GRETZ: Tale of Two Linebackers

[ArrowheadHawk]

GRETZ: Tale of Two Linebackers
Jun 07, 2006, 8:12:02 AM by Bob Gretz - FAQ


This is the story of two Chiefs linebackers.

They share the distinction of being the focal and vocal point of discontent among the fans and media when it comes to the Chiefs defense.

Funny about things like that. This year’s whipping boy is next year’s fan favorite. OK, maybe not fan favorite, but there isn’t a lot of talk anymore about how Kawika Mitchell is a bust at middle linebacker.

Now the talk is that Kendrell Bell was a major free agent bust at outside linebacker. Mitchell? Now the pundits think he might actually be able to play.

Let’s start this story with Mitchell. After the 2004 season, Mitchell was considered a good for nothing, no talent, wasted second-round draft pick. The Chiefs defense did not improve in Gunther Cunningham’s first season back as defensive coordinator and Mitchell’s play was pegged as one of the major reasons for that failure.

While the fans and media took to flogging Mitchell, so did Cunningham, but for much different reasons. They saw no talent. Cunningham saw a very physically gifted linebacker, who lacked confidence and did not seem to have a grasp of the defense.

Turns out that Cunningham had the correct evaluation, not the fans or media. Mitchell stepped forward last season and became the leader of the improved Chiefs defense. Yes, improved. Stop only at the yardage allowed and the Chiefs were among the league’s bottom defenses. But break down all the important defensive numbers and they reveal improvement last year, enough to put the Chiefs into the middle of the NFL defensive pack .

Mitchell was in the middle of that improvement and he’s continuing to raise the level of his play in this off-season.

“Kawika Mitchell has stepped up probably two times over last year’s level,” said Cunningham. “He’s got total command of everything he does out there.”

Now Bell has become the whipping post for the fans and media based on his performance last season. Maybe they should take a listen to the Chiefs defensive coordinator this time.

“The address here is One Arrowhead Drive, my office is here and I’ll be glad to bring Kendrell in and have some of those fans and media people say the things that I’ve heard said about this guy,” Cunningham said. “I want them to face him when they say those things.”

The passion in Cunningham’s replay is evidence that he believes Bell is getting a bum rap at being a bum player.

“The thing about Kendrell was he came from another system and he came off an injury and it was obviously bothering him,” Cunningham said. “The problem with him is he won’t come out of games, he won’t let the trainer know what’s happening and he doesn’t want anybody to think he’s not a tough guy.

“And it’s tough to come to a new organization and learn a new system. It’s tough for a player; it’s tough for a coach. He’s playing a new position for him at the right outside linebacker spot in a 4-3 defense, not the 3-4 that he played in Pittsburgh. People don’t want to talk about that.”

Will Kendrell Bell follow in the steps of Kawika Mitchell and elevate himself to a spot where the fans and media no longer think he’s the problem with the defense?

Listen to Gunther Cunningham.

“He’s had a really good off-season,” he said. “Kendrell understands the pressure from the fans and the media. He’s got my name tattooed on his forehead and he knows we need some big plays for him this year.

“If he doesn’t produce, I’ll be very shocked. He’s a playmaker and we are going to see those plays.”

The opinions offered in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs.

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2006/06...o_linebackers/

[cmh6476]

that's good to hear. We all know he didnt live up to expectations, but I think it's fair to assume it could have been from a nagging injury and unfamiliarity with the scheme and new system. No excuses this year, he needs to get it done.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadHawk

Maybe they should take a listen to the Chiefs defensive coordinator this time.

I'll listen to Herm, but not Gun. Hell, Gun isn't even in charge of the defense this season (which is a good thing IMO). Herm has installed the Tampa cover two defense. So in a sense, Bell is going to have to learn a new scheme again this off season.

Go Fox!

[cmh6476]

Originally Posted by Coogs

I'll listen to Herm, but not Gun. Hell, Gun isn't even in charge of the defense this season (which is a good thing IMO). Herm has installed the Tampa cover two defense. So in a sense, Bell is going to have to learn a new scheme again this off season.

Go Fox!

I think Vermeil had ahold of the reins still a little tight. I agree this is now Herm's D, but I don't see why Gunther isn't going to have more imput in what he wants to do and achieve as well. I think Gun's assessment of Kawika is very fair, and the fire he lit under his ass last year really seemed to motivate Mitchell and he seemed to play much better as a result.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by cmh6476

I think Vermeil had ahold of the reins still a little tight. I agree this is now Herm's D, but I don't see why Gunther isn't going to have more imput in what he wants to do and achieve as well. I think Gun's assessment of Kawika is very fair, and the fire he lit under his ass last year really seemed to motivate Mitchell and he seemed to play much better as a result.

That is the job of a position coach to light the fire under one player. It is the job of the DC to light the fire under the whole defense. I have heard on local radio, that Crumrine will light the fire under the D-line, womething that needed to be done. Where was our DC? Couldn't he do that? Or did DV reign him in on that too?

You know, if Gun thinks so much of Herm and not DV, then why did he turn Herm down and come to KC in the first place. More Gun BS IMO. If this cover two doesn't work, I'll bet Gun throws Herm under the bus too.

[MOhillbilly]

Originally Posted by Coogs

That is the job of a position coach to light the fire under one player. It is the job of the DC to light the fire under the whole defense. I have heard on local radio, that Crumrine will light the fire under the D-line, womething that needed to be done. Where was our DC? Couldn't he do that? Or did DV reign him in on that too?

You know, if Gun thinks so much of Herm and not DV, then why did he turn Herm down and come to KC in the first place. More Gun BS IMO. If this cover two doesn't work, I'll bet Gun throws Herm under the bus too.

The DC better have the ability to motivate every coach and player on his staff.

[Chiefnj]

I love the way people point the finger at Vermeil now. Vermeil was reigning Gunther in? Gunther got the benefit of top draft picks, top trades, top free agents. Gun wanted to stand on the sidelines in order to communicate better and get the D players fired up and DV said fine. Now, all of a sudden DV was holding Gun back? What was DV supposed to do, go up to the booth when the defense was on the field?

I don't buy much into what Gunther says, but the guy does know linebackers and deserves the benefit of the doubt when it comes to developing them. I'm not saying it was smart to keep an injured Bell on the field all season, but Gun has a good track record with LB's.

[cmh6476]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

I love the way people point the finger at Vermeil now. Vermeil was reigning Gunther in? Gunther got the benefit of top draft picks, top trades, top free agents. Gun wanted to stand on the sidelines in order to communicate better and get the D players fired up and DV said fine. Now, all of a sudden DV was holding Gun back? What was DV supposed to do, go up to the booth when the defense was on the field?

I don't buy much into what Gunther says, but the guy does know linebackers and deserves the benefit of the doubt when it comes to developing them. I'm not saying it was smart to keep an injured Bell on the field all season, but Gun has a good track record with LB's.

Not holding his personality back, but the way he wanted to run the D. Of course that's going out on a limb, I'm just guessing. But why else did we leave Bartee out there constantly? And why the hell weren't we bumping guys off the line?

[KingPriest2]

Originally Posted by Coogs

That is the job of a position coach to light the fire under one player. It is the job of the DC to light the fire under the whole defense. I have heard on local radio, that Crumrine will light the fire under the D-line, womething that needed to be done. Where was our DC? Couldn't he do that? Or did DV reign him in on that too?

You know, if Gun thinks so much of Herm and not DV, then why did he turn Herm down and come to KC in the first place. More Gun BS IMO. If this cover two doesn't work, I'll bet Gun throws Herm under the bus too.

Don't read too much into it.

Also maybe when Gun got here he realized what dick was about.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Coogs

That is the job of a position coach to light the fire under one player. It is the job of the DC to light the fire under the whole defense. I have heard on local radio, that Crumrine will light the fire under the D-line, womething that needed to be done. Where was our DC? Couldn't he do that? Or did DV reign him in on that too?

You know, if Gun thinks so much of Herm and not DV, then why did he turn Herm down and come to KC in the first place. More Gun BS IMO. If this cover two doesn't work, I'll bet Gun throws Herm under the bus too.

He said why he came back to KC, because he loves the fans he loves the stadium. Thats the big reason. He still had a piss poor Dline last year and the D did improve they werent top 10 or anything, but they did get better.

Dline still may suck though, but another year with gun and i would say better players, we should be in the top 15. I just hope Tamba and Allen can bring the heat.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

The DC better have the ability to motivate every coach and player on his staff.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by KingPriest2

Also maybe when Gun got here he realized what dick was about.

He had to know before he got here. With all the information out there, and talk between coaches, and all the years in the league Gun had logged, he had to know what DV was like before he got here.

[PunkinDrublic]

“The address here is One Arrowhead Drive, my office is here and I’ll be glad to bring Kendrell in and have some of those fans and media people say the things that I’ve heard said about this guy,” Cunningham said. “I want them to face him when they say those things.

If I were still in KC I'd take him up on that offer. Bell played like shit last year and deserves all the criticism that's been coming his way. I'm not buying Gunthers excuses for Bell. It wasn't just getting used to a new system, Bell whiffed on a lot of tackles and made more than his fare share of half assed attempts to bring guys down. Most notably, the NY Giants game where Tiki Barber broke a tackle for a TD and it was shown over and over again. On that play Barber was stopped, but instead of helping out on the play, Bell kind of just rolled over and barely touched Barber.

I respect Gunther for taking up for his guys but to me Bell is a FA bust until proven otherwise.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

I don't buy much into what Gunther says, but the guy does know linebackers and deserves the benefit of the doubt when it comes to developing them. I'm not saying it was smart to keep an injured Bell on the field all season, but Gun has a good track record with LB's.

Tonight on the NFL Network at 8:00 PM Central time, the Giants game from last season is going to be replayed. Watch long Tiki Barber run for a TD. In fact, watch it over and over and over again. That has to be the single worst defensive play I have ever seen, starting with Bell at the point of attack.

That single play is IMO the reason Gun should be/have been run out of town. Playoffs on the line, and the player flat laid down on the play. They quit on making a tackle several times. That play wasn't about Barber being a great back, but our players not getting it done. You all can blame the players if you want. I'm blaming the coach, and that would not be DV. That would be Gun.... the guy in charge of all the defensive players.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

I'm not buying Gunthers excuses for Bell. It wasn't just getting used to a new system, Bell whiffed on a lot of tackles and made more than his fare share of half assed attempts to bring guys down. Most notably, the NY Giants game where Tiki Barber broke a tackle for a TD and it was shown over and over again. On that play Barber was stopped, but instead of helping out on the play, Bell kind of just rolled over and barely touched Barber.

I respect Gunther for taking up for his guys but to me Bell is a FA bust until proven otherwise.

Great minds!