Chiefs deploy this safety’s versatility all over the field ... including at linebacker
Kansas City Chiefs safety Dan Sorensen has a full plate during the week.
Outside of practice, he attends separate team meetings with the defensive backs group, special teams and linebackers.
Wait, linebackers?
That’s right, linebackers.
“I get to meet with the linebackers coach (Matt House) when I can during the week,” Sorensen said. “He keeps me updated and in tune with what’s going on.”
The 6-foot-2, 208-pound Sorensen was already a key member of the Chiefs’ safety rotation and three-safety package in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme. In certain personnel packages, he can also be found inside the box, assuming the role of a linebacker.
That the sixth-year safety has assumed more responsibility in the Chiefs’ defense probably shouldn’t come as a surprise. He already plays a large role on special teams, having finished the regular season with the third-most special-teams snaps (284) on the team.
Whatever’s asked is all in a day’s work for Sorensen. While the product of BYU makes such versatility appear seamless, there’s more to what he does than meets the eye.
“I don’t know if anything is really easy,” Sorensen said. “Things like that come down to knowing what you’re doing.
“It’s the coaches getting me prepared to be able to play in those different positions, and then doing your job and your assignment to the best of your ability. And using your strengths to try and be able to be effective in those roles.”
Sorensen, 29, is humble about his ability, but he has made an impact at numerous positions. That started at the midpoint of the season.
From Weeks 1-9, Sorensen totaled 211 defensive snaps, an average of 23.4 per game, while producing 18 tackles. Over the final seven games of the season, Sorensen totaled 352 defensive snaps, averaging 50.2 per game, and generated 34 tackles, two interceptions, three passes defensed and two quarterback hits. And that was with rookie safety Juan Thornhill still healthy and in the lineup.
Once Thornhill became sidelined by a torn ACL, Sorensen stepped up and played all 80 defensive snaps alongside safety Tyrann Mathieu in Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round game against the Houston Texans. He had seven tackles that afternoon, playing safety and sliding inside to a linebacker’s role in certain packages.
“I think that’s big,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “It gives Spags (Spagnuolo) some flexibility in working his scheme. He’s got confidence in Dan. I think all the guys do.
“He’s a tough kid and there’s nothing real flashy. He’s solid. I think it gives Spags flexibility and he is inside the majority of the time in the linebacker spot. It’s a tough position to be in and he does it well.”
Sorensen credits his time on special teams with helping him develop defensively.
“Special teams is blocking and tackling, and that’s what you do on defense,” he said. “The positions that you’re in and the technique is all kind of the same when engaging with an offensive player, shedding a block or blocking somebody. It’s hands, it’s feet, it’s balance. It all translates.”
Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel knows a thing or two about the rigors of playing linebacker in the NFL. Having spent 14 years in the league as a player, he reinforced Reid’s point about the difficult nature of a safety assuming linebacker responsibilities.
Vrabel has his own safety, Kenny Vaccaro, with experience in a hybrid linebacker role, dating to his days with the New Orleans Saints. When assessing whether a player can handle such duties, the Titans coach evaluates whether that player embraces contact, can take on blocks from offensive linemen, can blitz and can cover tight ends. He also must be able to transition from safety to linebacker and back to safety on any given play.
“They hear the same call,” Vrabel said. “One play, they’re a safety and they have to know that call. The next play, they’re a linebacker and they have completely different responsibility.”
As he prepares the Titans to face the Chiefs in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium, Vrabel can’t help but marvel at what Sorensen accomplishes on the field.
“He makes a ton of plays,” Vrabel said Wednesday during a teleconference. “He plays on first down, second down, third down. He’s able to play in the back part of the field.
“When you talk about this league and how you appreciate versatility, Sorensen is somebody that exhibits that. And not only is he a guy that knows what to do, he’s productive.”
Sorensen was plenty busy during the Chiefs’ Week 10 regular-season game against the Titans. He had nine tackles on 32 of the Chiefs’ 50 defensive snaps that afternoon.
With Titans running back Derrick Henry coming to town this weekend, don’t be surprised if Sorensen again sees extra action in the Chiefs’ base 4-3 defense and nickel three-safety packages.
“When you’re out there, you just try and be productive,” Sorensen said.
More than just productive, Sorensen turned in a game-changing play on special teams last weekend as the Chiefs moved within one more win of Super Bowl LIV.
“Dan’s a real athlete,” Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward said. “He’s real smart; he’s always in-tune. Dan is always going 100 percent, hard and faster than anybody, so it’s very impressive.”
Defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi agreed.
“Man, that’s ‘Dirty Dan,’” Nnadi said. “He’s what I call a Swiss Army knife. He can do everything. If he wanted to play defensive line, he probably could.”
This story was originally published January 17, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
