WHAT'S THE FUTURE HOLD FOR CHIEFS' FANS....PART 2
In Part 1 I focused on the offense, this installment will examine the defensive side of the ball.
WHAT WE KNOW:
Just like in the analysis of the offense, the schedule can't be overlooked as one of the main reason for statistical improvement as well as in the win column. In their 16-game schedule, Kansas City played only 8 games against teams in the top half of yards-per-game average. They played only 6 games versus teams ranked in the top half of the league in scoring. Those stats have to be taken into account. I will say without question the 2010 Chiefs' defense was much improved. I give the lion's share of the credit to Romeo Crennell. The improved safety play also had an impact as did Derrick Johnson being moved inside & turned loose. DJ became the player we hoped he would be after being drafted in the 1st round in '05. Tamba Hali became a pass rushing force, he's going to be a top-10 sack artist for years to come. His non-stop motor serves him well in this role, his conditioning was superb, he always looked fresh in the 4th quarter when his opponents were sick & tired of battling him. The Brandon's, Flowers & Carr, made a decent transition to Crennell's defensive scheme that relies more on man-to-man coverage than the "Cover-2" run by Herm Edwards. I expect both to be improved next season. Rookie Eric Berry learned the hard way on reacting to play action pass fakes, he was beaten over the top numerous times in the first eight weeks. His run support was almost flawless tho. Kendrick Lewis played a good deep centerfield when he could stay healthy. The Chiefs should have a good secondary for years to come with these four. Last but not least, Glenn Dorsey played much better than I ever envisioned, he really took to Crennell's scheme & coaching. D-Line coach Anthony Pleasant gets a lot of credit for Dorsey's improvement too.
Let's look at each position.
Defensive end is not good enough right now, mainly because they don't have the talent needed to play this 3-4 defense. Dorsey, as I said, made great strides to become an NFL quality player. One Crennell can depend on, one he can trust. Dorsey plays hard & tho he'll never be a great pass rusher, he can move the pocket & is an excellent tackler. But when an undrafted free agent who has played for 3 other teams, all of them letting him go, can beat out the third player picked in the 2009 draft, you have problems. Shaun Smith was a good acquisition & can play DE, on the nose & even blocking back in short yardage. Tyson Jackson can't even get on the field, he had just 19 tackles in 16 games. I watched this kid, all 6' 4" 296-lb of him, get rocked snap after snap by a no-name defensive lineman playing offensive tackle because of injuries at training camp. Jackson couldn't move him nor could he stand his ground when the play was coming his way, he just got shoved out of the way. I didn't like this pick when Scott Pioli made it & now it looks like Jackson is going to be a big friggin' bust. have any of you watched former Mizzou Tiger Ziggy Hood playing for Pittsburgh? He's been a monster. He was drafted 29 spots lower than Jackson. Wallace Gilberry isn't an every down player at 265-pounds, but he was the team's 2nd leading sacker with 7 & he should continue to make an impact in passing situations. Pioli's goal at this position is someone as non-stop & productive as Dorsey & then Gilberry on passing downs. Bet some of you never thought you'd hear me say "someone as non-stop & productive as Dorsey." Hey, when I'm proven wrong, I'm wrong, I'll admit it. Would I rather have Richard Seymour or someone of his size & production? Hell yes, but 2 DE's like Glenn Dorsey will be just fine.
Nose Tackle isn't s strength either. Ron Edwards is the starter, but he doesn't swallow up enough blockers down after down. That's the goal of a good nose tackle, a double team block on at least 75% of the offensive snaps. He has to keep blockers off the inside linebackers. Edwards just doesn't do that often enough. Shaun Smith spells Edwards, but he's not a starter, he's a decent swing man, but not the answer. Anthony Toribio is also on the 53-man roster tho he never was active for a game. Three of the four teams left in the Super Bowl tournament play the 3-4 defense, all are 2-deep at this very important position. Drafting a starting nose tackle is imperative to the continued improvement of this defense.
Inside Linebacker was much improved this season, but to become one of the league's elite defenses, one more difference maker would certainly help. Derrick Johnson is set, he played at a very high level this season leading the team in tackles & tackles for loss. A better nose tackle working as a space-eater would make the inside LB's even better. Jovan Belcher is adequate for now, but ideally he would be better suited for a back-up spot. Demorrio Williams is an adequate back-up & played very well on special teams. Corey Mays didn't do much of anything this year & I would be surprised if he makes the team next season.
Outside Linebacker is a good news/bad news kind of story. Tamba Hali is becoming one of the league's most feared pass rushers, he isn't much in coverage, but like Derrick Thomas, he's rushing the passer 95% of the time, not dropping in coverage. Mike Vrabel started on the left side but he's at the end of his career, maybe one more season, but not as a starter. The Chiefs need a bookend to Hali, someone who can get at least 7-8 sacks. Andy Studebaker looks like a good backup & a quality special teams player, but from what I've seen in his two seasons with the Chiefs, I don't think he's going to be that bookend. They drafted Cameron Sheffield out of Troy last year but he was placed on injured reserve during camp. So we really don't know what to expect out of him, but from what I saw of him in college, I doubt he'll make his mark as an edge rusher. This need is pretty high on my list along with wide receiver & offensive line.
Cornerback is settled with Flowers & Carr. They were a little shaky transitioning to a defensive scheme that is mainly man-to-man coverage on the perimeter. Javier Arenas was drafted to be the punt returner & nickel back. he was somewhat of a disappointment at both. He got turned around too much for a kid who started four seasons at Alabama. I saw him play maybe 30 times before Kansas City drafted him & I have to say I hope he kicks it in beginning next season, because he wasn't as advertised this year. I'm not high on any of the depth so I'd like to see another CB taken in the first four rounds if possible.
Safety play was dramatically improved with rookies Eric Berry & Kendrick Lewis. I watched this pair a lot in training camp. I loved how Lewis could close on the ball so quickly. He's a decent, but not great tackler. Berry however is an exceptional tackler with excellent instincts, especially in run support. He wasn't fooled as often in the season's 2nd half, but he still makes too many false steps. Berry is a smart kid, he'll get it. Jon McGraw has become a liability in the secondary & I didn't see much from him on special teams, a strong part of his game for years. So he might be shown the door. Both of the undrafted rookies, Reshard Langford & Ricky Price show promise, so this position is pretty solid for the immediate future.
So where does this leave Kansas City's defense? They'll need a lot of improvement to equal last season's 10-win record. The schedule is much harder & Romeo Crennell will need to get even more out of his players. Drafting two players fairly high(Rnds 1-3) from the need list of defensive end, nose tackle & outside linebacker would be a great move if the players fall right. This draft looks for now to be heavy on the defensive side, so if they are to get a wide receiver & offensive line help they might have to pull the trigger early on, then see the rest of the draft swing to the defensive side.
An overall look at What the Future will Hold for Chiefs' Fans will come tomorrow.
One more note from the Seahawk-Bears' game, tight end John Carlson & cornerback Marcus Trufant, both sustaining concussions yesterday returned to Seattle today after spending the night in a Chicago hospital. Both have full use of their extremities.
WHAT WE KNOW:
Just like in the analysis of the offense, the schedule can't be overlooked as one of the main reason for statistical improvement as well as in the win column. In their 16-game schedule, Kansas City played only 8 games against teams in the top half of yards-per-game average. They played only 6 games versus teams ranked in the top half of the league in scoring. Those stats have to be taken into account. I will say without question the 2010 Chiefs' defense was much improved. I give the lion's share of the credit to Romeo Crennell. The improved safety play also had an impact as did Derrick Johnson being moved inside & turned loose. DJ became the player we hoped he would be after being drafted in the 1st round in '05. Tamba Hali became a pass rushing force, he's going to be a top-10 sack artist for years to come. His non-stop motor serves him well in this role, his conditioning was superb, he always looked fresh in the 4th quarter when his opponents were sick & tired of battling him. The Brandon's, Flowers & Carr, made a decent transition to Crennell's defensive scheme that relies more on man-to-man coverage than the "Cover-2" run by Herm Edwards. I expect both to be improved next season. Rookie Eric Berry learned the hard way on reacting to play action pass fakes, he was beaten over the top numerous times in the first eight weeks. His run support was almost flawless tho. Kendrick Lewis played a good deep centerfield when he could stay healthy. The Chiefs should have a good secondary for years to come with these four. Last but not least, Glenn Dorsey played much better than I ever envisioned, he really took to Crennell's scheme & coaching. D-Line coach Anthony Pleasant gets a lot of credit for Dorsey's improvement too.
Let's look at each position.
Defensive end is not good enough right now, mainly because they don't have the talent needed to play this 3-4 defense. Dorsey, as I said, made great strides to become an NFL quality player. One Crennell can depend on, one he can trust. Dorsey plays hard & tho he'll never be a great pass rusher, he can move the pocket & is an excellent tackler. But when an undrafted free agent who has played for 3 other teams, all of them letting him go, can beat out the third player picked in the 2009 draft, you have problems. Shaun Smith was a good acquisition & can play DE, on the nose & even blocking back in short yardage. Tyson Jackson can't even get on the field, he had just 19 tackles in 16 games. I watched this kid, all 6' 4" 296-lb of him, get rocked snap after snap by a no-name defensive lineman playing offensive tackle because of injuries at training camp. Jackson couldn't move him nor could he stand his ground when the play was coming his way, he just got shoved out of the way. I didn't like this pick when Scott Pioli made it & now it looks like Jackson is going to be a big friggin' bust. have any of you watched former Mizzou Tiger Ziggy Hood playing for Pittsburgh? He's been a monster. He was drafted 29 spots lower than Jackson. Wallace Gilberry isn't an every down player at 265-pounds, but he was the team's 2nd leading sacker with 7 & he should continue to make an impact in passing situations. Pioli's goal at this position is someone as non-stop & productive as Dorsey & then Gilberry on passing downs. Bet some of you never thought you'd hear me say "someone as non-stop & productive as Dorsey." Hey, when I'm proven wrong, I'm wrong, I'll admit it. Would I rather have Richard Seymour or someone of his size & production? Hell yes, but 2 DE's like Glenn Dorsey will be just fine.
Nose Tackle isn't s strength either. Ron Edwards is the starter, but he doesn't swallow up enough blockers down after down. That's the goal of a good nose tackle, a double team block on at least 75% of the offensive snaps. He has to keep blockers off the inside linebackers. Edwards just doesn't do that often enough. Shaun Smith spells Edwards, but he's not a starter, he's a decent swing man, but not the answer. Anthony Toribio is also on the 53-man roster tho he never was active for a game. Three of the four teams left in the Super Bowl tournament play the 3-4 defense, all are 2-deep at this very important position. Drafting a starting nose tackle is imperative to the continued improvement of this defense.
Inside Linebacker was much improved this season, but to become one of the league's elite defenses, one more difference maker would certainly help. Derrick Johnson is set, he played at a very high level this season leading the team in tackles & tackles for loss. A better nose tackle working as a space-eater would make the inside LB's even better. Jovan Belcher is adequate for now, but ideally he would be better suited for a back-up spot. Demorrio Williams is an adequate back-up & played very well on special teams. Corey Mays didn't do much of anything this year & I would be surprised if he makes the team next season.
Outside Linebacker is a good news/bad news kind of story. Tamba Hali is becoming one of the league's most feared pass rushers, he isn't much in coverage, but like Derrick Thomas, he's rushing the passer 95% of the time, not dropping in coverage. Mike Vrabel started on the left side but he's at the end of his career, maybe one more season, but not as a starter. The Chiefs need a bookend to Hali, someone who can get at least 7-8 sacks. Andy Studebaker looks like a good backup & a quality special teams player, but from what I've seen in his two seasons with the Chiefs, I don't think he's going to be that bookend. They drafted Cameron Sheffield out of Troy last year but he was placed on injured reserve during camp. So we really don't know what to expect out of him, but from what I saw of him in college, I doubt he'll make his mark as an edge rusher. This need is pretty high on my list along with wide receiver & offensive line.
Cornerback is settled with Flowers & Carr. They were a little shaky transitioning to a defensive scheme that is mainly man-to-man coverage on the perimeter. Javier Arenas was drafted to be the punt returner & nickel back. he was somewhat of a disappointment at both. He got turned around too much for a kid who started four seasons at Alabama. I saw him play maybe 30 times before Kansas City drafted him & I have to say I hope he kicks it in beginning next season, because he wasn't as advertised this year. I'm not high on any of the depth so I'd like to see another CB taken in the first four rounds if possible.
Safety play was dramatically improved with rookies Eric Berry & Kendrick Lewis. I watched this pair a lot in training camp. I loved how Lewis could close on the ball so quickly. He's a decent, but not great tackler. Berry however is an exceptional tackler with excellent instincts, especially in run support. He wasn't fooled as often in the season's 2nd half, but he still makes too many false steps. Berry is a smart kid, he'll get it. Jon McGraw has become a liability in the secondary & I didn't see much from him on special teams, a strong part of his game for years. So he might be shown the door. Both of the undrafted rookies, Reshard Langford & Ricky Price show promise, so this position is pretty solid for the immediate future.
So where does this leave Kansas City's defense? They'll need a lot of improvement to equal last season's 10-win record. The schedule is much harder & Romeo Crennell will need to get even more out of his players. Drafting two players fairly high(Rnds 1-3) from the need list of defensive end, nose tackle & outside linebacker would be a great move if the players fall right. This draft looks for now to be heavy on the defensive side, so if they are to get a wide receiver & offensive line help they might have to pull the trigger early on, then see the rest of the draft swing to the defensive side.
An overall look at What the Future will Hold for Chiefs' Fans will come tomorrow.
One more note from the Seahawk-Bears' game, tight end John Carlson & cornerback Marcus Trufant, both sustaining concussions yesterday returned to Seattle today after spending the night in a Chicago hospital. Both have full use of their extremities.
Comments