Chiefs Babb: Glenn Dorsey’s discipline has the Chiefs excited about his future - Page 2

**Tribal Warfare** · 10-14-2010, 11:05 PM

Glenn Dorsey’s discipline has the Chiefs excited about his future
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

They tried to make him understand with humiliation. Then excruciating work. The Chiefs just needed Glenn Dorsey to accept that success begins with discipline.

Those afternoons seem distant now, when Dorsey pedaled and hiked and lugged equipment because he hadn’t been disciplined enough to practice. That was training camp in 2009, and at the time, the Chiefs were uncertain about the future of Dorsey, one of their most talented defenders.

But however it happened, he had to understand: Dorsey’s future was a cloudy one if he couldn’t learn restraint.

On this defense, that’s where it starts. And it doesn’t end at junk food.

More than a year later, Dorsey has made an early impression because of what he hasn’t done. He wasn’t drastically overweight when he began the offseason workout program. He didn’t rely only on his instincts. He didn’t abandon his assignments and chase big plays.

He finally understood.

“You realized, ‘Hey, we look a lot different without him,’ ” coach Todd Haley said.

Haley said he emphasizes discipline more than anything. Because if a player can’t be trusted to stay in shape each offseason, how could he be counted on to stay committed to an assignment that gives the big plays to someone else?

Through four games, Dorsey has 15 tackles, half a sack and zero forced turnovers. Those aren’t the kinds of numbers the Chiefs had in mind when they drafted him fifth overall in 2008. But regardless, Dorsey has been one of Kansas City’s best defenders this season. His job as a defensive end in this 3-4 scheme is to fill gaps, allow linebackers to attack and, as Haley said Thursday, “fight the urge to go make a play.”

When the Chiefs’ defense is at its best, Dorsey is passing up chances at a tackle to fill a predetermined space on the field.

It’s an odd thing, and more than a year after the Chiefs abandoned Dorsey’s preferred 4-3, he appears to have embraced his role — and, more than that, his requirements. Dorsey wasn’t in the Chiefs’ locker room Thursday when reporters were permitted inside, but Tyson Jackson knows how difficult it is for Dorsey, one of the most explosive defenders in college football three seasons ago, to pass up big opportunities.

“Your basic instincts tell you you’re a football player; you want to go out there and make as many plays as possible and help the team win,” said Jackson, who played with Dorsey at LSU. “But you’ve got to look at the bigger scheme of things.

“You’ve just got to take the pride and put it to the side for the team.”

The good thing for the Chiefs is that they believe Dorsey can further improve and perhaps emerge into a defensive playmaker — one of those players with the big numbers. When he played defensive tackle in Herm Edwards’ 4-3, Dorsey was a rotund wrecking ball designed to go forward and hit what was in front of him.

Now, at about 30 pounds lighter and much quicker, Dorsey can go in multiple directions — and coaches think that, as he gets more comfortable with his weight, he can combine those old instincts and his new speed to be a disruptive force on an emerging defense. The Chiefs have used Dorsey occasionally this season in sub-rush formations, and those chances could increase in the future.

For now, Dorsey still has to prove himself weekly. That’s the life of a football player, but the Chiefs pay close attention when Dorsey makes weight each week, a signal that the discipline is becoming ingrained.

“He wants to be good,” Haley said, “and I think he’s showing signs of that all the time.”

More, he has shown a willingness to do what’s necessary to be good in this system. It no longer matters how the Chiefs forced Dorsey to embrace discipline as his top priority; all that matters is that he’s done it, and he is discussed among Chiefs insiders as one of the team’s future stars, alongside linebacker Tamba Hali and cornerback Brandon Flowers.

Now Dorsey has to continue improving, continue understanding and continue avoiding temptation.

“It’s not going to happen overnight because those instincts are there,” Haley said. “They’ve been developed over years, and you’ve got to almost retrain your habits.

“He’s a much more disciplined player. Much more disciplined person.”

10-14-2010, 11:05 PM	Topic Starter
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2797187	Babb: Glenn Dorsey’s discipline has the Chiefs excited about his future Glenn Dorsey’s discipline has the Chiefs excited about his future By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star They tried to make him understand with humiliation. Then excruciating work. The Chiefs just needed Glenn Dorsey to accept that success begins with discipline. Those afternoons seem distant now, when Dorsey pedaled and hiked and lugged equipment because he hadn’t been disciplined enough to practice. That was training camp in 2009, and at the time, the Chiefs were uncertain about the future of Dorsey, one of their most talented defenders. But however it happened, he had to understand: Dorsey’s future was a cloudy one if he couldn’t learn restraint. On this defense, that’s where it starts. And it doesn’t end at junk food. More than a year later, Dorsey has made an early impression because of what he hasn’t done. He wasn’t drastically overweight when he began the offseason workout program. He didn’t rely only on his instincts. He didn’t abandon his assignments and chase big plays. He finally understood. “You realized, ‘Hey, we look a lot different without him,’ ” coach Todd Haley said. Haley said he emphasizes discipline more than anything. Because if a player can’t be trusted to stay in shape each offseason, how could he be counted on to stay committed to an assignment that gives the big plays to someone else? Through four games, Dorsey has 15 tackles, half a sack and zero forced turnovers. Those aren’t the kinds of numbers the Chiefs had in mind when they drafted him fifth overall in 2008. But regardless, Dorsey has been one of Kansas City’s best defenders this season. His job as a defensive end in this 3-4 scheme is to fill gaps, allow linebackers to attack and, as Haley said Thursday, “fight the urge to go make a play.” When the Chiefs’ defense is at its best, Dorsey is passing up chances at a tackle to fill a predetermined space on the field. It’s an odd thing, and more than a year after the Chiefs abandoned Dorsey’s preferred 4-3, he appears to have embraced his role — and, more than that, his requirements. Dorsey wasn’t in the Chiefs’ locker room Thursday when reporters were permitted inside, but Tyson Jackson knows how difficult it is for Dorsey, one of the most explosive defenders in college football three seasons ago, to pass up big opportunities. “Your basic instincts tell you you’re a football player; you want to go out there and make as many plays as possible and help the team win,” said Jackson, who played with Dorsey at LSU. “But you’ve got to look at the bigger scheme of things. “You’ve just got to take the pride and put it to the side for the team.” The good thing for the Chiefs is that they believe Dorsey can further improve and perhaps emerge into a defensive playmaker — one of those players with the big numbers. When he played defensive tackle in Herm Edwards’ 4-3, Dorsey was a rotund wrecking ball designed to go forward and hit what was in front of him. Now, at about 30 pounds lighter and much quicker, Dorsey can go in multiple directions — and coaches think that, as he gets more comfortable with his weight, he can combine those old instincts and his new speed to be a disruptive force on an emerging defense. The Chiefs have used Dorsey occasionally this season in sub-rush formations, and those chances could increase in the future. For now, Dorsey still has to prove himself weekly. That’s the life of a football player, but the Chiefs pay close attention when Dorsey makes weight each week, a signal that the discipline is becoming ingrained. “He wants to be good,” Haley said, “and I think he’s showing signs of that all the time.” More, he has shown a willingness to do what’s necessary to be good in this system. It no longer matters how the Chiefs forced Dorsey to embrace discipline as his top priority; all that matters is that he’s done it, and he is discussed among Chiefs insiders as one of the team’s future stars, alongside linebacker Tamba Hali and cornerback Brandon Flowers. Now Dorsey has to continue improving, continue understanding and continue avoiding temptation. “It’s not going to happen overnight because those instincts are there,” Haley said. “They’ve been developed over years, and you’ve got to almost retrain your habits. “He’s a much more disciplined player. Much more disciplined person.”
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