How will the Chiefs account for Chris Jones' absence? Looking at some ways to compensate

Missing their best defender against an exceptional run game, Steve Spagnuolo may borrow elements from the last game Kansas City played. You know, the Super Bowl.

Chris Jones won’t be playing in the Week 1 season opener against the Detroit Lions.

So much internet ink has been spilt on Jones’ holdout that it’s not worth getting into the details here (I already wrote quite a bit on it, and maintain my position that sitting out any further games following Week 1 makes absolutely zero fiscal sense for the star defensive tackle, especially now that we know the numbers both sides are at). But the short story is Week 1 won’t feature Chris Jones for Kansas City’s defense.

This comes against a talented and well-coached Lions offense that was 3rd in the league in scoring percentage last season. The Lions have a highly varied rushing attack that helps set up Jared Goff (who history has shown when kept clean can throw the ball all over the yard in play-action based offenses) and a well-designed passing game. People didn’t realize this, but the Lions quietly ranked 5th in the league in net yard per passing attempt last season and were terrific at creating open receivers.

So how will the Chiefs deal with the absence of their star defensive tackle, around whom the entire pass rush was based last season? Especially when his absence is compounded by Charles Omenihu’s six-game suspension?

I think there are answers to be found to an extent. And some of them may be in their gameplan against a similarly varied (though very different) Eagles rushing attack in Super Bowl LVII.

Let’s talk about some of the things the Chiefs can do to try and limit the Lions rushing attack and force Goff to beat them on 3rd down, a position he hasn’t been as comfortable throughout his career. We’ll also look at some of the ways Kansas City can try and alter their normal gameplan to make up for Jones’ absence. Some of it is personnel-based, some of it is more schematic. Think of this as what I’d say to Steve Spagnuolo if I were in a room with him.

Let’s talk some real football, Week 1 is here!