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

[Tribal Warfare]

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.”

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by BlackBob

I never went there. Others posted stats and I countered them.

It's pretty damn funny to me. All I said was the Siler was a better tackler than DJ and you guys cry like bitches.

Is it really outlandish to say that DJ misses alot of tackles?

It's not outlandish at all. DJ does miss tackles. His biggest issue was always maintaining his lane and staying disciplined in the scheme. In that, he's improved leaps and bounds.

However, you didn't just say DJ misses tackles. You said Siler is a better tackler.

That's just downright laughable.

[Black Bob]

I see where you guys are coming from. I stated he has improved. He is not as good of a tackler as Siler. I will drop it now because it's not worth it.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

He just came off an All Pro season, bitch about someone else.

[Black Bob]

Originally Posted by PGM

He just came off an All Pro season, bitch about someone else.

I'm not the one bitching.

[Sorter]

How in the **** is BlackBob still here with comments like "Dex is quicker than Jamaal" and "Siler is a better tackler than DJ"?

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by BlackBob

Wow SNR, you sure got me pegged. You got nothing and you take from madden and bring it to the boards. I'm not the only one who sees it. I won't back down from the bullying bullshit.

You are dickhead and you deserve to be called out.

Is BlackBob the return of KCJohnny? I'm just sayin'. They are equally obtuse on crazy topics.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by BlackBob

He is not as good of a tackler as Siler.

it's reeruned

[Black Bob]

Originally Posted by Sorter

How in the **** is BlackBob still here with comments like "Dex is quicker than Jamaal" and "Siler is a better tackler than DJ"?

Because it's ****ing true. You guys are the biggest homers ever. Can't believe the way you cry about this guy or that guy should get banned. It's just more bitching and whining by the masses. Watch the ****ing games people. Watch DJ miss tackles for God's sake. Heaven forbid a fan doesn't want to suck DJ or Charle's dick and sees things differently.

If DJ hadn't started making more plays, he would have been shipped out of town. He got better. Just like Bowe did. However, they were once both on the trade block. They both make plays but Bowe still drops the ball and DJ still misses tackles. The playmaking is what makes them worth something.

I want DJ to start over Siler 100% of the time. I wanted Lewis to start over McGraw 100% of the time. However, Siler and McGraw are better tacklers imo. Understand? There are many different aspects to every player.

[Chiefnj2]

Football from BlackBob's viewpoint:

Wallace Gilberry, better first step than Derrick Thomas.

Larry Johnson, much more patient runner than Priest Holmes.

Dale Carter, not physical enough.

Jake O'Connell, better hands than Tony Gonzalez.

[Hammock Parties]

DJ missed 10 tackles last year. One every 104 snaps.

3 more than Ray Lewis.

For comparison, Brandon Siler has missed five tackles in his last 708 snaps. One every 141 snaps.

This is a pretty stupid discussion. Especially since you don't know what Siler's missed tackles would look like if he was a 3-down player. He'd probably get juked out of his jock in space.

[Titty Meat]

Dude threw out troll chum and everyone's biting.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by BlackBob

Because it's ****ing true. You guys are the biggest homers ever. Can't believe the way you cry about this guy or that guy should get banned. It's just more bitching and whining by the masses. Watch the ****ing games people. Watch DJ miss tackles for God's sake. Heaven forbid a fan doesn't want to suck DJ or Charle's dick and sees things differently.

If DJ hadn't started making more plays, he would have been shipped out of town. He got better. Just like Bowe did. However, they were once both on the trade block. They both make plays but Bowe still drops the ball and DJ still misses tackles. The playmaking is what makes them worth something.

I want DJ to start over Siler 100% of the time. I wanted Lewis to start over McGraw 100% of the time. However, Siler and McGraw are better tacklers imo. Understand? There are many different aspects to every player.

I think I know what you're saying. You're saying Siler is a "better tackler", but DJ is the better player because he's more athletic? Honestly, you should've realized that making a statement like that would've gotten you in the hornet's nest. You call all of us homers, but you're the one predicting the Chiefs are 5-0 to start the season. Yeah....homers.

[the Talking Can]

so, DJ is just better at running around and not making tackles....while some jag off, broke dick bench warmer is the real deal Awesome Tackler...



genious...

[the Talking Can]

and Bob Ross is a better painter than Picasso...

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by BlackBob

Because it's ****ing true. You guys are the biggest homers ever...

This board could be called a lot of things, and not all of them flattering, depending upon the perspective of the evaluator. I think pretty much everyone here would agree with that. However, if there's one thing this place definitely is not, it would be a homer board.