The Chiefs are 2-0 and heading into their early bye with plenty to like on offense, but the second level of the defense is starting to draw some attention.
Kansas City put up more than 500 total yards against the Indianapolis Colts, and the attack kept humming in another primetime win at home. The defense, though, was less convincing. Jonathan Taylor found room for 92 yards and two touchdowns, and he repeatedly popped chunk runs that helped Indianapolis stay on schedule when it looked like the Chiefs had the Colts in trouble.
Kansas City still came through in the key moments it needed, but the game also exposed a few questions for the linebacking group. One of the clearest shifts was the heavier workload for Jack Cochrane next to Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill.
Cochrane has long been known as a special teams piece, and that part of his job barely changed. He played 25 special teams snaps in Week 2 after 23 in Week 1.
The real difference came on defense. Against Denver, he was on the field for only five defensive snaps.
Against Indianapolis, that number jumped to 26, which worked out to 40 percent of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps.
That expanded role did not go smoothly. Taylor got loose on a few runs that bounced outside, and Cochrane was part of a defense that struggled to sort it out.
The issues were not limited to him alone in coverage, but he did not react quickly enough to make much of an impact against the pass. Daniel Jones was able to get the ball out easily on short and intermediate throws.
That leaves Kansas City with a real question at the third linebacker spot. Jeffrey Bassa is the only other linebacker on the active roster, while Cooper McDonald is on injured reserve, and the Chiefs have barely used Bassa on defense.
That raises the possibility of a quiet addition from outside the building, likely not a headline-grabber but someone who could create competition. The team could even look around other practice squads to find help.
The timing matters, too, because Miami is next and De'Von Achane is coming. The Dolphins do not have much experience at the offensive skill positions, but Achane gives them a player they trust with the ball in his hands. He is dangerous as a runner and as a pass catcher, which means Cochrane or whoever fills that role will need better angles and quicker reactions if he’s asked to handle more snaps again.
There is also the broader issue of how Kansas City wants to play defensively. The Chiefs looked more physical than they did late last season, and they mixed up fronts against Denver.
Against the Colts, they leaned more on base defense up front. That approach only works if they can shut down the run and keep plays from leaking into the second level, because once that happens, the defense gets put under stress in a hurry.
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