Chiefs Teicher: Chiefs’ Studebaker putting himself in position at linebacker

**Tribal Warfare** · 08-17-2010, 10:18 PM

Chiefs’ Studebaker putting himself in position at linebacker
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

ST. JOSEPH | The Chiefs found a lot to like from outside linebacker Andy Studebaker in last week’s preseason opener in Atlanta. He chased Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan out of the pocket on a third-down play and played off a block nicely to make a tackle in the running game.

His reward at training camp this week has been plenty of first-team snaps, which can also be partly attributed to the advancing age of Mike Vrabel, the starter on the left side.

Studebaker is unlikely to steal many snaps from Vrabel once the real season begins, though the Chiefs have looked at him as an outside linebacker in nickel situations, with Vrabel moving to the inside.

If nothing else, Studebaker, 24, appears to be solidifying his place as the eventual replacement for Vrabel, who recently turned 35 and last winter signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs.

“He has to show that he can make plays consistently,” defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said of Studebaker. “He’s got a veteran guy in front of him, and he’s going to be hard to unseat. But when he does get into the game, he has to show he can hold up his end, which I think he did the other night, so you feel better about putting him in the game.”

The Chiefs ask their outside linebackers to make big plays. Studebaker had no game-changers against the Falcons, but the Chiefs have seen them from him before.

He started two games last season for the injured Vrabel and had a huge game when the Chiefs upset the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. He broke up two passes and intercepted two others, returning one 94 yards.

The Chiefs welcomed Vrabel back to their lineup once he was healthy and eagerly re-signed him during the offseason, but they’re aware they didn’t suffer when they had to play Studebaker.

“What we all saw was a guy who showed the game wasn’t too big for him,” linebackers coach Gary Gibbs said. “The bright lights didn’t concern him. That’s the thing you want to see from a young player. He wasn’t intimidated.

“We have confidence in him because he’s gone out and played well for us.”

When they switched to the 3-4 defensive system last year, the Chiefs weren’t sure how Studebaker would fit. He had been a defensive end to that point and never been asked to play in pass coverage.

That part of Studebaker’s game can still be rough. In zone coverage against the Falcons, he allowed a pass completion to Tony Gonzalez, and after the play Studebaker appeared mad at himself, as if he knew he’d been in the wrong place.

“There’s obviously some good and some bad in each game,” Studebaker said. “There were some plays that I thought were a little worse than they were. There were a couple of plays I made that I could have done a little better on, maybe made them faster than I did. You take the good with the bad and you learn from it or move on.

“I’ve had a little bit of success in coverage, and I’m starting to have a little success in the pass rush. I like to be able to do both things to pin one down and say, ‘That’s who I am.’ But I’m not quite sure which one I would pick.”

For the Chiefs, that’s good news for a player who only a couple of years ago was little more than a pass rusher and is still developing in all phases of the game.

“It’s not brand new to him, but he’s still in the transition, so he can improve in everything from rushing the quarterback to play recognition to recognizing formations,” Gibbs said. “That’s just part of the process.”

Coach Todd Haley talks often about the need to develop young players, and he says that with guys like Studebaker in mind. Studebaker played at tiny Wheaton College in Illinois and was a sixth-round pick by Philadelphia in 2008.

The Chiefs signed him from the Eagles’ practice squad later that year. Beginnings don’t come much more humble than that.

“He’s one of those guys that’s come a long way,” Haley said. “It was hard not to notice him (against Atlanta) in a lot of different areas. He’s worked real hard to put himself in a position to have some success. Some of that showed up. I’m excited about the direction Andy’s going.”

08-17-2010, 10:18 PM	Topic Starter
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $942813	Teicher: Chiefs’ Studebaker putting himself in position at linebacker Chiefs’ Studebaker putting himself in position at linebacker By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star ST. JOSEPH \| The Chiefs found a lot to like from outside linebacker Andy Studebaker in last week’s preseason opener in Atlanta. He chased Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan out of the pocket on a third-down play and played off a block nicely to make a tackle in the running game. His reward at training camp this week has been plenty of first-team snaps, which can also be partly attributed to the advancing age of Mike Vrabel, the starter on the left side. Studebaker is unlikely to steal many snaps from Vrabel once the real season begins, though the Chiefs have looked at him as an outside linebacker in nickel situations, with Vrabel moving to the inside. If nothing else, Studebaker, 24, appears to be solidifying his place as the eventual replacement for Vrabel, who recently turned 35 and last winter signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs. “He has to show that he can make plays consistently,” defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said of Studebaker. “He’s got a veteran guy in front of him, and he’s going to be hard to unseat. But when he does get into the game, he has to show he can hold up his end, which I think he did the other night, so you feel better about putting him in the game.” The Chiefs ask their outside linebackers to make big plays. Studebaker had no game-changers against the Falcons, but the Chiefs have seen them from him before. He started two games last season for the injured Vrabel and had a huge game when the Chiefs upset the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. He broke up two passes and intercepted two others, returning one 94 yards. The Chiefs welcomed Vrabel back to their lineup once he was healthy and eagerly re-signed him during the offseason, but they’re aware they didn’t suffer when they had to play Studebaker. “What we all saw was a guy who showed the game wasn’t too big for him,” linebackers coach Gary Gibbs said. “The bright lights didn’t concern him. That’s the thing you want to see from a young player. He wasn’t intimidated. “We have confidence in him because he’s gone out and played well for us.” When they switched to the 3-4 defensive system last year, the Chiefs weren’t sure how Studebaker would fit. He had been a defensive end to that point and never been asked to play in pass coverage. That part of Studebaker’s game can still be rough. In zone coverage against the Falcons, he allowed a pass completion to Tony Gonzalez, and after the play Studebaker appeared mad at himself, as if he knew he’d been in the wrong place. “There’s obviously some good and some bad in each game,” Studebaker said. “There were some plays that I thought were a little worse than they were. There were a couple of plays I made that I could have done a little better on, maybe made them faster than I did. You take the good with the bad and you learn from it or move on. “I’ve had a little bit of success in coverage, and I’m starting to have a little success in the pass rush. I like to be able to do both things to pin one down and say, ‘That’s who I am.’ But I’m not quite sure which one I would pick.” For the Chiefs, that’s good news for a player who only a couple of years ago was little more than a pass rusher and is still developing in all phases of the game. “It’s not brand new to him, but he’s still in the transition, so he can improve in everything from rushing the quarterback to play recognition to recognizing formations,” Gibbs said. “That’s just part of the process.” Coach Todd Haley talks often about the need to develop young players, and he says that with guys like Studebaker in mind. Studebaker played at tiny Wheaton College in Illinois and was a sixth-round pick by Philadelphia in 2008. The Chiefs signed him from the Eagles’ practice squad later that year. Beginnings don’t come much more humble than that. “He’s one of those guys that’s come a long way,” Haley said. “It was hard not to notice him (against Atlanta) in a lot of different areas. He’s worked real hard to put himself in a position to have some success. Some of that showed up. I’m excited about the direction Andy’s going.”
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