Dontari Rising
 

Dontari Rising

June 3, 2013

Chief Concerns: Desmond Bailey (@CCWriterDez)

It’s early. No pads. Just helmets and shorts. Repetition and memorization. Film and playbooks. Right now, there’s no real gauge of a player’s skill in practices that aren’t “Live”. But that time is coming…training camp is coming. Full-speed, full-contact…the true revelation of how good a player is or has become. One such player, who I feel will impress more than most are expecting him to, is second-year nose tackle Dontari Poe.

Drafted 11th overall by Kansas City in 2012, Poe is a mammoth human being – 6-foot-4, 350 lbs – who can move as well as someone 100lbs lighter than him as well as bench press that same individual 40 times. In short – Poe is blessed. But as a rookie, he was raw – deprived at Memphis University of the type of A+, D-line coaching and player development that comes standard with scholarships to the mega-programs of the SEC, Big-12, ACC , etc.

Nonetheless, after starting all 16 regular season battles of his rookie campaign and notching a modest 38 tackles, 3 QB hurries, and 4 pass deflections - Poe now has a much better understanding of what’s required to be great in the NFL. He has experience – the usually catalytic ingredient of any player who already possesses other-worldly physical skills and ability.

For Poe, the speed and mental aspect of the game is no longer overwhelming. Now it’s just a matter of honing technique, absorbing the system and – most importantly – being turned loose by D-coordinator Bob Sutton. By all accounts, the theme of Sutton’s new 3-4 scheme is “ATTACK!“.

Poe won’t be relegated to the typical gap-controlling responsibilities of an NT in an odd front. Instead, Poe will be allowed by Sutton to go after people – those unfortunate souls cursed with holding a football in the offensive backfield – and use his elite quickness, power and explosiveness off the ball to be a consistent problem for opponents.

Expect marked improvement from #92 in 2013 both statistically (I’m predicting eight or more sacks for Poe right now) and overall impact – QB hurries and hits, run disruption and containment, etc – which will ultimately enable the entire defensive unit to dominate. A great NT is a requisite for an elite 3-4 defense. Look for Poe to take a colossal step towards that greatness this season.

Talk to ya later

Good stuff!

- Dez

Listen, I'm not the swollest dude in the world, but I try to eat right and hit the gym 4x a week. Here's me about 4 feet behind Dontari in PHX airport. Straight beast. Look at his backpack for christ sake.

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6800/iubw.jpg

LMAOLMAO

Did you say anything to him?

:LOL: ...the backpack.... That's awesome

Lol, I waited until I isolated him at the baggage claim in KC and subtly asked him if they were going to let him 1 gap a little more this year. He looked at me all confused and mumble something unitelligble, but it was around midnight.

At the gas station about 45 miles from camp and 810 is calling Fisher flat out "terrible"

Saying Austin Lane "dominated Fisher" all practice today.

Btw, that's a Negro Leagues KC Monarchs cap I'm wearing, so I think we bonded without saying anything.

"he can't block anyone right now"

Jackson says he is still 2 gapping.

Fo real?

Lol damn when was that?

Works for the pieces of shit out in Pile High.

The camera zooms in on the guy that crosses his arms with a not happy stare gif.

JFC you guys are ridiculous. Austen Lane was always a "camp beast" and was slated to do big things and then disappeared when the lights came on. Don't read into please.