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.”

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Hey C.E., it must be nice having your mom follow up all your posts.

I do appreciate my new ally.

I'm planning a nice thank you thread for the "accused mults" who did such great work in my absence.

It was enjoyable reading.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

I gave Dontari Poe credit for flashing some nice pass rush skills in game two.

The dude showed precious little as a real NT, though.

That's fair.

We basically had one preseason game where the team showed anything, so please realize that I credit the Chiefs fully for looking good against the Arizona Cardinals.

This team was dogshit against the Rams and Seahawks.

Dog. Shit.

I think he was referring to when in response to a post on preseason that hurt your argument you said "**** preseason" and then when it helped you referenced preseason in your argument. Like when you said stats were for fools but then post stats upon stats when it helps you. Its really the poor way you argue in both over-exaggerating to make points and your clear contradictions that kill your points more so than your actual takes. Even though they themselves can be overly dramatic.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by BlackBob

Siler is a better tackler than DJ.

jesus

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

jesus is a better tackler than Dj

[Black Bob]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Did BlackBob really say that Siler is a better tackler than DJ?

DJ has never been a good tackler. He was never even scouted as a good tackler at Texas. He takes bad angles. He's gotten better but Siler is a better tackler. He's just not good in coverage and he's not a playmaker.

Originally Posted by BossChief

Because the fans would be UBER PISSED if Pioli came out and told the truth.

That they are gonna let Dorsey walk after this season.

We aren't starting Powe because Dorsey is going to leave after this season? Is that what you are saying? So Pioli and Crennel aren't worried about winning? It's a political decision? Listen to yourself man. Is Kolb starting in Arizona? It's about winning. Poe played DE most of the time at Memphis. All they have been doing since he got here is playing him at NT. He's here to play NT. Crennel and Pioli have said it. I don't know what in the hell you are talking about? He might play DE on some packages but his main position will be NT.

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

They are not wrong.
Powe was very effective in controlling the gaps and taking on the double. Poe was constantly getting stood up and directed in one on one situations. He did penetrate effectively, but when he did it was almost as a design by the offensive line as the running back, more often than not, went right into that gap leaving Poe in the backfield.

Again, Powe hardly played with the starters. It is highly unlikely that he will move ahead of Poe. At this point, Poe has more experience. If you check out Romeo's press conference last week (Monday?), you will find that Romeo was trying to get Poe one on one some of the time.

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

Go back and look at Seattle's first drive of the third quarter in preseason week 3.

We got ****ing killed on the ground.

Dontari Poe got his ass massacred on two snaps in that drive. Literally pushed five yards off the ball on both snaps.

He sucks ass as a 1st and 2nd down run stopping NT right now.

I don't care what he did in the 3rd quarter. He looked good with the ones.

Originally Posted by xztop12

Flowers is one of the best man coverage corners in the NFL. One reason we ditched Carr was because Carr was weak in man and we had to play a lot of zones. With Rout we can let Flowers play man... Height isn't that important until you're past the 50

However, i do agree with your logic that even second stringers have different skillsets and are better at some things than their starters.

You have this completely backwards. Flowers is one of the best zone corners in the NFL. Carr is one of the best cover corners. Flowers has never been a cover corner. I'm not sure how people miss this. Just watch Carr tomorrow night against Cruz and Nicks and tell me he's not a cover corner. He should have been playing LCB all the time in KC imo.

Originally Posted by mcaj22

This is wrong. Carr is better in man. Rob Ryan plays man defense. You have it backwards.

Exactly. Thank you.

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

Is outright trolling actually banable?

It's not trolling. It's the truth.

Originally Posted by SNR

He's not the best guy for the job. You disagree?

I don't know how any of you idiots can say Powe is the better choice when he has hardly played with the ones. In two years he has hardly played with the ones. I want him to work out and I like what I see but let's be realistic. How can you even compare the two?

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

jesus

How long has DJ been a Chief? Do you guys watch him? He misses tackles like every game....


You guys are some serious homers. Probably the worst I have ever seen. Can't admit DJ is a sucky tackler or Carr is a better cover corner? Acting like Poe is our biggest weakness? You need to think about things and understand this isn't Madden.

[MIAdragon]

Originally Posted by BlackBob

You guys are some serious homers. Probably the worst I have ever seen. Can't admit DJ is a sucky tackler or Carr is a better cover corner? Acting like Poe is our biggest weakness? You need to think about things and understand this isn't Madden.

You must be new here.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by BlackBob

How long has DJ been a Chief? Do you guys watch him? He misses tackles like every game....


You guys are some serious homers. Probably the worst I have ever seen. Can't admit DJ is a sucky tackler or Carr is a better cover corner? Acting like Poe is our biggest weakness? You need to think about things and understand this isn't Madden.

you're the most hilarious homer on this board...the shit you say

and siler is not a better tackler than DJ...he's not a better anything than the probowler who set a franchise record for tackles with 179 (even though most stats only credit him with a measly 131)

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by BlackBob

You guys are some serious homers. Probably the worst I have ever seen. Can't admit DJ is a sucky tackler or Carr is a better cover corner? Acting like Poe is our biggest weakness? You need to think about things and understand this isn't Madden.

Don't believe Jamaal Charles isn't as quick as Dexter McCluster? You're a homer.

Don't believe DJ is an iffy tackler? You're a homer.

Don't have Down's Syndrome? You're a homer

/BlackBoob

[the Talking Can]

remember, Charles can't juke anyone...

[the Talking Can]

and cassel is going to have a break out season...

[Black Bob]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

you're the most hilarious homer on this board...the shit you say

and siler is not a better tackler than DJ...he's not a better anything than the probowler who set a franchise record for tackles with 179 (even though most stats only credit him with a measly 131)

That's just stupid. So what if he lead the team in tacklers? Roddy White had 100 catches last year and a ton of drops. Gonzalez catches the ball better. Does that mean Gonzo is better than White? Hell no it doesn't. Ever notice how DJ doesn't play special teams and guys like Berry do? it's because of the ****ing tackling.

The inability to see the weaknesses in your team's players is the #1 sign of homerism imo. I picked us to win and I think we'll be good. However, in my short time here the homerism is far and away the highest I have ever seen amoung Chiefs fans. It's like everything is Cassel's fault and the rest of the team is fantastic and their shit doesn't stink.

[Black Bob]

Originally Posted by SNR

Don't believe Jamaal Charles isn't as quick as Dexter McCluster? You're a homer.

Don't believe DJ is an iffy tackler? You're a homer.

Don't have Down's Syndrome? You're a homer

/BlackBoob

McCluster is quicker. Even Berry said it the day after I did.

I absolutely believe DJ is an iffy tackler. He always has been. It's why Pioli tried to trade him when he got here. DJ has improved and become more of a playmaker but, he still misses tackles every week.

You are just pissed because someone is calling out the bullshit you say.

[RealSNR]

BlackBob attempts to look cool and smart by taking obtuse stances on things everybody else can agree about. Examples: Derrick Johnson IS, in fact, a better tackler than Brandon Siler; Jamaal Charles possesses more elite quickness to outjuke defenders than Dexter McCluster.

At first people laugh at him, then yell at him, then they get pissed off. Then the debate is REALLY hashed out, and in about a dozen posts or so it's proven that Jamaal Charles has sex with Dex's mother every night, and that 1+1=2. Then BlackBob slinks away until he comes out of the shadows again to say something unbelievably idiotic.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by BlackBob

That's just stupid. So what if he lead the team in tacklers? Roddy White had 100 catches last year and a ton of drops. Gonzalez catches the ball better. Does that mean Gonzo is better than White? Hell no it doesn't. Ever notice how DJ doesn't play special teams and guys like Berry do? it's because of the ****ing tackling.

The inability to see the weaknesses in your team's players is the #1 sign of homerism imo. I picked us to win and I think we'll be good. However, in my short time here the homerism is far and away the highest I have ever seen amoung Chiefs fans. It's like everything is Cassel's fault and the rest of the team is fantastic and their shit doesn't stink.

is this a joke?

all we do here is trash players...and dumb homers like you

and siler is a god damn nobody...stop it

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by BlackBob

McCluster is quicker. Even Berry said it the day after I did.

You still ****ing believe that shit

GoChiefs posted about 84 gifs that say otherwise, and now you're cavalierly carrying that poop pile again because Eric Berry blew smoke up a team mate's ass?

Also, Eric Berry didn't say Dexter McCluster was quicker than Jamaal Charles. He said Dexter McCluster was the most difficult receiver for him to cover. Which is a ****ing lie as well, but go ahead and believe that shit as long as it rings true in your Candy Land imagination.