PITTSBURGH – There are several players on the Kansas City Chiefs that the Pittsburgh Steelers must worry about on Christmas day, but one of the more notable players they’ll look to slow down is defensive lineman Chris Jones.
Jones has been an elite player for the Chiefs since they selected him in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, recording 310 tackles, 80.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and one touchdown.
This season has proven no different for the two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, who has amassed 37 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble.
“He’s one of the better pressure players in the league. Obviously, the guy’s been a great player for a while now,” offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said. “He’s one of the rare guys that can rush inside and out. He’s a problem.”
The Steelers have done a good job at containing Jones in the past. In four games against him, Pittsburgh has held him to just seven tackles.
However, this time around they will have to rely on second-round rookie center Zach Frazier to slow him down.
“He’s been a really good player for a number of years,” Frazier said. “Just been playing at a high level, All-Pro, Pro Bowl. Just have to play with technique. He’s obviously a really good player, powerful, quick, gets off the ball really well.”
Frazier has held his own against some of the NFL’s top talent this season, but it’s unlikely he’s faced a player as versatile as Jones in his first year in the league.
That’s why he’s been watching tape of other offensive linemen who have had success against Jones to learn how to best defend him.
“I feel like guys that have played for a while, they’re kind of set in their ways,” Frazier said. “So it’s kind of figuring that out and then watching guys that have had success against him and studying what they did well.”
It’s rare that being a rookie has its advantages, especially when preparing to go up against one of the NFL’s best players. But just like Frazier is getting to know Jones, Jones is also getting to know him.
That could prove to be difficult due to the limited tape on Frazier this year. He isn’t sure if that will be the case with it being so late into the season, but he wouldn’t be upset if it were.
“Yeah, I guess so,” Frazier said. “I guess that could be an advantage.”
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.