The strength of the Chiefs team right now is its defense. That doesn’t mean there aren’t questions that must be answered in the next four months with the off-season program and training camp.

Here they are.

Question #1: who will play the other cornerback, opposite Pat Surtain and who will be the nickel back?

First, don’t believe that Surtain has his spot in the defense locked up. That’s simply not the case. It’s just that the odds of getting enough production in the coming months from all the new faces so that Surtain can also be replaced are pretty long.

Second-round choice Brandon Flowers is likely be the first man in line to replace Ty Law. The returning veterans who factor in at cornerback are Tyron Brackenridge, Rashard Barksdale and Dimitri Patterson. Joining them are two more rookies Brandon Carr, the team’s fifth-round pick, and college free agent Maurice Leggett. More than likely they will add another cornerback at some point.

Brackenridge got the most defensive playing time last year, appearing in 13 games before his season ended in December with a knee injury. Joining the team as a college free agent, he produced more than anybody would have believed. Barksdale was claimed off waivers in the first week of the season and ended up playing six games, all of that on the special teams. Patterson played in 13 games for the Chiefs last year, with six on defense. His contributions came in the kicking game.

Don’t count out Carr. While he played Division 1-AA football at Grand Valley State, he comes in ahead of the other rookies because of his understanding of the Cover 2 scheme. His coaching staff at Grand Valley actually was tutored in the defense several years ago by the coaching staff at Tampa Bay, where this version of the Cover 2 originated with Tony Dungy-Herman Edwards-Monte Kiffin.

There’s one other candidate for the nickel back job and that’s third-round pick DaJuan Morgan. He’s listed at safety, but Edwards talked during the Draft that Morgan could move down into the slot and cover receivers in the nickel.

Question #2: how will the Chiefs replace the 15.5 sacks that Jared Allen contributed last season?

The move of Tamba Hali to the right defensive end gives them a shot to equal that production. Despite the fact he didn’t produce big numbers last year on the pass rush, Hali had very good season getting after the passer. His 7.5 sacks and 12 pressures were second on the team behind Allen. Remember in the 2006 season, Hali led the team in sacks with eight, or a half-sack more than Allen.

Overall, the Chiefs defense had 37 sacks last year. For them to improve those numbers, they must get more action on the inside. Last year, the interior linemen produced just five sacks. Combined Ron Edwards-Alfonso Boone-Turk McBride had 16 pressures. Rookie Tank Tyler did not have a sack and was not credited with a pressure. That must change in 2008, plus the Chiefs expect a lot more activity in the middle of the defense with the addition of first-round choice Glenn Dorsey.

Question #3: how will the rotation go on the defensive line?

Figure Hali, Boone and McBride as the rotation at defensive end. Then it will be Dorsey, Tyler and Edwards on the inside.

That leaves at least one spot at tackle and one at end that will be available, as the team figures to carry eight defensive linemen on the final roster. The best competition could come at end, where seventh-round choice Brian Johnston brings a lot of the same qualities to the team that Jared Allen did four years ago. Johnston finished his career at Gardner Webb with 21 sacks. Also college free agent Johnny Dingle out of West Virginia was one of the league’s most sought after non-drafted players. He had 14.5 career sacks with the Mountaineers.

Question #4: how will the Chiefs get improved play at linebacker?

So much of this Chiefs defensive scheme revolves around the linebackers and there was not the production there in 2007 that was expected by the coaching staff. Some of that was mental, as newcomers Napoleon Harris and Donnie Edwards had some troubles adjusting to the scheme. That should not be a problem this coming season. If it is, this year’s newcomer Demarrio Williams could easily supplant either one of those veterans.

Derrick Johnson is on the cusp of becoming one of the NFL’s most complete linebackers. There were games during the ‘07 season where he was sensational. There was the Chicago game when he had seven tackles and two sacks. The Minnesota game had 10 tackles and the two games against San Diego had a combined 10 tackles, two sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles. He’s capable of that type of production. Then, there were games against Cincinnati (two tackles) and at Denver (two tackles.)

The Chiefs defense needs D.J. to be a big playmaker for 16 consecutive Sundays.