We’ve become accustomed to watching Justin Houston at the left outside linebacker position since the Kansas City Chiefs selected him with the No. 70 overall pick in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Over that time period from then to now, Houston has recorded 69.5 sacks, a total good for No. 4 in Chiefs franchise history.
But just because that is what we’re used to seeing doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll see it in 2018.
“I want to be able to attack the weakest link,” Houston said when I asked him about playing on the other side. “Every team is different. Everybody’s left tackle isn’t All-Pro and everybody’s right tackle isn’t All-Pro. Wherever the weakest link, whether it is the guard, center or even tackles, I want to be on the weakest link.”
That makes a lot of sense, given the fact that Houston is undoubtedly the Chiefs’ best outside linebacker.
A mixup may also be worth considering since the best stretch of Dee Ford’s career came in 2016, when he replaced Houston on the left side for the first nine games of the season.
During that stretch, Ford recorded 10.0 sacks. Once Ford switched back to the right side upon Houston’s return, he didn’t record a sack for the rest of the year.
There is an argument to be made that if Houston could prove to be just as effective wherever he is on the field, maybe it makes sense to put Ford in a position in which he has been far more successful.
The contract year for Ford adds even more incentive for him to rebound.
No matter the alignment, both players stand to benefit thanks to a small tweak to the Chiefs coaching staff this offseason.
As part of their yearly promotions, the Chiefs split the linebacker coaching positions after the departure of Gary Gibbs. Mark DeLeone was promoted to inside linebackers coach, while Mike Smith was promoted to outside linebackers coach.
“I think it is great just to have an outside linebackers coach,” Houston added. “There’s so much we get to do now just focusing on ourselves and the little things we need to work on. I think last year, we had a lot going on. You have to coach a lot of guys inside and out. It is hard to do that in the little bit of time you have. Now you have a separate coach, we can just focus on one thing, that’s us.”
All things to ponder as the Chiefs strive to finally have two effective outside linebackers on the field at the same time.
Originally Posted by Buns:
I found it interesting we now have an inside lb coach and outside lb coach. How many other teams have that I wonder? Checking...
Denver did for a long time but they recently fired their OLB coach. They're trying to bring in DeMarcus Ware to replace him, at least for TC.
Denver also has two DB coaches, two OL coaches (3 if you count Howard Mudd), and two QB coaches. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
Please for the love of God one of Ford, Tanoh or Speaks (or all 3) get some decent pressure on the opposite side.
Houston was limited last year with Frank mother****ing Zombo on the other side all year.
If one or more of those guys emerges this season the defense will be so much better.
I hope Speaks come through. I value his passrush versatility in coming off the edge outside the tackle and on the inside between the guard and tackle. Thats
gonna help the defense a lot. [Reply]
Mahomes is first, then Berry, Houston third, and Hunt finishes it up.
I'm 1:35 into this video (and thanks for bringing it to my attention) & I can already tell you that Reid is definitely grooming Mahomes right along. Great strategy in practice. [Reply]
I think people always forget salary inflation. If you wanted a guy to replace the production that Houston provided last year on a fresh contract in '18, you would pretty much have to pay them what Houston is earning now.
Besides sacks and production are not the same thing. As the article someone posted in this thread spells out on Houston, he had tons of pressures which affected games but were not sacks. PFF ranks on pressures and overall ranked him the 15th best OLB last year. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BlackHelicopters:
My problem with zhouston is that since he got paid, he hasn’t done dick. The rest of your statement is correct. We aren’t winning shit.
I knew there would be at least one stupid motherfucker parroting these lines and you didn't disappoint. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
Let's get real here, just because he didn't throw up 20 sacks doesn't mean he sucks. He got nearly 10 while dropping into coverage a ton and having nothing on the other side, that's a solid year and he's actually not bad in coverage and defends the run well.
Anyone who thinks Houston sucks or is the weakest link is just going off his sack numbers.
I think that person is going off brain damage. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Quesadilla Joe:
Denver did for a long time but they recently fired their OLB coach. They're trying to bring in DeMarcus Ware to replace him, at least for TC.
Denver also has two DB coaches, two OL coaches (3 if you count Howard Mudd), and two QB coaches.
Fuck the Broncos, nobody gives a shit. Take it to the mega thread for that shit. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Simply Red:
I'm 1:35 into this video (and thanks for bringing it to my attention) & I can already tell you that Reid is definitely grooming Mahomes right along. Great strategy in practice.
Originally Posted by bigjosh:
I know, what would derrick thomas have been without tracy rodgers, george Jamison, or chris martin on the other side of the formation.
Sent from my LGMP450 using Tapatalk
Bullshit. DT had Neil Smith on the other side for most of his career. [Reply]
