Chiefs Babb: Chiefs' Hali is quietly racking up sacks - Page 6

**Tribal Warfare** · 09-28-2010, 11:55 PM

Chiefs' Hali is quietly racking up sacks
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

Tamba Hali doesn’t say much, but when he does speak, he tends to mean it.

“You know,” he said after the Chiefs’ win Sunday against San Francisco, “Romeo Crennel has come in here and really changed our identity.”

Hali is Kansas City’s best pass rusher, and he took a vow of silence — or mostly silence — during last year’s training camp. He has said privately that he preferred to focus on his job, rather than speak his mind. He renewed that vow this year, and that became one part of Hali’s identity that hasn’t changed.

What Crennel, the team’s first-year defensive coordinator, has done is take Hali and turn him into the Chiefs’ most effective pass-rusher since Jared Allen was traded in 2008. It didn’t take that long, either.

And Crennel did it by changing the defense around Hali. Kansas City’s top priority now is stopping the run, and when that happens, Hali can chase quarterbacks. That’s how he spent Sunday, when he sacked Alex Smith three times. The Chiefs finished with five sacks in their 31-10 win at Arrowhead Stadium. The defense looked like an elite pass-rushing unit, and Hali had one of his best games since becoming an outside linebacker last season.

“All the things we were asking him to do within the scheme of our defense,” coach Todd Haley said, “he did.”

As big as Hali’s sacks were, it was the little things that stuck in his coach’s mind. Haley and Crennel have said that there are many factors that signal a disruptive pass rush, and only the most extreme of those is a sack. If a quarterback is hurried or rattled, or if an offense has to make adjustments that could compromise its objectives, then a defense has done its job.

Haley said Hali was part of a unit that did that Sunday, and Kansas City’s defense kept San Francisco out of the end zone for four full quarters; 49ers wide receiver Josh Morgan scored his team’s only touchdown after time expired.

Haley said that was, defensively, “the most complete game” to date, and it would be hard to argue that it wasn’t the best game Kansas City has played since Haley was hired in 2009. It was shortly after then that Hali was among several defensive players who had to shift to another position to accommodate the 3-4 defensive scheme that Haley hoped to run. Hali could still rush the passer, but he was raw as a linebacker, and few knew whether it would work out.

It took him six weeks to get as many sacks as he had Sunday, and he finished the season with 8 1/2 .

The Chiefs hired Crennel in the offseason, and he puts emphasis on stopping the run. If that happens, then quarterbacks are at an immediate disadvantage.

Sometimes things just go according to plan.

After the San Francisco game, Hali praised the Chiefs’ defensive line for holding the 49ers to 43 rushing yards, and Kansas City’s offense for scoring enough points to force Smith to pass more often — and Crennel for designing a scenario that Hali could succeed in.

That gave Hali his chances, and he delivered.

“Credit those guys for allowing me to rush this week,” he said.

So modest.

Haley has said that Hali, in his fifth year, has a chance to become one of the league’s best pass rushers, and he showed Sunday that he’s capable. Hali had three sacks in a game against Denver last year, and before that, the Chiefs had gone without a three-sack performance since Allen did it against Washington in 2005.

Hali might not say much, but that doesn’t mean he’ll go unnoticed the rest of this season. If Crennel’s scheme keeps working, you can be certain of that. That much showed in one afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium.

“That is a really good day,” Haley said, “and that is good for the Chiefs.”

**Saul Good** · 09-29-2010, 07:49 PM

I would like to see one quote from someone last year that mentioned our Safeties when bitching about switching to the 3-4. It was all about Hali, Dorsey, and lack of a true NT.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-29-2010, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

I would like to see one quote from someone last year that mentioned our Safeties when bitching about switching to the 3-4. It was all about Hali, Dorsey, and lack of a true NT.

More bullshit.

Do a search on DaneMcCloud and Mike Brown, then shut the **** up.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-29-2010, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

I guess Arenas is a 3-tech, right?

Go back to the DC, Dummy

**OnTheWarpath15** · 09-29-2010, 07:57 PM

Getting Corey Mays off the ****ing field has helped this defense way more than anyone is giving credit for.

**Saul Good** · 09-29-2010, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

More bullshit.

Do a search on DaneMcCloud and Mike Brown, then shut the **** up.

Just so I'm clear, your contention was that the Chiefs, when determining what style of defense they were going to play as they rebuilt their team from the ground up, should have considered which system best fit Mike Brown's skill set? It sounds like a pretty smart thing to say, but you're a pretty smart guy.

philfree · 09-29-2010, 08:08 PM

LOL..I just remembered that I have an auto'd mini helment signed by both Tamba Hali and.....Jared Allen. (digging in the in the cabnet grumbling.."where is is my precious?"....)

PhilFree

**dirk digler** · 09-29-2010, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

I would like to see one quote from someone last year that mentioned our Safeties when bitching about switching to the 3-4. It was all about Hali, Dorsey, and lack of a true NT.

That may be true with regards to switching to the 3-4 but there was alot of bitching about our safety play and has been for several seasons.

**Saul Good** · 09-29-2010, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirk digler

That may be true with regards to switching to the 3-4 but there was alot of bitching about our safety play and has been for several seasons.

Of course there was. Our Safeties were terrible, but that didn't have anything to do with playing a 3-4 or a 4-3. People are pretending that the Safeties we added equate to adding personnel that fits a 3-4 system as if Berry and Arenas are 3-4 Safeties as opposed to 4-3 Safeties.

philfree · 09-29-2010, 08:12 PM

So at this point are there people who still contend that we shouldn't have switched to the 3-4 LAST YEAR?

PhilFree

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-29-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Just so I'm clear, your contention was that the Chiefs, when determining what style of defense they were going to play as they rebuilt their team from the ground up, should have considered which system best fit Mike Brown's skill set? It sounds like a pretty smart thing to say, but you're a pretty smart guy.

Just shut the **** up.

JFC, you're a ****ing moron.

Again, do a search, Asswipe.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-29-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Of course there was. Our Safeties were terrible, but that didn't have anything to do with playing a 3-4 or a 4-3. People are pretending that the Safeties we added equate to adding personnel that fits a 3-4 system as if Berry and Arenas are 3-4 Safeties as opposed to 4-3 Safeties.

What? Who said that?

You're a reerun. You might wanna think about having that checked.

**dirk digler** · 09-29-2010, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Of course there was. Our Safeties were terrible, but that didn't have anything to do with playing a 3-4 or a 4-3. People are pretending that the Safeties we added equate to adding personnel that fits a 3-4 system as if Berry and Arenas are 3-4 Safeties as opposed to 4-3 Safeties.

I'm not around as much as I used to be but that would be the first I have heard of that. BTW Arenas plays nickel corner not safety

**Saul Good** · 09-29-2010, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Just shut the **** up.

JFC, you're a ****ing moron.

Again, do a search, Asswipe.

I'm not going to do a search for stupid shit you've said. I can read it right here. Guardian says that the only player we added for 3-4 personnel was Smith, and you countered by listing off 3 Defensive Backs as if those guys are somehow 3-4 DBs but not 4-3 guys.

You don't know what the f*** you are talking about. Mike Brown sucked because he was 3 years past his prime, not because he was playing in a 4-3. John McGraw sucked because he didn't have the talent, not be cause he was playing in a 4-3.

You are the one who was bitching that Hali and Dorsey couldn't play in a 4-3. Don't act like the clown shoes you are wearing go with your tie.

**Saul Good** · 09-29-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I'm not around as much as I used to be but that would be the first I have heard of that. BTW Arenas plays nickel corner not safety

It's right here in this thread:

Originally Posted by Saul Good View Post
I would like to see one quote from someone last year that mentioned our Safeties when bitching about switching to the 3-4. It was all about Hali, Dorsey, and lack of a true NT.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

More bullshit.

Do a search on DaneMcCloud and Mike Brown, then shut the **** up.

Again, our Safeties sucked, but it had nothing to do with 4-3 versus 3-4. Dane said it was stupid to switch to the 3-4 because we didn't have the personnel. The only front 7 player we have now that we didn't have last year is Smith, and he's filled in for TJ who was playing well.

I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't have been a good idea for Haley to have said, "I'd like to switch to a 3-4 as we rebuild, but we need to stay in a 4-3 because it fits Mike Brown's style".

**dirk digler** · 09-29-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

It's right here in this thread:

Originally Posted by Saul Good View Post
I would like to see one quote from someone last year that mentioned our Safeties when bitching about switching to the 3-4. It was all about Hali, Dorsey, and lack of a true NT.

Again, our Safeties sucked, but it had nothing to do with 4-3 versus 3-4. Dane said it was stupid to switch to the 3-4 because we didn't have the personnel. The only front 7 player we have now that we didn't have last year is Smith, and he's filled in for TJ who was playing well.

I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't have been a good idea for Haley to have said, "I'd like to switch to a 3-4 as we rebuild, but we need to stay in a 4-3 because it fits Mike Brown's style".

I can't speak for Dane but I think he was talking about complaining about the safties in general not about moving to the 3-4. Dane can correct me if I am wrong.

09-28-2010, 11:55 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3087187	Babb: Chiefs' Hali is quietly racking up sacks Chiefs' Hali is quietly racking up sacks By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star Tamba Hali doesn’t say much, but when he does speak, he tends to mean it. “You know,” he said after the Chiefs’ win Sunday against San Francisco, “Romeo Crennel has come in here and really changed our identity.” Hali is Kansas City’s best pass rusher, and he took a vow of silence — or mostly silence — during last year’s training camp. He has said privately that he preferred to focus on his job, rather than speak his mind. He renewed that vow this year, and that became one part of Hali’s identity that hasn’t changed. What Crennel, the team’s first-year defensive coordinator, has done is take Hali and turn him into the Chiefs’ most effective pass-rusher since Jared Allen was traded in 2008. It didn’t take that long, either. And Crennel did it by changing the defense around Hali. Kansas City’s top priority now is stopping the run, and when that happens, Hali can chase quarterbacks. That’s how he spent Sunday, when he sacked Alex Smith three times. The Chiefs finished with five sacks in their 31-10 win at Arrowhead Stadium. The defense looked like an elite pass-rushing unit, and Hali had one of his best games since becoming an outside linebacker last season. “All the things we were asking him to do within the scheme of our defense,” coach Todd Haley said, “he did.” As big as Hali’s sacks were, it was the little things that stuck in his coach’s mind. Haley and Crennel have said that there are many factors that signal a disruptive pass rush, and only the most extreme of those is a sack. If a quarterback is hurried or rattled, or if an offense has to make adjustments that could compromise its objectives, then a defense has done its job. Haley said Hali was part of a unit that did that Sunday, and Kansas City’s defense kept San Francisco out of the end zone for four full quarters; 49ers wide receiver Josh Morgan scored his team’s only touchdown after time expired. Haley said that was, defensively, “the most complete game” to date, and it would be hard to argue that it wasn’t the best game Kansas City has played since Haley was hired in 2009. It was shortly after then that Hali was among several defensive players who had to shift to another position to accommodate the 3-4 defensive scheme that Haley hoped to run. Hali could still rush the passer, but he was raw as a linebacker, and few knew whether it would work out. It took him six weeks to get as many sacks as he had Sunday, and he finished the season with 8 1/2 . The Chiefs hired Crennel in the offseason, and he puts emphasis on stopping the run. If that happens, then quarterbacks are at an immediate disadvantage. Sometimes things just go according to plan. After the San Francisco game, Hali praised the Chiefs’ defensive line for holding the 49ers to 43 rushing yards, and Kansas City’s offense for scoring enough points to force Smith to pass more often — and Crennel for designing a scenario that Hali could succeed in. That gave Hali his chances, and he delivered. “Credit those guys for allowing me to rush this week,” he said. So modest. Haley has said that Hali, in his fifth year, has a chance to become one of the league’s best pass rushers, and he showed Sunday that he’s capable. Hali had three sacks in a game against Denver last year, and before that, the Chiefs had gone without a three-sack performance since Allen did it against Washington in 2005. Hali might not say much, but that doesn’t mean he’ll go unnoticed the rest of this season. If Crennel’s scheme keeps working, you can be certain of that. That much showed in one afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium. “That is a really good day,” Haley said, “and that is good for the Chiefs.”
Posts: 43,464

09-29-2010, 07:49 PM	#76
Saul Good Quit your bullshit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bored of winning Casino cash: $10052799	I would like to see one quote from someone last year that mentioned our Safeties when bitching about switching to the 3-4. It was all about Hali, Dorsey, and lack of a true NT. __________________ Today is not a good day to be a pussy.
Posts: 41,870

09-29-2010, 07:57 PM	#79
OnTheWarpath15 MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2021115	Getting Corey Mays off the ****ing field has helped this defense way more than anyone is giving credit for.
Posts: 60,758

09-29-2010, 08:08 PM	#81
philfree Indian Twitter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Free Agency Casino cash: $-2293802	LOL..I just remembered that I have an auto'd mini helment signed by both Tamba Hali and.....Jared Allen. (digging in the in the cabnet grumbling.."where is is my precious?"....) PhilFree __________________ [/SIGPIC]
Posts: 16,176

09-29-2010, 08:12 PM	#84
philfree Indian Twitter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Free Agency Casino cash: $-2293802	So at this point are there people who still contend that we shouldn't have switched to the 3-4 LAST YEAR? PhilFree __________________ [/SIGPIC] Last edited by philfree; 09-29-2010 at 08:25 PM..
Posts: 16,176