Chiefs Going 3-4 -Adam Shefters Blog

[philfree]

Posted: Adam Schefter | Adam Schefter | Tags: Glenn Dorsey, Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City announced its coaching staff this week. What it didn’t announce is that the Chiefs are planning to switch to a 3-4 defense.

Under the guidance of new defensive coaches Clancy Pendergast and Gary Gibbs, the Chiefs are turning to the defense that has done so well for Pittsburgh and is back in vogue in the NFL. The Chiefs are going 3-4.

Now Kansas City is going to have to tailor its personnel accordingly. But what is most intriguing and mysterious about it is where last year’s first-round pick, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, fits in. Dorsey might not be stout enough to play nose tackle in a 3-4, and he might not be big enough to play end in that style of defense.

One year after becoming Kansas City’s top pick, there now are questions about Dorsey’s role.

But the changes now are coming fast and furious in Kansas City, mainly on defense.



Discuss

PhilFree

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by missinDThomas

Tank may be big enough to play NT and is freakishly strong

What do you mean "may be big enough?" I understand that he's listed at 306, but if Tyler is anything below 340, I'll eat my hat. The guys head and neck must be 250 lbs. alone.

And I understand that Dorsey may lack the verticality of what some people look for out of a prototypical 3-4 defensive end, but I think that he has the physical skills to play the position effectively.

I think last years debacle on defense was the culmination of Herms insistence on employing the Cover 2 and Gunther's desire to use his blitz/stunt packages. The combination was a complete disaster. (I've never liked the Cover 2 since 2004 when they started calling pass interference enforcement tighter. I did like Gunther's "mad scientist" approach to defense, but I think he needed specific players for it to work, specifically a big edge rusher like he had in DT or Kearse in Tennessee.) From comments made by Chiefs players, it seems that nobody knew exactly what was going on in terms of positions, responsibilities, etc.

I think we'll see a little bit better defense from the Chiefs this next season. Hell, I don't think it could get worse, and I'm not so sure that some of these players couldn't be much improved with a more stable defense installed. I really like the secondary (Flowers, Carr, Page, Pollard), and the defensive line (Tank, Dorsey). I'm not sure where guys like Hali and McBride end up in a 3-4 though. Linebackers need a major revision, but again, I think a lot of these guys were not utilized properly (witness the revolving door at MLB).

To put it on the bright side, there's no other direction other than up at this point for the defense.

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Ok, this insensible doofus HAS to be a dupe.

Remember that when you are watching the Chiefs defense this year.

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by CupidStunt

He's far too light to be called a prototype. He could fit, but he'll need to put on a few pounds, and even then he'll be on the lighter side. Five-technique ends are literally 4-3 DTs, and not even small DTs; they have to be able to control two gaps.

He is around 280lb, and that is trying to stay light to play 4-3 end. He will have no trouble getting up around 290lbs, and plenty of good 3-4 DE's play around 290. He came out of college at 278lbs. So, 290 is not going to be a problem. And, his agility and footwork make him a good fit at 3-4 end.

[tboss27]

This may have been said already, but here are my concerns w/ switching to the 3-4. IMO we do that and two out of our last three top draft choices are almost wasted. Dorsey especially is a problem in this scheme, he can't play NT and is too short to man an end spot. Hali isn't much better in the 34, I don't think he has the speed to play OLB and isn't big enough at end. Another concern is adding one more linebacker to our NFL reject corps. DJ is the only one on our roster w/ any ability, switching D's makes us even more reliable on a position in which we have very weak talent compared to most teams. I like the 3-4, I think it has its advantages with the right personnel. Coaches are kidding themselves though if they think we have the players to pull this off next year.

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by milkman

Good god, you are a ****ing idiot.

THIS

[Saccopoo]

I'm wondering about the potential of employing a 46 type of defensive scheme. Seems to me that we would have the personnel to pull this off better than a traditional 4-3 or 3-4. Pollard seems ideally suited for a 46, as does Johnson. And it would mean that we wouldn't have to completely revamp our defensive line in the process. And that it would play into the hands of our defensive strength, which, at this point, is our secondary.

It would also help in defending the four/five receiver sets that are becoming more commonplace as well as the wildcat type formations.

Any thoughts that aren't of the "moron, idiot, nincompoop" variety? I'd really be interested in objective commentary about the potential use of a 46.

[missinDThomas]

http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal...t_the_deal_is/


wilfork is trippin because of the Cassel deal.....maybe Pioli can scoop him up

[DaWolf]

First of all, until we hear it from the horse's mouth I'm not going to get too worked up over this.

Second, I don't understand what all the fretting is about. This defense has sucked for the better part of a decade and hasn't won a championship for over 30 years. So if they want to implement a 3-4 after a 2-14 year where we recorded 10 sacks, I'm not going to worry about us having the personnel or not because, frankly, we need a heck of a lot of new personnel no matter what defense we employ, so might as well get a head start...

[jiveturkey]

Why is height so important for a 3-4 DE?

[soundmind]

Originally Posted by DaWolf

First of all, until we hear it from the horse's mouth I'm not going to get too worked up over this.

Second, I don't understand what all the fretting is about. This defense has sucked for the better part of a decade and hasn't won a championship for over 30 years. So if they want to implement a 3-4 after a 2-14 year where we recorded 10 sacks, I'm not going to worry about us having the personnel or not because, frankly, we need a heck of a lot of new personnel no matter what defense we employ, so might as well get a head start...

Now's as good a time as any, and as long as the league shifting toward passing offenses, I'm all for the 3-4. But in that same vein, we need talent for whatever we run.

[HIChief]

Originally Posted by missinDThomas

STRENGTHS
Body Control and Balance
Quickness off Ball
Size
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
Change of Direction


Raji is a big, physical lineman who commands a lot of attention. He's a good athlete who has a solid burst off the line, plays with leverage, and bull rushes opponents up the field. He has a quick first step, immediately penetrates upfield and makes plays in the backfield. He displays great strength and has an advantage against the opposition with his initial push. – Chris Steuber, Scout.com Draft Projection: 1st Round

I like the sound of that. Who could argue against landing this lad? Maybe we could even trade down, pick him deeper in the 1st round, and get a later round pick as well.

[missinDThomas]

Originally Posted by HIChief

I like the sound of that. Who could argue against landing this lad? Maybe we could even trade down, pick him deeper in the 1st round, and get a later round pick as well.

Denver supposedly likes him too, and now think that he won't make it to 12 because of his performance during Senior Bowl week.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by philfree

One year after becoming Kansas City’s top pick, there now are questions about Dorsey’s role.

Didn't Shefter get the memo from Zombi? There will be no questions under the Patriot Way!

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Gibbs ran a 4-3 in New Orleans.
Pendergast ran a 4-3 in Arizona before Whisenhunt made him switch.

Dorsey was a top five pick and the consensus #1 player in the draft last year, and doesn't fit in a 3-4 whatsoever.

Combine that with the shitiful nature of the two above coaches in their last coordinating stints, and if this is true, it says a lot about how goddamned incompetently this franchise is still being run.

[BigChiefFan]

I've always thought Raji was the pick. Some don't like the pick, but I think he has PB potential and would be thrilled with drafting him.