Chiefs LB Jeffrey Bassa is already showing that he understands one of the most crucial parts of the complex Steve Spagnuolo defense
When you talk about a defense like the one Steve Spagnuolo runs on the Kansas City Chiefs, you're talking about one of the most complex in the league. There is a reason Spags is considered one of the best coordinators of all time, if not the best. So, it's usually smart to not have high […]
When you talk about a defense like the one Steve Spagnuolo runs on the Kansas City Chiefs, you're talking about one of the most complex in the league. There is a reason Spags is considered one of the best coordinators of all time, if not the best.
So, it's usually smart to not have high expectations for defensive rookies, and the same is said about the rookies on the offensive side of the ball as well, with Andy Reid's system and playbook being one of the deepest there is in the history of the sport.
But somehow, the Chiefs always get the best out of their rookies. Last year we saw it with Jaden Hicks, who every single week made a play that you remembered by the end of the game. We see this time and time again from the Chiefs' rookies because they draft smart players.
Fifth-round rookie linebacker Jeffrey Bassa is no different. He's as smart as they come at the position for a rookie. And, as simple as it may seem, he's already understanding one of the biggest and most important things when playing in this Spags defense.
Communication.
"I think it [communication] tremendously drives my game, a guy who you know was responsible for doing all that at Oregon," Bassa told reporters earlier this week. "I feel like that translates here as well, especially under Spags' defense, you've got to be a linebacker that can communicate. Make sure your defensive line is set and as well as making sure the DBs are on the same page as everybody else, right?
"So I took a lot of pride in that at Oregon. And so for that, for me to have the same role, kind of heading into a defense where, you know, there's a lot of communication, I feel like, you know, that's a perfect situation for me, right? I just got to keep getting better at, you know, making sure everybody's right, making sure I'm always one step ahead of the game."
I know, it sounds simple and dumb, but it's really one of the most important things on defense. And, while you think it sounds simple, sometimes you get in a situation in the middle of a game where you're doing something, and you're so focused that you fporget to communicate. It happens all the time, and bad communication is oftentimes how broken plays happen.
Bassa takes pride in that part of his game, and that's only going to help him get on the field more as well as develop into this defensive scheme better. Bassa has the IQ, he has the physical abilities, now it's about putting it all together and getting this defense down pat.
If he can do that, Bassa could be a steal in the fifth round when we look back on the 2025 NFL Draft class in a few years.
Chiefs LB Jeffrey Bassa’s jersey number choice serves as a tribute to both his family and his fallen Oregon Ducks teammate
His jersey choice might seem odd at first glance, but Kansas City Chiefs LB Jeffrey Bassa’s decision holds a ton of meaning.
