GRETZ: Defense: Conclusions

Mar 07, 2005, 5:58:19 AM by Bob Gretz - FAQ

In the last two weeks we’ve taken a close look at the top defenses in the NFL last season. The idea was to study the best, see how those rosters were built and determine if there’s anything the Chiefs could learn as they try to resuscitate their defense.

And, there are lessons to be learned from the Bills, Steelers, Ravens, Redskins and Patriots as the 2005 free agency period is underway and the draft is coming up in a little more than six weeks.

Lesson #1: There is no one way to build a strong defense.

Whether it’s strictly through the draft like Pittsburgh and Baltimore, strictly through free agency like Washington or a combination of both, like Buffalo and New England, there are different ways to build a top-notch defense.

What these top defenses showed is that neither area can be ignored. The Steelers added LB James Farrior through free agency, while the Redskins drafted CB Fred Smoot and S Sean Taylor. All were key contributors to what their units got done.

Lesson #2: The key isn’t where the players come from: it’s recognizing talent and then making it work in the defensive scheme.

This isn’t as much a coaching issue, as an organizational one. With the exception of New England, none of the top defenses had the same defensive coordinator for the last five seasons. Washington had multiple changes over the years and the others all had more than one defensive coordinator.

Yet, the organizations were able to overcome the lack of stability and still find talented players and productive defenses.

Lesson #3: Big spending on free agents is a very mixed bag.

It certainly worked for the Bills in the addition of Takeo Spikes several seasons ago. He’s a Pro Bowl linebacker and has produced for that defense. Rodney Harrison was not as expensive, but he stepped into the New England defense and made a big difference.

The Patriots plugged in free agents, but never broke the bank for any of them. The only possible exception was LB Rosevelt Colvin, and then he missed almost all of the 2003 season with an injury.

But the evidence out of Washington is overwhelming when it comes to the big dollar free agents: it doesn’t work.

Lesson #4: Drafting and developing defensive talent is the best way to go and it’s the major reason the Chiefs are having problems on that side of the ball.

Of the 21 players who made a significant contribution to the Chiefs defense in 2004, 15 came through the draft. In the last five drafts, the Chiefs have not ignored defense, selecting 37 players overall, with 19 defensive players.

But the evaluation process and/or developmental process remain flawed. The Chiefs missed badly on second round picks like DL Eddie Freeman and LB Kawika Mitchell, and third round choices like DT Eric Downing and CB Julian Battle. Freeman and Downing are already gone after contributing very little on the field. The Chiefs are working the free agent market right now for players at linebacker and corner, making Mitchell and Battle’s futures very uncertain. Both Carl Peterson and Dick Vermeil have said that DT Ryan Sims has not played like the sixth pick in the draft and a player the team gave up three choices to select.

That’s five premium defensive draft choices (first day) that have not gotten it done. Imagine the difference in the Chiefs defense if those five players had lived up to their evaluations on draft day.

LBs Monty Beisel (fourth-round) and Scott Fujita (fifth) have been found wanting; as evidenced by the team’s search for linebackers. Vermeil has been quoted as saying the team needs help at safety as well, which doesn’t speak well to draft picks over the last five years like Greg Wesley (third), Shaunard Harts (seventh) and Willie Pile (seventh.)

The Chiefs found a fourth-round gem last year in DE Jared Allen. He must come back and show it was no fluke. DT Junior Siavii needs a strong off-season of work and improvement to justify the Chiefs selecting him in the second round last year.

No matter what moves the team makes in free agency, next month’s NFL Draft is a huge one for the future of the Chiefs. Ultimately, that’s how they will rebuild their defense.

The opinions offered in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs.

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A former beat reporter who covered the Pittsburgh Steelers during their glory years, Gretz covered the Chiefs for the Kansas City Star for nine years. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Board of Selectors. He has been the senior columnist for the Chiefs web site since its inception.