Q&A De Carlos Hall

[Wile_E_Coyote]

Aug 05, 2005, 3:02:57 PM



TRAINING CAMP


Q: How is the defense coming together thus far?

HALL: “It’s going pretty good, everybody is going forward. I can tell you that for sure. I’m glad to be here, this is the same type of defense, so as far as learning defense schemes there is no problem, I’m just glad to be a part. It’s going pretty well.”

Q: How you describe the differences between you and DE Jared Allen?

HALL: “Jared (Allen) rushes with a lot of power. He’s pretty aggressive. I am aggressive, but I try and use a lot of speed to be productive. That is what I try and bring to the team with the cornerbacks we’ve got and the interior D-linemen that we have, we should have a pretty good pass rushing team. We have a lot of speed on defense.”

Q: How important is it for you guys to get the job done to help those cornerbacks out?

HALL: “It’s very important, it works hand in hand. Everybody works together. D-line works with the cornerbacks and linebackers are right there controlling the field. The more push we get, the faster we get to the quarterback, then I feel like we did a good job in the secondary.”

Q: What are your first impressions of Derrick Johnson?

HALL: “He hits the hole like Ray Lewis. I know that seriously, no bull. He hits the holes real hard. He fills the gap. He’s one guy that is not afraid to come down and fill up the hole. He’s not afraid to hit. He’s not afraid of contact. You want a linebacker like that and we have one.”

Q: Did you ever play with anyone with speed like him before?

HALL: “I played with Keith Bulluck. Keith Bulluck is a great player, but Derrick Johnson looks like he is way faster than Keith. So it’s going to be a great to see.”

Q: Do you like being back with Gunther after working with him in Tennessee?

HALL: “I love it. He’s real aggressive, I am aggressive. He has an aggressive defense. It works perfect for me. I am glad to play under Gunther. He’s a great guy, great coach. Couldn’t have been in a better position.”

Q: Is he the reason you are here in Kansas City?

HALL: “For the most part, yeah. For the aggressiveness of the defense. He’s a great guy. I looked at a lot of film and these guys were down in the bottom of the defense last year. But you guys can see it, we’re turning it around and everybody is excited. We’re looking forward to having a great year on defense.”

[Wile_E_Coyote]

RIVER FALLS WRAP: Day Nine

Aug 05, 2005, 2:14:17 PM



By Brad Kuhbander

News and Notes:
- The Chiefs returned to practice on Friday morning after enjoying a well-deserved day off on Thursday. After meetings on Wednesday evening the players were free to go and were not due back until curfew on Thursday night. Some took the opportunity to catch a movie at a local theater while others were joined by their families for a day of fun in Minneapolis, while others used Thursday simply as a day of rest.

“Like I told them: days off and vacation have one thing in common,” head coach Dick Vermeil said. “They come to an end and you have to go back to work. They did. It took them a little while. It takes a while to get their motors running again, but they did a good job.”

- The linebacking corps has been a position of interest since the opening of training camp and featured some personnel movement on Friday. First-round draft choice LB Derrick Johnson moved into the starting lineup on the right side. LB Keyaron Fox, who had been running with the first string, moved over to the right side to get some reps at that position.

“We want him to be able to play both, so he has to work at both,” Vermeil said of Fox. “We can’t say what game during the year someone might not be able to play. If he’s not starting he’s got to be able to play more than one spot. We’ll do that with some other linebackers as well. But he’s been in the system long enough now and through the off-season program so it’s not confusing to him.”

- The Chiefs will play their first preseason game next Friday, August 12th when the Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings preseason television crew was in town to observe the Friday morning preparation for the contest. FOX play-by-play man, Curt Menefee was joined at practice by former Philadelphia and Dallas guard Brian Baldinger, who provides color analysis for FOX and the Vikings preseason TV package.

Play of the Day:
In training camp the young players have to take advantage of the limited reps they receive in practice. The best way to accomplish that goal is to end practice with an impressive play on the final snap. That is what happened on Friday morning. QB James Kilian took the snap from center and patiently waited for his receivers to break open downfield. He threaded a perfectly-thrown 30-yard pass to WR John Booth down the middle of the seam. Booth caught the pass between four defenders and was able to hang on despite getting hit.

Position Analysis: Right Tackle
The Chiefs feature three Pro Bowlers along the offensive line and four of the five linemen have all started at least 48 consecutive games with the club. Entering camp, the Chiefs were settled on the starters for four positions with right tackle being the only spot up for grabs. Kevin
Sampson and Jordan Black have each stepped to the forefront and are the top candidates to fill the right tackle post. Black has also taken snaps at left tackle during training camp.

Black enters his third season with the Chiefs after originally joining the club as a fifth-round selection (153rd overall) in 2003. He played in all 16 games a year ago and started the final four contests at right tackle. The Notre Dame product moved into the lineup in place of an injured T Chris Bober on Monday Night Football at Tennessee (12/13/04) despite taking limited reps there throughout the season.

Sampson entered training camp as the club’s second right tackle, but quickly started taking reps with the first team and has not relinquished the that role. Sampson saw duty in four games in 2004 and played the entire second half at right tackle at San Diego (1/2/05) in place of an injured Black. The physical blocker possesses the experience to play both tackle positions and learned how to play at the NFL level working behind 10-time Pro Bowler Willie Roaf at left tackle last year as a rookie.

“Our right tackle today would be (Kevin) Sampson,” head coach Dick Vermeil said. “He’s done a good job. You know, there’s no substitute for toughness and determination and he’s got a lot of that. He’s a pretty good football player. All he does is get better.”

Training Campfire Stories: Today’s 15th anniversary story from River Falls relates to the support the Chiefs receive from this small Wisconsin town. Training camp takes numerous volunteers to make it run successfully and the people of River Falls turnout in droves to help with the process. The relationship between the Chiefs staff and the volunteers doesn’t end when camp concludes.

Anytime you walk around the campus you are greeted by somebody from River Falls who is always willing to help out and point you in the right direction. Whether it is a yellow-shirted security guard or a full-time college employee you can expect top-notch service.

The equipment and training room staffs also employ numerous River Falls students who are interested in entering the profession. The experience allows the aspiring workers to learn from the best staffs in the NFL and continue their education. Many of these students have left training camp and have gone on to work in the world of athletics on a full-time basis.

River Falls Weather:
Temperature: 81 degrees
Heat Index: 81 degrees

Kansas City Weather:
Temperature: 75 degrees
Heat index: 78 degrees

A Look Ahead: The Chiefs will practice twice on Saturday, including one session under the lights at Ramer Field. A full day of activities is planned for the Chiefs annual Family Fun Night on Saturday. The gates will open at 4:00 pm (CT) and the admission is $6 person. The Indianhead Sport Parachute Club will arrive from the sky prior to practice and the entire team will be available for autographs. New this year is the Chiefs Experience. It features an obstacle and precision course, as well as field goal chip shot and pass catching stations.

Following a two-hour practice, Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil is scheduled to hand out trophies to the winners of the Punt, Pass and Kick competition. The evening will conclude with a fireworks display.

[Crush]

Originally Posted by Wile_E_Coyote

The Chiefs will play their first preseason game next Friday, August 12th when the Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Vikings.

This is going to be a slow week.

[TRing]

HALL: “He hits the hole like Ray Lewis. I know that seriously, no bull.

WHAT!!! Could it be?? Could it be!??

[beer bacon]

Originally Posted by TRing

HALL: “He hits the hole like Ray Lewis. I know that seriously, no bull.

WHAT!!! Could it be?? Could it be!??

He hits the hole hard, but as soon as he sees an O-linemen he curls up in a ball to avoid getting blocked.

[TRing]

I think that the reason he got tagged 'not willing to take on blocks' is because in college he could just run around the blockers and still make the play, so thats what he did. Nobody probably told him it would hurt his draft status. I don't see that being a problem at all.

[kc rush]

Originally Posted by beer bacon

He hits the hole hard, but as soon as he sees an O-linemen he curls up in a ball to avoid getting blocked.

Thanks for the info Merril Hodge

[Hydrae]

Sounds like between Black and Sampson we have a good chance of continuing to have an excellent O-Line for years to come.

[TRing]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Sounds like between Black and Sampson we have a good chance of continuing to have an excellent O-Line for years to come.

No kidding, is Solari that much of a beast at o-line coach

[bsp4444]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Sounds like between Black and Sampson we have a good chance of continuing to have an excellent O-Line for years to come.

I keep hearing how old the offense is, but if these two linemen can develop into anything close to what we have now, you add in a young Sammie Parker, Kris Wilson, Larry Johnson, I don't think we are as ancient as everyone else thinks.

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by TRing

HALL: “He hits the hole like Ray Lewis. I know that seriously, no bull.

WHAT!!! Could it be?? Could it be!??

Told you guys he played like Jack Ham and Jack Lambert

[TRing]

Just put my order in for my DJ jersey that i'll be wearing to the game Sept. 11th.

Sorry, i'm just so friggin' pumped!!

[beavis]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

Told you guys he played like Jack Ham and Jack Lambert

Geez, there is just way too much hype around DJ for my taste.

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by bsp4444

I keep hearing how old the offense is, but if these two linemen can develop into anything close to what we have now, you add in a young Sammie Parker, Kris Wilson, Larry Johnson, I don't think we are as ancient as everyone else thinks.

No doubt. Now if only we had a QBOTF somewhere close to the horizon I could rest easy.

[Chest Rockwell]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

No doubt. Now if only we had a QBOTF somewhere close to the horizon I could rest easy.

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