Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo eats rookie quarterbacks for breakfast, but he's not underestimating Broncos QB Bo Nix
Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo has a virtually flawless record against rookie quarterbacks during his tenure in Kansas City. When the Chiefs' defense faces Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix in Week 10 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium that record of success will be furthest from the team's mind. Since joining the Chiefs as their defensive coordinator in 2019, Spagnuolo's […]
Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo has a virtually flawless record against rookie quarterbacks during his tenure in Kansas City. When the Chiefs' defense faces Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix in Week 10 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium that record of success will be furthest from the team's mind.
Since joining the Chiefs as their defensive coordinator in 2019, Spagnuolo's defense has faced rookie quarterbacks on 14 occasions. Some of them started the games, some were put in as a result of other's failures. However, all of those quarterbacks have an embarrassing 2-12 record against a Spagnuolo-coached defense.
Chargers QB Justin Hebert defeated Kansas City in Week 17 of the 2020 NFL season. After having already locked themselves in as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, the Chiefs gave their key starters on offense and defense the game off. Last year, Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell miraculously beat K.C. on Christmas Day completing just nine passes on 21 attempts for 62 yards and no scores.
Despite that result, O'Connell's performance is more indicative of what Spags does to rookie quarterbacks with regularity. He puts them through the wringer and does everything possible to make their life difficult. Only two have ever completed more than 70% of their passes, half they have faced have thrown one or more interceptions, and Spags' defense has amassed 28 total sacks against rookie quarterbacks.
Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo's defense not underestimating Broncos rookie QB Bo Nix
Nix is the first rookie quarterback the Broncos have named their starting quarterback in the past 40 years. If you ask Spagnuolo, he'd tell you that you wouldn't necessarily be able to identify Nix as a rookie.
"Boy for a rookie, he has a command," Spagnuolo told reporters on Thursday. "I watched. I went back and watched the first game he played in, and I thought Sean (Payton) had him doing things that, you know, sometimes you say, 'Do you have a rookie do it in the first game that he plays?' But yet, there he is doing it. I just think he's gotten better every week. He looks more comfortable. You guys see it. It's another athletic quarterback. And I think those guys are always headaches because there are certain things you can and can't do because you're afraid that he's going to make you look bad with his feet. And he can do that. Listen, the guy can throw the football. There's no doubt about that. They got themselves a good one. He's played a lot of football."
The Auburn and Oregon product was one of the older rookie quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL draft class. That was viewed as a knock coming out, but a veteran coach like Spags doesn't necessarily see it that way. He thinks it gives Nix a bit of an advantage in certain areas of his game.
"You can see maturity in him when he's playing just around his guys, and the way he's communicating pre-snap," He said. "I mean, when you're they function in a no-huddle, or what we call a muddle huddle, quite a bit. That's not always easy for a young guy to do, and yet, he's doing it pretty good."
Spagnuolo isn't the only one giving the Broncos rookie his flowers. Respecting your opponent is a mentality permeating throughout the Chiefs' locker room. Chiefs DT Chris Jones embodied that during his media availability on Thursday when he praised Nix for the progress he has made early on in his NFL career.
"I think he's progressing," Jones said. "Been a fan of he has since he was at Auburn and he went to Oregon. Sec got through and through. Huge fan of his, man. How he plays the game, (he) has the ability to escape the pocket, (he) can make all the throws, but he's progressing. To be a young QB, he's progressing fast."
One thing that the defense will be focusing on is Nix's ability to make plays with his legs. Jones believes he's shown a striking similarity to another AFC foe who has given them some serious trouble as a runner.
"Similar to Josh Allen," Jones said. "I don't think he has like, big play moments of Josh Allen, but he's very comparable in a lot of things he does and the scheme they're running with him, whether it's getting him in the open field, keeping the ball in his hands on certain downs and distance, giving him the ability to play with instinct. So, I think it's, for us to prepare, making sure we're able to keep him in the pocket and then get after him."
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