Chamarri Conner May Be the Chiefs’ Next Swiss Army Knife
“We’re gonna blitz you. You’re gonna do everything.”
Those were the words of Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo while on the phone with Chamarri Conner after the Chiefs traded up to select him in the fourth round of the draft. Spagnuolo has held true to his word, at least through training camp and the first two preseason games.
Back in April, Conner presented an impressive athletic profile for the Chiefs to add to their defensive backfield. His unique versatility displayed since then should play a role in the upcoming season, but it may be part of a longer-term plan for Conner in Kansas City.
In the preseason, the Chiefs have used Conner in many different facets of the game. The one that stands out the most is what Spagnuolo led off with on the phone call: blitzing. On 72 defensive snaps through the first two preseason games, Conner has blitzed nine times — a 12.5 percent clip. He’s also been successful doing it, recording one sack, a batted ball and a few quarterback pressures. The rookie’s blitzing ability presents another challenge for opposing offenses to worry about, especially when he’s lined up in the slot in nickel or dime packages.
During the preseason, Conner has shown great instincts as a blitzer. There were times when he had a direct line at the quarterback and could take advantage of it. In other instances, he would have to show patience to avoid getting out of position or giving away the defensive call. Only one time has he had what many would consider a “poor” rush. Against the New Orleans Saints, he overran the quarterback and missed the sack, which became a positive play for the offense. However, he learned quickly from that and didn’t have that lapse against the Cardinals.
At 6-foot, 206 pounds, Conner is bigger than a typical slot corner. He’s a traditional safety, so the size makes sense. The Chiefs are using his size — combined with his athleticism — to their advantage. In lighter defensive packages (nickel, dime, etc.), Conner being effective in the slot should help Kansas City not see as much of a drop-off against the run. Teams can take advantage of a smaller corner being out on the field but with Conner, that won’t be the case. He isn't afraid to fill the alley and tackle.
The one area where there were question marks about the former Hokie was in coverage, specifically zone. You can still see a lack of comfort as Conner learns the new system, but flashes of his coverage ability are coming along. His athleticism helps him a ton in this aspect. When it looks like he’s beaten, he can use his explosion and speed to close ground to affect the play still. His growth and comfort in coverage will come with time. The traits are there for improvement, and that’s what the Chiefs are banking on happening.
Conner has been lined up solely in the slot when repping with the first-team defense in the preseason games. L’Jarius Sneed will assumingly take that role once the regular season comes around, however, the looks in the slot could be important for the future of Kansas City. Sneed is in the last year of his deal and if the team feels that Conner can take on most of the responsibilities as the starting slot defender, it may affect their negotiations with Sneed. In a salary cap sport, tough decisions are constantly made, mainly dealing with money. If a team feels that they can get cheaper without a considerable downgrade in play, they take that opportunity more often than not.
Conner may not see a ton of reps on defense this season but in the snaps he does see, it’ll be interesting to track his growth from college to preseason to actual NFL football. There is a lot to like when it comes to a player with his talent and ability. The Chiefs hope their coaching staff can get the most out of him, helping him become a productive player for years in Kansas City.
