It's time for AJ Klein to shine

[Saxum]

8 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

A few months before this revived topic I posted the above about AJ Klein.

 

Yes, this is a look at me, I was right post. Sue me.

 

I loved that tackle on Najee Harris... the one that looked like he was steer wrestling.

 

I'm glad McDermott understands how to play to the strengths of his players and doesn't simply discard them as unfit for his scheme.

 

Exactly.  The defense was changed with Klein being in there and he was making calls for the defense.

I am looking forward to Baldy's review of the game.

[Just Jack]

12 hours ago, letsgoteam said:

I'm to lazy to check. Didnt Klein start against KC in the past and did well?

 

I'm going to be a little less lazy than you...

 

2016 - Panthers vs Chiefs

 

2020 - Chiefs at Bills (regular season)

2020 - Bills at Chiefs (playoffs)

 

2021 - Bills at Chiefs (regular season)

2021 - Bills at Chiefs (playoffs)

 

Someone else now can dig into how he may have done in each of those games.  

[Dunkirk Donski]

13 hours ago, Joe Ferguson said:

AJ Klein led the team in tackles. He's going to shut down Kelce next. Just watch.

I know Kelce has lost a step, but...hmm

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

He knows whats at stake and he's going to leave it on the field.  Can't ask for much more.  

[letsgoteam]

2 hours ago, Just Jack said:

-

I'm going to be a little less lazy than you...

 

2016 - Panthers vs Chiefs

 

2020 - Chiefs at Bills (regular season)

2020 - Bills at Chiefs (playoffs)

 

2021 - Bills at Chiefs (regular season)

2021 - Bills at Chiefs (playoffs)

 

Someone else now can dig into how he may have done in each of those games.  

 

So I dont think this paints the complete picture, but here we go! 

 

I will omit 2016 (good grief that's a long time ago haha)

 

Oct 19th 2020 (L 17-26): Klein is filling in for Milano and has 88% of DEF SNAPS: (7 tackles, 1 FF) (Tgt 4 times, only 1 completion allowed, 0 Passes Deflected)

 

Jan 24th 2021 (L 38-24): Klein gets 7 Def Snaps (no stats), (a missed tackle somewhere either D or ST)

 

Oct 10th 2021 (W 38-20): Klein again in for Milano and has 63% of DEF SNAPS: (9 tackles) (Tgt 8 times, 6 completions, 0 Pass Def)

 

13 Seconds: NO defensive snaps

 

I'm not sure what to make of it, the one game they get 6 completions off of him, the team wins by 18, so who knows if that includes some garbage time catches?

 

Just pure eye balls, he seems to play hard, but doesnt have the twitch like the others. However it seems like AJ also knows this too and (again going off memory) probably plays very fundamentally sound.

[Just Jack]

15 minutes ago, letsgoteam said:

I'm not sure what to make of it, the one game they get 6 completions off of him, the team wins by 18, so who knows if that includes some garbage time catches?

 

Just pure eye balls, he seems to play hard, but doesnt have the twitch like the others. However it seems like AJ also knows this too and (again going off memory) probably plays very fundamentally sound.

 

I think someone will need to actually re-watch those games, to actually see how he did, instead of just relying on stat lines.  

[transient]

8 minutes ago, letsgoteam said:

 

So I dont think this paints the complete picture, but here we go! 

 

I will omit 2016 (good grief that's a long time ago haha)

 

Oct 19th 2020 (L 17-26): Klein is filling in for Milano and has 88% of DEF SNAPS: (7 tackles, 1 FF) (Tgt 4 times, only 1 completion allowed, 0 Passes Deflected)

 

Jan 24th 2021 (L 38-24): Klein gets 7 Def Snaps (no stats), (a missed tackle somewhere either D or ST)

 

Oct 10th 2021 (W 38-20): Klein again in for Milano and has 63% of DEF SNAPS: (9 tackles) (Tgt 8 times, 6 completions, 0 Pass Def)

 

13 Seconds: NO defensive snaps

 

I'm not sure what to make of it, the one game they get 6 completions off of him, the team wins by 18, so who knows if that includes some garbage time catches?

 

Just pure eye balls, he seems to play hard, but doesnt have the twitch like the others. However it seems like AJ also knows this too and (again going off memory) probably plays very fundamentally sound.

I'm not an X's and O's guy, but what I remember of Klein in relief of Milano, possibly going back to 2020, was initially they tried to have him fill Milano's role, which went terribly because Milano is so much more athletic. Eventually, they took more advantage of his run stopping ability and changed up the way they utilized him and his instincts and the defense was much improved for it. I think if we get some DBs back and were able to utilize Klien's instincts and Williams's athleticism, as we did last night, the defense would be passable. I would worry about a combination of, say, Klein and Spector, because I think they are similar players and we'd lack for athleticism. I feel like part of the reason Dodson has done as well as he has in relief of Milano was because he was paired with Bernard's athleticism.