Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo noticed a difference in Chris Jones at practice lately that’s led to his recent domination
Steve Spagnuolo and the Chiefs have gotten an elite version of Chris Jones lately.
The three pillars of the Kansas City Chiefs’ dynasty when it comes to the play on the field have been Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones. The first two are easily the most popular and most talked about, but it’s safe to say that Jones has been just as important. On Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, he played amazingly, looking like his true self. That’s probably because of what his coaches have been seeing from him lately at practice.
“I told him – it might have been after the game that I noticed he had been practicing at a high level. Just appeared to be different to me in the last two weeks, and I think it’s showing up on the field,” Spagnuolo told reporters on Tuesday. “You guys know; you see it and study the tape enough to know that even though it might not show up in a stat line, he’s making a difference. With the things he had, he had one pressure we brought that he won real quick, and I think he made the ball get thrown quicker than they wanted, and that helped. That was big.”
Jones is a true game changer, as he was on Sunday.
Chris Jones willed the defensive line to the win vs. the Colts
Sure, the Chiefs haven’t had a great pass rush this season. In fact, at times it hasn’t been good. Chris Jones and George Karlaftis are really the only two who have been able to do anything in that department. But in the run game, they have been amazing, shutting down names like Saquon Barkley on the Philadelphia Eagles and now Johnathan Taylor on the Colts.
The only time the Chiefs’ defense has allowed a 100-yard rusher in a game this season was Buffalo Bills running back James Cook. Other than that game, the run defense has been stellar, and Jones has been a huge reason. The last few weeks, he’s been playing at a much higher level, whereas at times in the beginning of the season, he definitely wasn’t.
Pro Football Focus grades are sometimes good and bad, depending on what side you’re on. However, the last two games for Jones have been pretty good. Against the Colts, Jones had his best game since the blowout against the Las Vegas Raiders, with an 82.2. Jones has 10 quarterback pressures in the last two games, and that’s with the constant double teams and chips he’s facing all game long.
The Chiefs have definitely gotten a more focused Jones over the last few weeks. Just when everyone is talking about no one playing like their season is on the line, Jones comes out and plays his best football of the season. It started in practice, where even his coaches noticed something a bit different about him.
He’s locked in now.
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