In 2022, Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton used his physicality and football IQ to make a statement

In his first season as a full-time starter, Kansas City Chiefs MIKE linebacker Nick Bolton supplied a lift to the staff’s linebacking corps — and the protection total.

Selecting up proper the place he left off in his rookie season, Bolton was among the many recreation’s greatest run-stopping linebackers — and a key cog in Kansas Metropolis’s Super Bowl LVII victory. His physicality, soccer IQ and energy impacted each recreation as he grew to become one of many staff’s undisputed leaders.

Let’s see how he did it.

Physicality within the field

Because the MIKE, Bolton was answerable for the center of the sphere. A tackling machine, he completed 2022 with 108 solo tackles — the league’s second-best figure. Utilizing type and physicality, he fought off blocks and bottled up runs earlier than they may get going.

Right here we see the San Francisco 49ers run a Y-counter with the again facet guard and tight finish pulling by means of to the play facet. Bolton is the second linebacker within the field, so the play-side tight finish is tasked with blocking him on the second degree.

As strikes nearer to the road of scrimmage, he beats the angle the play-side tight finish has taken to the second degree — however then as soon as the back-side tight finish reaches him on the pull, he works again beneath the block and collides with the operating again. He instantly drops to wrap up the ball provider with an ideal type sort out as his teammates rally to the ball.

One of many league’s strongest gamers on the preliminary level of contact, Bolton missed just 3.7% of his tackles — ranked fourth amongst linebackers who performed at the very least 80% of their staff’s snaps — and helped to carry opponents to 1,823 dashing yards, which was the NFL’s eighth-best mark.

On this play, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers try an influence run to the proper. The defensive position doesn’t hand over any floor. Working excessive of blocks, Bolton flies downhill to make the cease. Defensive sort out Chris Jones is available in to assist end the play, however it’s Bolton who makes the preliminary contact.

Quick-yardage stopper

A few of Bolton’s greatest performs of the season had been in short-yardage conditions. In these moments, he used his nice situational consciousness (and an understanding of defend the road to realize) to step up in huge moments.

Right here, the Los Angeles Chargers pretend a fullback dive earlier than pitching to Austin Ekeler on the skin. Bolton isn’t fooled by the pretend, taking an amazing angle towards the ball provider. Whereas he isn’t in a position to deliver him down instantly, Bolton digs in his heels on the line to realize — the place he merely out-leverages Ekeler, driving him backward and finally getting the sort out.

Bolton utilized his good short-area burst (and enjoying power) to make these stops — and when these had been mixed along with his relentless pursuit, it led to constructive defensive performs.

On this third-and-1 rep, the Buffalo Bills run a toss sweep. Because the offensive linemen enter area, Bolton has to get excessive of blocks on an angle to get to the ball. Whereas the defensive backs are answerable for turning the run again inside, Bolton shall be tasked with ending the play.

Because the run stretches additional to the sideline, Bolton has to hurry as much as get round the proper sort out — who had labored to up the second degree. As Bolton accelerates away from the blocker, L’Jarius Sneed is ready to work by means of a block to remove the sideline. The operating again slows down to chop again — however due to his improbable angle, Bolton is ready to ship a giant hit that leaves the play wanting the sticks.

Play recognition and tackles for loss

Bolton’s soccer IQ (and play recognition) are amongst his greatest strengths. That’s why he’s the protection’s ‘inexperienced dot,’ tasked with getting the unit in place earlier than the snap. However these attributes have additionally led to a few of his greatest performs. He recorded nine tackles for loss in 2022.

Proper from the start of this play, Bolton is enjoying the run all the best way; he will get an ideal soar. Whereas he acknowledges the angle the operating again is taking, he’s additionally conscious that the left guard is making an attempt to work to the second degree. His fast recognition permits him to blow previous the guard to make the sort out for loss.

Staying true to his teaching keys places Bolton in positions to make these huge performs — and his soccer instincts permit him to complete them.

On this third-and-long play, Bolton exhibits that he is without doubt one of the league’s greatest at figuring out down, distance and scenario. The Tennessee Titans’ rookie quarterback Malik Willis is making his first profession begin, so it’s seemingly the Titans will keep conservative.

Bolton notices the vast receiver shift to the within — after which on the snap, he runs a slant proper in entrance of Bolton. The Titans are hoping the wideout will steal Bolton’s eyes — or get him to observe the receiver in protection — with a view to arrange a display screen play.

However Bolton ignores the vast receiver, keying in on the middle who has entered the second degree prematurely. That’s a lifeless giveaway {that a} display screen is imminent — so Bolton blasts into the backfield, the place he’s in a position to hammer the operating again as quickly as he makes the catch.

In Half 2 of this sequence, we’ll study areas the place Bolton can enhance in 2023.