Defensive Tackles are up to challenge

[Mr. Laz]

BENGALS AT CHIEFS | Noon Sunday at Arrowhead

Tackles are up to challenge

Reed, Edwards have gone from out of work to starters against Cincinnati.

By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Even in their wildest dreams, defensive tackles James Reed and Ron Edwards never anticipated when they joined the Chiefs in the spring that they would open the season as starters.

Start? They merely wanted to make the team.

The Chiefs appeared to have Ryan Sims and Lional Dalton entrenched as starters and John Browning and Junior Siavii to back them up.

Yet when the Chiefs open Sunday against Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium, both Reed and Edwards will be with the starting defense. They displaced the underachieving Sims and Dalton while Browning and Siavii are gone.

It’s not exactly as coach Herm Edwards envisioned it, either.

“I imagined they’d come in and compete,” he said. “That’s what you want them to do. Those are the guys that so far have done the best job of being consistent. That doesn’t mean they’re set in stone at those positions. They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do. They’ve been available (to practice) for the most part.”

Reed and Edwards were available to the Chiefs or any other team deep into the free-agency period. Edwards joined the Chiefs in late March, Reed in mid-May.

By then, most starting free agents had snatched up the available first-team jobs. Backups are left to scramble for leftovers.

“I know I’m a good player,” said Reed, who played the last five seasons for Herm Edwards with the Jets. “I signed late, but I didn’t let that get me down. I was thinking I wouldn’t get a job until right before (training camp) anyway, so I was happy to sign when I did.

“I don’t know why nobody else picked me up. I thought I had a good season last year. That’s in the past. I’m using that as motivation. I’m using that as a chip on my shoulder.”

What’s more, neither Edwards nor Reed has been a full-time starter. Edwards started only one of his five seasons with Buffalo. Ditto for Reed in New York.

But Edwards is a favorite of both defensive-line coach Tim Krumrie, who worked with him in Buffalo, and Herm Edwards, who coached against him with the Jets. At 315 pounds, Edwards is a huge run-stopper who could also rush the quarterback when healthy.

“I just saw this as an opportunity to play,” Ron Edwards said. “I didn’t really look to see who else they had here. I like Tim Krumrie and I like Herm Edwards and I wanted to play for them. It was all about taking care of my business.”

Reed was a favorite of Herm Edwards for his all-out effort and consistency.

“I can’t let him down,” Reed said. “I owe a lot to him. He drafted me in the seventh round when nobody else would draft me. Everybody else thought I was too short. I’ve got to play well for him.

“I’m just happy to be on the field. I was happy to be a backup. I was just happy to be picked up. I told myself if I got picked up by a team that I was going to make it hard for them to cut me.”

The presence of Sims and Dalton loomed as obstacles. Sims was once a high first-round pick for the Chiefs, though he’s underachieved. The Chiefs re-signed Dalton as a free agent last spring.

But not only did Reed and Edwards have the support of their coaches, they also arrived just at the right time, as Herm Edwards was getting his program off the ground. He was giving everyone a fresh start and promoting competition at many positions.

“I didn’t have an opinion one way or another when I took the job,” Herm Edwards said. “I just tried to start off with an even playing field and let them compete.

“When you’re a starter, you have to lose the position. Somebody has to take it from you. Unless the guy plays better than you, then you’re the starter.”

Reed and Edwards have apparently done that. If the intent was to ignite Sims and Dalton, the move appears to have worked.

Both are likely to play as backups against the Bengals, but they aren’t necessarily happy about the situation. Sims engaged in an animated discussion with Herm Edwards after a recent practice.

At issue was what Sims had to do to get his job back.

Dalton wondered whether he should have signed with the Bengals, who offered him more money than the Chiefs when he was a free agent.

“Sometimes it’s frustrating, but I can’t worry about what I can’t control,” Dalton said. “I don’t understand it, but it’s the way it is.

“I knew there was going to be competition. I see the film. I guess we’re seeing two different things. But it doesn’t matter what I think.”


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To reach Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter for The Star, call (816) 234-4875 or send e-mail to ateicher@kcstar.com

[Smed1065]

Wow from the RSS from the front page, thanks.

[noa]

Sounds like Dalton is pissed. Hopefully, its good motivation for him to step it up.

[bishop_74]

It makes me wonder if our DT's are so bad, other teams backups are that much better, or is this really a motivational tool?

[wazu]

For all my bashing of Herm, I really do like this move, as well as getting rid of Siavii and Browning. Siavii was just embarrassing to have on the roster, and Browning was an enigma. He survived three head coaches while seemingly never making any plays. The only thing more beyond my comprehension was the insistence on keeping Bartee year after year.

[milkman]

From the article:
[Lional Dalton]“I knew there was going to be competition. I see the film. I guess we’re seeing two different things. But it doesn’t matter what I think.”

I wonder which film he's been looking at?

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Adam

For all my bashing of Herm, I really do like this move, as well as getting rid of Siavii and Browning. Siavii was just embarrassing to have on the roster, and Browning was an enigma. He survived three head coaches while seemingly never making any plays. The only thing more beyond my comprehension was the insistence on keeping Bartee year after year.

Browning was simply a hard worker, and we didn't have anyone better to displace him.

[MGRS13]

This tells me more about Sims and Dalton then it does about Reed and Edwards. Sort of the same deal with Black at Tackle, tells me all I need to know about Svitek.

[Mr. Laz]

It’s not exactly as coach Herm Edwards envisioned it, either.

“I imagined they’d come in and compete,” he said. “That’s what you want them to do. Those are the guys that so far have done the best job of being consistent. That doesn’t mean they’re set in stone at those positions. They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do. They’ve been available (to practice) for the most part.”

hardly a ringing endorsement by Edwards

[milkman]

Originally Posted by MGRS13

This tells me more about Sims and Dalton then it does about Reed and Edwards. Sort of the same deal with Black at Tackle, tells me all I need to know about Svitek.

Do you EVER have anything positive to say, or are you just a pain in the ass whiney bitch?

[CupidStunt]

Perfect blend at the DT position. It'll be refreshing to see a big man/explosive undertackle in the middle instead of two no-hopers.

[MGRS13]

Originally Posted by milkman

Do you EVER have anything positive to say, or are you just a pain in the ass whiney bitch?

I'm a realist. Sorry jackass, do you still believe in the ****ing easter bunny too?

[go bo]

mmmm, easter bunny...

sounds delicious...

[hypersensitiveZO6]

I am very pleased that Dalton and Sims are pissed.

[Archie Bunker]

Originally Posted by MGRS13

This tells me more about Sims and Dalton then it does about Reed and Edwards. Sort of the same deal with Black at Tackle, tells me all I need to know about Svitek.

Because no one on the Chiefs can actually be any good.