Tribal Warfare
06-13-2010, 10:30 PM
Haley counting on linebackers to improve (http://www.kansascity.com/2010/06/13/2015261/haley-counting-on-linebackers.html)
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
Todd Haley was trying to think of something Sunday that encouraged him about last year’s group of linebackers. It was one of the Chiefs’ most glaring weaknesses at a particularly important position, and the many transitions that Haley and his assistants required didn’t always translate into pretty play.
“One of the hardest-working groups,” Haley said finally. “They busted their butts.”
That’s like saying a blind date had a terrific personality. The Chiefs’ linebackers were unimpressive most times, lacking talent, confidence, chemistry and experience. And it often showed.
Derrick Johnson struggled with injuries and confusion as to why he was demoted from the starting lineup. Tamba Hali, a converted defensive end, proved he was still a promising pass rusher but showed his inexperience in coverage and occasionally forgot his assignments. Corey Mays filled in after Zach Thomas was cut during the preseason and was solid but hardly spectacular. The linebacker most familiar with the 3-4 scheme, Mike Vrabel, turned 34 before the season and began to show some signs of slowing.
On and on it went, and Haley admitted Sunday that this year’s group of linebackers must avoid individual shortcomings, because too often in 2009 they became team-wide concerns.
“If one guy doesn’t do his job, that’s a problem,” Haley said. “They have to understand that they have to be doing their job, and then it comes down to: Can they do it well enough? Do they have the talent to do it well enough, to be part of a really good defense?”
Because the Chiefs will play this season with mostly the same linebacker personnel as in 2009, the team has a good idea of its skill potential. Kansas City drafted Cameron Sheffield in the fifth round, but despite the need, the linebacker position has so far gone largely untouched. Now the Chiefs have to count on comfort, improved experience and maybe luck to overcome a roster that lacks intimidating names. Haley said there’s not much room for error regarding the linebackers, and whether it’s karma or clean living that attracts it, Kansas City needs some things to go its way.
“It’s a learning curve,” Haley said. “They must improve.”
Few players endured as steep a learning curve last season as outside linebackers Hali and Andy Studebaker, both of whom moved from end. Hali has said he wasn’t proud of his first months in the new position, but his team-high 8 ½ sacks helped overshadow his deficiencies.
Studebaker said Sunday that he decided early to stay close to Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls with New England and played outside linebacker for years in the 3-4. Studebaker asked Vrabel for tips and advice, and the veteran was glad to share them. After a while, what once looked like a grueling transition became second nature, helping him grab two interceptions in an unlikely win against Pittsburgh.
“It’s like learning a language when you’re a little kid,” Studebaker said. “You don’t remember when you started learning it, but all you know is you’re able to do it.”
For months last season, it didn’t seem as if Johnson and the Chiefs’ coaches were speaking the same language. Johnson, a former first-round pick, was benched during the preseason and didn’t regain his starting job. The team doubted then that Johnson was practicing with maximum effort, and by the time he got the message, Demorrio Williams had a grip on what used to be Johnson’s job at inside linebacker.
A year later, things have changed. Johnson has been practicing recently with the first-team defense, though Haley has said the depth chart is hardly decided.
“He’s invested fully. He’s been in here. He’s stepped it up,” Haley said of Johnson. “He knows he has to be better for us to be better.”
So there are plenty of things that the Chiefs are uncertain about, regardless of the promising signs through the offseason. Haley said the team would take some good fortune when it came to its linebackers, anything that helps an unreliable unit take a step toward being dependable.
“We need things to go right,” Haley said. “You can’t fix everything from outside. You’ve got to develop, and guys have to get better.”
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
Todd Haley was trying to think of something Sunday that encouraged him about last year’s group of linebackers. It was one of the Chiefs’ most glaring weaknesses at a particularly important position, and the many transitions that Haley and his assistants required didn’t always translate into pretty play.
“One of the hardest-working groups,” Haley said finally. “They busted their butts.”
That’s like saying a blind date had a terrific personality. The Chiefs’ linebackers were unimpressive most times, lacking talent, confidence, chemistry and experience. And it often showed.
Derrick Johnson struggled with injuries and confusion as to why he was demoted from the starting lineup. Tamba Hali, a converted defensive end, proved he was still a promising pass rusher but showed his inexperience in coverage and occasionally forgot his assignments. Corey Mays filled in after Zach Thomas was cut during the preseason and was solid but hardly spectacular. The linebacker most familiar with the 3-4 scheme, Mike Vrabel, turned 34 before the season and began to show some signs of slowing.
On and on it went, and Haley admitted Sunday that this year’s group of linebackers must avoid individual shortcomings, because too often in 2009 they became team-wide concerns.
“If one guy doesn’t do his job, that’s a problem,” Haley said. “They have to understand that they have to be doing their job, and then it comes down to: Can they do it well enough? Do they have the talent to do it well enough, to be part of a really good defense?”
Because the Chiefs will play this season with mostly the same linebacker personnel as in 2009, the team has a good idea of its skill potential. Kansas City drafted Cameron Sheffield in the fifth round, but despite the need, the linebacker position has so far gone largely untouched. Now the Chiefs have to count on comfort, improved experience and maybe luck to overcome a roster that lacks intimidating names. Haley said there’s not much room for error regarding the linebackers, and whether it’s karma or clean living that attracts it, Kansas City needs some things to go its way.
“It’s a learning curve,” Haley said. “They must improve.”
Few players endured as steep a learning curve last season as outside linebackers Hali and Andy Studebaker, both of whom moved from end. Hali has said he wasn’t proud of his first months in the new position, but his team-high 8 ½ sacks helped overshadow his deficiencies.
Studebaker said Sunday that he decided early to stay close to Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls with New England and played outside linebacker for years in the 3-4. Studebaker asked Vrabel for tips and advice, and the veteran was glad to share them. After a while, what once looked like a grueling transition became second nature, helping him grab two interceptions in an unlikely win against Pittsburgh.
“It’s like learning a language when you’re a little kid,” Studebaker said. “You don’t remember when you started learning it, but all you know is you’re able to do it.”
For months last season, it didn’t seem as if Johnson and the Chiefs’ coaches were speaking the same language. Johnson, a former first-round pick, was benched during the preseason and didn’t regain his starting job. The team doubted then that Johnson was practicing with maximum effort, and by the time he got the message, Demorrio Williams had a grip on what used to be Johnson’s job at inside linebacker.
A year later, things have changed. Johnson has been practicing recently with the first-team defense, though Haley has said the depth chart is hardly decided.
“He’s invested fully. He’s been in here. He’s stepped it up,” Haley said of Johnson. “He knows he has to be better for us to be better.”
So there are plenty of things that the Chiefs are uncertain about, regardless of the promising signs through the offseason. Haley said the team would take some good fortune when it came to its linebackers, anything that helps an unreliable unit take a step toward being dependable.
“We need things to go right,” Haley said. “You can’t fix everything from outside. You’ve got to develop, and guys have to get better.”