplification. Might be interesting to monitor. But no way players will look even close to as confused as they looked running Suttons Defense.

Can't wait to see how Hitchens takes to the new scheme, attitude and coaches.

Absolutely. I'm sure Bob had some complex coverage schemes in his playbook too. The difference is, unlike Bob, Spags can probably teach and convey those schemes to his DB's much more effectively and if necessary, have a "plan b" on standby if the schemes aren't working. But yeah, there's no doubt in my mind that with current players and any draftees brought in, we're gonna' strip it down and start playing some tough, aggressive, disciplined, and fundamentally sound defense.

well, all I know is that in all the years I've watched NFL football (starting with the '78 Super Bowl) I've NEVER seen so many recievers running so wide open with nary a defender within ten yards of them. Never. Not even the Robinson 'spinner' defenses had guys running that wide open.

So clearly, guys didn't know what they were supposed to do. OFTEN.

It's gotta be better than that. I mean, we aren't lining up guys off the street here, there are some high picks on that defense.

I can't believe there was actually a defense ranked WORSE.

:clap:

Awesome man. All of these were missing from last years __efense.

As soon he mentioned these 3 things, we now know this defensive culture is going to change. Scheme or no scheme, and regardless of the formation....The defensive philosophy that he is emphasizing on already makes us better. Way to go Spags! Way to go!

I know, right? How's it even possible?

It's infuriating because as much as some would like to claim "lack of talent" or anything else that absolves Bob, the fact of the matter is that a well-coached, disciplined defense with even less "star power" keeps Brady from going to overtime.

With some sound coaching and a couple of more legitimate starters you'd think this defense could move up at least 5 spots in both defensive ppg and ypg. That would put us at about 23 ppg (26 ppg, 2018) and 370-380 ypg (405 ypg 2018).

That should give us a pretty good shot at the SB.

Houston 14m
Berry 9.5m
Sorensen 2.7m
Eric Murray 2m
Ragland 1.3m

That’s about 30m in cap space...plenty to go get a couple guys that can help us.

Also, extending guys like Hill and Jones usually doesn’t effect the current years capdollars as those would likely be extensions added to the end of their current deals.

Another factor I’m sure Veach has in mind is comp picks. Guys like Morse, Conley, Nelson and Bailey will likely get nice FA deals that should get us nice comp picks in next years draft if we don’t go crazy in FA. Maybe even a third and fourth. Those are going to be important. Especially if we try to move up in this draft to get a couple coveted guys.

Oh sure I'm not saying there is no way it is possible to sign anyone in free agency, I was responding to the "keep the pass rushers for next year" crowd who think we can still add a lot to the roster if we do that.

The extension thing is also irrelevant, I didn't include it in my figures for the working of the cap in 2019 anyway so I agree with what you are saying there.

There's some doubt on Berry to as to how his injury guarantees work, if he chooses to have surgery and whether that will fully guarantee his 2019 salary. I don't know the answer to that, but it is possible.

And lets say you make all the cuts you suggest, assuming you tender Lucas you are down to 2 safeties and 3 corners total on the roster before the draft (and those 5 guys have minimal starting experience outside of Fuller). You're going to have to add 5 bodies there between the draft and FA.

You would also be short at both DE and LB unless you drafted one of each, and that's not even considering you only have 1 tight end on the roster, I think only 2 running backs and you aren't replacing Conley or DAT (maybe you love Kemp and Dieter, if so that's fine).

I'm not being all doom and gloom here, I'm just saying to get an impact FA you probably have to either let Ford go (walk or tag and trade) or you have to cut Houston or Berry or maybe both - which is also what you are saying.

Of those options, if you can cut Berry and keep Houston/Ford I think that is probably the way to go. My 2nd best option is the tag and trade of Ford I think.

Nothing absolves Bob. NOTHING.

That being said, lack of talent was still a HUGE issue in the secondary.

And then you tag Ford and cut Houston and $25M of that $30M is gone.

I thought releasing Berry would only save 1.5M but you are right post June 1, they save pretty much 10M.

This makes me realize that they are really not in a bad situation with regard to the cap.

If they cut both Houston and Berry they have plenty of cap space available and plus they can cut those other cheaper deal players.

Try 15 mil not 25

As of right now we have $25M to $28M in cap space. The tag for Ford is going to be between $15M to $17M so for easy figuring that would leave +/- $10M then you add the $30M for those cuts we would be right around $40M in cap room.

Always use over the cap instead of spotrac if you want accurate cap savings.

I am not convinced that Sutton's scheme didn't systematically eliminate individual ability from performing.

We might very well have great young talent on this team, but he wouldn't play them and they couldn't pick up the scheme quickly enough.

I think there is a potential for a MONUMENTAL turnaround on this defense.

I think this is possible.

I also think, if we work this offseason right, that we could quickly flip the script from the Red Carpet Defense to a top flight defense.

Good god, Mahomes with a top defense just wouldn't even be fair. Like **** the '72 Dolphins not fair.

I'm glad this is Spags' first year and he's coming in without any player connections. If Berry is sucking ass he's not going to have any problem pulling him. If he feels Tanoh is outplaying Speaks, Tanoh will play.

The best players will play. Period.

I'm specifically thinking about corner Tremon Smith.

I would not be surprised at all to see Tanoh play, and play well.

He's a freak physically; he's had two years in the NFL, and while Bob didn't know what to do with him, he's back at his true position now. I could easily see him balling out.

Well, he IS really, really fast. It's possible. The physical ability is there, is the WANT TO and the football IQ?

We'll see.

If he ends up being a good player, then last year's draft was pretty ****ing amazing, really.

I believe that's the plan. Though in Mahomes case, having a defense ranked #15-#19 will accomplish the same result. And those are VERY obtainable AND sustainable rankings.

Ford's tag is going to be closer to $16M than $15M and you'd have $7M of dead money for Houston. It's $23M or slightly more.

Outside of their health, it didn't hurt Sean Smith, or Eric Berry, or Justin Houston, or Dontari Poe. I could go on but you hopefully get the point. Good players are good players, the "scheme" is an excuse except in the case of the rookies, who it does appear he was reluctant to play.

That 7 is a sunk cost, not an opportunity cost.

I think everyone was confused when you took my post tag, post tender figure of ~$2-3m cap space and then added the cuts on to it that you did to get to the ~$30m cap space available with Ford tagged.

The sunk cost element is what makes me think Houston should be retained. Excluding the sunk cost of $7m, the decision to be made is do you pay $14m for the next season of Houston or $15.7m for the next season of Ford. Between those two I'd take Houston, which is why I prefer the tag and trade of Ford.

And Jordan Lucas. He should have been ahead of Eric Murray. And then we he did start playing he got benched whenever Berry’s spirit felt like playing, which was a mistake. Especially in the AFCCG

I dunno, Tremon Smith looked well out of his depth against the Seahawks, he got smoked a few times.

Lucas mostly looked fine when he actually got to play. Sutton always infuriated me with his use of safeties, Sorenson had so many snaps at free safety last year when he has no business there.

I want Trenton smith to study that tall mf San Diego has and that y’all rookie Denver has. Get his big ass on the field and play with these big boys.

who to what, and the who? Give me your keys.

LMAO

Jordan Lucas is a RFA. Think Veach will re sign him?

$2m to tender him, it's expensive but I like him. Definitely can't keep him and Murray for $2m each

Murray has to be cut.

Spags!

I know the first video has been posted in this thread. I wanted to post the rest though and it seemed wrong to not include the first one too.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;The emphasis on fundamentals and just building a rock-solid foundation will be the main focus.&quot; 😤<br><br>Defense coordinator Steve Spagnuolo gives some insight on what he and his staff want to accomplish in the coming months. <a href="https://t.co/2mCSvl218W">pic.twitter.com/2mCSvl218W</a></p>&mdash; Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1098669489380622337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;You can&#39;t argue with his success...he&#39;s got three Super Bowl rings.&quot;<br><br>New <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a>&#39; defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks Brendan Daley, his new run game coordinator and D-Line coach. <a href="https://t.co/JgiaXDtM1x">pic.twitter.com/JgiaXDtM1x</a></p>&mdash; BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChiefsReporter/status/1098677037424889857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a>&#39; DC Steve Spagnuolo talks Patrick Mahomes and having the defense &quot;be one of the reasons why we win football games.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/WtEQpsXWiL">pic.twitter.com/WtEQpsXWiL</a></p>&mdash; BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChiefsReporter/status/1098685676701257729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> DC Steve Spagnuolo talks new DBs coach, Dave Merritt. <a href="https://t.co/mjZkj3tnB1">pic.twitter.com/mjZkj3tnB1</a></p>&mdash; BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChiefsReporter/status/1098966591809773568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> DC Steve Spagnuolo breaks down what he likes about Sam Madison, who was hired to coach the defensive backs...with a focus on the cornerbacks. <a href="https://t.co/zJ6G5Y2OFM">pic.twitter.com/zJ6G5Y2OFM</a></p>&mdash; BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChiefsReporter/status/1098967693066145793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;He&#39;ll be ahead of the curve on that...&quot;<br><br>~ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> DC Steve Spagnuolo talks new linebackers coach, Matt House. <a href="https://t.co/PNSpujcic6">pic.twitter.com/PNSpujcic6</a></p>&mdash; BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChiefsReporter/status/1098967269617463296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I’ve always liked Spags and I think it’s safe to say this is probably the best staff he’s ever had on paper. He’s also in a great situation with Reid and Pat. I think this turns out to be a home run.

Yup
As players, I like Lucas alot...Murray? Not so much

:clap:

Yep, he can't make a wide open sack, can't catch INT's and can't tackle or cover guys.

I get about 3 seconds of audio on each clip before they cut out entirely. Anyone else?

Agreed. I was hoping for a few base hits and we ended up with the Grand Slam.

It's all on Veach now. Every other piece of this puzzle has been carefully laid with top shelf components, so it's time for him to step up and shine.

Exactly. We believe he is a great GM. Now he has to show it.

Anything short of a SB appearance will probably fall on him.

He has to go big to improve the defense this offseason.

Veach better snag a CB or a safety

Better snag 2 of each really...whether that's via draft or FA.

Entire secondary is in dire needs of a complete overhaul.

-Fuller and Ward are the Chiefs only 2 CB's worthy of a roster spot, and I think people even overvalue Ward's worth tbh. But the Chiefs need bodies at the position so I hope he stays.
-Nelson should be sent packing, no way is he worth what he's gonna think he's worth.
-Scandrick good riddance

WTF else is there at CB?

RE: S
-Sorensen should be cut unless it makes financial sense not to.
-Berry LMAO
-Lucas is JAG, and cap$ needs to be spend on other more important players
-Watts is coming back, but he'll essentially be a rookie again, didn't have much of a season last yr.
-Murray is trash and should be cut.

There's no way we're going to successfully cover both starters and depth this off season; there's just too many holes to fill.

I disagree. Veach can build a real nice defense for next year. It wont have crazy depth everywhere but they can definitly put a top 15 defense out there if Veach gets it right.

We'll have what we need to play and win, but building this defense to it's ceiling is a minimum 2 season project, 3 if we're being honest.
And I mean the best starters we can get backed up by depth that won't lose games for us. THAT is going to take some doing and TIME.

We don't have to be good - just not horrible.

Top 20 will do...

By the time the defense becomes great (2-3 years), if ever it is to become great within that time, the offense will likely have slowed down (with notably Kelce, Schwartz, Fisher getting older, Watkins probably gone, etc.) so it is not like the team will be any better than what I envision for this team this upcoming season.

The only way they are top 15 in 2019 is if guys like Speaks make a major contribution. The 2018 draft HAS to be a good one for them to get good fast.

@RapSheet: Source: The #Panthers are releasing nickel CB Captain Munnerlyn. A solid CB available in a less-than-strong FA market at that position.

Sign him?