Everybody has to be on the same page when the defense’s top coverage player goes to work.
It’s no secret the Kansas City Chiefs have improvements to make in defiance of the 2-0 start. The defense is working through apparent vulnerabilities in coverage, potentially feeling the losses of impact players at each of the back-seven positions: cornerback, linebacker and safety.
One thing that has carried over from last year’s elite Chiefs’ pass defense is the ability to neutralize the opponent’s number-one receiver. Baltimore Ravens’ wide receiver Zay Flowers and Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase combined for 72 yards over 15 targets against Kansas City.
Third-year cornerback Trent McDuffie has led that effort, taking advantage of the opportunity to be the unit’s top coverage player for the first time in his career. He acknowledged his strong start to reporters during a press conference on Wednesday but highlighted room for improvement.
“There are definitely things I have to clean up on the back end, as far as communication and technique,” McDuffie admitted to the press. “I’m kind of still getting comfortable out there at the corner position, playing that role (defensive coordinator) [Steve Spagnuolo] wants me to play.”
McDuffie has aligned outside on 64% of his snaps this season, a significant jump from the 36% rate last season. He will still move into the slot, but only for coverage: McDuffie has been blitzed once this year. Last season, he averaged over three pass-rush opportunities per game through the Super Bowl.
McDuffie will be focused on shutting down big-time receivers this year, and there’s more to it than playing man-to-man. His teammates have to adjust with him when he shadows a moving target.
“I thought I did a good job of making sure everyone knows where I’m at on the field,” McDuffie reflected. “Having to travel, a lot of guys have to go to different places, so being vocal about that is something I’m trying to work on.”
It takes more than talking on the field to effectively communicate as a secondary, especially when Arrowhead Stadium is rocking. It has to start when the game plan is made.
“During walk-throughs and in meetings, [I’m] making sure everybody is clear on what my job is,” McDuffie noted. “Some of the things I have to do change what other people have to do at other positions, so when we get on the field, nobody has to think. We just go out there and play; they know where I’m at. It will help us be a better defense and play faster.”
The group should have a jump on working with each other: five of the Chiefs’ top six defensive backs are in Year 3 with Kansas City. The lone wolf is second-year safety Chamarri Conner, the primary Nickel defender so far this season. McDuffie’s experience in that spot makes him appreciate the playmaking Conner has shown.
“It’s not easy, especially someone who came in as a safety,” McDuffie pointed out. “He has to come down and play all these fast guys, read run and read pass, play man to man... He didn’t play a lot of Nickel, he jumped in a lot at the end of the season.”
That momentum as a defensive playmaker carried into this season. McDuffie doesn’t see that as an accident.
“He has just continued to ask the right questions; he is always talking to me,” McDuffie shared. “The best part I love about Chamarri is he’s 100% whenever he’s on the field. You always see maximum effort or great tackles, he’s just one of those guys you want on the field because he’s always around the ball and always making plays.”
The Nickel is the playmaker spot and will provide blitz opportunities like McDuffie had last year. McDuffie was very skilled in the timing of his takeoff toward the quarterback, and Conner certainly has explosive traits to disrupt the pocket.
There is also defensive tackle Chris Jones lurking over the quarterback and his pass protection, which can always help open things up.
“When you have a guy like Chris Jones, I can speak from personal experience at the Nickel, teams always look at him,” McDuffie asserted. “They’re always sending the line his way, trying to get two guys on him. He’s a factor, run game, pass game, you know he’s always going to account for two guys, so it leaves a lot of open holes for other guys to make plays.”
That was the case on the Chiefs’ last defensive snap of the Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The third-down dropback was blown up by an unblocked Conner.
“At the end of the game, the whole line slid towards Chris, and Chamarri came free on the blitz,” McDuffie explained. There’s little stuff like that stats don’t show, and people don’t always talk about, but it’s so huge when it comes to the whole team... it takes pressure off other guys so they can make plays.”
The first sack of Conner’s career indicates how he will be used this year, but also how McDuffie will make an impact on important downs this year. It won’t be as flashy on the broadcast, like a well-timed blitz off the edge — but lock-down coverage by McDuffie will be more significant in the big picture.
