Chiefs Gretz: Evolving Linebackers

booger · 08-11-2008, 07:16 AM

Aug 11, 2008, 6:07:16 AM by Bob Gretz -

RIVER FALLS, WI – Before he left his home to catch the Chiefs charter flight here to the northwoods for training camp, Gunther Cunningham told his wife that he had some athletic, fast and quick linebackers going to camp, he just didn’t know if they were tough enough.

As he backed out of the driveway, Cunningham stopped went back in the house and told his wife he wouldn’t be home until he had some tough linebackers.

Well Rene Cunningham, get ready because your husband will be home later this week when the Chiefs break camp and return to Kansas City.

There’s no question that in this Chiefs training camp, linebacker has been the position of most change. The three starters who opened camp are now down to one. Various bodies have moved in and out of the lineup. The only constant has been Derrick Johnson. Everything else has been up in the air.

If forced today to pick a normal contingent of six or seven linebackers for the final 53-man roster, Herm Edwards would say Derrick Johnson and … and … and …

But after two-plus weeks of work, Cunningham smiles when he talks about his backers. At the start of camp, he wasn’t able to do that. Just ask his wife.

“We’ll have three guys out there,” Cunningham said after the Chiefs practice on Sunday at UW-River Falls. “They will be three guys that are quick, fast, athletic and tough. We know that much.”

They will also play defense the way Cunningham wants it played. Since he returned to Kansas City in 2004, the Chiefs defense has had a problem with trust, especially at the linebacker position. “It’s the most important ingredient in any defense, trusting what the guys next to you are going to do.” Cunningham said. “When you don’t trust, you can’t succeed.”

Right now, Johnson, Pat Thomas and Demorrio Williams are playing linebacker the way Cunningham wants. They were able to take that from the practice field to the playing field last Thursday against the Bears.

“We’ve found three guys,” Cunningham said. “We are looking for more. I think we have a fourth, but we are still looking for more.”

That fourth would be veteran Donnie Edwards, who has missed over a week now trying to come back from a hamstring injury. Hamstring injuries limited Edwards last year, although he started all 16 games. Several of those starts came when he had barely practiced during the week of preparation.

Something like that will not happen in ‘08. Edwards has a streak of 153 consecutive starts, but that will end the week he can’t practice.

“You’ve got to practice to play this defense,” said Cunningham. “Last year, it hurt us when Donnie didn’t practice and then tried to play. It was the same thing the week D.J. (Johnson) missed because his Dad passed away. That’s a very emotional and personal thing, but without the preparation, he wasn’t ready to play.”

Nobody respects Donnie Edwards more than Cunningham. “You watch him work right now, trying to get back and there’s no questioning his commitment,” the defensive coordinator said. “We just have to find a way to keep him on the field.”

The player who has stepped forward and surprised Chiefs fans is Thomas. Signed during the season last year after he was released by Jacksonville, Thomas played n just four games and was largely active only in the kicking game.

But he started showing himself in the off-season program. When Cunningham grew unhappy with Harris and his play in the middle, he made the switch to Thomas and it’s stuck.

“He played a good game in Chicago, really showed his abilities,” Cunningham said. “He’s intelligent, he’s athletic and he’s tough. There have been times in practice where I’ve called out ‘Nice play D.J.’ only to look closer and see it was Pat Thomas who made the play.”

Recently, the linebacker who has made the biggest jump is Williams. Signed in the off-season as an unrestricted free agent from Atlanta, he had trouble making the transition to Cunningham’s defense. But some of those mental clouds have lifted and he’s begun making plays.

“We are giving him a chance to do some things he never had the chance to do down in Atlanta,” Cunningham said. “This is a very athletic guy.”

During Sunday’s practice, Cunningham had Williams rushing the passer off the edge of a 3-3-5 defensive look. His combination of speed with his ability to get low to the ground made him almost unstoppable for the Chiefs pass protection.

Johnson, Thomas, Williams and Edwards will make the team. That leaves room for two, maybe three more linebackers. The leader among the other LBs is rookie Wes Dacus out of Arkansas. “He’s done some good things,” said Cunningham. Another rookie LeRue Rumph started strong but he’s tailed off in the last week or so. “I think he’s just tired of me yelling at him,” said Cunningham. “If he can bounce back, he’ll be a factor.”

There’s a lot of work left to be done, but Gunther Cunningham likes what’s happened with his linebackers so far.

“We had questions about their toughness and some of those have been answered,” he said. “Now, they’ve got to keep it up.”

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/08...g_linebackers/

Deberg_1990 · 08-11-2008, 07:28 AM

Blah, Blah Blah....im so sick of hearing the same crap come out of Guns mouth year after year and seeing no improvement.

We saw the same old mistakes against the run last Thursday we have seen for the past 4 years.

Hit the road Gun.

**dirk digler** · 08-11-2008, 07:32 AM

Gretz mentioned something the other day that Harris is likely to be cut. That would be strange since he is going from being a starter last year to being cut before the season even started.

nychief · 08-11-2008, 07:38 AM

not one mention of Oliver Hoyte! my god!

**Rausch** · 08-11-2008, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Blah, Blah Blah....im so sick of hearing the same crap come out of Guns mouth year after year and seeing no improvement.

No improvement?

Do you watch the ****ing games?

04-07 stats

Total defense:
04 = 31st
05 = 25th
06 = 16th
07 = 13th

Thats yards allowed, EVERY SINGLE YEAR IMPROVEMENT.

Scoring defense:

04 = 29th
05 = 16t (HUGE IMPROVEMENT!)
06 = 21st (backslide)
07 = 14th (HUGE IMPROVEMENT)

So in the only important defensive catagories Gun's defense has improved EVERY SINGLE YEAR other than one (and that was only in scoring.)

Since Gun took over he has more than HALVED our defensive rankings...

HypnotizedMonkey · 08-11-2008, 08:01 AM

I'll believe it when I see it... in regular season play.

Deberg_1990 · 08-11-2008, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

No improvement?

Do you watch the ****ing games?

04-07 stats

Total defense:
04 = 31st
05 = 25th
06 = 16th
07 = 13th

Thats yards allowed, EVERY SINGLE YEAR IMPROVEMENT.

Scoring defense:

04 = 29th
05 = 16t (HUGE IMPROVEMENT!)
06 = 21st (backslide)
07 = 14th (HUGE IMPROVEMENT)

So in the only important defensive catagories Gun's defense has improved EVERY SINGLE YEAR other than one (and that was only in scoring.)

Since Gun took over he has more than HALVED our defensive rankings...

Yes, i watch the games. Last year we started off decent enough then fell apart the 2nd half of the season and teams were running all over us.

**Rausch** · 08-11-2008, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Yes, i watch the games. Last year we started off decent enough then fell apart the 2nd half of the season and teams were running all over us.

Still our best defensive year in the last 6.

And that's with a bunch of old farts no longer here. The fact that Gun could patch together a bunch of scrubs needing to be cut and still put a respectable D out there should be reason to pat him on the back, not toss uninformed jabs...

Deberg_1990 · 08-11-2008, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

Still our best defensive year in the last 6.

And that's with a bunch of old farts no longer here. The fact that Gun could patch together a bunch of scrubs needing to be cut and still put a respectable D out there should be reason to pat him on the back, not toss uninformed jabs...

Ill continue to slam on Gun, because i dont think hes very good.

Hes a bunch of sound and fury signifying nothing.

Stats are nice, but can be very misleading.

**the Talking Can** · 08-11-2008, 08:23 AM

every year we get the "gun's got that look in his eyes story".....the "gun's got his guys this time" story...

every year it is a crock of shit

**Rausch** · 08-11-2008, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Ill continue to slam on Gun, because i dont think hes very good.

Hes a bunch of sound and fury signifying nothing.

Stats are nice, but can be very misleading.

Defenses that don't allow other teams to score are good.

Offenses that score a lot of points are good.

Is that misleading?

Here's misleading: our starting WR, HB, AND QB all missed at least 6 games last year.

Yet our defense IMPROVED.

You take Harrison, Manning, and Addai out for 6 weeks and I'll bet my next paycheck their defense does not improve over last year...

**BigRedChief** · 08-11-2008, 08:28 AM

Before he left his home to catch the Chiefs charter flight here to the northwoods for training camp, Gunther Cunningham told his wife that he had some athletic, fast and quick linebackers going to camp, he just didn’t know if they were tough enough.

As he backed out of the driveway, Cunningham stopped went back in the house and told his wife he wouldn’t be home until he had some tough linebackers.

I sure like Gunnther's passion.

**Rausch** · 08-11-2008, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

every year we get the "gun's got that look in his eyes story".....the "gun's got his guys this time" story...

every year it is a crock of shit

Is Gun writing the article?

Nein. He's coaching the defense. And it's improving every year.

If the writing isn't improving bitch about the Star's "coordinator."

Deberg_1990 · 08-11-2008, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

Defenses that don't allow other teams to score are good.

Offenses that score a lot of points are good.

Is that misleading?

Here's misleading: our starting WR, HB, AND QB all missed at least 6 games last year.

Yet our defense IMPROVED.

You take Harrison, Manning, and Addai out for 6 weeks and I'll bet my next paycheck their defense does not improve over last year...

Its just excuses. Its a different one every year for this Turd and im tired of it.

Ive seen other teams defenses play well over the years and overcome adversity. Why cant ours?

chiefbowe82 · 08-11-2008, 08:56 AM

A new scheme led by chan gailey
a new qb fast, young, cannon arm
our stud healthy rb with two good backs behind him
a real fb
depth at wr
1st round LT
new rg
new center
healthy line with some depth, consistent at posistions

we should be improved on offense, our defense needs to keep it up

08-11-2008, 07:16 AM
booger Don't Tug on Superman's Cape Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: clear out in the sticks Casino cash: $1468550	Gretz: Evolving Linebackers Aug 11, 2008, 6:07:16 AM by Bob Gretz - RIVER FALLS, WI – Before he left his home to catch the Chiefs charter flight here to the northwoods for training camp, Gunther Cunningham told his wife that he had some athletic, fast and quick linebackers going to camp, he just didn’t know if they were tough enough. As he backed out of the driveway, Cunningham stopped went back in the house and told his wife he wouldn’t be home until he had some tough linebackers. Well Rene Cunningham, get ready because your husband will be home later this week when the Chiefs break camp and return to Kansas City. There’s no question that in this Chiefs training camp, linebacker has been the position of most change. The three starters who opened camp are now down to one. Various bodies have moved in and out of the lineup. The only constant has been Derrick Johnson. Everything else has been up in the air. If forced today to pick a normal contingent of six or seven linebackers for the final 53-man roster, Herm Edwards would say Derrick Johnson and … and … and … But after two-plus weeks of work, Cunningham smiles when he talks about his backers. At the start of camp, he wasn’t able to do that. Just ask his wife. “We’ll have three guys out there,” Cunningham said after the Chiefs practice on Sunday at UW-River Falls. “They will be three guys that are quick, fast, athletic and tough. We know that much.” They will also play defense the way Cunningham wants it played. Since he returned to Kansas City in 2004, the Chiefs defense has had a problem with trust, especially at the linebacker position. “It’s the most important ingredient in any defense, trusting what the guys next to you are going to do.” Cunningham said. “When you don’t trust, you can’t succeed.” Right now, Johnson, Pat Thomas and Demorrio Williams are playing linebacker the way Cunningham wants. They were able to take that from the practice field to the playing field last Thursday against the Bears. “We’ve found three guys,” Cunningham said. “We are looking for more. I think we have a fourth, but we are still looking for more.” That fourth would be veteran Donnie Edwards, who has missed over a week now trying to come back from a hamstring injury. Hamstring injuries limited Edwards last year, although he started all 16 games. Several of those starts came when he had barely practiced during the week of preparation. Something like that will not happen in ‘08. Edwards has a streak of 153 consecutive starts, but that will end the week he can’t practice. “You’ve got to practice to play this defense,” said Cunningham. “Last year, it hurt us when Donnie didn’t practice and then tried to play. It was the same thing the week D.J. (Johnson) missed because his Dad passed away. That’s a very emotional and personal thing, but without the preparation, he wasn’t ready to play.” Nobody respects Donnie Edwards more than Cunningham. “You watch him work right now, trying to get back and there’s no questioning his commitment,” the defensive coordinator said. “We just have to find a way to keep him on the field.” The player who has stepped forward and surprised Chiefs fans is Thomas. Signed during the season last year after he was released by Jacksonville, Thomas played n just four games and was largely active only in the kicking game. But he started showing himself in the off-season program. When Cunningham grew unhappy with Harris and his play in the middle, he made the switch to Thomas and it’s stuck. “He played a good game in Chicago, really showed his abilities,” Cunningham said. “He’s intelligent, he’s athletic and he’s tough. There have been times in practice where I’ve called out ‘Nice play D.J.’ only to look closer and see it was Pat Thomas who made the play.” Recently, the linebacker who has made the biggest jump is Williams. Signed in the off-season as an unrestricted free agent from Atlanta, he had trouble making the transition to Cunningham’s defense. But some of those mental clouds have lifted and he’s begun making plays. “We are giving him a chance to do some things he never had the chance to do down in Atlanta,” Cunningham said. “This is a very athletic guy.” During Sunday’s practice, Cunningham had Williams rushing the passer off the edge of a 3-3-5 defensive look. His combination of speed with his ability to get low to the ground made him almost unstoppable for the Chiefs pass protection. Johnson, Thomas, Williams and Edwards will make the team. That leaves room for two, maybe three more linebackers. The leader among the other LBs is rookie Wes Dacus out of Arkansas. “He’s done some good things,” said Cunningham. Another rookie LeRue Rumph started strong but he’s tailed off in the last week or so. “I think he’s just tired of me yelling at him,” said Cunningham. “If he can bounce back, he’ll be a factor.” There’s a lot of work left to be done, but Gunther Cunningham likes what’s happened with his linebackers so far. “We had questions about their toughness and some of those have been answered,” he said. “Now, they’ve got to keep it up.” http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/08...g_linebackers/
Posts: 12,500

08-11-2008, 07:28 AM	#2
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	Blah, Blah Blah....im so sick of hearing the same crap come out of Guns mouth year after year and seeing no improvement. We saw the same old mistakes against the run last Thursday we have seen for the past 4 years. Hit the road Gun. __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
Posts: 66,914

08-11-2008, 07:32 AM	#3
dirk digler Please squeeze Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clinton, MO Casino cash: $3214644	Gretz mentioned something the other day that Harris is likely to be cut. That would be strange since he is going from being a starter last year to being cut before the season even started.
Posts: 66,298

08-11-2008, 07:38 AM	#4
nychief MVP Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NYC Casino cash: $7129466	not one mention of Oliver Hoyte! my god! __________________ Good Time Charlie, Uncle Doobie and the Great Frisco Freakout.
Posts: 7,865

08-11-2008, 08:01 AM	#6
HypnotizedMonkey usually hooplah is involved Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Casino cash: $10004925	I'll believe it when I see it... in regular season play.
Posts: 1,311

08-11-2008, 08:23 AM	#10
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $10022208	every year we get the "gun's got that look in his eyes story".....the "gun's got his guys this time" story... every year it is a crock of shit __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"
Posts: 51,585

08-11-2008, 08:28 AM	#12
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3099627 VARSITY	Before he left his home to catch the Chiefs charter flight here to the northwoods for training camp, Gunther Cunningham told his wife that he had some athletic, fast and quick linebackers going to camp, he just didn’t know if they were tough enough. As he backed out of the driveway, Cunningham stopped went back in the house and told his wife he wouldn’t be home until he had some tough linebackers. I sure like Gunnther's passion. __________________ Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. -YODA
Posts: 79,053

08-11-2008, 08:56 AM	#15
chiefbowe82 Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	A new scheme led by chan gailey a new qb fast, young, cannon arm our stud healthy rb with two good backs behind him a real fb depth at wr 1st round LT new rg new center healthy line with some depth, consistent at posistions we should be improved on offense, our defense needs to keep it up
Posts: 4,040