Tribal Warfare
09-26-2010, 10:09 PM
Chiefs rediscover pass rush against 49ers (http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/26/2252911/chiefs-rediscover-pass-rush-against.html)
By TOD PALMER
The Kansas City Star
Two seasons ago, Kansas City’s defense set a dubious NFL record with only 10 sacks — which made last year’s 22-sack output seem impressive.
Of course, it did little to mask that the Chiefs still struggled mightily to get after the quarterback. Only Jacksonville, which had 14 sacks, was worse than Kansas City last season.
That’s why the Chiefs’ five-sack effort was as surprising as it was welcome in Sunday’s 31-10 win over San Francisco.
“They did a great, great job getting to the quarterback,” cornerback Brandon Flowers said.
Linebacker Tamba Hali set the tone for the second half on the 49ers’ first play from scrimmage, dropping Alex Smith for a 5-yard loss. Hali added another sack midway through the third quarter and tied a career high with his third sack in the game’s closing minutes.
Nose tackle Ron Edwards burst up the gut midway through the fourth quarter, tossing aside San Francisco offensive linemen like schoolchildren for a 9-yard sack that helped set up field position for Kansas City’s final touchdown.
It was the most sacks the Chiefs had managed since trading Jared Allen after the 2007 season. The last time Kansas City had five sacks in a game was against Minnesota on Sept. 23, 2007 — a span of 49 games.
Perhaps more telling than the sack total was that the Chiefs hurried Smith on nine other occasions and even managed to pressure him with only a three-man rush several times.
“We were able to put some guys in favorable situations and take advantage of a few key matchups,” said linebacker Jovan Belcher, who led Kansas City with 10 tackles. “The guys produced results.”
Much of the credit, however, should go to the run defense, which limited San Francisco to 43 yards and a paltry 2.9-yard average.
“We’re emphasizing playing hard every play,” defensive end Shaun Smith said. “Every time we step on the field, we’re trying to make plays and cause havoc up front.”
It’s working, and Flowers said it’s making life easier on the secondary as well.
“We had a plan, and it worked out that we were able to get off a couple of blocks and get some sacks,” coach Todd Haley said. “I know the guys are excited about that, but the way we’re trying to do things does not revolve around sacks.”
Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean the sacks aren’t a positive sign for a Chiefs team that won only 10 games in the previous three seasons.
“It feels good to be on this side of it,” defensive end Glenn Dorsey said of the 3-0 start. “Guys are buying into it and we’re seeing all the hard work that we’re doing in practice is working (in games). That’s making us more eager to keep at it.”
After a bye week, the road gets tougher for the Chiefs, who will face Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.
“(Manning) prides himself on having time and picking defenses apart, so if you get pressure to him, then he doesn’t have all day to see his routes develop,” Flowers said. “We need that front seven to show up like they’ve been doing all season.”
By TOD PALMER
The Kansas City Star
Two seasons ago, Kansas City’s defense set a dubious NFL record with only 10 sacks — which made last year’s 22-sack output seem impressive.
Of course, it did little to mask that the Chiefs still struggled mightily to get after the quarterback. Only Jacksonville, which had 14 sacks, was worse than Kansas City last season.
That’s why the Chiefs’ five-sack effort was as surprising as it was welcome in Sunday’s 31-10 win over San Francisco.
“They did a great, great job getting to the quarterback,” cornerback Brandon Flowers said.
Linebacker Tamba Hali set the tone for the second half on the 49ers’ first play from scrimmage, dropping Alex Smith for a 5-yard loss. Hali added another sack midway through the third quarter and tied a career high with his third sack in the game’s closing minutes.
Nose tackle Ron Edwards burst up the gut midway through the fourth quarter, tossing aside San Francisco offensive linemen like schoolchildren for a 9-yard sack that helped set up field position for Kansas City’s final touchdown.
It was the most sacks the Chiefs had managed since trading Jared Allen after the 2007 season. The last time Kansas City had five sacks in a game was against Minnesota on Sept. 23, 2007 — a span of 49 games.
Perhaps more telling than the sack total was that the Chiefs hurried Smith on nine other occasions and even managed to pressure him with only a three-man rush several times.
“We were able to put some guys in favorable situations and take advantage of a few key matchups,” said linebacker Jovan Belcher, who led Kansas City with 10 tackles. “The guys produced results.”
Much of the credit, however, should go to the run defense, which limited San Francisco to 43 yards and a paltry 2.9-yard average.
“We’re emphasizing playing hard every play,” defensive end Shaun Smith said. “Every time we step on the field, we’re trying to make plays and cause havoc up front.”
It’s working, and Flowers said it’s making life easier on the secondary as well.
“We had a plan, and it worked out that we were able to get off a couple of blocks and get some sacks,” coach Todd Haley said. “I know the guys are excited about that, but the way we’re trying to do things does not revolve around sacks.”
Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean the sacks aren’t a positive sign for a Chiefs team that won only 10 games in the previous three seasons.
“It feels good to be on this side of it,” defensive end Glenn Dorsey said of the 3-0 start. “Guys are buying into it and we’re seeing all the hard work that we’re doing in practice is working (in games). That’s making us more eager to keep at it.”
After a bye week, the road gets tougher for the Chiefs, who will face Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.
“(Manning) prides himself on having time and picking defenses apart, so if you get pressure to him, then he doesn’t have all day to see his routes develop,” Flowers said. “We need that front seven to show up like they’ve been doing all season.”