The third-year linebacker embraces having more responsibility on his plate.
In the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens, linebacker Leo Chenal was arguably the defense’s most impactful player. He led the team in defensive stops, doing so from different alignments: Chenal lined up on the edge of the defensive line on 18 of his 48 snaps in the game. He rushed the quarterback on 25 snaps and batted down two passes.
As the third linebacker, he still wasn’t a full-time defender — but the different usages got him on the field more. That’s what he likes about his expanded role in the defense; he went into detail with reporters in the locker room on Thursday.
“It’s always nice getting on the field more, I’ll take it,” Chenal remarked. “It’s really fun to be able to expand that even more, from rookie year to second year to third year. It’s being able to fully understand the job and the guys in front of me.”
Against Baltimore, Chenal was asked to play in the trenches on more occasions than just the edge. The scheme will walk him down to the line of scrimmage, and that’s something the defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has been preparing for him.
“I need to really know any call that we have in; that’s what coach Spags has echoed to me,” Chenal shared. “Know basically every spot on the defensive line in front of me.
“I also can’t go too fast myself; I have to know the other two linebacker spots as well,” Chenal continued. “It’s just an honor to be in that position. It’s always an honor to have more stress on your shoulders, because it means they’re putting it there for a reason and they trust you.”
Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images
The embracement of added stress is music to a coaching staff’s ears, as well as that of teammates. Defensive tackle Chris Jones has noticed the effort it took from Chenal to put himself in these positions.
“He has been very effective for us,” Jones responded when asked about Chenal during a press conference Thursday. “Whether it’s playing in coverage at linebacker, setting the edge at outside linebacker, or asking him to line up at the 3-technique in Bear front and play his gap.
“It just shows you the body of work Leo has been putting forward, starting in training camp — and even the year before. This year, there’s a little more trust in it, they’ve been moving him around, he’s been very effective for this defense.”
Like Chenal, Jones does not play every snap on defense — but the rotation of defensive linemen up front is necessary. Chenal learned that in Week 1.
“I’ve been playing a little more defensive end lately, so you have to appreciate it: they have to go and push a 350-pound sled for five to ten yards, then do a 40-yard sprint to try and catch up to [Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson],” Chenal reflected. “It’s like a never-ending race if we don’t contain him well enough.”
The Chiefs contained Jackson the best they could, and a lot of that strategy was centered around Chenal. In key moments, he would spy Jackson and track him down to tackle him or force a throw away.
As Chenal did all this for the defense, he was also tied for the team’s lead in special teams snaps. To special teams coordinator Dave Toub, it’s not hard to see why Chenal makes such a mark whenever he’s on the field.
“Leo, out of all our players on special teams besides Justin Reid, he has our best get off, off the ball,” Toub told reporters during a press conference Thursday. “He has incredible get off.. I read something the other day somebody wrote that he might be a good defense end. He might! Just becuase of his get off.”
“He’s so quick. Not everyone can do what he does, and he’s so powerful too; he has leverage with the way he’s built. He can do a lot of things, and everywhere we put him, he just continues to excel.”
The all-around performance was crucial for the Chiefs’ season-opening win, and Chenal wants to continue the momentum he has created.
“As a player, you feel like you need to get in a rhythm,” Chenal described. “If you make one play, you start to feel good and loose, then you start stacking them. The really important part is being able to stack them from week to week... I want to continue to help the team the best I can.”
With Chenal’s versatility, Spagnuolo and the rest of the Chiefs’ coaching staff will continue finding ways to use his physical but athletic skill set.
https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2024/9/14/24243203/chiefs-roster-leo-chenal-honored-expanding-role-defense?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger
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