Chiefs Teicher: Chiefs seek ways to get more sacks

**Tribal Warfare** · 08-20-2008, 10:58 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/758329.html

Chiefs seek ways to get more sacks
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

It’s been the equivalent of only one game, making it far too early for panic or worry.

Except Tamba Hali is filled with panic and worry. He’s the right defensive end, the player the Chiefs designated as their new featured pass rusher and the replacement for Jared Allen, the NFL’s reigning sack king.

And through two halves of preseason football, Hali has yet to put a quarterback on the ground, making it seem like forever since he’s had a sack.

“There’s a lot of pressure because I am playing on that right side, and there’s a label on my head that I’m supposed to be replacing Jared,” said Hali, who moved over from left end when the Chiefs traded Allen to Minnesota. “How many times am I going to get to the quarterback? A lot of people want to know that. I want to know that.”

The Chiefs’ goal is to somehow make up the 15 1/2 sacks lost when they sent Allen away. If they don’t come from Hali, they’ll have to come from somewhere, and the Chiefs are still sorting through their options for that.

“When you trade away a very good player, you never look at it as, ‘Well, we’ve got to find somebody to replace him,’ ” coach Herm Edwards said. “You’re not going to replace the guy. You have to figure out, ‘OK, we got rid of this guy, so what are we going to do now?’ You don’t put the pressure on another player. You don’t put it on Tamba. You don’t put it on (left end Turk McBride).

“We’ll find a way to get to the quarterback. In a perfect world, you’d like to rush four guys every time to get to the quarterback. Most teams can’t do that, so you’ve got to bring pressure from somewhere.”

The Chiefs have spent the four weeks since the start of training camp tinkering with their pass rush. McBride and Tank Tyler joined the starting defensive line, replacing Alfonso Boone and Ron Edwards.

Now that Glenn Dorsey is back from his knee injury, the Chiefs have also settled on their nickel pass rush, with Boone replacing Tyler.

They are hopeful but unsure whether that lineup will be enough.

“You can do it a couple ways,” Edwards said. “If you have a really good front four, you can rush them that way. If not, you’ve got to start bringing pressure. We’re able to do that. We’ve got some linebackers that can rush. They’re pretty good blitzers.

“Now, if you do that, you’re going to have to play man-to-man (coverage). In man-to-man, you’ve got to have some corners you feel can cover. We drafted some guys here that we think can cover.”

The Chiefs would obviously prefer that Hali make up most of what they lost without Allen. They immediately tabbed him as Allen’s replacement after the trade with Minnesota and the acquisition of Dorsey with their first draft pick.

Not only is Hali having trouble dealing with heavier expectations, but he’s trying to get comfortable in his new position after two seasons at left end.

“It’s coming, though,” he said. “I’ve got to be patient with it. I can’t get frustrated, even though I do sometimes. It’s a lot different. I’m having to focus a lot on the pass. I love playing the run, but that can’t be my focus anymore.

“It’s an adjustment. I hope that after some more (snaps) over there, gradually I’ll feel more at home. Maybe it will become second nature to me.”

Chiefs seek ways to get more sacks

McBride leads the Chiefs with three sacks, though one came against Chicago when he happened to fall on quarterback Kyle Orton, who dropped the ball without being hit.

Still, his start has the Chiefs encouraged.

“There’s not a lot of (pass rushers),” Edwards said. “They’re hard to find, and you never know who they are. No one knew who Jared Allen was. He was a fourth-round pick. Who knew he was going to be a heck of a pass rusher? It took him four years to develop that skill.

“(McBride) is only in his second year. You have to give the guy a chance.”

A second-round pick last year, McBride was disappointing to the Chiefs as a rookie. They believed he would eventually be a part-time player, at best.

But he played well enough early in camp that they vaulted McBride over Boone and into the starting lineup.

“Everything seemed like it came too fast for me last year,” McBride said. “Now it’s starting to slow down. I took it upon myself in the offseason to really study the game and study the defense. A lot of veterans told me the biggest jump I would have is from your first year to your second year.”

Linebacker Derrick Johnson has been an effective pass rusher for the Chiefs in the last couple of seasons. They experimented with Demorrio Williams as a hand-on-the-ground pass rusher in certain situations and were pleasantly surprised by the results.

Williams was a strong pass rusher in college at Nebraska but was used little as a rusher the last four seasons with Atlanta.

The Chiefs’ plans for Williams could be affected by a broken bone in his hand. He missed practice for the first time Wednesday and said doctors told him he won’t play in either of the final two preseason games.

If he plays in the Sept. 7 season opener at New England, Williams said he would have to wear a cast.

Mecca · 08-20-2008, 11:07 PM

This is going to be a running theme all year.

Pablo · 08-20-2008, 11:08 PM

Why would they want to get more sacks?

I don't get it.

Reerun_KC · 08-20-2008, 11:09 PM

next thing you know, they will be telling us they want to get "Yards in Chunks" on offense....

Mecca · 08-20-2008, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

next thing you know, they will be telling us they want to get "Yards in Chunks" on offense....

It's gonna suck when we have to draft a QB first next year when we need a DE pretty bad.

Hammock Parties · 08-20-2008, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

It's gonna suck when we have to draft a QB first next year when we need a DE pretty bad.

Jesus Christ.

****.

Reerun_KC · 08-20-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

It's gonna suck when we have to draft a QB first next year when we need a DE pretty bad.

Well there is always Huard...

lets just hope Mecca, that it doesnt come down to this!

FAX · 08-20-2008, 11:16 PM

For crying out loud, Mr. Debbie Downer. Your record is stuck, peep.

FAX

Mecca · 08-20-2008, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

Jesus Christ.

****.

That's pretty much reality, the odds are Croyle isn't the guy. Personally I'll be surprised if he doesn't get injured.

I'm looking at this as it would be a nice surprise if he turned out to be the guy but I'm going to plan that he isn't.

Why should I have any reason to think he's the guy? If a QB on any team that wasn't ours had done exactly what he had done we'd all laugh that he was starting. If this was the Broncos we'd all be laughing at them. Just try to look at it from a different perspective sometime.

Reerun_KC · 08-20-2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Personally I'll be surprised if he doesn't get injured.

yeah I worry about Dorsey and his ability to stay on the field....

Hammock Parties · 08-20-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

If a QB on any team that wasn't ours had done exactly what he had done we'd all laugh that he was starting.

Is there really a huge difference between Cutler and Croyle after one year?

Cutler - 5 starts, 1,001 yards, 59.1 %, 9 TD, 5 INT
Croyle - 6 starts, 1,227 yards, 56.7 %, 6 TD, 6 INT

I mean, is that really cause to LAUGH at anyone else's young quarterback. I don't think so. It could be a lot worse. I'm laughing at Kellen Clemens for sure.

Clemens - 8 starts, 1,529 yards, 52 percent, 5 TD, 10 INT

Reerun_KC · 08-20-2008, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

Is there really a huge difference between Cutler and Croyle after one year?

Cutler - 5 starts, 1,001 yards, 59.1 %, 9 TD, 5 INT
Croyle - 6 starts, 1,227 yards, 56.7 %, 6 TD, 6 INT

I mean, is that really cause to LAUGH at anyone else's young quarterback. I don't think so. It could be a lot worse. I'm laughing at Kellen Clemens for sure.

Clemens - 8 starts, 1,529 yards, 52 percent, 5 TD, 10 INT

what is croyles completion %?

Mecca · 08-20-2008, 11:28 PM

I'm gonna tell you right now if you made a comment about this to anyone that wasn't a Chiefs fan they'd put Croyle alot closer to Clemens than they would Cutler.

Hammock Parties · 08-20-2008, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

I'm gonna tell you right now if you made a comment about this to anyone that wasn't a Chiefs fan they'd put Croyle alot closer to Clemens than they would Cutler.

Probably because the average NFL fan doesn't know who the **** Brodie Croyle is. They're ****ing ignorant. Just like the vast majority of the media who say LOL BRODIE CROYLE? MMMKAY!

Mecca · 08-20-2008, 11:30 PM

Just for humor sake Brodie Croyle and Kellen Clemens played a game last year guess which QB got the win....

I don't like Clemens at all for the record so don't think I'm saying that. I also don't believe Croyle is remotely close to Cutler as a prospect.

08-20-2008, 10:58 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $952813	Teicher: Chiefs seek ways to get more sacks http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/758329.html Chiefs seek ways to get more sacks By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star It’s been the equivalent of only one game, making it far too early for panic or worry. Except Tamba Hali is filled with panic and worry. He’s the right defensive end, the player the Chiefs designated as their new featured pass rusher and the replacement for Jared Allen, the NFL’s reigning sack king. And through two halves of preseason football, Hali has yet to put a quarterback on the ground, making it seem like forever since he’s had a sack. “There’s a lot of pressure because I am playing on that right side, and there’s a label on my head that I’m supposed to be replacing Jared,” said Hali, who moved over from left end when the Chiefs traded Allen to Minnesota. “How many times am I going to get to the quarterback? A lot of people want to know that. I want to know that.” The Chiefs’ goal is to somehow make up the 15 1/2 sacks lost when they sent Allen away. If they don’t come from Hali, they’ll have to come from somewhere, and the Chiefs are still sorting through their options for that. “When you trade away a very good player, you never look at it as, ‘Well, we’ve got to find somebody to replace him,’ ” coach Herm Edwards said. “You’re not going to replace the guy. You have to figure out, ‘OK, we got rid of this guy, so what are we going to do now?’ You don’t put the pressure on another player. You don’t put it on Tamba. You don’t put it on (left end Turk McBride). “We’ll find a way to get to the quarterback. In a perfect world, you’d like to rush four guys every time to get to the quarterback. Most teams can’t do that, so you’ve got to bring pressure from somewhere.” The Chiefs have spent the four weeks since the start of training camp tinkering with their pass rush. McBride and Tank Tyler joined the starting defensive line, replacing Alfonso Boone and Ron Edwards. Now that Glenn Dorsey is back from his knee injury, the Chiefs have also settled on their nickel pass rush, with Boone replacing Tyler. They are hopeful but unsure whether that lineup will be enough. “You can do it a couple ways,” Edwards said. “If you have a really good front four, you can rush them that way. If not, you’ve got to start bringing pressure. We’re able to do that. We’ve got some linebackers that can rush. They’re pretty good blitzers. “Now, if you do that, you’re going to have to play man-to-man (coverage). In man-to-man, you’ve got to have some corners you feel can cover. We drafted some guys here that we think can cover.” The Chiefs would obviously prefer that Hali make up most of what they lost without Allen. They immediately tabbed him as Allen’s replacement after the trade with Minnesota and the acquisition of Dorsey with their first draft pick. Not only is Hali having trouble dealing with heavier expectations, but he’s trying to get comfortable in his new position after two seasons at left end. “It’s coming, though,” he said. “I’ve got to be patient with it. I can’t get frustrated, even though I do sometimes. It’s a lot different. I’m having to focus a lot on the pass. I love playing the run, but that can’t be my focus anymore. “It’s an adjustment. I hope that after some more (snaps) over there, gradually I’ll feel more at home. Maybe it will become second nature to me.” Chiefs seek ways to get more sacks McBride leads the Chiefs with three sacks, though one came against Chicago when he happened to fall on quarterback Kyle Orton, who dropped the ball without being hit. Still, his start has the Chiefs encouraged. “There’s not a lot of (pass rushers),” Edwards said. “They’re hard to find, and you never know who they are. No one knew who Jared Allen was. He was a fourth-round pick. Who knew he was going to be a heck of a pass rusher? It took him four years to develop that skill. “(McBride) is only in his second year. You have to give the guy a chance.” A second-round pick last year, McBride was disappointing to the Chiefs as a rookie. They believed he would eventually be a part-time player, at best. But he played well enough early in camp that they vaulted McBride over Boone and into the starting lineup. “Everything seemed like it came too fast for me last year,” McBride said. “Now it’s starting to slow down. I took it upon myself in the offseason to really study the game and study the defense. A lot of veterans told me the biggest jump I would have is from your first year to your second year.” Linebacker Derrick Johnson has been an effective pass rusher for the Chiefs in the last couple of seasons. They experimented with Demorrio Williams as a hand-on-the-ground pass rusher in certain situations and were pleasantly surprised by the results. Williams was a strong pass rusher in college at Nebraska but was used little as a rusher the last four seasons with Atlanta. The Chiefs’ plans for Williams could be affected by a broken bone in his hand. He missed practice for the first time Wednesday and said doctors told him he won’t play in either of the final two preseason games. If he plays in the Sept. 7 season opener at New England, Williams said he would have to wear a cast.
Posts: 42,033

08-20-2008, 11:07 PM	#2
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $2657050	This is going to be a running theme all year.
Posts: 110,774

08-20-2008, 11:08 PM	#3
Pablo Ultrabanned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $2059356	Why would they want to get more sacks? I don't get it.
Posts: 40,233

08-20-2008, 11:09 PM	#4
Reerun_KC Rock Chalk Jayhawks! KU!!! Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $8301160	next thing you know, they will be telling us they want to get "Yards in Chunks" on offense....
Posts: 934

08-20-2008, 11:16 PM	#8
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	For crying out loud, Mr. Debbie Downer. Your record is stuck, peep. FAX
Posts: 44,492

08-20-2008, 11:28 PM	#13
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $2657050	I'm gonna tell you right now if you made a comment about this to anyone that wasn't a Chiefs fan they'd put Croyle alot closer to Clemens than they would Cutler.
Posts: 110,774

08-20-2008, 11:30 PM	#15
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $2657050	Just for humor sake Brodie Croyle and Kellen Clemens played a game last year guess which QB got the win.... I don't like Clemens at all for the record so don't think I'm saying that. I also don't believe Croyle is remotely close to Cutler as a prospect.
Posts: 110,774