Julius Peppers to KC? Not so fast…
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
There has been a lot of talk lately about All-Pro DE Julius Peppers. A lot of Chiefs fans think he would be a great fit for KC… I am not so sure.
To me the question isn’t whether he would upgrade the talent of the team, because he obviously would, but where does he fit in with the Chiefs? Every indication so far is that if he goes to a 3-4 team he will make a switch to OLB. The Chiefs already have a promising (younger) converted DE playing outside linebacker in Tamba Hali. My concern would be if the Chiefs were to sign Peppers you would have two outside linebackers whose specialty is rushing the passer. What would that do to the Chiefs pass defense? Especially considering how wide open a lot NFL offenses are becoming.
Okay, maybe I am over-analyzing this a bit and putting too much weight on one aspect of Peppers’ game, after all Peppers is a tremendous athlete and pass rushing is a area the Chiefs could still use some big time help in (we are still only one season removed from setting an all-time low for fewest sacks in a season), but there is another reason I don’t think Peppers will end up in KC…
THE MONEY
Seems to me that Peppers wants the biggest possible payday (who can blame him for that, right) and I just don’t see Scott Pioli giving it to him. If you look at Pioli’s history he doesn’t spend big-time money on the big name free agents. Some will point to the year the Patriots signed Adalius Thomas and acquired Wes Welker and Randy Moss and this is more the exception than the rule. I just don’t see Pioli giving a 30 year old DE one of the biggest contracts in the NFL.
Now, would I be mad if Peppers ended up in KC? HECK NO… I just don’t think it will happen.
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Chiefs Training Camp Update: 8-2-09 PM
The Chiefs ‘only’ had one practice on Sunday and here is the summery.
From Josh Looney Twitter
- Full pads again today! (pic above)
- Waters and Goff back in action today.
- http://twitpic.com/cjsz6 - Take ur dog to practice day? Check out x-fac in back. Rockstar. (picture)
- LJ diving over the top on goal line session…no holding back this camp.
From Mitch Holthus
- Wow…good long tough practice. I like the way the team approached the 4-3 inside run drills. Its obvious they want to be a physical team.
- Watching special teams work with 15 year long snapper Kendall Gammon is like talking computers w Bill Gates. Drill today he wanted 4 8yrs
Updates from Gretz at CBS Sports
- Activated from the NFI List and participating in Chiefs practice are G Brian Waters, G Mike Goff and DT Ron Edwards.
- Starters who aren’t in Chiefs practice on Sunday are RT Damion McIntosh and ILB Derrick Johnson.
- Chiefs coach Todd Haley is spending extra time in practice with wide receivers working on body control coming out of breaks.
- WR Devard Darling is running with the Chiefs’ No. 1 offense opposite Dwayne Bowe.
- Chiefs TE Brad Cottam had a Tony Gonzalez-like catch down the deep middle, snagging it with one hand over his head.
- Chiefs K Ryan Succop was 4 for 4 in field goals.
- Chiefs G Brian Waters struggled in pass protection against NT Tank Tyler.
- Chiefs WR Rodney Wright had a nice catch on a deep ball under good coverage.
- Chiefs ILB Zach Thomas knocked down a pass in deep zone coverage during the 7-on-7 drill.
- Chiefs OLB Tamba Hali showed good pass rush off the edge against the first-team offense.
- Chiefs LT Branden Albert on the return of guards Brian Waters and Mike Goff to practice: “It was great having the two wisemen back.”
- Chiefs coach Todd Haley on why he spent extra time in Sunday’s practice with the team’s wide receivers: “We’ve had guys on the ground and the receiver is no good to anyone if he’s laying on the ground. Whether it’s the right shoes, improper technique, whatever, a wide receiver cannot be on the ground and help you win in any way, shape or form.”
From UW-RF Staff
- Before practice officially began, Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast was working with the defensive backs, running a drill that used five garbage bins to simulate the offensive line. During this drill, cornerback Maurice Leggett was seeing time as the nickelback.
- One of the defensive coach stood on the back of the single sled while the defensive linemen worked on tackling. Defensive Line Coach Tim Krumrie continued to ask the men to “jam it” and “keep [their] head up.” Krumrie made defensive tackle Tank Tyler hit the dummy multiple times until he was satisfied with Tyler’s “jamming.”
- Seeing time with the first-string during 7-on-7 was: defensive ends Alfonso Boone and rookie Alex Magee, defensive tackle Ron Edwards and linebackers Monty Beisel, Zach Thomas, Tamba Hali and Mike Vrabel.
- Frustrated due to the defense’s weak showing versus the running offense during 7-on-7, Defensive Line Coach Tim Krumrie shouted, “Don’t let him push your (butt) off the ball. You push him past the line of scrimmage!”
- 11-on-11 began. Seeing time with the first-string was: linebackers Tamba Hali, Zach Thomas, Mike Vrabel and Monty Beisel; cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Brandon Flowers, safetiesBernard Pollard and Jarrad Page, defensive ends Alex Magee and Alfonso Boone and defensive tackle Ron Edwards.
- After quarterback Matt Cassel completed a pass to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast said he expected more out of linebacker Tamba Hali. “Finish, Tamba,” he shouted.
- Running back Kolby Smith, tight end Jake O’Connell and tackle Damion McIntosh were not suited up for practice this afternoon. GuardsBrian Waters and Mike Goff were both in full pads for the first time today.
- Off a good handoff from quarterback Tyler Thigpen during 7-on-7, running back Jackie Battle fumbled the football. This was much to the dismay of Offensive Line Coach Bill Muir.
- Running back Dantrell Savage had a good run off a handoff from quarterback Matt Cassel during 7-on-7
- Head Coach Todd Haley was getting on quarterback Matt Cassel for his play-action fake during a half-speed scrimmage against the offensive reserves. “[We need a] good sell, good sell! If we are going to run those, Matt, we need a good sell!”
- Quarterback Tyler Thigpen looked really sharp in his 7-on-7 session. Thigpen was 6-6 on the day.
- Chiefs President Denny Thum was present at this afternoon’s practice.
So there you have it Chiefs fans. Stay tuned, more updates are coming.
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Should Chiefs go to 3-4 Defense?
Ever since it was rumored that the Chiefs were interested in getting Scott Pioli I had been thinking about the possibility of the Chiefs switching to a 3-4 defense.
Scott Pioli has already proved that he can build a very solid 3-4 defense in New England and with the current state of the Chiefs defense I say now is just as good as time as any to build a 3-4.
Here is how I think some of our current players would fit into a 3-4 Defense:
Tank Tyler: Tank has the size and the strength to be a NT in a 3-4 defense (remember when Tank was drafted he benched more than anyone else at the combine). The question is whether he has the ability to play this position as NT is a very key position in the 3-4.
Glenn Dorsey: This is very interesting situation. I think that Dorsey’s ability to penetrate (shown at LSU), and especially since he does not have the size that most like in a NT, that he would make a great 3-4 DE. Now, some would say why would ‘waste’ a #5 overall pick on a 3-4 DE, and to that say I say ‘who cares’. You put your players in the best position for them to succeed. Am I saying that this is the best position for him to succeed in? No, but I’m saying that it could be.
Derrick Johnson: I think that DJ could benefit more than most if the Chiefs went to a 3-4 defense. I’m not sure if DJ would play an outside or one of the middle LB positions, but the 3-4 would definitely allow him to roam around me and get after the QB, something that he has shown flashes of.
Turk McBride: In this scenario it would appear that the Chiefs front three would consist of Tank, Dorsey, and Turk/Tamba. So whoever the Chiefs think would better fit the mold of a 3-4 DE would most likely get the nod here.
Tamba Hali: Same as Turk.
Brandon Flowers: Although Flowers was drafted to be a cover 2 corner he did enough to show me that he can hang one-on-one with almost any WR in the league. So I would not worry about Flowers whether he is in man or zone coverage.
Brandon Carr: Same as Flowers.
Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page: Page and Pollard would retain their post at their respective safety positions. In my perspective they done enough to keep their jobs on the current team (as there is no one better then them on the current roster), but not enough to not be replaced if somebody better comes along (via draft or FA).
Of course all of this is just speculation and will change once free agency and draft take place. I am of the mindset that I will trust Pioli will make the right decisions until proven otherwise. Now, with that said here is a some of what I would do to address the transfer to a 3-4 defense in FA and the draft (if the Chiefs went 3-4 of course).
3-4 Addressed in Free Agency and the Draft:
Sign Terrell Suggs: The Chiefs definitely have enough cap room to take a chance on Suggs in free agency. Suggs would add some instant credibility to the Chiefs defense and is a sack artist. We all know who badly the Chiefs needs someone who can take down the QB. He also has played big in big-time games (at least from what I saw this post-season, even baring injury and also that fact that he is a veteran who has played in big games is big). His closing speed on the QB is what really impressed me.
If the Chiefs did go to a 3-4 defense this would allow them to not worry about getting a top flight DE in the draft as well (and even more so if they signed Suggs). This would allow the Chiefs to look at drafting a MLB (Rey Maualuga from USC or James Laurinaitis from OSU ) or even Aaron Curry from Wake Forest who is being projected as in outside LB in a 4-3 or an inside LB in a 3-4.
Another option this would allow the Chiefs is draft the best available player left. Michael Crabtree anyone? Pioli had Moss in NE and we have all seen what Larry Fitzgarald has done in the playoffs this year. With Bowe and Crabtree at WR the Chiefs would be SET for years to come.
Just to add one more thing here. I am no expert on the 3-4 defense, but I do realize that with the 3-4 defense the importance of the LB position is key. So for the Chiefs to successfully run the 3-4 you have to believe the Chiefs either already have the talent at LB to can get the talent at LB to make this happen. WIth Pioli I am convinced we can indentify and get this talent on the roster.
So there it is… what do you think about the Chiefs running a 3-4 defense?
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Kansas City Chiefs Injuries halfway through 2008
(sorry I thought a picture of Croyle would be appropriate here)
The Chiefs had quite a few players come down with injuries this year so I thought I would make a list. This is just off of the top of my head so if I have forgotten anyone please let me know in the comments section below.
Any Chiefs who has had an injury this season (missed time and/or listed on an injury report):
Donnie Edwards
Branden Albert
Nap Harris (former Chiefs with Vikings now)
Brodie Croyle (IR)
Damon Huard (IR)
Patrick Surtain
Brandon Flowers
Kolby Smith (IR)
Tamba Hali
Turk McBride
Glenn Dorsey
Jamaal Charles
Dustin Colquitt
Demorrio Williams
Will Franklin
Jarrad Page
Jean-Philippe Darche (IR)
Weston Dacus
Maurice Price
Dimitri Patterson
Erik Walden
J.P. Foschi
Derrick Johnson
In case you don’t believe this the official Chiefs Injury reports can be found by clicking the link.
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Chiefs: Shortage at DE
The Chiefs are now down to two healthy defensive ends. Turk McBride has a bruised spleen and now our other starting DE Tamba Hali was a surprise addition to the injury report, listed as having a sore knee. That leaves the Chiefs with 7th round draft pick Brain Johnston and former DT “The Fonze” (ALfonso Boone) as the two healthy ends.
At this time no one knows if Turk is going to play Sunday, but he hopes that he can:
- The second-year left end said he hoped to play against Atlanta but that he wasn’t yet certain of his status. He was limited in Thursday’s practice.
“We’re basically just taking it day by day,” McBride said. “My mindset is, I’m playing.”
Something else to consider is that linebacker Demorrio Williams has been lining up DE this season already, but only is passing situations. This is something we could see more of, especially if one or more of our starting ends can’t go on Sunday.
In my opinion (just guessing), I think that Tamba will play and I wouldn’t be surprised if Turk was held out. That kind of sucks since Turk has been our best DE, but that man needs to heal up. I wish them both speedy recoveries.
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Chiefs vs Falcons - Matchups to Watch
Well, the Chiefs are 0-2 and need a win really bad. Luckily they play a team that gives them a chance to win this week(I think). Here are some of the matchups that I find interesting for this weeks Kansas City Chiefs vs Atlanta Falcons game.
Tyler Thigpen vs Tyler Thigpen:This is a huge game for the second year QB out of Coastal Carolina as he starts his first ever game at QB in the NFL. It will be interesting to see if he when he gets into trouble if he tries to squeeze a ball in somewhere, throw it away, or try to use his legs to get him out of trouble. He needs to make good decisions for the Chiefs to have a chance to win here.
Branden Albert vs John Abraham: Right now Abraham is leading the league in sacks with four in two games. Braden Albert has looked pretty impressive himself in his first two games at left tackle. It will be very interesting to me to see how Albert stacks up against one of the better pass rushers in the league right now. Also, you have to wonder if Atlanta has considered lining up Abraham on the left side so he can go against Damion SackNTosh. Geez, I hope not.
Tamba Hali vs Sam Baker: Tamba Hali has yet to stand out much this year as the RDE and Sam Baker is a rookie LT trying to protect his rookie QB’s blindside. Although Hali is listed on the injury report as questionable, I think he will play. But even if he doesn’t, whoever lines up against Baker needs to test the rookie and see if he can hold up. If the Chiefs can get some consistent pressure from the blindside, it could be a long day for the Falcons (and vice-versa if they don’t).
Falcons running backs vs Chiefs Rush Defense: As we all know the Oakland Raiders ran all over the Chiefs last week and piled up 300 yards on the ground. Needless to say if the Chiefs give up anywhere close to this amount again the game is over. The Chiefs defensive line need to make sure that they man up and allow the linebackers to fill the gaps. Chiefs’ Linebackers: fill the correct gaps and make some tackles this week.
What do you think of these matchups? Are there any other matchups you think will be interesting?
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Game 1 Chiefs vs. Patriots - What I think…
This game just frustrated me… Some people will say they are pretty happy with this performance because they held their own against the Pats, but right now I don’t feel like I should have to settle for that. Here is what I think about the game.
WHAT I LIKED
Branden Albert: He looked very impressive, especially considering the circumstances. He didn’t play all preseason and had to come out and face a VERY good Patriots D-line.
Young CB’s::I could have missed it, but I didn’t see Flowers or Carr get burned bad on any passes. They are showing that the game is not too big for them.
Devard Darling:Finally Darling decides to show up and it couldn’t have been at a better time. It didn’t really matter in the end but his big 68 yard catch set the Chiefs up with a chance to score and send the game into overtime. If only he was a little bit faster.
Forcing Turnovers: The Chiefs Defense was able to force two turnovers against the Pats. If they keep winning the TO battle eventually it will work itself out.
Jamaal Charles: Charles is so fast, and he knows how to use his speed. He was looked like the best Chiefs running back against the Pats and his stats back it up: 5 carries for 28 yards. That is 5.6 yards/attempt.
As always there were also a few things that didn’t impress me so much.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Dwayne Bowe: I really like D Bo, but in my opinion he cost the Chiefs a chance to steal one from the Patriots. I’m not sure how many drops he had ( I counted at least 3 or 4), but when a ball hits you in the hands you should catch it. And that includes the possible game tying TD catch that bounced off his hands.
Rushing Defense: The top two rushers for the Patriots, Morris and Maroney, each had 10 carries and rushed for over 50 yards each. That is giving up 5 yards a carry… not good!
Special Teams:The Chiefs allowed a big return and their returns were not too impressive. The kickoffs were also pretty short. I still think that we should have kept Barth over Novak, he appeared to be at least as accurate and his kickoffs were longer… what gives?
Offensive play calling: While the play calling seemed a lot better than last year, that is not enough for me. There were way too many what we call “predictable runs” on first and second down. What happened to the playaction pass?
Jon McGraw: Why was he playing safety so much? He seemed to be a liability in pass coverage, which makes me wonder if somebody was hurt. And if somebody is/was hurt, why wasn’t DaJuan Morgan out there?
Tamba Hali: I didn’t see Tamba do too much this game. He was defiantly outplayed by Turk McBride and left me wanting more.
Hopefully we can fix some of these things and come back next week and take it out the Raiders.
Go Chiefs!
Picture from ESPN.com
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Another change in the defensive lineup
Honestly from everything I heard about in River Falls I am surprised this move didn’t come early, but it is here nonetheless:
- Tank Tyler replaced Ron Edwards as a starting defensive tackle in practice, marking the second lineup change on the line and the third on the defense since the start of training camp.Edwards has been a solid if unspectacular run defender since he joined the Chiefs two years ago. But the Chiefs think Tyler, in his second season, has more potential and has earned the spot. Edwards will play as part of the defensive line rotation [KC Star].
Now the Chiefs starting defensive line is Tamba Hali, Glenn Dorsey, Tank Tyler, and Turk McBride. Tamba is now the grizzled vet of the starters coming into his third year.
This is defiantly the D-Line of the future (and of the here and now) for the Chiefs and I really hope they all come together sooner rather than later.
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