This offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs focused much of their effort on revamping their defense, but challenges remained.
First, the defensive line.
Last season, the pass rush and pressure on quarterbacks were mediocre. The team often had to rely on linebackers or cornerbacks to provide extra pressure, leaving the secondary dangerously exposed. Constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul was never a sustainable strategy.
Unlike the exclusive tag placed on Bell, Williams was open to offers from other teams.
If an offer came, the Arizona Cardinals had the option to match it:
If matched, Williams would stay in Arizona.
If not, Williams could sign elsewhere, and Arizona would receive draft compensation equivalent to the round the player was originally selected in. But since Williams was undrafted, this clause was moot.
In other words, the Chiefs acquired Williams at no cost.
Particularly promising was Jones, now in his third year. He showed great motivation and determination—expectations were high for him this season.
Next came the linebackers.
It looked like veteran linebacker and defensive captain Houston would once again have to shoulder the load.
Lastly, the secondary.
Although the front line was inconsistent last year, they still stepped up during key moments. The defense, patched together, managed to hold the line. But the real weakness lay in the secondary—the Chiefs' Achilles' heel.
The Super Bowl shootout was thrilling, but both secondaries were shredded. It was not a great time to be a cornerback or safety.
This offseason, Berry was still recovering, and Revis had announced his retirement. The Chiefs' battered secondary urgently needed reinforcements, and this became GM Veach's main focus.
However, plans rarely go as expected.
In the end, the Chiefs had to start the new season without a solid strong safety.
All offseason long, the team had been patching and plugging like a blacksmith repairing an old pot, but Veach still couldn't piece together a satisfactory roster.
That's the NFL. Under a hard salary cap, with twenty-two starting positions to fill, it's nearly impossible to rebuild a team in just one season. It takes time and patience.
That's why NFL general managers are expected to have an exceptional long-term vision.
And then, the new season began.
Facing the Bell-less Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chiefs' defense couldn't afford to relax. Not only Veach, but the entire league was curious to see what all the Chiefs' offseason tinkering had produced.
On paper, the defense still looked like a mess. Houston was the lone Pro Bowler—could they really expect him, with aging knees, to carry the defense yet again?
But then, surprisingly, lowering expectations brought unexpected delight.
Chiefs defensive coordinator Sutton is a meticulous tactician. Last season, he somehow kept the defense functional with limited resources. This year, he was back at it again.
Facing a Pittsburgh team without Bell, Sutton devised a plan—
In terms of actual yardage, Tomlin was still capable of scheming around the loss, creating rushing lanes with blocking and play design. The running game might not suffer too much statistically.
But in terms of fear and threat, no Bell meant one less danger to account for. The Chiefs' defensive strategy instantly became clearer.
Up front: pressure Roethlisberger, but don't blitz.
Roethlisberger is the kind of quarterback whose passing vision narrows under pressure, making his decisions questionable. But when taking a hit, his big frame and instincts kick in—he can surprise you under duress.
That's why it was key to pressure without actually hitting him. Just enough to disrupt.
Without Bell in the backfield, the defensive front felt lighter—more focused, better execution, clearer assignments.
In the secondary, the simplified front allowed linebackers to assist in short pass coverage, giving corners and safeties more room to focus on their matchups.
Sutton opted for a basic—but effective—solution.
He assigned cornerback Fuller to shadow Pittsburgh's primary weapon, Brown. Meanwhile, a safety and a linebacker, while maintaining their primary roles, allocated 50% of their attention to supporting coverage on Brown. The numbers advantage diluted Brown's impact.
The entire defensive scheme was clear, simple, and efficient.
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