Chiefs Teicher: Johnson, Toribio and Lewis sit out Chiefs practice with injuries - Page 36

**Tribal Warfare** · 09-03-2012, 07:50 PM

Johnson, Toribio and Lewis sit out Chiefs practice with injuries
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
The Chiefs began their practice week Monday without four defensive starters, including their two Pro Bowl linebackers. They’re preparing to play against the Atlanta Falcons, who were seventh in the NFL in scoring last season, that could present a problem.

The situation could improve some by the time the Chiefs and Falcons open their seasons against one another on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. But even early in the week, things were far from ideal.

“You’d like to have all your guys all the time,” coach Romeo Crennel said. “But in this business you don’t have all of them all the time and so you have to depend on other guys to step up and do their part when they’re called on.”

Linebacker Derrick Johnson, nose tackle Anthony Toribio and free safety Kendrick Lewis didn’t go through team portions of practice. Johnson and Toribio have injured ankle, Lewis an injured shoulder.

Johnson, injured in the final preseason game against the Packers, appeared the most likely of the group to be ready for Sunday’s game.

“As long as I make progress every day, that’s the plan,” Johnson said when asked whether he would play against the Falcons. “I am a fast healer. Let’s hope that this week I can be even faster.”

The Chiefs’ other Pro Bowl linebacker, Tamha Hali, will not play against Atlanta. He is serving his one-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

Cornerback Brandon Flowers, who didn’t play in the preseason and hadn’t practiced for more than a month, was back to work Monday. But Flowers, who has what the Chiefs have called as bruised heel, said he didn’t know if he would play Sunday and suggested the decision might come down to day of the game.

“If I’m out there on Sunday, then that means I’m ready to go,” he said “We’ll know game day.”

For one day, at least, the Chiefs patched together a lineup that included backups in four spots. Cory Greenwood and Brandon Siler took turns at Johnson’s position. Rookie Dontari Poe is starting for Toribio and veteran Abe Elam for Lewis.

Andy Studebaker, Edgar Jones and Cameron Sheffield have been rotating in Hali’s spot.

“Particularly (in Hali’s spot), that’s what has to happen,” Crennel said. “We’ll have to rotate guys in there and we will during the course of the week and I expect all of them to step and to be able to produce. Now, are they going to produce the way Tamba is able to produce? Only time will tell that.”

All coaches have jitters the opening week of the season given the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Even before the injuries, suspension and resulting lineup changes, this would have been an anxious week for Crennel.

The Chiefs are one of the NFL’s youngest teams. They have five players who are 30 and they are the oldest. Heading into their ninth NFL seasons, guard Ryan Lilja and special teams player Terrance Copper have the most NFL experience.

“If you have a veteran team (with players) who have proven themselves and that you feel good about, I think you can be less anxious,” Crennel said. “I think everybody gets anxious when the season starts. But if you’ve got a veteran team and you’re solid all across the board, then I think you can be less anxious because you know what you have.

“(The Chiefs) have some young players who have to play and we all know that young players make mistakes. You don’t know how many mistakes they’re going to make or what a mistake might cost you during the course of the game. Some guys, when there are 70,000 or 80,000 in the stands and they know that it counts, they react differently. We’re going to have to see how all of that plays out.”

Adding to the mystery about how well the Chiefs will play on Sunday is their uneven preseason. The Chiefs went 1-3 with the starters playing well in the first and fourth games but not so in the middle two, when the defense was particularly disappointing.

Crennel said he takes comfort in the fact the Chiefs have gotten it done, even if not consistently.

“In the first preseason game, the way they executed in that game and then the last game, they showed they could execute at a good level,” he said. “So I think they gave us enough to feel good about going into the regular season.

“One of the things I wanted to do was to be able to say we could be solid and sound coming out of the last (preseason) game. I think from our play versus their first guys, we were solid and sound coming out of that game.”

Atlanta was also 1-3 in the exhibition season, losing to Baltimore, Cincinnati and Jacksonville while beating Miami. The Falcons made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, though they lost their playoff game each time.

“This is a good Atlanta team coming in,” Crennel said. “They have some skill on all sides of the ball, really. So we’re going to have to play our best to win.”

Black Bob · 09-06-2012, 12:19 PM

So no one has any comments about this?

Quote:

Despite riding the pine all of 2009, he still managed to find himself in the top 10 players who led the league in missed tackles over the last three years.

Quote:
Missed Tackles

Rank
Player
Snaps
Missed Tackles

1. Lance Briggs
3021
38

1. Geno Hayes
2563
38

3. DeAndre Levy
2430
37

4. Chad Greenway
3030
36

5.London Fletcher
3205
32

5. Curtis Lofton
2975
32

5.David Hawthorne
2628
32

8. James Anderson
2643
29

8.Rocky McIntosh
2335
29

10. Derrick O. Johnson
2447
28

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog...y-linebackers/

Micjones · 09-06-2012, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Yeah....but is Siler a better tackler than DJ?

Not sure.
Johnson certainly isn't a great tackler though.

**The Franchise** · 09-06-2012, 12:20 PM

Dude....that's already been discussed before in this thread. You aren't bringing up some new information.

You still haven't shown ANY EVIDENCE that Siler is a better tackler.

**The Franchise** · 09-06-2012, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Not sure.
Johnson certainly isn't a great tackler though.

No one has said that he is a great tackler. Dipshit over here is saying that Siler is a better tackler....but has yet to offer up ANY proof.

Micjones · 09-06-2012, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pestilence

No one has said that he is a great tackler. Dipshit over here is saying that Siler is a better tackler....but has yet to offer up ANY proof.

Gotcha.

Thanks for the update...

Now...

philfree · 09-06-2012, 12:23 PM

DJs was full go in practice today and Flowers was limited.

Black Bob · 09-06-2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Dude....that's already been discussed before in this thread. You aren't bringing up some new information.You still haven't shown ANY EVIDENCE that Siler is a better tackler.

No it hasn't. Quit dodging the question.

Why is DJ in the top 10 list of linebackers who have missed the most tackles over the past three years despite only being a 3rd down LB in 2009?

I gotta go now. See you later.

Black Bob · 09-06-2012, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Gotcha.

Thanks for the update...

Now...

The argument is that DJ is better than Siler in every phase of the game except tackling. Siler is a fundamentally better tackler. In my opinion.

Hammock Parties · 09-06-2012, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackBob

So no one has any comments about this?

No, because we're not talking about three years.

We're talking about Derrick Johnson, the player, in the present.

The closest reference is last year's Derrick Johnson, who missed 10 tackles in over 1,000 snaps.

He had the same missed tackle ratio as Ray ****ing Lewis.

So if you want to sit here and call DJ a poor tackler, better call Ray Lewis a poor tackler.

YOu ****.

Micjones · 09-06-2012, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackBob

The argument is that DJ is better than Siler in every phase of the game except tackling. Siler is a fundamentally better tackler. In my opinion.

I see.
Doesn't seem like much of a concession for someone to make.
IF true.

**The Franchise** · 09-06-2012, 12:31 PM

His only "evidence" that he's brought up is that Siler played in the SEC.....so he's a better tackler because of that.

****ing stupid.

Micjones · 09-06-2012, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pestilence

His only "evidence" that he's brought up is that Siler played in the SEC.....so he's a better tackler because of that.

****ing stupid.

Who made the original claim?
That's who the burden of proof rests with.

**The Franchise** · 09-06-2012, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Who made the original claim?
That's who the burden of proof rests with.

The original claim that Siler was a better tackler? He did.

Brock · 09-06-2012, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pestilence

His only "evidence" that he's brought up is that Siler played in the SEC.....so he's a better tackler because of that.

****ing stupid.

Your sig leaves out 5-0.

**The Franchise** · 09-06-2012, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

Your sig leaves out 5-0.

Fixed.

09-03-2012, 07:50 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2867187	Teicher: Johnson, Toribio and Lewis sit out Chiefs practice with injuries Johnson, Toribio and Lewis sit out Chiefs practice with injuries By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star The Chiefs began their practice week Monday without four defensive starters, including their two Pro Bowl linebackers. They’re preparing to play against the Atlanta Falcons, who were seventh in the NFL in scoring last season, that could present a problem. The situation could improve some by the time the Chiefs and Falcons open their seasons against one another on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. But even early in the week, things were far from ideal. “You’d like to have all your guys all the time,” coach Romeo Crennel said. “But in this business you don’t have all of them all the time and so you have to depend on other guys to step up and do their part when they’re called on.” Linebacker Derrick Johnson, nose tackle Anthony Toribio and free safety Kendrick Lewis didn’t go through team portions of practice. Johnson and Toribio have injured ankle, Lewis an injured shoulder. Johnson, injured in the final preseason game against the Packers, appeared the most likely of the group to be ready for Sunday’s game. “As long as I make progress every day, that’s the plan,” Johnson said when asked whether he would play against the Falcons. “I am a fast healer. Let’s hope that this week I can be even faster.” The Chiefs’ other Pro Bowl linebacker, Tamha Hali, will not play against Atlanta. He is serving his one-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. Cornerback Brandon Flowers, who didn’t play in the preseason and hadn’t practiced for more than a month, was back to work Monday. But Flowers, who has what the Chiefs have called as bruised heel, said he didn’t know if he would play Sunday and suggested the decision might come down to day of the game. “If I’m out there on Sunday, then that means I’m ready to go,” he said “We’ll know game day.” For one day, at least, the Chiefs patched together a lineup that included backups in four spots. Cory Greenwood and Brandon Siler took turns at Johnson’s position. Rookie Dontari Poe is starting for Toribio and veteran Abe Elam for Lewis. Andy Studebaker, Edgar Jones and Cameron Sheffield have been rotating in Hali’s spot. “Particularly (in Hali’s spot), that’s what has to happen,” Crennel said. “We’ll have to rotate guys in there and we will during the course of the week and I expect all of them to step and to be able to produce. Now, are they going to produce the way Tamba is able to produce? Only time will tell that.” All coaches have jitters the opening week of the season given the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Even before the injuries, suspension and resulting lineup changes, this would have been an anxious week for Crennel. The Chiefs are one of the NFL’s youngest teams. They have five players who are 30 and they are the oldest. Heading into their ninth NFL seasons, guard Ryan Lilja and special teams player Terrance Copper have the most NFL experience. “If you have a veteran team (with players) who have proven themselves and that you feel good about, I think you can be less anxious,” Crennel said. “I think everybody gets anxious when the season starts. But if you’ve got a veteran team and you’re solid all across the board, then I think you can be less anxious because you know what you have. “(The Chiefs) have some young players who have to play and we all know that young players make mistakes. You don’t know how many mistakes they’re going to make or what a mistake might cost you during the course of the game. Some guys, when there are 70,000 or 80,000 in the stands and they know that it counts, they react differently. We’re going to have to see how all of that plays out.” Adding to the mystery about how well the Chiefs will play on Sunday is their uneven preseason. The Chiefs went 1-3 with the starters playing well in the first and fourth games but not so in the middle two, when the defense was particularly disappointing. Crennel said he takes comfort in the fact the Chiefs have gotten it done, even if not consistently. “In the first preseason game, the way they executed in that game and then the last game, they showed they could execute at a good level,” he said. “So I think they gave us enough to feel good about going into the regular season. “One of the things I wanted to do was to be able to say we could be solid and sound coming out of the last (preseason) game. I think from our play versus their first guys, we were solid and sound coming out of that game.” Atlanta was also 1-3 in the exhibition season, losing to Baltimore, Cincinnati and Jacksonville while beating Miami. The Falcons made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, though they lost their playoff game each time. “This is a good Atlanta team coming in,” Crennel said. “They have some skill on all sides of the ball, really. So we’re going to have to play our best to win.”
Posts: 43,439

09-06-2012, 12:20 PM	#528
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $2065047	Dude....that's already been discussed before in this thread. You aren't bringing up some new information. You still haven't shown ANY EVIDENCE that Siler is a better tackler.
Posts: 92,316

09-06-2012, 12:23 PM	#531
philfree Indian Twitter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Free Agency Casino cash: $-2083802	DJs was full go in practice today and Flowers was limited. __________________ [/SIGPIC]
Posts: 16,121

09-06-2012, 12:31 PM	#536
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $2065047	His only "evidence" that he's brought up is that Siler played in the SEC.....so he's a better tackler because of that. ****ing stupid.
Posts: 92,316