Chiefs Defense: Using the CB in your Blitz and Pressure Package
The KC Chiefs won the Super Bowl in 2023 and one of the reasons was their outstanding defense and run support from their secondary.
They play a ton of cover 2 and will at times bring the CB in early downs to bring pressure that is highly effective. It is a great scheme in both the run game or to disrupt things and get pressure on the qb. They will use it often vs condensded sets on early downs both vs 2x2 and 3x1 formations.
They ran a ton of these week 1 vs the Lions. Below are some of the concepts they ran
Cowboy or Cat Pressures
Cowboy pressures are bringing the CB off the edge. The Chiefs are notorious for doing this vs good run teams. Let’s look at some examples
They ran many of these week 1 vs the Lions.
Double Cowboy
In this situation they bring a double cowboy with both CB coming off the edge. Again, they use it vs condensed and get great disruption from the CB on the blitz.
Same blitz vs the Chargers
Film vs the Chargers
Cowboy Cover 2
Again, this time vs 2x2 they bring the CB to the boundary. They are rotating to a 2 high so if it’s pass, the DE would drop and play the hook/flat. The CB comes clean on the pressure vs the condensed look.
The CB comes unblocked and they get the tackle for loss in the backfield.
Cowboy Cover 3
Here they go cover 3 bring the CB to the boundary and lock the #1 WR side with Reid the safety on #1. The CB comes untouched and disrupts the throw. They almost get the interception going the other way.
Cowboy Cover 4 vs 3x1
In this situation they run cover 4 robber when the Lions motion to 3x1. This looks like a trips check.
They bring the Mike and the CB and play cover 4. They drop the playside DE to the 3x1 side. They put the safety on #1 to the boundary.
Film
Here are some additional clips vs the Jaguars
As you can see you can run this concept and play some different coverages with it. You can play zone or combination coverage with a lock on the single side vs 3x1. This was a big part of the Chiefs defense in 2023.