Tag: George Karlaftis

This Chiefs lineman ranks seventh in QB pressures among all NFL defenders, according to PFF

Check out which Chiefs lineman has the seventh most QB pressures in the NFL through Week 9:

The Kansas City Chiefs pass rush has been one of the team’s best assets through nine weeks of the 2023 season, and one of its most effective players has been second-year defensive lineman George Karlaftis.

A Purdue product, Karlaftis’ penchant for harassing quarterbacks warranted his selection in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but nobody could have predicted his meteoric rise to become one of the best pass rushers in the NFL this year.

According to Pro Football Focus, Karlaftis ranks seventh among all defenders in the league with 47 pressures on the season.

This remarkable number contextualizes just how impressive the former Boilermaker has been through nine games, and is a good indication that Kansas City has a star on its hands up front.

With help from fellow linemen Chris Jones and Charles Omenihu, Karlaftis should be able to continue his mean streak to become a cornerstone of the Chiefs’ future.

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Chiefs check-in: Kansas City prepares for international matchup vs. Dolphins

Check out all the top #Chiefs stories and more on today’s edition of Chiefs check-in:

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What’s happening in Chiefs Kingdom?

The Kansas City Chiefs are at something of a crossroads after dropping their Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Now set to face the upstart Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany on Sunday, Kansas City enters Week 9 with something to prove after rattling off six straight wins.

Veterans Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Isiah Pacheco spoke to Chiefs Wire’s resident reporter Ed Easton Jr. about Kansas City’s preparations for the international game this weekend, and shed light on their feelings about the highly anticipated matchup.

This story and more on this edition of Chiefs Check-in for the morning of Thursday, November 2:

Chiefs DL George Karlaftis among league leaders in QB pressures

#Chiefs DL George Karlaftis is among the NFL’s leaders in quarterback pressures after Week 8.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ resurgent pass rush has been a key part of the team’s success through eight weeks of the 2023 NFL season.

Usually led by Chris Jones, Kansas City seems to have another stud on its hands up front in George Karlaftis, who is tied for seventh among all players in the NFL with 39 total quarterback pressures.

Of these 39 pressures, six have converted to sacks for the second-year star who certainly seems to be on the rise heading into the middle part of the season. While Karlaftis has exceeded all expectations, others up front are still waiting to get into a rhythm.

The aforementioned Jones and veteran Mike Danna are tied for second place on the Chiefs’ leaderboard with 5.5 sacks. Nobody else on the team has more than three.

Expect Karlaftis to continue wreaking havoc in opposing backfields as he helps lead Kansas City’s defense to new heights in the coming weeks.

WATCH: Chiefs DL George Karlaftis forces huge fumble vs. Broncos

#Chiefs DL Keorge Karlaftis forced a fumble on this sack against the #Broncos in Week 8.

The Kansas City Chiefs got off to a shaky start against the Denver Broncos in Week 8 but were able to cut their first-half deficit to five points after this spectacular sack by defensive lineman George Karlaftis.

This big play came with mere seconds remaining in the first half when Denver seemed poised to add a field goal to their eight-point lead late in the second quarter.

When Russell Wilson rolled out to find a receiver downfield, Karlaftis pounced on the opportunity to force a strip-sack turnover to give Patrick Mahomes a chance to put points on the board.

Denver will receive the second-half kickoff, so Karlaftis and the Chiefs defense have their work cut out for them when play resumes in the third quarter.

Expect Kansas City’s secondary to play sticky coverage that enables Karlaftis, Chris Jones, and Charles Omenihu to harass Wilson in the Broncos’ backfield as Mahomes and the Chiefs offense look to complete their comeback in Mile High Denver.

Three keys to a Chiefs victory vs. Broncos in Week 8

Check out these three keys to a #Chiefs victory against the #Broncos in Week 8:

The Kansas City Chiefs face the Denver Broncos for the second time in three weeks on Sunday in a game that has totally different implications for both teams.

While Denver is trending towards a potential fire sale at the trade deadline after a 2-5 start, Kansas City sits atop the AFC with a 6-1 record heading into this divisional matchup.

Snowy weather is expected to alter the way each team gameplans for the Week 8 tilt, and while the Chiefs are prohibitive favorites to earn their seventh straight win, anything can happen in adverse conditions, especially in a road game.

The Broncos are likely to play a no-holds-barred brand of football against Kansas City in this game as they look to snap a losing streak to the Chiefs that extends back the better part of a decade. Fans in attendance should bundle up, grab some hot cocoa, and expect a quirky contest in the blizzard-like conditions of Mile High Denver.

Chiefs DT Chris Jones happy with defense and return of Charles Omenihu

#Chiefs DT Chris Jones is happy with Kansas City’s defense and the return of Charles Omenihu

Pass rusher Charles Omenihu made his season debut in week seven after serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

Despite missing that much time, Omenihu made an immediate impact on the defensive line, recording a sack, two solo tackles, and deflecting a pass that led to an interception.

Star defensive tackle Chris Jones spoke to the media on Wednesday and was asked what Omenihu adds to the Chiefs defense.

“Charles [Omenihu] being able to play inside and outside, came back, he got over that excitement and got the sack,” Jones said. “We welcome him back with open arms. He’s going to be a guy we use all around the place. He’s big, he’s tall, naturally fast, faster than he looks. He can go inside and outside; I think it can help our group tremendously. Like I was telling [Defensive Line Coach] Joe Cullen, I never think you can have enough pass rushers in one group.”

Kansas City’s defense has been one of the top units in the league and lead the league in batted passes. Jones explained why the Chiefs’ defensive line have so much success in that department.

“When you have two guys in the middle that are 6’5″ and 6’6″ you know it’s like playing basketball, right, just getting a block,” Jones continued. “I think it’s something George [Karlaftis] and the rest of the guys, we work on. You know our coach; he emphasizes a lot throughout the week. [Defensive Line Coach] Joe Cullen, emphasizes it a lot – pass rushing, knocks, sacks, hurries – so we kind of simulate drills for everything that we do in the game, and all of a sudden it kind of shows up.”

In years past, the offense has been the main reason for the Chiefs’ success. However, this season the defense has stepped up and carried this team when the offense has struggled at times.

Chiefs DT Chris Jones praises unselfish play of teammates on defensive line

#Chiefs DT Chris Jones praised the unselfish play of his teammates on the defensive line

The exceptional play of Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones has helped lead the team on its current five-game winning streak. The defensive unit as a whole has played well and has been the primary reason for the recent victories.

The defensive line has undergone its fair share of changes over the years, and the youth added through the draft has begun showing its fantastic promise. Jones spoke with reporters on Wednesday to praise his teammates on the line for their improvement and unselfish play.

“I think as a whole as a D-Line, we’ve asked a lot of people to mature a lot,” Jones explained. “You know, George Karlaftis. Mike Danna getting a starting role for this year. George, coming in second year, first year, he was a starter, you know, asking those guys to mature. We got guys on the bench who can come in and be a starter also Tershawn Wharton, who we brought in, you know, Matt Dickerson, so we got a lot of guys who have been around the system knows the ins and outs of this defense and is comfortable with this defense.”

Jones has been at the forefront with a sack in the five games he’s played this season, showing little rust after missing training camp.

“I think comfortability is a huge thing in being successful, especially amongst the defensive line, because [if] this player is comfortable they can play lights out without thinking,” Jones continued. “Everyone is an unselfish man; everyone is unselfish. I think that’s a huge part of it, being unselfish, playing for one another. Not chasing stats.

“I think this is where success happens, man. When everyone is focused on one goal, it’s more achievable. Then everyone’s focused on different things. And I think we all focus on one goal, and that’s about being better than we were last week, adding our 1% in every day, and by the time we make it to January or December, we’ll continue making strides, and we’ll be where we want to be.”

George Karlaftis leading the way for Chiefs’ pass rush through Week 6

DL George Karlaftis is the #Chiefs’ leader in quarterback pressures through six weeks of the 2023 season.

The Kansas City Chiefs are headed into their Week 7 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers with a five-game win streak on the line, and their elite defense will need to show out to extend their run of dominance.

While Patrick Mahomes has been the focal point of the Chiefs’ strategy in years past, it is Kansas City’s defenders who have stolen the show to this point in the team’s 2023 campaign.

Heading into their divisional tilt against the Chargers, Kansas City’s leader in quarterback pressures is second-year lineman George Karlaftis, who has been a constant pest for passers to start the season.

 

The list, which was expected to be led by veteran Chris Jones, tells the tale of an up-and-coming unit that is in the midst of a change of the guard at one of its most crucial positions.

Karlaftis may need a bit more time to take Jones’ title as Kansas City’s preeminent sack-master, but if his yearly season performance is any indication, the Chiefs have their next great pass rusher under contract for the foreseeable future.

Chiefs DE George Karlaftis tied for fifth-place in QB pressures through Week 4

#Chiefs DE George Karlaftis has the fifth-most quarterback pressures in the NFL through Week 4.

George Karlaftis has been among the Kansas City Chiefs’ most productive pass rushers in 2023 and ranks in fifth place among all defenders in quarterback pressures through Week 4.

His 20 pressures have helped Kansas City achieve a 3-1 start to their Super Bowl defense campaign and secure three straight wins after losing to the Detroit Lions in heartbreaking fashion back in Week 1.

Karlaftis is in great company on this list and has earned his spot as one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers with the production he has shown to this point in the season.

With another standout performance against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5, Karlaftis could rise a few positions on this list, though he is unlikely to gain enough ground to move to the top spot in just one game.

Watch for the second-year defensive end to continue pestering quarterbacks consistently as he looks to cement his place as one of the league’s top sackmasters.

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George Karlaftis believes Chiefs defense has room for improvement

#Chiefs DE George Karlaftis believes the defense has room for improvement. | from: @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs saw immediate improvement to their pass rush in Week 2 with the return of All-Pro Chris Jones. The defensive push pressured Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and kept the offense out of the end zone.

Jones was impactful in his first game back from his holdout that lasted throughout training camp and the preseason. He was joined by second-year player George Karlaftis, who recorded a sack on Lawrence, disrupting the Jaguars’ gameplan. Karlaftis spoke about the performance during Wednesday’s post-practice press conference.

“It was great. You know, when you have a guy (Chris Jones) like that comeback, you know, his impact was evident on the game,” said Karlaftis. “[To] have a guy like that play next to you, you know, it helps me out a lot. So it’s it’s awesome.”

Jones provided a boost last Sunday, but Karlaftis isn’t satisfied with where the defense currently stands and addresses his feelings on needing improvement.

“No, I mean, we’re not. We’re not close,” Karlaftis explained. “You know, I think that we have a lot of things to work on and improve; there’s always room for improvement. I think we’ve had a couple of good games, and it’s a good start, but didn’t consistently the truest measure of a good defense.”

The defensive line has seen great effort across the first two games this season, with Mike Danna and rookie Felix Anudike-Uzomah securing sacks. They could be in line for more against the Chicago Bears this Sunday, as they have a reputation for struggling in pass protection.