Blitzing and Pressure Rate to Supplement the 4 man rush

Taking a look at Spagnuolo's blitz and pressure rates when the four-man rush needed help in 2022.

The looming element around the Kansas City Chiefs’ week one matchup with the Detroit Lions — and truthfully, the last two months — is how the defense will handle themselves in a Chris Jones-less environment. In 2022, Jones was easily the team’s best defender, leading the team in sacks, pressures, and overall impactful plays. For as long as Jones is absent from this team — and barring another major addition — the defense will struggle to create consistent four-man pressure.

However, this isn’t a foreign concept for Steve Spagnuolo’s defenses in Kansas City. For years now, there have been think pieces, film reviews, and significant consternation about the pressure that this defense can bring when only rushing four defenders — particularly in the early part of the year. All of that consternation has come with a lot of money invested in the pass rush, including Chris Jones.

Ahead of the Chiefs first 2023 matchup, I decided to take an in-depth look at the early-season 2022 Chiefs defense — Spagnuolo’s most productive pressuring the quarterback in Kansas City — to look at how he was able to create pressures and sacks through some struggles in one of his favorite ways: blitzing.