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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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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Chiefs still have NFL Sack Leader
Just thought I would make sure Chiefs Nation knows that they currently have the NFL Sack leader, Turk McBride. (pic from AP via NFL.com)
Looks like we did replace Jared Allen! LOL…
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Turk moved ahead of Boone at DE
I have been one of those people that wasn’t sure if i believed Alfonso “The Fonzie” Boone would be our starting DE during the regular season. I thought well, meybe he is trying to push Turk and looks like for at least this moment that may be the case as Turk has now moved into the starting lineup ahead of Boone.
- Turk McBride replaced Alfonso Boone as the starting left defensive end in practice. Edwards stopped short of saying that the change is permanent, but he made it clear the battle is on.
“There are a lot of positions still open on this football team, a lot of competition going on,” Edwards said. “We want to make sure we get the guys in the right positions that want to do it the way we want to do it. If you do it that way, you’ve got a great chance to play for us.” [KC Star]
I just hope that if Turk beats out “The Fonzie” that it is because he deserves and not just because Boone is playing bad at DE. Although this camp especially Herm seems to playing the best player regardless so for that I applaud him.
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