6 Scheme Adjustments the Kansas City Chiefs Should Consider in 2012

Heading into the 2011 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs looked like they were ready to take over the AFC West and pose a threat to the NFL's elite.

Heading into the third week of the 2011 NFL season, the Chiefs looked dead in the water.

With arguably their most dynamic offensive and defensive players both sidelined with torn ACLs, everything they had hoped to accomplish was suddenly a pipe dream.

They battled back and finished with a respectable (all things considered) 7-9 record, just behind the other teams in their division, who all finished 8-8.

With the assumed health of their injured stars, they could really make a splash in the 2012 season, and a few schematic adjustments could help, too.

Move Dontari Poe Around

When the Chiefs drafted Dontari Poe with the 11th overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, they pulled a classic NBA move—drafting on potential instead of production.

After Poe's monster combine performance, he shot up draft boards about as fast as Ryan Tannehill. It was widely suspected that the Carolina Panthers would select him at No. 9, but they passed on the giant. Instead, KC bit the bullet and took a flier on the Memphis product.

While Poe's collegiate career suggests he may struggle as a pure nose tackle, at least for now, his sheer athleticism may widen the realm of possibility for Poe.

Though he certainly lacks any semblance of pass-rushing technique at the moment, his size alone may warrant double teams and extra attention. The Chiefs could certainly maximize this advantage by moving Poe around along the defensive line.

In passing situations, sliding Poe to defensive end could be a nightmare for offenses. Not because he would suddenly be a threat, but rather that he would suck in multiple blockers on the edge, opening lanes for either Tamba Hali or Justin Houston. Hali is already a talented edge-rusher, so any further advantage could take him to the elite of the elite.

Utilize Double Tight End Sets

Before tearing his ACL prior to the 2011 season, Tony Moeaki was believed to be a superstar waiting to happen (via ESPN).

After recording 47 catches for 556 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie, it's not hard to see why.

He looks very much like a young Antonio Gates. His 6'3" 252-pound frame doesn't dissuade Gates comparisons, and his athleticism is on par with the San Diego Chargers tight end. Both players are determined blockers (when asked to be) and deceptively quick in their routes. Both possess elite body control while tracking and catching the ball.

It's never a bad thing to be compared to a future Hall of Famer.

After picking up former Oakland Raider and New York Giant Kevin Boss, the Chiefs have two bona fide multipurpose threats at tight end.

Why wouldn't they work such an advantage?

Putting both Moeaki and Boss on the field offers a look that completely disguises their intentions on offense. Since both are adequate or better blockers and receivers, the defense won't know before the snap whether the Chiefs are going to the air or staying on the ground.

Staying unpredictable is the name of the game in the NFL.

Utilize Multi-Back Sets

In 2009, Jamaal Charles burst onto the scene as one of the most electric running backs in the NFL. His All-World speed carried him to an astronomical 5.9 yards per carry over 190 attempts.

In 2010, he did the unthinkable, upping that to 6.4 YPC on 230 carries, which amounted to 1,467 yards.

Had he not spent both seasons splitting carries with Thomas Jones, there's no telling what could've happened.

But in his first chance as a featured back, Charles tore his ACL in Week 2 of the 2011 season.

So much for that.

The Chiefs went out and signed former breakout star Peyton Hillis, who struggled last season with the Cleveland Browns. While I'm not an overly superstitious person, one can't help but utter a well-known fact when it is overlooked.

It was the Madden Curse.

Now that KC has three capable players in the backfield, the possibilities are endless. Dexter McCluster, Hillis and Charles are going to be horrifying for any team to have to game plan for, if all three can remain healthy.

Hillis brings the physical running game that wears the defense down. Charles takes advantage of the gassed defenses with his track speed. McCluster plays the Darren Sproles position.

Perhaps the scariest thing about this backfield is their potential in the passing game. All three backs have displayed soft hands and excelled as receivers. While none of them are proficient pass protectors, at least they offer legitimate outlets for Matt Cassel.

Bunch Up the Receivers

When you have a talented group of pass catchers, sometimes it's best to spread them out and let them work in one-on-one situations. But sometimes, it's better to bring them in together and force defenses to adjust to the chaos.

Bunching receivers together on the field is good for a few reasons. It sets up a lot of natural picks on defensive backs. When defenders are forced to line up so near one another, it is very difficult to stay out of the other's way. It's hard enough to cover a wide receiver, but it's even harder to do so while worrying about where your teammate is going to be.

The rules of the NFL favor the offense in pretty much every way. DBs can make contact for only five yards off the line of scrimmage. Receivers are protected after making a catch. Contact between DBs and WRs is generally regarded as defensive pass interference.

And so on.

Bunching up your offensive weapons makes press coverage extremely hard to execute, as the receivers can simply use one another as shields from defenders who attempt to do so. Getting a free release at the line of scrimmage is the first step to getting wide open in the NFL.

Finally, bunching weapons on one side of the field means isolating one on the opposite side. When a team has guys like Tony Moeaki and Dexter McCluster—dynamic playmakers who are difficult to match in man-coverage—getting them isolated on a single defender often means the offense is moving the sticks.

Or better yet, putting six on the scoreboard.

Turn Eric Berry Loose

While it may be easier said than done, turning Eric Berry into the next Troy Polamalu seems like the next logical step for the talented Chiefs defense.

Assuming Dontari Poe can live up to the hype of being selected 11th overall, the Chiefs front seven looks like it could be a force in 2012.

Facing the likes of Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, quarterbacks are going to be under pressure all season long. And with Poe, Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson clogging up running lanes, this athletic defense should be able to stop opponents from being overly successful running the ball, too.

With future Pro-Bowler Brandon Flowers and former Raider Stanford Routt manning the cornerback positions, Eric Berry seems in excess.

That is the perfect situation.

Polamalu's game is based on instincts, athleticism and aggression. While his instincts probably aren't on par with the All-Pro, Berry matches or bests him in athleticism. Aggression will come with the confidence he gains simply by making plays.

In his rookie season, Berry amassed 92 total tackles and four interceptions. Although he missed the entire 2011 season, he'll be ready to make the jump to the next level this season. His time off gave him plenty of opportunity to study the concepts and schemes that translate to on-field production. When he gets back on the field he will be able to match film study with how it looks on the field, propelling him to into the ranks of elite safeties.

It'll be up to the coaching staff to unleash him. If they do, expect big things.

Run Plenty of Screens

The Kansas City offense is stacked at every skill position.

They have running backs for just about every purpose. They have big receivers, fast receivers and big fast receivers. They have tight ends that can block and contribute as pass catchers. They have weapons on par with Neo.

Unfortunately, the linchpin of the whole operation is Matt Cassel, who has proved to be average, at best.

If 2010 Cassel shows up, this offense could have some very intimidating stats. But assuming that year was an aberration, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll could help him considerably just by getting the ball out of his hands.

Running screens should be easy with this group of skill players. They are working with two receivers who can make plays after the catch, athletic tight ends who can get out and block in the second level, and three running backs with established reputations as pass catchers.

Should be a piece of cake.

This implementation takes the entire decision-making process away from Cassel, who doesn't always excel in that area. Instead, it puts the onus on the defense to read the intended target, as well as react to what is happening. Tackling players as athletically gifted as Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe is a challenge in itself.