Tribal Warfare
09-17-2008, 10:02 PM
Inexperience part of Chiefs’ defensive line problems (http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/801945.html)
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
Tank Tyler takes a seat in front of his locker and prepares himself for what is becoming a weekly conversation.
He puts his cell phone away. He knows what this is about.
“It wasn’t a question of effort,” said Tyler, a Chiefs defensive tackle.
No, Tyler said, Kansas City isn’t struggling at stopping the run because the Chiefs’ defensive linemen aren’t playing hard. It’s that the starters are young, and young players’ instincts sometimes compel them to make the big tackle, fundamentals be damned.
And that’s what happened occasionally during Sunday’s 23-8 loss to Oakland. The Raiders rushed for 300 yards, 233 of them in the second half. The Chiefs rarely forced Oakland’s second-year quarterback, a still unproven JaMarcus Russell, to throw because, well, why risk a mistake when you don’t have to? Russell attempted six passes in the second half, compared with the Raiders’ 28 rushing plays.
The Chiefs’ inability to stop the run doesn’t seem to be improving, and Tyler says he’s tired of the trend. That’s why this week, when coaches scaled the young linemen back during practice and re-emphasized fundamentals, Tyler didn’t mind.
“Sometimes, as a defensive lineman, you get tunnel vision and you just want to go, get off the ball,” said Tyler, a second-year left tackle. “You can’t do that.”
Coach Herm Edwards said the defense has no chance if it can’t stop rushers from carving up the Chiefs’ line. If Kansas City can’t stop the run, opponents won’t pass. If teams don’t pass, the Chiefs can’t rush the quarterback. If they can’t rush the quarterback and at least pose a threat, the Chiefs can’t establish a consistent rhythm, and teams tee off on Kansas City’s weakness.
That’s what the Raiders did, and Edwards still doesn’t like reliving Sunday’s second half. And he sure doesn’t like the possibility of a repeat performance Sunday at Atlanta, whose running back, Michael Turner, is averaging 7.3 yards per carry through two games.
“They’re going to try to run the ball,” Edwards said of the Falcons. “If they can run and get a lead, they’re going to keep running. That’s what teams have done to us.
“They don’t have to throw. They just run the clock out and keep you out there all day.”
A few minutes after finishing the Chiefs’ long day against the Raiders, Tyler wouldn’t blame the offense. Sure, the Chiefs’ defense was tired. Of the team’s 12 possessions, seven of them lasted five plays or fewer. That kept defenders from catching their breath, and by the time the second half rolled around, Kansas City was gasping and Oakland was making long runs look easy.
“We can’t worry about the offense,” Tyler said Sunday. “If they (the opponent) get the ball on our 1-yard line, it’s our job to stop them. We’ve just got to suck it up.”
So the Chiefs took a break this week from the finer points of playing defensive line and instead focused on the big picture. Filling gaps and staying in them. Proper footwork. Good hand placement.
“We’re going back to basics,” Tyler said.
Edwards said it’s a refresher for the youngsters — right end Tamba Hali, who’s in his third season, is the most senior lineman — before they move forward. Like everything else on this team, Edwards said, the defensive line’s progress will be about trial and error.
Tyler just hopes the Chiefs don’t err as they did against Oakland.
“We always think positive about the future,” he said. “This game coming up is an important game for the defensive line. We need to make a statement.”
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
Tank Tyler takes a seat in front of his locker and prepares himself for what is becoming a weekly conversation.
He puts his cell phone away. He knows what this is about.
“It wasn’t a question of effort,” said Tyler, a Chiefs defensive tackle.
No, Tyler said, Kansas City isn’t struggling at stopping the run because the Chiefs’ defensive linemen aren’t playing hard. It’s that the starters are young, and young players’ instincts sometimes compel them to make the big tackle, fundamentals be damned.
And that’s what happened occasionally during Sunday’s 23-8 loss to Oakland. The Raiders rushed for 300 yards, 233 of them in the second half. The Chiefs rarely forced Oakland’s second-year quarterback, a still unproven JaMarcus Russell, to throw because, well, why risk a mistake when you don’t have to? Russell attempted six passes in the second half, compared with the Raiders’ 28 rushing plays.
The Chiefs’ inability to stop the run doesn’t seem to be improving, and Tyler says he’s tired of the trend. That’s why this week, when coaches scaled the young linemen back during practice and re-emphasized fundamentals, Tyler didn’t mind.
“Sometimes, as a defensive lineman, you get tunnel vision and you just want to go, get off the ball,” said Tyler, a second-year left tackle. “You can’t do that.”
Coach Herm Edwards said the defense has no chance if it can’t stop rushers from carving up the Chiefs’ line. If Kansas City can’t stop the run, opponents won’t pass. If teams don’t pass, the Chiefs can’t rush the quarterback. If they can’t rush the quarterback and at least pose a threat, the Chiefs can’t establish a consistent rhythm, and teams tee off on Kansas City’s weakness.
That’s what the Raiders did, and Edwards still doesn’t like reliving Sunday’s second half. And he sure doesn’t like the possibility of a repeat performance Sunday at Atlanta, whose running back, Michael Turner, is averaging 7.3 yards per carry through two games.
“They’re going to try to run the ball,” Edwards said of the Falcons. “If they can run and get a lead, they’re going to keep running. That’s what teams have done to us.
“They don’t have to throw. They just run the clock out and keep you out there all day.”
A few minutes after finishing the Chiefs’ long day against the Raiders, Tyler wouldn’t blame the offense. Sure, the Chiefs’ defense was tired. Of the team’s 12 possessions, seven of them lasted five plays or fewer. That kept defenders from catching their breath, and by the time the second half rolled around, Kansas City was gasping and Oakland was making long runs look easy.
“We can’t worry about the offense,” Tyler said Sunday. “If they (the opponent) get the ball on our 1-yard line, it’s our job to stop them. We’ve just got to suck it up.”
So the Chiefs took a break this week from the finer points of playing defensive line and instead focused on the big picture. Filling gaps and staying in them. Proper footwork. Good hand placement.
“We’re going back to basics,” Tyler said.
Edwards said it’s a refresher for the youngsters — right end Tamba Hali, who’s in his third season, is the most senior lineman — before they move forward. Like everything else on this team, Edwards said, the defensive line’s progress will be about trial and error.
Tyler just hopes the Chiefs don’t err as they did against Oakland.
“We always think positive about the future,” he said. “This game coming up is an important game for the defensive line. We need to make a statement.”