Fitting Nick Bolton into the Chiefs LB Rotation
Part 2 of the Nick Bolton Film Room breaking down his coverage ability
This is a free version of what you can expect from our daily paid newsletter subscription. Our paid members receive this kind of content every morning. Be among the most informed, entertained, and educated members of Chiefs Kingdom by becoming an official member of KC Sports Network!
Welcome back to part two of the Nick Bolton Film Room series where we take a detour from one of Bolton’s biggest strengths and turn to a bit more of an unknown. In the first part of the series, the focus was on how a linebacker processes the run game and how Bolton excelled in that area. Part two is going to focus on what many consider the more important aspect of playing LB today, coverage ability.
Like the Rookie Film Reviews in the past, the focus will be on skills and traits that showcase Bolton’s coverage ability and where the Kansas City Chiefs could be looking to use him. The trick with trying to gauge his coverage ability was an incredibly limited usage at Missouri in that role. Due to the limited usage, there won’t get to be as deep of a dive into the fundamentals - IE. reads, coverage drops, etc.. - as with the run video but rather a focus on where he excels and where there is room for improvement.
So without any further ado, start the tape!
Nick Bolton Film Room: Pass Coverage
Nick Bolton was predominantly used as a hook-zone defender, a quarterback spy, or a green dog blitzer for the Missouri Tiger defense. While it may sound like there is a little bit of diversity in there, the vast majority of his coverage reps play out the same way. He’s often spot dropping to the middle of the field near the line of scrimmage and mirroring the QB or rushing the passer. He’ll take on other assignments here and there throughout the game but for the most part, his usage was as static as his zone drops.
Zone Coverage
Probably the strongest area of Bolton’s coverage game is his ability to quickly process the field in front of him when he’s dropping into zone coverage. Whether it’s mirroring the eyes of the QB and flowing with them or driving on Drag routes crossing the field in front of him, he has a quick trigger to get downhill and takes quality angles to the catch point.
It’s clear to see on this play how Bolton’s processing speed comes into play as a coverage player similar to how it does as a run defender. He works across the field with the nearest, inside releasing wide receiver while keeping his eyes on the QB. He signals that he’s passing off the original Drag route so he can pick up the second Drag route - a Mesh concept - that carries to his side of the field. Once he sees the QB’s eyes shift to a new target, he’s quick to drive downhill and undercut the route leading to a PBU.
That’s the key for Bolton, keep everything in front of him and he can see it quickly and smother it out. The hard part is that his zone depth drop is incredibly short and oftentimes involves zero backpedaling. Very few routes are going to develop underneath him on most plays and too frequently he’s set up out of position that massive throwing lanes in the intermediate area of the field are left wide open.
Zone depth drop is something that is an easy fix, theoretically but the next problem may not be. As it stands right now, Bolton plays “narrow’ or “small” in zone coverage. Essentially, he doesn’t cover much space within his zone, especially when not making direct eye contact with WRs. There is a general lack of feel for route combinations or spacing on the field. Too often Bolton will slide too far - or not slide at all - and create a wide open throwing lane on a play in which he should be able to easily close it down.
It’s another skill that can be developed and given Bolton’s lack of experience in more complex zone drops, it’s quite possible he does improve in this area over time.
Man coverage
Nick Bolton’s experience in man coverage may be even more limited than his exposure to complex zone drops, and that is saying something. The good news is that when in man coverage, he has fared relatively well.
Bolton is rarely a constant target of opposing offenses and the majority of the time when he is challenged on a vertical route, he can keep pace. That being said, the vast majority of work in man coverage has been on running backs, often on early downs. This translates to a lot of plays just swinging out into the flat or picking up a late-leaking RB trying to sneak out of pass protection.
Similar to the zone coverage scenario, there just wasn’t much pressure placed on Bolton’s shoulders in man coverage. This was constant through 2019 - pre-Cole Garrett injury - and 2020 despite playing a different LB position both years. Like with his zone coverage, there is plenty of time in this area as well but his athletic profile doesn’t point to a high end coverage player at this point of his career.
Where Bolton is at his Best
This has certainly been the most “negative” Film Room thus far but it’s not doom and gloom. Most of the issues that have been brought up are fixable and a lot of it is a “lack of example” rather than poor execution. With that little disclaimer out of the way, there is an area that Nick Bolton does excel at on passing downs, and that’s rushing the passer.
Whether on designed blitzes or Green Dog calls - blitzing if the RB isn’t out on a route to your coverage area - Bolton does a great job altering the tempo of his rushes. He understands how to shuffle, bend, and arc through gaps so that he’s always still gaining speed at the point of contact with a potential blocker. He pairs that nicely with the ability to reduce his surface area to a blocker despite not being the most flexible player around.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise but it’s still impressive watching Bolton’s processing on a Green Dog call. Oftentimes looping over from the opposite side of the formation from the RB, he’s able to instantly identify what the RB is doing and reacts in one fluid motion. Some of his best rushes come when looping around the OC while reading the RB before turning up the A-gap and getting near the QB.
Year One for Nick Bolton
The hardest part trying to slot Nick Bolton into the Chiefs rotation is the skillset he shares with the one proven player at the position already, Anthony Hitchens. Much like Hitchens, Bolton excels playing the run within the box, relying on his IQ over his athleticism. Both guys process run plays incredibly well and love to shove their nose into rushing lanes.
Hitchens may play a little more physical while Bolton a little more finesse when it comes to taking on blocks but both still excel in the same area of the field. Their weaknesses also align in the coverage aspect.
Subscribe for only $5 a month!
Bolton and Hitchens are both best utilized in zone coverage in which they can survey the field and attack downhill. Bolton does lack experience playing in a complex zone coverage scheme like Steve Spagnuolo runs, so combining that with his preference to play around blocks rather than through them make it unlikely to see him unseat Anthony Hitchens as the MIKE LB this year.
That may be in Bolton’s future but for now he’ll have to settle for competing with Ben Niemann and Willie Gay for the outside LB spots. In a perfect world, Gay continues to progress with his development and his natural athleticism gets to shine as the WILL and BUCK (WILL in the Chiefs nickel package). That would leave the SAM position up for grabs for Bolton. While not the most impactful position on a team but would fit Bolton’s playstyle incredibly well while he continues to improve upon his coverage and physicality in the run game.