Chiefs Pass Rush

louie aguiar · 11-21-2024, 09:36 AM

Curious to get CP’s thoughts on our pass rush. There’s been quite a bit of talk about the Chiefs offense and how to address some of the inconsistencies on that side of the ball. One of the biggest areas of concern though has to be our pass rush (or lack thereof).

Chiefs are tied for 27th in the NFL with 19 sacks (on pace for about 32 this season). Last year we finished second in the NFL with 57 sacks. Outside of Chris Jones we don’t have a player that can consistently win one-on-one matchups. It seems like Spags knows his pass rush won’t win rushing 4 so he sent multiple blitzes against the Bills. For the most part (outside of the play where McDuffie forced the throw away) the blitz didn’t work against Buffalo. Bills were also playing with a backup at right tackle but it didn’t matter.

Can Charles Omenihu help? Yes I think so but he’s also coming off a major knee injury so I’m not sure how much he can be counted on this year- probably a limited role. I was optimistic for Josh Uche but Spags only gave him 5 snaps Sunday -I think he’s a liability against the run. FAU hasn’t turned into the player we were hoping for when he was drafted. I like George but he’s more of a high motor, effort guy who can apply pressure but it usually takes longer because he’s not as explosive as some other rushers. Wharton has really cooled off after a nice start. Danna doesn’t give much of anything in the pass rush after getting a $24M contract.

Can Spags scheme up enough of a pass rush in the postseason? Maybe but it becomes more difficult with our issues at cornerback past McDuffie.

O.city · 11-21-2024, 09:37 AM

The pass rush numbers last year were alot of LB's and DB's having sacks IIRC.

It was an issue, similar to the passing game in 2022 had alot of RB TD's and such, and we kinda whistled past the graveyard on it.

htismaqe · 11-21-2024, 09:46 AM

They have a ton of pressures. They're just not converting them into sacks. I think some of it is that teams are getting the ball out quickly and our DBs aren't sticky enough to stop it.

fadeaway · 11-21-2024, 09:48 AM

Frank Clark you are a Chief

**loochy** · 11-21-2024, 09:54 AM

Well part of it too is that last year we had sneed combined with mcduffie so we could leave those guys on an island while we blitz. Since Williams went down, corner play is looser and the QB can find the outlet faster before the rush can hit OR there aren't as many blitzes because Spags can't trust the corners to hold up anymore.

Rasputin · 11-21-2024, 09:58 AM

Charles Omenihu hopefully can get after the quarterback or help CJ get to the quarterback. Coming off of injury.

louie aguiar · 11-21-2024, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

The pass rush numbers last year were alot of LB's and DB's having sacks IIRC.

It was an issue, similar to the passing game in 2022 had alot of RB TD's and such, and we kinda whistled past the graveyard on it.

Our top 4 leaders in sacks were all defensive linemen- Jones and Karlaftis each with 10.5, Omenihu with 7 and Danna with 6.5. All those guys are trending lower (obviously Omenihu hasn’t played).

O.city · 11-21-2024, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louie aguiar

Our top 4 leaders in sacks were all defensive linemen- Jones and Karlaftis each with 10.5, Omenihu with 7 and Danna with 6.5. All those guys are trending lower (obviously Omenihu hasn’t played).

Losing Sneed, then Watson has really hurt that unit.

pugsnotdrugs19 · 11-21-2024, 10:22 AM

We gotta find an answer for all the easy flats throws we are giving up. Not tackling well enough to just let teams do it all day.

RunKC · 11-21-2024, 10:24 AM

Omenihu had 6.5 sacks in his last 9 games last year including a big time sack/strip on Lamar. He ended the regular season with at least a .5 sack a game streak.

If that guy is anywhere near the same coming back we are gonna get a huge boost

O.city · 11-21-2024, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

We gotta find an answer for all the easy flats throws we are giving up. Not tackling well enough to just let teams do it all day.

It's been under discussed, but to me, that was the issue against Buffalo. We didn't tackle well at all.

RunKC · 11-21-2024, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

We gotta find an answer for all the easy flats throws we are giving up. Not tackling well enough to just let teams do it all day.

They had it covered perfectly in the back 7 on the 4th and 2. Spags playcall on that zone look was money.

Karlaftis cannot give up gap integrity like he did. Stay in your gap and that play had a great chance of being stopped.

scho63 · 11-21-2024, 10:32 AM

When you have opposing TE's running past Bolton like a Yield sign, it's easy for QBs to get the ball out quickly to prevent sacks.

philfree · 11-21-2024, 10:40 AM

Uche needs to step up and Omenihu needs to come in and play halfway decent. Maybe Jones can get a little rest while we still get pressure and then he can be fresh as the season winds down and the playoffs start. I still think we have a slight hangover from being back-to-back champs and as we get closer to the postseason these guys will wake the hell up.

Gary Cooper · 11-21-2024, 11:33 AM

Conventional football mentality has always been to stop the run game and then the pass rush can feast. We've excelled against the run but the sack numbers are very low. Like others said, it probably has to do with easy throws in the flats.

Omenihu coming back will help. Also, Danna was hurt and he's registered 0.5 sacks this year in six games. He had 6.5 last season in sixteen games.

11-21-2024, 09:36 AM
louie aguiar Veteran Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Missoura Casino cash: $2113533	Pass Rush Curious to get CP’s thoughts on our pass rush. There’s been quite a bit of talk about the Chiefs offense and how to address some of the inconsistencies on that side of the ball. One of the biggest areas of concern though has to be our pass rush (or lack thereof). Chiefs are tied for 27th in the NFL with 19 sacks (on pace for about 32 this season). Last year we finished second in the NFL with 57 sacks. Outside of Chris Jones we don’t have a player that can consistently win one-on-one matchups. It seems like Spags knows his pass rush won’t win rushing 4 so he sent multiple blitzes against the Bills. For the most part (outside of the play where McDuffie forced the throw away) the blitz didn’t work against Buffalo. Bills were also playing with a backup at right tackle but it didn’t matter. Can Charles Omenihu help? Yes I think so but he’s also coming off a major knee injury so I’m not sure how much he can be counted on this year- probably a limited role. I was optimistic for Josh Uche but Spags only gave him 5 snaps Sunday -I think he’s a liability against the run. FAU hasn’t turned into the player we were hoping for when he was drafted. I like George but he’s more of a high motor, effort guy who can apply pressure but it usually takes longer because he’s not as explosive as some other rushers. Wharton has really cooled off after a nice start. Danna doesn’t give much of anything in the pass rush after getting a $24M contract. Can Spags scheme up enough of a pass rush in the postseason? Maybe but it becomes more difficult with our issues at cornerback past McDuffie.
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11-21-2024, 09:37 AM	#2
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $954064	The pass rush numbers last year were alot of LB's and DB's having sacks IIRC. It was an issue, similar to the passing game in 2022 had alot of RB TD's and such, and we kinda whistled past the graveyard on it.
Posts: 83,019

11-21-2024, 09:46 AM	#3
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $9599900	They have a ton of pressures. They're just not converting them into sacks. I think some of it is that teams are getting the ball out quickly and our DBs aren't sticky enough to stop it.
Posts: 100,445	1 0

11-21-2024, 09:48 AM	#4
fadeaway Starter Join Date: Jul 2023 Casino cash: $-259500	Frank Clark you are a Chief
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11-21-2024, 09:54 AM	#5
loochy Hey Loochy, I'm hooome! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PooPooKaKaPeePeeShire Casino cash: $30397	Well part of it too is that last year we had sneed combined with mcduffie so we could leave those guys on an island while we blitz. Since Williams went down, corner play is looser and the QB can find the outlet faster before the rush can hit OR there aren't as many blitzes because Spags can't trust the corners to hold up anymore. __________________ Hey Loochy, I'm hoooome!
Posts: 41,395	1 0

11-21-2024, 09:58 AM	#6
Rasputin Tip of the hat LIV Champs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ks Casino cash: $1535421	Charles Omenihu hopefully can get after the quarterback or help CJ get to the quarterback. Coming off of injury. __________________ "Those who don't believe in magic will never find it"
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11-21-2024, 10:22 AM	#9
pugsnotdrugs19 SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2013 Casino cash: $8129447	We gotta find an answer for all the easy flats throws we are giving up. Not tackling well enough to just let teams do it all day.
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11-21-2024, 10:24 AM	#10
RunKC Andy Reid Supporter Join Date: Apr 2012 Casino cash: $159611	Omenihu had 6.5 sacks in his last 9 games last year including a big time sack/strip on Lamar. He ended the regular season with at least a .5 sack a game streak. If that guy is anywhere near the same coming back we are gonna get a huge boost __________________ Mike Greenberg@Espngreeny I can’t fathom what it must be like to be a fan of the #Chiefs. Adopt a Chief: Jared Wiley
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11-21-2024, 10:32 AM	#13
scho63 Politically Incorrect Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $661110	When you have opposing TE's running past Bolton like a Yield sign, it's easy for QBs to get the ball out quickly to prevent sacks. __________________ *"The only difference between sex for free and sex for money is that sex for free costs you a WHOLE LOT more!"* ~Redd Foxx~ ~~2018 2019 2020 20212022 2023~~ 2024 Adopt a Chief - Clark Hunt and Brett Veach "The men who drafted Patrick Mahomes"
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11-21-2024, 10:40 AM	#14
philfree Indian Twitter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Free Agency Casino cash: $-453802	Uche needs to step up and Omenihu needs to come in and play halfway decent. Maybe Jones can get a little rest while we still get pressure and then he can be fresh as the season winds down and the playoffs start. I still think we have a slight hangover from being back-to-back champs and as we get closer to the postseason these guys will wake the hell up. __________________ [/SIGPIC]
Posts: 15,607

11-21-2024, 11:33 AM	#15
Gary Cooper MVP Join Date: Nov 2020 Casino cash: $520400	Conventional football mentality has always been to stop the run game and then the pass rush can feast. We've excelled against the run but the sack numbers are very low. Like others said, it probably has to do with easy throws in the flats. Omenihu coming back will help. Also, Danna was hurt and he's registered 0.5 sacks this year in six games. He had 6.5 last season in sixteen games.
Posts: 7,741