Coaches often say you have to match your schemes to your players and not the other way around. If that’s the case, the Chiefs should be a 3-4 defense next season. Although a move to the 4-3 is possible and had strongly been rumored before Monte Kiffin took the Dallas job, it appears that for the Chiefs to climb back to respectability now, sticking with the 3-4 makes sense, especially with Jets LB coach Bob Sutton serving as Andy Reid’s coordinator. The Jets employed a 3-4 base alignment the past few seasons, and Sutton likely would continue with that.

That would leave OLBs Tamba Hali and Justin Houston as stand-up edge rushers. Dontari Poe likely would remain on the nose. If DEs Glenn Dorsey or Tyson Jackson leave, the team would need help at the five-technique. They probably also would want some first- and second- down help at inside linebacker, a position that thinned out with the death of Jovan Belcher.

Less clear is the Chiefs’ plan in the secondary. Will they become more of a zone team or a man-pressure coverage outfit? We’ll know more when they announce a permanent hire at coordinator.