Kansas City Chiefs star explains why he is excited about L’Jarius Sneed’s departure

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More often than not, a team’s focus can be on offense, while defense is sidelined. But you can’t forget that defenses win games…

The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs are a living example of how defensive play makes all the difference in deciding a championship.

In the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, the entire first half was dominated by the good performance of the defense. There was a good chance that the game wouldn’t have gone to overtime if it hadn’t been for the good work of the defenders.

What the Chiefs will look like in 2024 after losing great defensive players

In free agency, Kansas City had to give up some players in order to pay the stars the franchise thinks deserve to stay with the team long-term.

In addition to the cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, linebacker Willie Gay and safety Mike Edwards did not have their contracts renewed and left KC.

After having an impressive season last year, Sneed was traded in March to the Tennessee Titans. In 2023, Sneed didn’t allow a single touchdown as the closest defender in coverage, on 90 targets according to NFL Next Gen statistics.

The group of cornerbacks made up of Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams remains strong and very well taught, although Sneed’s departure represents a challenge for the team.

Kansas City’s defense stood out last season, allowing the fewest points in the second half (126) and the second fewest points per game during the regular campaign, conceding 17.3. In the playoffs, the defense showed even more solidity, letting in just 15.7 points per game.

In a pivotal year for the organisation, fans don’t have to worry about the pass rush or anything similar, because Steve Spagnuolo is still in charge of the unit and is a brilliant mind.

Nazeeh Johnson believes that young defensive backs will be a surprise in 2024

Another cornerback who is part of the Chiefs and has absorbed a lot of Sneed’s maturity and talent is Nazeeh Johnson.

At the age of 25 and having been in the NFL for three years, he believes that the veteran’s departure could provide more opportunities for the defensive backs to show new traits and a version of the secondary as good as the one Sneed delivered.

During the inauguration of his youth American football camp, the CB took some time out to chat with Marcus Dash, co-host of Chiefs Concern.

Johnson spoke about the lessons Sneed left for KC’s cornerback class and mentioned the weight his departure could bring to the unit.

“He just taught us his work ethic, he was just always was about his work. He was never coming in there messing around, he knew what the game plan was and he just excelled at it.”

He added: “With him being gone, it just elevates, I’m not gonna say it elevates the room a little higher because now it’s like a big ‘what if’, like, everybody keeps thinking about Sneed, Sneed, Sneed, but we have quality cornerbacks like Joshua Williams and Jalen, they were the other opposite of Trent. Trent is an All Pro corner, but we still have a really good other corners right there. So it gives respect for them.”

The 25-year-old tried to analyse the different approaches to the style of play between him and L’Jarius

“But it’s also gonna make the DB room even better because now we’re all pulling together to fill that void, but we all bring our different aspect to the room. Sneed was a physical corner, but I may be a more agile corner, you know, maybe a ball hawk or something like that and vice versa,” said.

“So you never know what you get. It all depends on what the culture staff have in store for us. But we’ve been around the program for three years now so I think we have it figured out by now.”

A message to Chiefs fans

Nazeeh Johnson tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during training camp and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on 30 July 2023. Still, the franchise renewed with him this year.

There’s a chance he could contend for the starting job this season.

The defensive back paid his respects to his former teammate, but he knows that 2024 has only one goal: “The foundation is there and it’s not gonna fall off because Sneed is not there. We love Sneed to death, but we still have things to do. We still got everything, you know, the 2022 class is some serious hitters.”

“Now it’s our time to shine and we’re gonna do what we need to do,” he noted.

Johnson ended his conversation with the journalist by sending a message full of expectations to the fans.

“I just wanna say (something to) Chiefs Kingdom: I’m here. I’m ready to go back to work. We have a very, very hard season coming up ahead. We know what the prize is, we’re gonna be locked into it. You guys stay tuned, we’re gonna handle all the rest.