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Eagle eye view of the enemy: Chiefs Defense

16 September 2017 Opinion

Eagles are heading into a loud home-opening Arrowhead stadium Sunday. What will Carson Wentz and company be up against?

Injuries

The Chiefs took a shot to the heart of their defense in week one losing all-pro starting safety Eric Berry. Although Eagles also lost a key player in Ronald Darby, the Chiefs’ secondary was already weakened by the loss of starting corner Steven Nelson before the Patriots game in week 1. Chiefs other starting safety Ron Parker showed up on the Chiefs injury report on Thursday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. If Parker is unable to play, the team’s defense would be without both their starting safeties.

Secondary

I do suspect Parker will be okay to start Sunday but it is something to be on the lookout for.  With Nelson out for the season, Terrance Mitchell was the next man up on the depth chart to start opposite Marcus Peters at the CB position against the Patriots. Mitchell was heavily targeted by Brady as Peters’ side of the field was avoided. Mitchell committed 4 penalties week 1 and was handed a ngarley stiff armed by James White on one play but otherwise he had a decent game.

Defensive front

Chiefs play a 3-4 defense and last week it was evident that Justin Houston is healthy and dominating again. He was a force versus the reigning Super Bowl champs last Thursday night. With Lane Johnson’s performance against Redskins’ Kerrigan, this matchup concerns me most. We all Bennie Logan is a run-stuffing nose tackle from his career in Philly. Eagles’ offensive line has a lot of improve on from their week 1 performance in order to get a strong run game going and Wentz on his feet.

Overall

Key defensive players for the Chiefs are Marcus Peters, Derrick Johnson and Justin Houston. With Berry out, Daniel Sorenson is the assumed next man up for the Chiefs in week 2 based on the team’s depth chart.  If Wentz and the birds can protect the ball on offense, the Eagles can win a close away game.

Chiefs defense depth chart

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