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

[Tribal Warfare]

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.”

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by FAX

I'm certainly not discounting Crennel's abilities. I was high on Crennel when he was hired and I remain high. It seems obvious that the team is responding to him and his approach to the game. First off, Crennel has the kind of background that players respect. Second off, he isn't half-bad at putting players in a position to be successful. Once a player gets his mind around that, he realizes that doing what he's told is a win/win for everybody.

One encouraging item, as a matter of fact, has emerged in Crennel's last two press interviews in which he's mentioned that he's "... still learning what the players can do ...". It makes sense that, the more familiar he becomes with the team, the more improvement we'll see in his game plans.

Still, there is such a marked difference between last year and this season, I have to believe that there's more to the story than just "discipline". We have young legs, sure ... but we are also seeing better individual performances from guys who have been marginal since they were drafted. I just think that part of the reason for that is better conditioning.

FAX

Yes, there is no doubt that the conditioning is playing a large role in the improved performance, and IIRC there were quite a few people here ripping on Haley for making these players lose weight ,and holding them out for not meeting his conditioning demands. He's still not getting the kind of praise that should be coming his way from a lot of planeteers even though he has had as large a role as any in backhanding this organization back to respectability.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Im stepping out on a limb here, I know this, but I think Haley may very well be our best coach of my lifetime (Im 32)...as I was not around for the championship days of yesteryear.

Time will tell, as usual, but the signs and indicators are there that this team is headed toward great places.

The way these kids are playing for these guys is obvious to anyone with eyes...if we can get a damn quarterback, this team WILL win a championship in the next few years.

It is certainly encouraging to have a coach who's willing to do what needs to be done to assemble a quality staff, and who is willing to take risks in the persuit of victory.

[Direckshun]

Good lord, some folks in this thread have said things about Haley that go beyond a Jim Mora scolding.

Let's win the division first, hotpants.

[kcfanXIII]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

I just can't even imagine how good that would feel.

i have often imagined it in my dreams. the feeling at arrowhead, when we look at the person next to us and realize at the same time: we're going to the super bowl. ya, i can imagine. i can imagine how cold the beer will be, how great the chili will taste at whatever super bowl party i end up at. i can feel the sting on my palms from the infinite high fives i will receive. its what being a fan is about. the upwelling of pride. the sense of relief that all these years of misery, the sunday meltdowns, the endless bitching on the radio and the internet... that was all worth it.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Good lord, some folks in this thread have said things about Haley that go beyond a Jim Mora scolding.

Let's win the division first, hotpants.

If you are talking about me...Im not talking about this year AT ALL.

I couldnt care less if we win this division this year or not, to me that has nothing to do with my post. The fact that we have beaten the teams we have beaten, in the manor we have defeated them, and how we played Indy...all without ANY QUALITY PLAY from the quarterback position is what Im talking about.

Its astounding.

The pass defense has been phenomenal, with a group of players that are still in their NFL infancy. The secondary has NO WEAK LINKS as evidenced by the games against PM and PR...leaders of the two top passing offenses in the NFL.

Our rush defense has played well above its pay level. We have guys that have been career underachievers (Shaun Smith, DJ, Hali, Edwards) playing extremely well and our highly touted defenders (Dorsey, Flowers, Carr) are young and have an arrow pointed straight up next to their names. They are looking like elite players in the NFL RIGHT NOW.

We have a rookie class that is totally OWNING. From the top to the bottom, every pick (sans Sheffield) is making an impact on this team and in the league. Through 5 weeks of play (one of which we had a bye week) we have had a rookie named rookie of the week twice.

Berry - team hasnt given up the big play all year, something we have missed for a very long time now. Not anymore, that helps every other defender.
DMC - is a threat every time he touches the ball, to score. If we had a quarterback, this is a player that would be a pure matchup nightmare.
Arenas - has been as good as any rookie corner in the league and is a true game changing return man.
Asamoah - Hasnt broken the starting lineup, only because our guards are vets and are playing extremely well at this point...when he does I think he will be a probowler and possibly an all pro...he was great in college and has shown signs of that greatness in limited time in the pros so far.
Moeaki - so far, has been our most impressive draft pick IMO, but of course I have been high on the player since well before we drafted him. Im just glad we got him.
Lewis - hasn't been fooled by usual "rookie tricks" and has shown to be a damn smart player that doesn't seem slow on the field...I still see a player that plays like Sammy Knight. With two rookie safeties playing so much and our team giving up a minuscule amount of plays over 20 yards, you have to give some credit to this guy.

IMO, nobody deserves more credit than Haley in all of this for his clear level of expectation and high standards that everyone (except Cassel) is being held to, and once the quarterback position is fixed...the sky is the limit with this team.

Again IMO.

P.S. sorry if repost.

[-King-]

Are asst. coaches eligible for the Coach of the Year award?

Serious question, because if so, then Romeo Crennel should be right up at the top of that chart. The things he has done to this defense are nothing short of amazing.

And to think that most of the starters on defense were with this team last year. Only new starters to the team are Shaun Smith, Berry (rookie) and Lewis (rookie). That is amazing. Shit, Shaun Smith isn't even the regular starter.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by KcChiefsKing

Are asst. coaches eligible for the Coach of the Year award?

Serious question, because if so, then Romeo Crennel should be right up at the top of that chart. The things he has done to this defense are nothing short of amazing.

And to think that most of the starters on defense were with this team last year. Only new starters to the team are Shaun Smith, Berry (rookie) and Lewis (rookie). That is amazing. Shit, Shaun Smith isn't even the regular starter.

Technically Derrick Johnson and Jovan Belcher are new starters as well

EDIT: Uhp, botch

[-King-]

Originally Posted by SNR

Technically Derrick Johnson and Jovan Belcher are new starters as well

Originally Posted by KcChiefsKing

And to think that most of the starters on defense were with this team last year.

.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by TheGuardian

And I said before the draft it was a ****ing stupid comparison, and one that hasn't come to fruition in the NFL.

Lots of dumb comparisons are made every year.

Oh how we AGREE as of late!

Like "Cassel is a better deal than a rookie, especially for a 2nd round pick".

Or, "Cassel is just repeating Trent Green's first year, and will be just like Trent in 2010; probably even BETTER".