Chiefs camp report: Poe has ‘a ways to go’

[Hammock Parties]

This whole article is

Woe is Poe

Almost from the start of training camp, coach Romeo Crennel has tried to downplay expectations for rookie nose tackle Dontari Poe, the Chiefs first-round draft pick. Crennel put that in his strongest terms yet on Wednesday when asked what Poe needs to improve on in order to get more playing time.

“A lot,” Crennel said. “He needs to work on technique, he needs to work on understanding the system, he needs to get the calls correct all the time. He’s got a ways to go.”

Anthony Toribio, who spent all of last season on the practice squad, remains as the starting nose tackle ahead of Poe on the depth chart. Poe enters the lineup on obvious passing downs when the Chiefs use their nickel defense.

Poe acknowledged the difficulty of adjusting to the NFL game.

“It’s all different,” he said. “The technique of it, there’s nothing the same about the college level. The only thing the same is that it’s football. As far as the speed level and the strength and all that, you’ve got to learn it all over again.

“I still have a ways to go but I’m getting better every day. I’m just trying to do what I can, trying to do everything they teach me.”

Tackling issues

To prevent injuries, the Chiefs have not done tackling drills during training camp. That could lead to some tackling problems in Friday night’s game.

“It’s not excused,” Crennel said. “On defense your job is to tackle, so tackle. Even though we don’t tackle in practice, your job is to tackle, so you tackle.”

Crennel said he wouldn’t work on tackling next week when camp resumes even if the Chiefs struggle in that area against Arizona.

“If I tackle Jamaal Charles, and he gets hurt, then you’re going to blame me for tackling,” Crennel said. “So, I’m going to use my best judgment to get those guys in position to tackle and make plays and try to keep my guys as healthy as I can, so I can get them to the regular season and we’re able to play at a good level. Everybody in the NFL has the same problem, trying to keep guys healthy and how to practice and get work done without exposing your guys to possible injury.”

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/08...#storylink=cpy