Welcome back to Arrowhead Pride’s weekly snap-count analysis!
During the preseason, we will shorten the analysis as it is difficult to make definitive statements based on the raw snap-count data. Still, let’s see what we can figure out about the Kansas City Chiefs when taking a closer look at playing time during the 20-12 loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday.
Starters (offensive): LT Josh Simmons, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Kahlil Benson, RT Jaylon Moore, QB Justin
Fields, WR Tyquan Thornton, WR Jalen Royals, WR Cyrus Allen, RB Kenneth Walker, TE Noah Gray
Starters (defensive): DE George Karlaftis, DT Chris Jones, DT Khyiris Toga, DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, LB Nick Bolton, LB Jeffrey Bassa, S Christian Roland-Wallace, CB Nohl Williams, CB Melvin Smith, S Jaden Hicks, S Alohi Gilman
Did not play: QB Patrick Mahomes. TE Travis Kelce, WR Rashee Rice (Knee), WR Jimmy Holiday, RG Trey Smith (Hip), S Chamarri Conner, LB Drue Tranquill (Back spasms), CB Mansoor Delane (Shoulder), CB L’Jarius Sneed (Knee), CB Kader Kohou (Sore Knee), DE Ashton Gillotte (Hamstring), DE Emmanuel Ogbah
The big takeaway
Third-year safety Jaden Hicks started the game on defense and all four phases of special teams: kickoff, kick return, punt and punt return.
He played early and often, finishing the game with a team-leading 33 defensive snaps. The extended playing time was a welcome sight and likely warmly received by Hicks, who has seen little time with the starting defense in training camp, with starting safeties Chamarri Conner and Alohi Gilman taking almost every significant rep on the first team.
The unfortunate injury to Conner last week gave Hicks a chance to play next to Gilman with the starting defense, but Hicks’ additional snaps with the reserve units were still significant; defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo needs to see as much as he can from Hicks before deciding to carve a role out for him in the starting defense.
According to Pro Football Focus, Hicks played 16 snaps as a deep safety, 15 snaps in the box, and two aligned in the slot. He led the team with five solo tackles, two stops and a pass breakup.
The Offensive takeaway
Of the non-linemen, wide receiver Andrew Armstrong led all Chiefs players in offensive snaps with 41, tying quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Armstrong also played five snaps on special teams.
Armstrong made his presence felt on the field, whether the play call was a run or a pass. He started his time on the field with a nice catch and turned up the sideline; later, he appeared to have a step on a deep pass towards the back line of the end zone, but the pass from Nussmeier was too far.
When he blocked, he didn’t waste the reps. He has made a strong impression in camp as a pass catcher, but Armstrong took advantage of his first chance at true live contact.
The Defensive takeaway
Fourth-year defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah played the fourth-most snaps (27) of all Chiefs players on defense. However, only 19 of those reps occurred with the former Kansas State Wildcat aligned on the edge.
The other eight snaps were spent lined up further inside, in the B gap, according to PFF. That’s notable because no other defensive end aligned anywhere but over or outside the tackle.
During training camp, Anudike-Uzomah has lined up inside for pass-rush looks, like the front for a six-defensive-back Dime look. He joins Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, and R Mason Thomas most of the time.
With the signing of veteran defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, there are signs pointing to Anudike-Uzomah settling into a niche role in the Chiefs’ third-down pass rush, being the next edge rusher shifting inside in Spagnuolo’s “NASCAR package.”
Editor’s Note: Arrowhead Pride will present charts with updated snap-count data in this weekly post during the regular season.
