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Aggressive Off-Season Moves Will Intensify Defense

If the Kansas City Chiefs are going to shut down fellow AFC West powerhouse offenses like the San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncoes, defensive upgrades were deemed necessary.

Head Coach Herm Edwards and Defensive Coordinator Gunther Cunningham are looking to improve their average, 16 th ranked defense in 2006, to a top 10 ranked defense that can propel them through the playoffs. Edwards and Cunningham are entering their second season together, providing the Chiefs players with a mix of high energy, discipline and determination.

Improving the defense to avoid an early first round exit in the playoffs meant an overhaul in the linebacker unit.

The signing that might make the biggest impact on the defense is veteran linebacker Donnie Edwards. Edwards, signed in March, is returning to the team he was drafted by in 1996, and is leaving Chiefs division rival the San Diego Chargers. Adding the fifth leading tackler in the NFL with 142 [tackles] last year will provide a much needed spark on the weak side. Edwards is a solid play maker and fits in well with the Cover 2 defense the Chiefs like to play.

Former Minnesota Viking linebacker Napoleon Harris looks to anchor the middle of the defense, adding a lot of talent and understanding to the position.

In an interview reported on the Kansas City Chiefs website, Harris said about joining the Chiefs that, "I'm very comfortable. I had a lot of success with the Cover 2 days in Oakland as well as last year under Mike Tomlin in Minnesota. The Cover 2 has been a real effective and proven defense over the years. Indianapolis had success with it to win the Super Bowl and everywhere else it has been good, as well."

The only returning starter in the linebacker position is 2005 first round draft pick Derrick Johnson. In college Johnson was a standout for the Texas Longhorns, and has carried over his success in college to the pros. Last season Johnson had four and a half sacks, leading all Chiefs linebackers, and forced two fumbles. In only his third year in the NFL, Johnson has potential to be a dominant force in this talented group of linebackers.

The position that needs the most improvement this season is the defensive line. Edwards made a point to improve this area by bring in former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Alfonso Boone. Boone is stellar at stopping the run and rushing the passer, while recording 26 tackles and two sacks last year. He is also used to being on a defense that knows how to shut down teams.

Edwards used two draft picks in an attempt to upgrade the lackluster defensive line by picking Turk McBride out of Tennessee in the second round and DeMarcus 'Tank' Tyler out of North Carolina State in the third round. Both players add depth and youth to a position that has been seen as a weak point in the past.

Although there has been concern at the tackle position, the defensive ends are very aggressive and talented. Tamba Hali and Jared Allen have a combined total of 15.5 sacks and 135 tackles. Hali, coming off a destructive rookie year forced five fumbles while playing all 16 regular season games. Hali is expected to face a lot of pressure for a second year player and possibly some double teams. Production out of Allen, McBride and Tyler is necessary for the line to have success.

Allen will not be allowed to play until the third game of the season, which is their home opener against the Minnesota Vikings, because of a recent DWI charge. Originally a four game suspension was handed out by the league, but has been dropped to two games. His status for training camp hasn't changed, so expect to see him out there with the rest of the team.

Edwards won't need to worry about lack of experience at the cornerback position. Ty Law and Patrick Surtain have each spent 10 plus years in the league.

Law brings a lot of playoff experience to the Chiefs with his Patriots stink that won him three super bowls. Law, a four time Pro-Bowler racked up 68 tackles and four interceptions last season. In last year's playoff game against the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts, Law was superb against Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning by forcing him to throw two interceptions.

On the other side of the secondary and challenging the leagues best wide receivers will be Surtain. Surtain is a two time Pro-Bowler and recorded 67 tackles last season as reliable member of the defense.

Law and Surtain are an excellent duo, but some are concerned about their age and if they can perform at the Pro-Bowl level fans are used too.

At the safety position the Chiefs lost one of their best players in Sammy Knight. Knight ranks third in all active players in interceptions, but a contract couldn't be reworked because both sides couldn't agree on terms.

Safeties Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page both are looking to get a lot of playing time this year, but will have to earn it in training camp. Both were drafted in the 2006 draft, Pollard in the second round and Page in the seventh round. Page didn't play all of the downs last season, but still managed to be productive with three interceptions and 35 tackles.

According to the Kansas City Chiefs website, Edwards had this to say about Pollard's and Page's youth, "Young players struggle and now it's just a matter of young guys getting more consistent. That's what you really look at when you play young players. They're going to have some 'oh, no's.' You know that, but they're also going to have some 'wow, how did he do that."

In the free safety position Greg Wesley looks to be the starter, entering his eighth season he should be able to add some experience to the back field.

Edwards and Cunningham would like to see this group of players become one of the elite defensive teams in the NFL.   First and foremost the team would like to get through training camp healthy and motivated to start the treacherous 16 game season.