Chiefs defensive leader: This area remains a top concern after close win vs. Panthers
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton is optimistic the team’s defense can clean up many of its issues following Sunday’s 30-27 road victory over the Carolina Panthers.
And on top of that list?
“Explosive passes. I think we can work on that,” Bolton said Monday in an interview with reporters. “I think that’s just everybody working together: rush, linebackers, deep guys, things all working together. The continuity, that’s something that we can work on and build on.”
Carolina quarterback Bryce Young, who had struggled much of the season, found plenty of downfield passing success Sunday.
Young completed three passes of 25 yards or more against the Chiefs after creating just two of those combined in his previous games.
He also thrived on passes well past the line of scrimmage; NFL’s Next Gen Stats had him completing 9 of his 16 attempts that traveled more than 10 yards in the air, with those throws producing 165 yards.
It was part of an unexpected offensive outburst for a previously struggling Panthers offense. Next Gen Stats said it was just the third time since Andy Reid took over as Chiefs coach in 2013 that his team allowed points on 75% of its defensive possessions.
Bolton, the fourth-year pro and one of the Chiefs’ leaders at middle linebacker, said one disappointment was the defense not playing complementary football in the last two games. Early in the year, KC’s offense often leaned on the defense to help close out wins.
Lately, it’s been the Chiefs offense dominating while trying to make up for a lagging defense.
“I think after they (Chiefs offense) have scored, the last couple of games, we’ve been giving up points,” Bolton said. “Especially in away games, I think you can take the crowd out of it by getting a stop, getting the ball back to the offense. So I think as we continue to progress as the season goes along, those possessions after the offense scores is something we can try to minimize points on.”
The Chiefs also have had some uncharacteristic defensive issues the last two weeks. One of those is tackling, as according to Pro Football Focus, KC missed 13 tackles in its road loss against Buffalo, then seven more against Carolina on Sunday. That was after the Chiefs had only one missed tackle in their Week 10 home victory against the Denver Broncos.
“We’re getting population at the ball, which is great. We missed a couple tackles, but they’re not leading to explosive plays because of the rallying to the ball,” Bolton said. “But I believe that if we can get the first guy to get him on the ground, it’ll help us get them in some more manageable downs for us.”
The Chiefs are close to getting a critical player back. Defensive end Charles Omenihu, who has been out since tearing his ACL in last season’s AFC Championship Game, could return to the lineup this week.
Bolton said Omenihu rejoining the rotation would be “huge, for us and for him.”
“He’s a great (pass) rusher. He brings that to the table for us,” Bolton said. “We could definitely use that in that department right now, especially with the guys going in and out of the lineup and guys being banged up.”
Bolton said Omenihu also could provide some enthusiasm and charisma to a unit that hasn’t played its best the last two weeks.
“He brings his own personality,” Bolton said of Omenihu. “Coach Reid’s big on that, letting your personality show. He’s one of those guys that does that.”
The Chiefs are battling some injuries, including a recent one to cornerback Jaylen Watson, who is expected to be out for the season.
Regardless, Bolton said the defense needed to heed its “next man up” mantra to get things turned around.
“It takes all 53 on the roster. That’s why it’s cut that way, and that’s why it’s managed that way. It’s gonna take everybody,” Bolton said. “We’re gonna need those guys that were on (the) practice squad early in the year to help us out on the back half of the year. And then we’re gonna need the guys that are banged up to get back healthy and depend on them as well.”
