Coach
12-05-2005, 07:17 PM
I haven't seen this posted. If a repost, my apologies.
Defense is in good hands with Mitchell
By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star
Every day, Kawika Mitchell does ball drills at practice. He says he’s dropped at least four interceptions this year.
“It bothers me,” said Mitchell, the Chiefs’ middle linebacker.
Consider Sunday some temporary relief for Mitchell. He did something very few defensive players have done this year — he picked off a pass from Jake Plummer. At the start of the third quarter, he stepped in front of Rod Smith and intercepted Plummer’s pass up the middle.
It was Mitchell’s first interception of the season and Plummer’s sixth pick.
Mitchell has had his share of fits with Plummer and the bootleg over the years, but the man who went from whipping boy to coaches’ pet looked forward to Sunday’s challenge. He said he had a positive attitude. He said he wanted to dominate.
“I always look to make that big play,” Mitchell said. “I expect to make that big play. When I don’t, it’s a letdown.”
Mitchell finished with a team-high eight tackles Sunday, and the defense held Denver’s prolific offense to six points in the second half.
Defensive end Jared Allen said Mitchell’s biggest play may have come with 2:55 to play, when Plummer hit Kyle Johnson for a short pass on third and 3 at the Denver 45. Mitchell stopped Johnson after a 2-yard gain. It set up the final defensive stand, when Mike Anderson was stuffed on fourth and 1.
“We have more talent, and it’s well-coached, and they’re more mature than they have been in the past,” coach Dick Vermeil said. “Some of those guys who made mistakes in the past don’t make them anymore. Like Kawika Mitchell gets that interception. Everybody was madder than hell at Kawika Mitchell for being a middle linebacker when the running backs made all those long runs against us.
“Now he’s not a young kid anymore. He’s an experienced middle linebacker.”
After getting an earful from the coaches in his first two seasons, Mitchell appreciates the praise. But he still wishes he had those four other interceptions.
“I don’t really deserve credit until the season’s over,” Mitchell said. “Because I want to make sure the team does a good job, goes to the playoffs and wins a lot of games so we can go to the Super Bowl.
“I appreciate the credit, but I’ve got a lot of good people around me to make it easy.”
Defense is in good hands with Mitchell
By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star
Every day, Kawika Mitchell does ball drills at practice. He says he’s dropped at least four interceptions this year.
“It bothers me,” said Mitchell, the Chiefs’ middle linebacker.
Consider Sunday some temporary relief for Mitchell. He did something very few defensive players have done this year — he picked off a pass from Jake Plummer. At the start of the third quarter, he stepped in front of Rod Smith and intercepted Plummer’s pass up the middle.
It was Mitchell’s first interception of the season and Plummer’s sixth pick.
Mitchell has had his share of fits with Plummer and the bootleg over the years, but the man who went from whipping boy to coaches’ pet looked forward to Sunday’s challenge. He said he had a positive attitude. He said he wanted to dominate.
“I always look to make that big play,” Mitchell said. “I expect to make that big play. When I don’t, it’s a letdown.”
Mitchell finished with a team-high eight tackles Sunday, and the defense held Denver’s prolific offense to six points in the second half.
Defensive end Jared Allen said Mitchell’s biggest play may have come with 2:55 to play, when Plummer hit Kyle Johnson for a short pass on third and 3 at the Denver 45. Mitchell stopped Johnson after a 2-yard gain. It set up the final defensive stand, when Mike Anderson was stuffed on fourth and 1.
“We have more talent, and it’s well-coached, and they’re more mature than they have been in the past,” coach Dick Vermeil said. “Some of those guys who made mistakes in the past don’t make them anymore. Like Kawika Mitchell gets that interception. Everybody was madder than hell at Kawika Mitchell for being a middle linebacker when the running backs made all those long runs against us.
“Now he’s not a young kid anymore. He’s an experienced middle linebacker.”
After getting an earful from the coaches in his first two seasons, Mitchell appreciates the praise. But he still wishes he had those four other interceptions.
“I don’t really deserve credit until the season’s over,” Mitchell said. “Because I want to make sure the team does a good job, goes to the playoffs and wins a lot of games so we can go to the Super Bowl.
“I appreciate the credit, but I’ve got a lot of good people around me to make it easy.”