Chiefs Babb: Chiefs' Hali is quietly racking up sacks - Page 4

**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.”

Pasta Little Brioni · 09-29-2010, 01:53 PM

8.5 sacks over his last 8 games. He's starting to get the hang of this standing up thing

**OnTheWarpath15** · 09-29-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

the only thing i remember about staley is people laughing at the trade made to acquire him...

no idea where then notion comes from that people wanted him

Same here.

PunkinDrublic · 09-29-2010, 01:57 PM

Hali hustles and brings it on every down. He causes a lot of holds as well. The Chargers were holding him on virtually every play they ran on offense and never got flagged once.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 09-29-2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

Hali hustles and brings it on every down. He causes a lot of holds as well. The Chargers were holding him on virtually every play they ran on offense and never got flagged once.

You could call holding on every play in the NFL.

Let's not act like it only happens to Tamba.

beach tribe · 09-29-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

8.5 sacks over his last 8 games. He's starting to get the hang of this standing up thing

Nice. Didn't realize that. He actually seems to be a better OLB than DE. He was absolutely swallowed by LTs at DE

philfree · 09-29-2010, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beach tribe

Nice. Didn't realize that. He actually seems to be a better OLB than DE. He was absolutely swallowed by LTs at DE

His knock coming out of college was that he was maxed out physically. It seems that sizing down and playing OLB in the 3-4 has opened up a whole new place for him to grow.

I Read on Chief Planet that we should have never forced the 3-4 on our defensive players because they were more suited for the 4-3

PhilFree

PunkinDrublic · 09-29-2010, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

You could call holding on every play in the NFL.

Let's not act like it only happens to Tamba.

Did you even watch the game? This wasn't ticky tack holding that you can just trivialize. Tamba was literally being put in a chokehold on every offensive play SD ran.

Hammock Parties · 09-29-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

You could call holding on every play in the NFL.

Let's not act like it only happens to Tamba.

Certainly doesn't happen to Vrabel as much.

Hug it Out Dan · 09-29-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Certainly doesn't happen to Vrabel as much.

that's because Vrabel is slower than dogshit.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 09-29-2010, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

Did you even watch the game? This wasn't ticky tack holding that you can just trivialize. Tamba was literally being put in a chokehold on every offensive play SD ran.

Ok, Petegz28.

Mr. Laz · 09-29-2010, 04:34 PM

Hali gets held a lot, as he gets more press i imagine the holding penalties will start to rise.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 09-29-2010, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philfree

His knock coming out of college was that he was maxed out physically. It seems that sizing down and playing OLB in the 3-4 has opened up a whole new place for him to grow.

I Read on Chief Planet that we should have never forced the 3-4 on our defensive players because they were more suited for the 4-3

PhilFree

Yes, prior to acquiring more personnel this year suited for the 3-4, 2009 Chiefs Defense was a RAGING success!!!!!

Mr. Laz · 09-29-2010, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROR

Yes, prior to acquiring more personnel this year suited for the 3-4, 2009 Chiefs Defense was a RAGING success!!!!!

except for that was the very freaking 1st year of the changeover

except the player changes on defense were minimal

except for some people have be complaining about "forcing a 3-4" this year.

don't worry, i figure the Chiefs will lose quite a few games now against the better teams coming up, so you guys can go back to complaining. patience.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 09-29-2010, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

except for that was the very freaking 1st year of the changeover

except the player changes on defense were minimal

except for some people have be complaining about "forcing a 3-4" this year.

don't worry, i figure the Chiefs will lose quite a few games now against the better teams coming up, so you guys can go back to complaining. patience.

Who?

keg in kc · 09-29-2010, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROR

Yes, prior to acquiring more personnel this year suited for the 3-4, 2009 Chiefs Defense was a RAGING success!!!!!

I can't believe they acquired more personnel this year. Don't they ever learn. Good teams never do that.

09-28-2010, 11:55 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $762813	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: 42,129

09-29-2010, 01:53 PM	#46
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $3828880	8.5 sacks over his last 8 games. He's starting to get the hang of this standing up thing __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
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09-29-2010, 01:57 PM	#48
PunkinDrublic Stay down bitch! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Plano, TX Casino cash: $6340670	Hali hustles and brings it on every down. He causes a lot of holds as well. The Chargers were holding him on virtually every play they ran on offense and never got flagged once. __________________ Disappointing my parents since 1976
Posts: 9,176

09-29-2010, 04:34 PM	#56
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	Hali gets held a lot, as he gets more press i imagine the holding penalties will start to rise. __________________
Posts: 95,626