Chiefs With Justin Houston out, it's time for Chiefs to be right about Dee Ford

oaklandhater · 03-24-2016, 01:13 PM

http://espn.go.com/blog/kansas-city-...ht-on-dee-ford

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – There is a method to the Kansas City Chiefs’ apparent madness when it comes to drafting in the first round under general manager John Dorsey. They’ve selected a player at a so-called premium position in each of the last three drafts, even if they didn’t have an immediate need for his skills.

The Chiefs are determined not to get caught short at an important position. It’s a strategy that makes a lot of sense, but only if they get the draft choices right.

We’re going to find out in the fall if the Chiefs were right about their 2014 first-round draft pick, outside linebacker Dee Ford. Ford became a prominent player for the Chiefs next season with the news that Justin Houston had surgery for an ACL injury. It’s unclear how much of the season Houston will miss, but the Chiefs would be wise not to count on getting anything from Houston until the 2017 season.

The Chiefs will need the Ford they thought they were getting when they drafted him, the player he was in a December victory over the San Diego Chargers last season. In that game, while filling in for the injured Houston, he had three sacks and broke up the potential winning pass in the end zone on the game’s final play.

Other than that, Ford has been mostly unfulfilled potential. He has a quick step that can lead to comparisons with the Chiefs’ all-time leading pass rusher, Pro Football Hall of Fame member Derrick Thomas.

Dee Ford could become a bigger part of the Chiefs' defense with the injury to Justin Houston. Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
But Ford hasn’t shown a great array of pass-rush moves, certainly not enough for him to be a consistent concern for opposing defensive coordinators. The rest of his game, against the run or in pass coverage, hasn’t been strong enough, either, his play in the end zone while covering Chargers running back Danny Woodhead notwithstanding.

“You can’t be a one-trick pony," Ford said after that game.

The Chiefs haven’t given up on Ford, perhaps by necessity. But they knew he was going to take some time to develop. Ford was a defensive end in college at Auburn, where he was rarely asked to drop into pass coverage.

“The one thing we came out of this past season with is that Dee Ford is a pretty good football player," coach Andy Reid said recently. “He's a first-round pick. Fifty percent of them end up playing and 50 percent of them don't and most of them take a year or two to get going. So you've seen the improvement every year. I'm expecting it to take another jump forward. The one thing we know is he has that potential."

The Chiefs can no longer wait for the payoff. Ford, to his credit, didn’t waste the past two seasons, as frustrating as they might have been, as he waited for his turn.

“Whatever your role is, you have to fill it out," he said. “Be man enough to humble yourself and learn from two of the greatest linebackers in this league."

It will soon be time for Ford to show the lessons he might have learned from Tamba Hali and Houston. Otherwise, the Chiefs might be shopping for another pass rusher in the first round of the 2017 draft.

**RealSNR** · 03-24-2016, 01:51 PM

Teicher: Chiefs cannot confirm that Justin Houston is not a reptilian alien, would be wise to not depend on Houston if the Feds relocate him to secret alien lab for experimentation

Hoover · 03-24-2016, 02:06 PM

I'm going to file this under: No shit.

Hydrae · 03-24-2016, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oaklandhater

But Ford hasn’t shown a great array of pass-rush moves, certainly not enough for him to be a consistent concern for opposing defensive coordinators.

Editors rule!

TigeRRUppeRRcut · 03-24-2016, 05:11 PM

No chance in hell does Ford become a quality starter. Does he fill a need? Sure. But he's performing like a 5th round pick

Sandy Vagina · 03-24-2016, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

No chance in hell does Ford become a quality starter. Does he fill a need? Sure. But he's performing like a 5th round pick

no chance?

c'mon now.. that's absurd.

**DaneMcCloud** · 03-24-2016, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

But he's performing like a 5th round pick

You're performing like an undrafted free agent that blows his uncle for allowance money

TigeRRUppeRRcut · 03-24-2016, 05:31 PM

Did you finish your chores on time, Dane?

**Easy 6** · 03-24-2016, 05:32 PM

We've all seen the flashes and he has looked incredible in those moments... just hope he is able to put it all together this year, we're gonna need him to

He has to take his own advice... "you cant be a one trick pony"... until he comes out week one stinking it up, I will try to err on the side of optimism

**DaneMcCloud** · 03-24-2016, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

Did you finish your chores on time, Dane?

My chores? What the **** is this shit?

Hey Dipshit, I'm not 38 years old, nor do I live within 2,000 miles of my parents.

Virtually everyone here knows where I live, my history, know of my neighbors (past and present) and what I do for a living.

You're making yourself look like an even bigger dumb**** than usual.

RunKC · 03-24-2016, 06:07 PM

I thought Dee showed much improvement over his rookie season. The PFF stat of his league leading 23 QB pressures in December looks accurate when you rewatch the film.
He got pressure on Carr here several times and forced some early throws and dumpoffs.

He's got 5.5 sacks in only 600ish snaps (half a seasons equivalent). He can get in the backfield on speed and effort alone, and while he did show a bull rush and spin move in this game, those moves need to be perfected and utilized along with better hand usage.

I think the floor for him should be 7 sacks. He can do that with the amount of time he'll play. He just needs to push through and do finish plays like the one in NE that he missed and cost us.

Here's all of his snaps from Oakland:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R_1kbilEcPE

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OTDXNQIrF4Y

TigeRRUppeRRcut · 03-24-2016, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

My chores? What the **** is this shit?

Hey Dipshit, I'm not 38 years old, nor do I live within 2,000 miles of my parents.

Virtually everyone here knows where I live, my history, know of my neighbors (past and present) and what I do for a living.

You're making yourself look like an even bigger dumb**** than usual.

Whatever you say , manti te'o.

**DaneMcCloud** · 03-24-2016, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

Whatever you say , manti te'o.

Can someone ban this ****tard? He's ****ing up every thread.

**DaneMcCloud** · 03-24-2016, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunKC

I thought Dee showed much improvement over his rookie season.

Dee Ford will be fine. This is just a bunch of gloom and doom, which is completely unnecessary.

OldSchool · 03-24-2016, 06:47 PM

Ford will be alright. He showed significant improvement from year 1 to year 2 so he's trending in the right direction. Not everyone will be like rookie Aldon Smith and Von Miller who lit up the league right away as pass rushers.

03-24-2016, 01:13 PM
oaklandhater future chiefs fans Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: oakland california Casino cash: $5798993	With Justin Houston out, it's time for Chiefs to be right about Dee Ford http://espn.go.com/blog/kansas-city-...ht-on-dee-ford KANSAS CITY, Mo. – There is a method to the Kansas City Chiefs’ apparent madness when it comes to drafting in the first round under general manager John Dorsey. They’ve selected a player at a so-called premium position in each of the last three drafts, even if they didn’t have an immediate need for his skills. The Chiefs are determined not to get caught short at an important position. It’s a strategy that makes a lot of sense, but only if they get the draft choices right. We’re going to find out in the fall if the Chiefs were right about their 2014 first-round draft pick, outside linebacker Dee Ford. Ford became a prominent player for the Chiefs next season with the news that Justin Houston had surgery for an ACL injury. It’s unclear how much of the season Houston will miss, but the Chiefs would be wise not to count on getting anything from Houston until the 2017 season. The Chiefs will need the Ford they thought they were getting when they drafted him, the player he was in a December victory over the San Diego Chargers last season. In that game, while filling in for the injured Houston, he had three sacks and broke up the potential winning pass in the end zone on the game’s final play. Other than that, Ford has been mostly unfulfilled potential. He has a quick step that can lead to comparisons with the Chiefs’ all-time leading pass rusher, Pro Football Hall of Fame member Derrick Thomas. Dee Ford could become a bigger part of the Chiefs' defense with the injury to Justin Houston. Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports But Ford hasn’t shown a great array of pass-rush moves, certainly not enough for him to be a consistent concern for opposing defensive coordinators. The rest of his game, against the run or in pass coverage, hasn’t been strong enough, either, his play in the end zone while covering Chargers running back Danny Woodhead notwithstanding. “You can’t be a one-trick pony," Ford said after that game. The Chiefs haven’t given up on Ford, perhaps by necessity. But they knew he was going to take some time to develop. Ford was a defensive end in college at Auburn, where he was rarely asked to drop into pass coverage. “The one thing we came out of this past season with is that Dee Ford is a pretty good football player," coach Andy Reid said recently. “He's a first-round pick. Fifty percent of them end up playing and 50 percent of them don't and most of them take a year or two to get going. So you've seen the improvement every year. I'm expecting it to take another jump forward. The one thing we know is he has that potential." The Chiefs can no longer wait for the payoff. Ford, to his credit, didn’t waste the past two seasons, as frustrating as they might have been, as he waited for his turn. “Whatever your role is, you have to fill it out," he said. “Be man enough to humble yourself and learn from two of the greatest linebackers in this league." It will soon be time for Ford to show the lessons he might have learned from Tamba Hali and Houston. Otherwise, the Chiefs might be shopping for another pass rusher in the first round of the 2017 draft.
Posts: 24,003

03-24-2016, 02:06 PM	#3
Hoover Rufus Dawes Jr. Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-2171821	I'm going to file this under: No shit.
Posts: 18,023

03-24-2016, 05:11 PM	#5
TigeRRUppeRRcut Banned Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: 19th Hole Casino cash: $10004725	No chance in hell does Ford become a quality starter. Does he fill a need? Sure. But he's performing like a 5th round pick
Posts: 11,680

03-24-2016, 05:31 PM	#8
TigeRRUppeRRcut Banned Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: 19th Hole Casino cash: $10004725	Did you finish your chores on time, Dane?
Posts: 11,680

03-24-2016, 05:32 PM	#9
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $-202225	We've all seen the flashes and he has looked incredible in those moments... just hope he is able to put it all together this year, we're gonna need him to He has to take his own advice... "you cant be a one trick pony"... until he comes out week one stinking it up, I will try to err on the side of optimism
Posts: 98,511

03-24-2016, 06:07 PM	#11
RunKC Andy Reid Supporter Join Date: Apr 2012 Casino cash: $-1660389	I thought Dee showed much improvement over his rookie season. The PFF stat of his league leading 23 QB pressures in December looks accurate when you rewatch the film. He got pressure on Carr here several times and forced some early throws and dumpoffs. He's got 5.5 sacks in only 600ish snaps (half a seasons equivalent). He can get in the backfield on speed and effort alone, and while he did show a bull rush and spin move in this game, those moves need to be perfected and utilized along with better hand usage. I think the floor for him should be 7 sacks. He can do that with the amount of time he'll play. He just needs to push through and do finish plays like the one in NE that he missed and cost us. Here's all of his snaps from Oakland: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R_1kbilEcPE https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OTDXNQIrF4Y
Posts: 52,222

03-24-2016, 06:47 PM	#15
OldSchool MVP Join Date: Sep 2013 Casino cash: $10035212	Ford will be alright. He showed significant improvement from year 1 to year 2 so he's trending in the right direction. Not everyone will be like rookie Aldon Smith and Von Miller who lit up the league right away as pass rushers.
Posts: 12,727