Chiefs DT Chris Jones rooting for George Karlaftis as he approaches key milestone
Defensive tackle Chris Jones has been the Kansas City Chiefs' premier pass rusher for the last several years. Year in and year out he has been one of the toughest defensive players to block and is one of the few who can completely take over a game when he's in the zone. Jones has recorded […]
Defensive tackle Chris Jones has been the Kansas City Chiefs' premier pass rusher for the last several years. Year in and year out he has been one of the toughest defensive players to block and is one of the few who can completely take over a game when he's in the zone. Jones has recorded at least nine sacks in a season four times and has a shot to do so again this year, currently sitting at 7.5.
Over the last couple of years Jones' skills have developed further than just on the field, as he's developed into a leader and a mentor to his teammates. He has gotten particularly close to second-year defensive end George Karlaftis, who is having a breakout year in 2023. After recording six sacks as a rookie, Karlaftis has nine this season, and Jones is helping to push him to get to double-digits.
“He (George Karlaftis) needs to get 10," Jones said to reporters when asked about Karlaftis' growth. "He needs to get 10. We’ve been talking about this all week. I’ve been giving him crap all week, I think it was one of his goals coming in this season to make sure he has double digits, and I want to push him to get that. He works so hard during the season, during the offseason, me and him talk about it a lot. I think it would another, milestone in his career to reach that. We have three more games left, and I think he’s able to do it, I think it would be tremendous not only for his confidence and game moving forward but give him something to build off of.”
Jones was also asked about the overall state of the Chiefs' defensive line and its versatility.
“I think we have a lot of hybrid guys in that room," Jones said. "Mike Danna who can play DE (Defensive End) and three technique the whole game if you need him. You have a guy like Charles (Omenihu) who can do the same. You have a guy like Tershawn Wharton. We have a lot of guys who can transition from in and out and it adds versatility in that room to be able to move guys around in that room and cause havoc.”
The versatility of Kansas City's defensive line is what makes it one of the most dangerous in the NFL. The future of the unit is uncertain, however, as Jones, Danna, and Wharton are all currently set to hit free agency.
One certain thing is that the Chiefs have a cornerstone piece of their front seven in Karlaftis. He plays with relentless motor, strength and great hand usage, taking a big step forward in 2023. Karlaftis has three more chances to hit 10 sacks before the postseason begins, and it seems that at least one of his teammates is motivated to help him get there.
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