Chiefs Whitlock: With Dorsey and Albert injured, Chiefs really hurting

**DeezNutz** · 08-03-2008, 11:41 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/col...ry/732679.html

With Dorsey and Albert injured, Chiefs are really hurting
RIVER FALLS, Wis. | It’s impossible to quantify just how much the injuries suffered by first-round picks Glenn Dorsey and Branden Albert will set back Herm Edwards’ 2008 reclamation project.

The NFL could legalize the use of HGH, steroids, artificial limbs and handguns for the home team at Arrowhead Stadium this season and the Chiefs would still struggle to win four games in 2008.

Having said that, we know Dorsey’s knee injury and Albert’s foot injury will have a significant impact. Dorsey is likely to miss at least one preseason game, and Albert might just miss the rest of training camp.

For a young team looking to build confidence with an injection of youthful, raw talent, losing your two most talented and important rookies certainly hurts. Every team needs a purpose. Developing Dorsey and Albert was pretty much the primary purpose of this preseason.

Dorsey is the key to KC’s revamped defensive front seven. Albert, a left tackle, is the key to protecting Brodie Croyle’s blind side and opening left-side running lanes for moody running back Larry Johnson.

Everything is on hold now.

If the Chiefs could, they’d cancel their trip to Chicago and avoid having what little confidence they have shattered by a veteran Bears squad. The NFL season is a grueling marathon and you have to be “up” for the grind. Playing the role of the Washington Generals is no fun on a football field.

The point of my ramblings from training camp isn’t to convince you to turn in your Chiefs’ season tickets and immerse yourself in Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State football this fall. Although that’s not the worst idea.

I’m trying to prepare you for a hurricane. How you respond to this difficult season is likely to determine the fate of the franchise for the next decade. The Chiefs are dangerously close to falling into the same hole that buried the franchise in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s.

We know the organization has stood by Carl Peterson for too long, which is a repeat of the same mistake the team made with Jack Steadman.

Not surprisingly, the Chiefs are now in the terrible position that befalls many bad teams — even the good things they do are turning bad. Drafting Dorsey and Albert made perfect sense. A defensive tackle and left tackle are often the foundations of good defensive and offensive lines. They’re foundation pieces.

A week into training camp and the foundation of the 2008 season has already been struck by bad luck.

My fear is that midway through this season you’re going to be so irate that you’re going to want everyone in the organization fired, including Herm Edwards. Some of you have already reached this point. I listen to your voicemails and I read your e-mails.

I’m not there yet.

Oh, I can be convinced. I’m not going to be overly protective of Herm. If you read this column regularly, you know I don’t play favorites.

I just believe this is Herm’s first shot at doing what needed to be done when he arrived in Kansas City. If you bring in a new coach at the end of this season, you won’t get any different results. You’re likely to increase the chaos.

Here’s the criteria for calling for Herm’s head:

1. Tamba Hali has to be a bust in his third season. Hali was Herm’s first draft pick. He’s supposed to be a good pass rusher, a guy who can get to the QB a dozen times a season. He should be a big-play defender this season.

2. Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard have to be flops. Herm led us to believe these two safeties would be the next Deron Cherry and Lloyd Burruss. Well, they may not be Jerome Woods and Reggie Tongue.

3. Tank Tyler and Turk McBride must fail. We were led to believe Tank and Turk might be the next Dan Saleaumua and Joe Phillips. Right now, they’re Junior Siavii and Eddie Freeman.

Herm is a defensive-minded head coach. If three of the five key defensive players he’s drafted and pegged as legitimate NFL players bomb, then I think it’s fair to say he’s doing a poor job identifying and developing young talent.

Under Herm and Bill Kuharich, the Chiefs are supposed to be drafting better. I want to see some real proof, especially on the defensive side of the football. I don’t have high hopes for this year’s crop of rookies. Two of them are already beat up, and it’s unreasonable to expect much from the others.

08-03-2008, 11:41 PM	Topic Starter
DeezNutz PermaBanned Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Jouissance Casino cash: $10011570	Whitlock: With Dorsey and Albert injured, Chiefs really hurting http://www.kansascity.com/sports/col...ry/732679.html With Dorsey and Albert injured, Chiefs are really hurting RIVER FALLS, Wis. \| It’s impossible to quantify just how much the injuries suffered by first-round picks Glenn Dorsey and Branden Albert will set back Herm Edwards’ 2008 reclamation project. The NFL could legalize the use of HGH, steroids, artificial limbs and handguns for the home team at Arrowhead Stadium this season and the Chiefs would still struggle to win four games in 2008. Having said that, we know Dorsey’s knee injury and Albert’s foot injury will have a significant impact. Dorsey is likely to miss at least one preseason game, and Albert might just miss the rest of training camp. For a young team looking to build confidence with an injection of youthful, raw talent, losing your two most talented and important rookies certainly hurts. Every team needs a purpose. Developing Dorsey and Albert was pretty much the primary purpose of this preseason. Dorsey is the key to KC’s revamped defensive front seven. Albert, a left tackle, is the key to protecting Brodie Croyle’s blind side and opening left-side running lanes for moody running back Larry Johnson. Everything is on hold now. If the Chiefs could, they’d cancel their trip to Chicago and avoid having what little confidence they have shattered by a veteran Bears squad. The NFL season is a grueling marathon and you have to be “up” for the grind. Playing the role of the Washington Generals is no fun on a football field. The point of my ramblings from training camp isn’t to convince you to turn in your Chiefs’ season tickets and immerse yourself in Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State football this fall. Although that’s not the worst idea. I’m trying to prepare you for a hurricane. How you respond to this difficult season is likely to determine the fate of the franchise for the next decade. The Chiefs are dangerously close to falling into the same hole that buried the franchise in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. We know the organization has stood by Carl Peterson for too long, which is a repeat of the same mistake the team made with Jack Steadman. Not surprisingly, the Chiefs are now in the terrible position that befalls many bad teams — even the good things they do are turning bad. Drafting Dorsey and Albert made perfect sense. A defensive tackle and left tackle are often the foundations of good defensive and offensive lines. They’re foundation pieces. A week into training camp and the foundation of the 2008 season has already been struck by bad luck. My fear is that midway through this season you’re going to be so irate that you’re going to want everyone in the organization fired, including Herm Edwards. Some of you have already reached this point. I listen to your voicemails and I read your e-mails. I’m not there yet. Oh, I can be convinced. I’m not going to be overly protective of Herm. If you read this column regularly, you know I don’t play favorites. I just believe this is Herm’s first shot at doing what needed to be done when he arrived in Kansas City. If you bring in a new coach at the end of this season, you won’t get any different results. You’re likely to increase the chaos. Here’s the criteria for calling for Herm’s head: 1. Tamba Hali has to be a bust in his third season. Hali was Herm’s first draft pick. He’s supposed to be a good pass rusher, a guy who can get to the QB a dozen times a season. He should be a big-play defender this season. 2. Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard have to be flops. Herm led us to believe these two safeties would be the next Deron Cherry and Lloyd Burruss. Well, they may not be Jerome Woods and Reggie Tongue. 3. Tank Tyler and Turk McBride must fail. We were led to believe Tank and Turk might be the next Dan Saleaumua and Joe Phillips. Right now, they’re Junior Siavii and Eddie Freeman. Herm is a defensive-minded head coach. If three of the five key defensive players he’s drafted and pegged as legitimate NFL players bomb, then I think it’s fair to say he’s doing a poor job identifying and developing young talent. Under Herm and Bill Kuharich, the Chiefs are supposed to be drafting better. I want to see some real proof, especially on the defensive side of the football. I don’t have high hopes for this year’s crop of rookies. Two of them are already beat up, and it’s unreasonable to expect much from the others.
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