2bikemike
12-19-2004, 01:33 AM
WHO SHOULD GET THE HOOK?
Defense might make you want to start over
By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star
I n their innermost thoughts, far away from the inquisitive public, the Chiefs might be thinking just like you are when it comes to their defensive players.
Fire them all. Start over from scratch.
Clearly, the plan to bring everyone back and ask a miracle of new coordinator Gunther Cunningham was a failure. All that did was ruin another potentially promising season.
But the Chiefs would never admit to that, and here's why: Dumping everybody is not going to happen. In their world, one filled with salary caps and long-term contracts complicated by fat signing bonuses, dreams must be tempered with reason.
They are going to have to pick and choose the players who are keepers and those who are trash. They also must hope their decisions are wiser than those of last year, when they re-signed five key defensive players.
The backdrop is this cautionary note from president/general manager Carl Peterson, who indicated last week that there will be no massive personnel overhaul once this disappointing season is finished.
Change, Peterson said, will involve scheme more than players.
“We can't step away from our collective decision last year to re-sign those players,” Peterson said. “Those signings included signing and option bonuses. When you do that, then you've got to coach them and make them better. In re-signing them, we weren't just looking at this year. We were looking at a two-year window.
“When you make decisions in free agency, whether it's with your own players or other players, you can't just wash them out in the first year. It's too expensive, cap-wise and cash-wise. It's at least a two-year decision and sometimes three years, depending on what type of investment you make in the player.
“We have to coach them in a way that accentuates their pluses and doesn't accentuate their negatives. That's what coaching and personnel is all about, making the pieces fit.”But the Chiefs also harbor no illusions that next year's defensive lineup will be identical to the one they use in today's game against Denver at Arrowhead Stadium. That thought could make more people cry than just coach Dick Vermeil.
No, there will be some changes. Here's how the Chiefs might — or at least should — go about it.
Defensive line
Thanks to a massive investment of recent draft picks and the nice free-agent addition of Lional Dalton, this is the Chiefs' deepest defensive position group. All the key players could return.
There isn't a line position where the Chiefs couldn't use an upgrade, but they have played far better up front this season than last. They don't get whipped physically nearly as frequently.
Peterson, at least, believes that the line is good enough for the Chiefs to win with it. Rookie Jared Allen, the team leader in sacks, has been a find and should continue to improve as he gets stronger.
John Browning and Eric Hicks are solid, if not spectacular, players. Dalton, from down to down, may be their best defensive player.
Ryan Sims clearly hasn't been worth the Chiefs' investment in him, the sixth pick in the 2002 draft. Many times, he hasn't been worth anything close to it.
“The guy on that defense that jumps out as disappointing is Sims,” said former Browns and Rams scout Russ Lande, who now runs an Internet scouting site at gmjr.com.
“I just don't see him impacting any games. He's probably not playing well enough to where you want him to be a starter.”
The Chiefs are still better off sticking with Sims. Their chance is slim of finding a tackle more potentially disruptive.
“He's clearly a good enough athlete, and you don't want to give up on him too quickly because, physically, it's all there,” Lande said.
Overall, it's probably best for the Chiefs to leave their line alone. More pressing problems lie beyond.
Linebackers
From poor tackling to questionable instincts, the Chiefs suffered dearly with their play from this group.
“I can't tell you right now whether that's because of a lack of skill or a change in scheme and philosophy,” Peterson said.
Either way, the Chiefs will need at least one new starter, possibly more, depending on how quickly Shawn Barber heals from last month's knee injury that ended his season. The Chiefs hope Barber will be ready for next season.
Barber hasn't been worth the massive investment the Chiefs made in him last year, but he's certainly worth salvaging.
“He's their only game-changer at linebacker,” Lande said. “He's their best defensive player when he's healthy.”
The Chiefs paid for Kawika Mitchell's slow rate of development at middle linebacker. Mitchell, last year's second-round draft pick, showed little instinct and an inability to shed blockers. He also missed too many tackles.
They can't afford to wait for Mitchell any longer.
The Chiefs are planning on Mike Maslowski's return next year after he missed a season and a half because of knee ailments. They missed Maslowski last year. Their defensive play went from acceptable to horrible after his injury.
But Cunningham's system puts a premium on speed and range. Maslowski has good instincts and is a hard hitter and sure tackler, but he has neither speed nor range. There is no guarantee he will succeed in Cunningham's system.
The other outside linebacker, Scott Fujita, hasn't made enough plays to keep his job if a better alternative comes along.
Secondary
The play of safeties Jerome Woods and Greg Wesley might be the most puzzling of any individuals. Woods was a Pro Bowler last season, and Wesley could have been.
Neither resembles a Pro Bowler this season. From blown coverages to a lack of range, it's been a lost year for both.
That doesn't necessarily mean the Chiefs should be in the market for new safeties. Each player was a star for Cunningham during his previous time with the Chiefs. Each is fully capable of bouncing back next season.
“They haven't played that way this year, but I've always liked Woods and Wesley,” Lande said. “I always thought you could win with them if you had the proper talent around them.”
Vermeil last week indicated that the Chiefs were asking cornerbacks Eric Warfield, Dexter McCleon and William Bartee to play a bump-and-run, press coverage style they can't play well.
Warfield was penalized too often this season for holding and illegal contact and is still inconsistent. But he's worth keeping. McCleon was better suited to Greg Robinson's system, which featured more zone coverage. Bartee should be out of chances by now.
To reach Adam Teicher,
Chiefs reporter for The Star,
:cuss: :banghead: :cuss:
Don't look for any big changes.
:banghead: :cuss: :banghead:
Defense might make you want to start over
By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star
I n their innermost thoughts, far away from the inquisitive public, the Chiefs might be thinking just like you are when it comes to their defensive players.
Fire them all. Start over from scratch.
Clearly, the plan to bring everyone back and ask a miracle of new coordinator Gunther Cunningham was a failure. All that did was ruin another potentially promising season.
But the Chiefs would never admit to that, and here's why: Dumping everybody is not going to happen. In their world, one filled with salary caps and long-term contracts complicated by fat signing bonuses, dreams must be tempered with reason.
They are going to have to pick and choose the players who are keepers and those who are trash. They also must hope their decisions are wiser than those of last year, when they re-signed five key defensive players.
The backdrop is this cautionary note from president/general manager Carl Peterson, who indicated last week that there will be no massive personnel overhaul once this disappointing season is finished.
Change, Peterson said, will involve scheme more than players.
“We can't step away from our collective decision last year to re-sign those players,” Peterson said. “Those signings included signing and option bonuses. When you do that, then you've got to coach them and make them better. In re-signing them, we weren't just looking at this year. We were looking at a two-year window.
“When you make decisions in free agency, whether it's with your own players or other players, you can't just wash them out in the first year. It's too expensive, cap-wise and cash-wise. It's at least a two-year decision and sometimes three years, depending on what type of investment you make in the player.
“We have to coach them in a way that accentuates their pluses and doesn't accentuate their negatives. That's what coaching and personnel is all about, making the pieces fit.”But the Chiefs also harbor no illusions that next year's defensive lineup will be identical to the one they use in today's game against Denver at Arrowhead Stadium. That thought could make more people cry than just coach Dick Vermeil.
No, there will be some changes. Here's how the Chiefs might — or at least should — go about it.
Defensive line
Thanks to a massive investment of recent draft picks and the nice free-agent addition of Lional Dalton, this is the Chiefs' deepest defensive position group. All the key players could return.
There isn't a line position where the Chiefs couldn't use an upgrade, but they have played far better up front this season than last. They don't get whipped physically nearly as frequently.
Peterson, at least, believes that the line is good enough for the Chiefs to win with it. Rookie Jared Allen, the team leader in sacks, has been a find and should continue to improve as he gets stronger.
John Browning and Eric Hicks are solid, if not spectacular, players. Dalton, from down to down, may be their best defensive player.
Ryan Sims clearly hasn't been worth the Chiefs' investment in him, the sixth pick in the 2002 draft. Many times, he hasn't been worth anything close to it.
“The guy on that defense that jumps out as disappointing is Sims,” said former Browns and Rams scout Russ Lande, who now runs an Internet scouting site at gmjr.com.
“I just don't see him impacting any games. He's probably not playing well enough to where you want him to be a starter.”
The Chiefs are still better off sticking with Sims. Their chance is slim of finding a tackle more potentially disruptive.
“He's clearly a good enough athlete, and you don't want to give up on him too quickly because, physically, it's all there,” Lande said.
Overall, it's probably best for the Chiefs to leave their line alone. More pressing problems lie beyond.
Linebackers
From poor tackling to questionable instincts, the Chiefs suffered dearly with their play from this group.
“I can't tell you right now whether that's because of a lack of skill or a change in scheme and philosophy,” Peterson said.
Either way, the Chiefs will need at least one new starter, possibly more, depending on how quickly Shawn Barber heals from last month's knee injury that ended his season. The Chiefs hope Barber will be ready for next season.
Barber hasn't been worth the massive investment the Chiefs made in him last year, but he's certainly worth salvaging.
“He's their only game-changer at linebacker,” Lande said. “He's their best defensive player when he's healthy.”
The Chiefs paid for Kawika Mitchell's slow rate of development at middle linebacker. Mitchell, last year's second-round draft pick, showed little instinct and an inability to shed blockers. He also missed too many tackles.
They can't afford to wait for Mitchell any longer.
The Chiefs are planning on Mike Maslowski's return next year after he missed a season and a half because of knee ailments. They missed Maslowski last year. Their defensive play went from acceptable to horrible after his injury.
But Cunningham's system puts a premium on speed and range. Maslowski has good instincts and is a hard hitter and sure tackler, but he has neither speed nor range. There is no guarantee he will succeed in Cunningham's system.
The other outside linebacker, Scott Fujita, hasn't made enough plays to keep his job if a better alternative comes along.
Secondary
The play of safeties Jerome Woods and Greg Wesley might be the most puzzling of any individuals. Woods was a Pro Bowler last season, and Wesley could have been.
Neither resembles a Pro Bowler this season. From blown coverages to a lack of range, it's been a lost year for both.
That doesn't necessarily mean the Chiefs should be in the market for new safeties. Each player was a star for Cunningham during his previous time with the Chiefs. Each is fully capable of bouncing back next season.
“They haven't played that way this year, but I've always liked Woods and Wesley,” Lande said. “I always thought you could win with them if you had the proper talent around them.”
Vermeil last week indicated that the Chiefs were asking cornerbacks Eric Warfield, Dexter McCleon and William Bartee to play a bump-and-run, press coverage style they can't play well.
Warfield was penalized too often this season for holding and illegal contact and is still inconsistent. But he's worth keeping. McCleon was better suited to Greg Robinson's system, which featured more zone coverage. Bartee should be out of chances by now.
To reach Adam Teicher,
Chiefs reporter for The Star,
:cuss: :banghead: :cuss:
Don't look for any big changes.
:banghead: :cuss: :banghead: