Wile_E_Coyote
08-07-2005, 11:59 AM
Rick Dean, The Capital Journal
RIVER FALLS, Wis. -- Gunther Cunningham was talking recently about what it would take to rebuild the Kansas City defense into something that even vaguely resembles the Chiefs units that led the NFL in scoring defense in 1995 and '97 during Cunningham's first tour as coordinator.
"I think you need a cornerstone," Cunningham said. "When I was here the first time we had Derrick Thomas, Neil Smith and Dale Carter."
Are there any such players on the current Kansas City roster?
"I think Pat (Surtain, the newly acquired cornerback from Miami) could be one of those guys," Cunningham responded immediately. "Sammy Knight (the newly acquired safety from Miami) is definitely one."
And then Cunningham paused slightly as if to ponder his next words.
"It could be Kawika Mitchell," he said carefully.
Really? This would be the same Kawika Mitchell who in 12 games as a starting middle linebacker for the NFL's next-to-worst defense last year seemed to have missed as many tackles as he made? The same guy most Chiefs fans assumed was being replaced when Kansas City made the free-agent acquisition of Kendrell Bell, an inside backer from Pittsburgh?
Cunningham sensed what the reaction might be.
"People may laugh when we say that," he said. "But remember, it took (New England star inside backer Tedy) Bruschi five years to learn the position. Kawika's really only going into his second year when you consider his injuries."
It's a fact that hamstring and ankle injuries limited Mitchell in the two seasons since he joined the Chiefs in 2003 as the team's second-round draft pick.
But it's equally true that Mitchell has played in 27 games with 18 starts. That's nearly two seasons of game competition with one full season as a starter. It's time, Chiefs fans would suggest, that experience not be viewed as a factor when evaluating Mitchell's recent contributions and immediate prospects.
Fair enough, the Chiefs agree. While they like what they've seen of Mitchell throughout spring workouts and the first week of training camp, they're anxious to start real-time evaluations Friday night when they open the preseason schedule at Minnesota.
"Kawika is an improved football player," coach Dick Vermeil emphasized again Saturday. "He's taking on blockers better, he's recognizing better. He's got a tougher frame of mind and has added some violence to his game and some leadership to the team.
"I think it'll show up more as we move through the preseason games."
From even a casual viewing of the first week of the Chiefs' Wisconsin training camp, Mitchell appears to be an improved player. With Bell now playing to his right and super-quick rookie Derrick Johnson recently added to the left backer spot, Mitchell is frequently around the ball and in position to make a play, both in rushing and pass defense.
Of course, Mitchell often was in position to make stops when he started Kansas City's final 10 games last year. Recognizing plays and getting in position was one thing. Putting people on the ground was another.
"I think for me it was a patience thing," Mitchell said of his occasional tendency to overrun a ball carrier or become vulnerable to cutback runs into his gap.
"There were times when I ran to the play so fast that I just missed it. I've got to be more patient and start taking care of my responsibilities. And then I've got to make the tackle when I get there."
Improving the tackling of everyone on his defense had been a Cunningham priority in the camp's first week. But because his defenders can't manhandle their offensive teammates in practice, Cunningham can't fully gauge the improvement of Mitchell or anyone else until the Vikings game.
"We're lacking in some fundamentals of the game right now, and it's really in two areas -- line and linebackers," Cunningham admitted. "That's really disappointing me right now."
RIVER FALLS, Wis. -- Gunther Cunningham was talking recently about what it would take to rebuild the Kansas City defense into something that even vaguely resembles the Chiefs units that led the NFL in scoring defense in 1995 and '97 during Cunningham's first tour as coordinator.
"I think you need a cornerstone," Cunningham said. "When I was here the first time we had Derrick Thomas, Neil Smith and Dale Carter."
Are there any such players on the current Kansas City roster?
"I think Pat (Surtain, the newly acquired cornerback from Miami) could be one of those guys," Cunningham responded immediately. "Sammy Knight (the newly acquired safety from Miami) is definitely one."
And then Cunningham paused slightly as if to ponder his next words.
"It could be Kawika Mitchell," he said carefully.
Really? This would be the same Kawika Mitchell who in 12 games as a starting middle linebacker for the NFL's next-to-worst defense last year seemed to have missed as many tackles as he made? The same guy most Chiefs fans assumed was being replaced when Kansas City made the free-agent acquisition of Kendrell Bell, an inside backer from Pittsburgh?
Cunningham sensed what the reaction might be.
"People may laugh when we say that," he said. "But remember, it took (New England star inside backer Tedy) Bruschi five years to learn the position. Kawika's really only going into his second year when you consider his injuries."
It's a fact that hamstring and ankle injuries limited Mitchell in the two seasons since he joined the Chiefs in 2003 as the team's second-round draft pick.
But it's equally true that Mitchell has played in 27 games with 18 starts. That's nearly two seasons of game competition with one full season as a starter. It's time, Chiefs fans would suggest, that experience not be viewed as a factor when evaluating Mitchell's recent contributions and immediate prospects.
Fair enough, the Chiefs agree. While they like what they've seen of Mitchell throughout spring workouts and the first week of training camp, they're anxious to start real-time evaluations Friday night when they open the preseason schedule at Minnesota.
"Kawika is an improved football player," coach Dick Vermeil emphasized again Saturday. "He's taking on blockers better, he's recognizing better. He's got a tougher frame of mind and has added some violence to his game and some leadership to the team.
"I think it'll show up more as we move through the preseason games."
From even a casual viewing of the first week of the Chiefs' Wisconsin training camp, Mitchell appears to be an improved player. With Bell now playing to his right and super-quick rookie Derrick Johnson recently added to the left backer spot, Mitchell is frequently around the ball and in position to make a play, both in rushing and pass defense.
Of course, Mitchell often was in position to make stops when he started Kansas City's final 10 games last year. Recognizing plays and getting in position was one thing. Putting people on the ground was another.
"I think for me it was a patience thing," Mitchell said of his occasional tendency to overrun a ball carrier or become vulnerable to cutback runs into his gap.
"There were times when I ran to the play so fast that I just missed it. I've got to be more patient and start taking care of my responsibilities. And then I've got to make the tackle when I get there."
Improving the tackling of everyone on his defense had been a Cunningham priority in the camp's first week. But because his defenders can't manhandle their offensive teammates in practice, Cunningham can't fully gauge the improvement of Mitchell or anyone else until the Vikings game.
"We're lacking in some fundamentals of the game right now, and it's really in two areas -- line and linebackers," Cunningham admitted. "That's really disappointing me right now."