SB Nation - Andy Studebaker

Kansas City Chiefs Defense: Who Stays? Who's Gone? Who's on the Bubble for 2010?

Jon Yoon — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:40:33 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

As promised, this week I'm going to focus on the Chiefs' defense. Who goes? Who stays? Who's on the bubble?

Before I do that, I'm going to make some small adjustments to my prior analysis on the Chiefs' offense. First, Brad Cottam. I don't know where he's been for two years, but he has stepped it up at just the right time. The fact that Cottam has played third-fiddle to the stone hands twins, Sean Ryan and Jake O'Connell, for most of the season is appalling and it makes me seriously question Haley's ability to evaluate talent. Second, Dwayne Bowe. Of all the players on this roster, he's the one that worries me the most. I don't lose sleep over scrubs playing like scrubs. I lose sleep over talented players like Bowe who you want to keep on your roster long-term, but who may always be a liability at the wrong times. You can't afford to part ways with Bowe on a roster this shallow, but the question you have to ask is: on a key third down in a playoff game three years from now, how comfortable do you feel about any pass that goes Bowe's way?

Anyway, I digress. Let's start talking some defense.

Defensive End:

I wanted to start here because it's a really easy position to evaluate. I would be shocked if the Chiefs made a big play for a 5-Technique DE. The Chiefs have a lot of money and a lot of draft value invested in Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson, and with Wallace Gilberry and Alex Magee on the roster, they're also pretty deep at the position. Regardless of your opinion on how good any of these guys are, this front office is smart enough to know that the fan base would absolutely revolt if they used a lot of resources to add yet another 5-technique. That rules out Ndamukong Suh. That rules out any DT with any value in free agency or the draft. Quite honestly, unless there is a 5-technique available that is an absolute highway robbery steal in the later rounds, I would be shocked if they drafted anybody at this position. As for who the Chiefs already have, Dorsey has improved by leaps and bounds and we saw on Sunday how ineffective the Chiefs are on run defense without him. Tyson Jackson is starting to play a little bit better. He's nowhere near where he needs to be, but you can't judge a guy like him until his second or third season. Magee has the potential to be a decent depth DE, but his play on Sunday really highlights how much further he needs to go. Gilberry is a guy you'd like to keep on the roster, but his role will likely be limited to third down or rotational depth situations.

Stays: Dorsey, Jackson, Gilberry, Magee
Pick-up: Nobody

Defensive Tackle:

Ron Edwards stinks. That's all you need to know about what the Chiefs have. And Edwards' stink-ti-tude is affecting everyone around him. Edwards doesn't drive blockers back into the pocket. He doesn't occupy that many blockers. He's just sort of... there. It affects the Linebackers because Edwards is letting blockers get to the second level and he's not sealing the middle as well as he should. It affects the pass rushers because when an edge rusher like Tamba Hali gets to the quarterback off the edge, the quarterback can easily and comfortably slide into an enormous pocket. Edwards would be okay as a backup, quality depth option, but the Chiefs need to make a major move for a Nose Tackle this offseason. That's no reason to panic. Some people will have you believe that finding a quality Nose Tackle is as tough as finding a franchise Quarterback. It's not. If it was such an impossible position to find, you'd see 3-4 teams using top 10 picks and showering them with expensive contracts. That's not the case. Assuming that the CBA doesn't fall through, you might see a good Nose Tackle like Vince Wilfork hit the market. You might also see a 4-3 DT castoff who might be better suited for a 3-4 NT position. More likely than not, we'll probably be using a pick anywhere between the 2^nd and 4^th rounds to bring in either a starter or quality depth at the position. I'm not saying that any of these will be easy. However, I do believe that if the Chiefs are very tight in their evaluations both on the Pro Personnel side and on the college scouting side, the Chiefs could easily find a replacement. The good news is that they can't do a whole lot worse than Edwards.

But I'll tell you what, if Dorsey continues to improve a little, Jackson improves a lot and plays to his potential, and the Chiefs find a legit Nose Tackle, opposing running backs are going to have a really, really difficult time running past this wall of defenders.

On the bubble: Ron Edwards
Pick-up: A starter (this is non-negotiable)--probably in rounds 2-4 or through Free Agency

Outside Linebacker:

This is a position I really struggle with because there's a part of me that really likes Tamba Hali and there's another part of me that believes he'll never really be the kind of elite OLB you want in a 3-4 Defense. I do think he's a strong force as a pass rusher. I just worry that he can't cover or stop the run as effectively as you would hope for in a 3-4 OLB. On the other side, Vrabel needs to be replaced. I still like him as a backup and a leader, but the Chiefs need to start focusing on giving a younger, longer-term OLB much more quality reps. I'm not sure if his replacement will be or should be Andy Studebaker. I was really impressed with the way Studebaker played several weeks ago. From a pass rushing standpoint, he has a long way to go, and I think his two INTs were more a reflection of being in the right place at the right time. But what I liked about him was the way he stood his ground against the run.

I realize that this analysis didn't really say much of anything about anything. I would say this is a position where you just play with the cards you're dealt. If you have a can't-miss player in the Draft, then you take him. If you can get a strong option in Free Agency, then overpay him. But this isn't necessarily a position to lose sleep over because the other thing to keep in mind is that the overall play of all the OLBs will improve as the big uglies up front start to get better at their jobs.

Stays: Tamba Hali (#1 or #2?), Andy Studebaker (#2)
On the Bubble: Mike Vrabel (#2 or #3)
Bring in: A strong option without reaching

Inside Linebacker:

Maybe I'm alone on this, but I think that Inside Linebacker is one of the least important positions in a 3-4 Defense. They're role players more than anything else. Kendrell Bell was a star in a 3-4 because his only assignment was to attack, attack, attack. Don't think. Just attack. You also have other ILBs who are more coverage specialists. My feeling has always been that if you have an outstanding defensive line, you won't need your ILBs nearly as much in run support. If you have an outstanding secondary, particularly at the Safety position, you don't need to become overly reliant on the coverage backer. A great ILB is more a luxury than a necessity. I'm not a big fan of any of the Chiefs' ILB options. Demorrio Williams is adequate, DJ is too much of a freelancer, Mays is quality depth but mostly unspectacular, and Belcher has decent upside but has a long way to go. This is one of those positions where the strategy is to replace these guys eventually within the next 2-3 years. However, I would not make any concerted effort to do so immediately.

Keep: Begrudgingly keep as many as you can
Pick-up: A later draft pick without reaching. A whole flurry of undrafted rookies. Or a strong free agent option (like most positions, it's okay for the Chiefs to overpay)

Cornerback:

So, finally a position the Chiefs can build off of. I have always liked Brandon Flowers. I've been very pleasantly surprised with Brandon Carr's progress this season. These two guys make a really solid 1-2 punch. At some point, the Chiefs need to start adding extra bodies for nickel packages as well as for quality depth. I'm not confident any of those guys are currently on the roster. The Chiefs' coaching staff seems to be transitioning Leggett to Safety. Donald Washington is extremely raw, but so far mostly unimpressive. You probably wouldn't draft a Nickel Back early in the draft, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Chiefs pretty aggressively pursue some options toward the middle of the draft and/or through free agency.

Keep: All CBs
Pick-up: Later round or Free Agent Nickel Back (no need to break the bank)

Safety:

I still believe that it is a huge asset for a 3-4 defense to have a playmaker at the Safety position. That player is not currently on the Chiefs' roster. I know Todd Haley really likes Mike Brown and while I certainly think he's improved throughout the season, he just doesn't have the playmaking ability he used to. In the passing game, I rarely see him smell out plays. He always seems to get there a few steps too late. John McGraw is a great depth guy and someone you want to keep on your roster for special teams purposes, but he's not a guy you want as your long-term starter. Jarrad Page has been by far the biggest disappointment on defense, in my eyes. I've been very unimpressed with his closing speed, which is scary for a Safety whose strength is supposed to be his coverage ability. And oh, by the way, I have no idea if Dajuan Morgan is the answer in KC or not, but I wish the Chiefs' coaching staff would make a little more effort to find out. New flash: the Chiefs aren't making the playoffs this season. Give the young kids a chance to play (that goes for Studebaker too). At least Morgan's starting to get reps now, but it came a few games too late. There just isn't enough information for me to really know what the kid is made of.

Long story short, the Chiefs have Safeties who have little talent, but don't really screw up a whole lot. They let plays come to them and then they can generally make them. Playmakers anticipate plays and blow them up-they can smell a playcall the minute the ball is snapped. I honestly don't think the Chiefs will ever become the defense they want to become until they can get a real playmaker here. Based on my limited draft knowledge, if Eric Berry is the playmaker scouts say he is, then you don't pass on him for a second. If Taylor Mays tests out well, he should receive strong consideration too. I know a top 5 pick may sound high for a Safety, but the importance of the Safety position has increased significantly over time. Especially for a 3-4.

Keep: John McGraw (#2), Mike Brown (#2)
Pick-up: High draft pick

I know the defense put up one of the most embarrassing performances in recent memory on Sunday, but they're not that far away from fielding an adequate defense. At minimum, if the Chiefs bring in a legit Nose Tackle and a playmaker at Safety, get more consistent play from their young DEs, and bring in a new Defensive Coordinator, the defense could actually be halfway decent in 2010.

Chiefs Players Search for Answers After Browns 351 Yard Rushing Day

Joel Thorman — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:46:33 -0000

More photos » by Ed Zurga - AP

4 days ago: Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Harrison (35) breaks away for a 28-yard touchdown run during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. Harrison rushed for 286 yards and had three touchdowns in Cleveland's 41-34 win. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Browse more photos »

On December 16th, 1990, the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Houston Oilers wasn't sold out and thus wasn't televised. It's a shame it wasn't on TV (unless you're a Chiefs fan) because Warren Moon put up a record setting day with over 500 passing yards, then an NFL record.

Fast forward 19 years, and the Chiefs game didn't sell out and thus wasn't televised. There was a similar record breaking performance, except this time it was on the ground. Jerome Harrison of the Cleveland Browns challenged the NFL single game rushing record, falling just nine yards short.

Asked if he knew the Browns' Jerome Harrison had put up the third biggest day in NFL history, Chiefs LB Andy Studebaker said, "I didn't even know that. That's frustrating for sure."

"I don't know exactly what was going on on each play," Studebaker continued, "but that's why we have to go back and look at what's going wrong and fix it. We definitely need all 11 guys and if we only have 10 guys on one play, then you're putting yourself in a bad situation for four quarters."

"That's a great question," S Jon McGraw said when asked what went wrong with the defense today. "I don't have an good answer for you. At the end of the day, we knew what they were going to do and they did it anyway. So, it really wasn't good on our part."

LB Mike Vrabel had an answer for the, gulp, 351 rushing yards.

"When you just shove the ball down somebody's throat in the running game, it has to be physical," Vrabel said after the game.

"We can draw up a thousand defenses and it wouldn't matter. I think there was a time when a few of those plays hurt us earlier in the year, and they came back to them. Repeatedly."

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 12/6 DT's Day

NJ Chiefs Fan — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:38:49 -0000

via i.cdn.turner.com

Game Day!!!! Denver Broncos at Arrowhead today. Wear your 58 jerseys if you got 'em. That number finally gets retired today at halftime. I can't tell you how jealous I am of those of you who will be there today. Now your news.

Alleman plays on the Chiefs’ offensive line. He started a couple of games last month, and then the knee went out. One week, he kind of twisted it. The next, another player ran into it. The week after that, Alleman was out. It was a discouraging way to spend part of his third NFL season, particularly for a player who has gone to unusual lengths to learn about his body and its risks for injury.

Alleman is one of the first NFL players to undergo gene testing, and it had some surprising results. It revealed that Alleman possesses weak Achilles’ tendons, a problem he would’ve never suspected, and he now devotes extra workout time to strengthen them.

Science let him in on a secret — although it didn’t tell him everything.

Chiefs’ Alleman looks to science for an edge from KC Star

The Chiefs placed running back Kolby Smith on injured reserve Saturday and promoted running back Javarris Williams from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
Williams, 5 feet 10 and 223 pounds, was the Chiefs’ seventh-round pick in this year’s draft. Williams, out of Tennessee State, has not played in an NFL game.

Chiefs put Kolby Smith on IR from KC Star

Almost a decade since the last time Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas stepped on the field for the Kansas City Chiefs, his spirit will undoubtedly be in attendance at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
Thomas, whose number 58 will be retired by the Chiefs on Sunday, sacked Broncos' quarterback John Elway more than any other quarterback during his 11-year career in Kansas City. Against no other opponent would it be more appropriate for the Chiefs to retire Thomas's number.

Chiefs Derrick Thomas Makes Final Appearance Against Broncos on Sunday from Bleacher Report

Bottom line

The Chiefs are overmatched against a team with a lot of offensive weapons, as they showed in last week’s blowout loss to the Chargers. The Broncos may not be as stocked as San Diego, but between Marshall, Moreno and Buckhalter, they still qualify as an offensive team far too deep for the Chiefs to handle. Unless the Chiefs can dominate on special teams or win the turnover battle by a large margin, look for the Broncos to pull away eventually. Prediction: Broncos 30, Chiefs 17

Chiefs-Broncos scouting report from KC Star

The Chiefs delighted a chilled Thanksgiving Day crowd at Municipal Stadium on Nov. 27, 1969, by scoring on offense, defense and on one of the most unusual special-teams plays imaginable.

Linebacker Bobby Bell fielded Denver kicker Bobby Howfield’s onside kick in the final minute and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown, putting the finishing touches on a 31-17 victory in front of a crowd of 48,773.

Chiefs flashback | Week 12 of the Super Bowl IV season from KC Star

The Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, who meet Sunday, each have a player who has flourished despite joining the team in midseason.

Chris Chambers was cut by the San Diego Chargers on Nov. 2, claimed by the Chiefs and almost immediately became their No. 1 receiver. The Broncos needed a new third cornerback for their nickel defense in early November and signed veteran Ty Law, who had been out of football all year.

The NFL season was at full speed, and those players had to catch up quickly.

"They’ve done it in training camp; they’ve had the books," Law said. "If they see something they say, ‘This is familiar, we saw this in Week 3’ or whatever. For me, everything is new."

Midseason acquisitions have difficult challenges in NFL from The Colorado Springs Gazette

The socks have been an unexpected hit for the Broncos and the N.F.L., which is near the end of its season-long 50th-anniversary celebration of the American Football League. The original eight teams — the Buffalo Bills, the Denver Broncos, the Los Angeles Chargers (now the San Diego Chargers), the Boston Patriots (the New England Patriots), the Oakland Raiders, the Houston Oilers (the Tennessee Titans), the Dallas Texans (the Kansas City Chiefs) and the New York Titans (the Jets) — have been featured in legacy games that have included vintage uniforms.

The last of these 16 matchups will be Sunday when the Patriots play the Miami Dolphins, who joined the A.F.L. in 1966. The Cincinnati Bengals became the 10th team in 1968. The commemoration of the A.F.L. has provided a much-needed lift for the teams and the league, which were looking for ways to offset the effects of the recession on merchandise sales. More than two dozen licensees have been making about 100 A.F.L.-related products, which have produced tens of millions of dollars in sales, said Leo Kane, the N.F.L.’s vice president for consumer products.

For a League of the Past, the Uniforms Live On from The New York Times

NFL great Jan Stenerud, who has adopted Colorado Springs as his hometown, is hooked on what he calls "America’s game."

"I think American football is the greatest team sport ever invented," he said.

Which leads us to this question:

What about soccer?

Stenerud, 67, hails from Norway, where he played futbol, or soccer, every day in the summer. He knows the game. He once loved the game.

Ramsey: Stenerud embraces football, leaving soccer behind from Colorado Springs Gazette

Player Tweets

almighty31 all this time. i get a citation and she gets off. she dont even have brake lights.

MrKolbySmith what's good with you?@H0llyHawK

almighty31 how bout them tide. u mighty quiet @themswhite

studie32 i pray that it is

studie32 i rejoice that it is.

Media and Fans

ArrowheadPride Chiefs fans, send us your tailgating pictures tomorrow and we will post 'em. #chiefs

JoshLooney Chiefs Big 12 championship predictions: Demorrio Williams - NEB by 7; Derrick Johnson - Tex by 21; Jamaal Charles - remember Tex/CU? (70-3)

SI_PeterKing Imagine 33 days betw AFC+NFC title games and Super Bowl, as in college with nat'l title game. SB would be Feb. 26--in the middle of combine.

adamcbest: Chiefs need to come and get Suh! Hit on our last Husker D-lineman (Neil Smith). #Suh

webby37: Watching the #Chiefs / #Broncos 1994 MNF classic on the NFL Network... Remember hiding from the folks to stay up and watch the end—Eff Elway

bemonteer: Fired up for the Chiefs and Broncos. Go Chiefs!!!

jwgochiefs1: Hope the chiefs beat the broncos ass today!!!!

tslfan20: hopefully i don't turn into an icicle watching the chiefs lose to the broncos... that would be no bueno

bandfrag: Hey Chiefs fans, remember to wear your #58 DT jerseys tomorrow no matter where you are. The mojo will be needed. Go Chiefs!!!

mattmishler: Heading to KC for the Broncos and Chiefs game!

CreativePetrol: Up early prepping for the big tailgate. Let's get a win, #Chiefs!

Chiefs Happy With Outside Linebackers Going Forward?

Joel Thorman — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:38:22 -0000

More photos » by Michael Perez - AP

2 months ago: Philadelphia Eagles' Ellis Hobbs hurdles Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Studebaker during a kick return in the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

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This week Chiefs head coach Todd Haley said that, if there is any sort of silver lining to injuries, it gives other players who wouldn't necessarily get a chance to play.

The Chiefs experienced that up close with the knee injury to Mike Vrabel, which has him sidelined three weeks, and the emergence of Andy Studebaker at outside linebacker.

With Vrabel's injury, Studebaker has been running with the first team and Pierre Walters the second team the last few weeks. That's changed this week, though.

"I’m just happy with the fact that we had a guy go down," Haley said this week, "and a guy stepped in and was a part of a couple of wins and a big part in the Pittsburgh win. I just think that’s encouraging for us overall. We had a guy that we didn’t know a lot about that now we have at least an idea of some of the things he might be capable of."

"The positive with the injury," Haley continued, "is we got a chance to get Pierre [Walters] up and get him a few snaps. I think it’s too early to make a real evaluation because he hasn’t had a whole bunch of snaps – only 18 I think and a couple on special teams. We’ll see how the week pans out."

The two outside linebackers we've seen the last two weeks, Studebaker and then Pierre Walters, are possibly the two we'll see next season.

Vrabel is entering the last year of his contract. There haven't been any reports or talks of a contract extension (not that they would get out anyway). The Chiefs have generally had just Vrabel and Studebaker active on a normal gameday.

Meanwhile, Studebaker is also entering the last year of his contract and his best chance for playing time would be sticking with the Chiefs, likely at a friendly price. Walters is under contract through 2011.

If these two players pan out, based on their financial worth to the team, it would be a nice surprise for the Chiefs. Of course, we're a long way from determining whether Studebaker and Walters will be the final product next season. Free agency and the draft will help determine that.

Chiefs LB Studebaker Again Credits Vrabel For Teaching Him

Joel Thorman — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:04:29 -0000

Almost three weeks ago against the Oakland Raiders, LB Andy Studebaker became a lot more important to the Kansas City Chiefs. With about a little over eight minutes to go in the third quarter, starting OLB Mike Vrabel went down with a knee injury causing Studebaker to quickly become a major part of the defense.

After that game, Studebaker credited Vrabel with "talking me through situations, helping me out, making sure I was on the top of my game."

In an interview the Pantagraph, a Bloomington, IL area newspaper, Studebaker again sung Vrabel's praises for taking the time to help him out.

"He definitely does not have to do that," Studebaker said. "I was really impressed that a guy who has won three Super Bowl rings would make time for a second-year player and teach him the ropes."

Vrabel "coached me up", Studebaker said. I think this is the behind-the-scenes stuff we don't see that made Haley and the coaches excited to land Vrabel. Words like "leader" and "professional" are often associated with Vrabel and I think this is an example of why.

Studebaker said that Vrabel, along with head coach Todd Haley, that any praise for his two interception performance two weeks ago is "not a license to relax."

This weekend, Vrabel could return to the lineup which would put an end to Studebaker the starter. and a return to Studebaker the special teamer.

"You will not hear any complaints from this corner."

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 12/4

NJ Chiefs Fan — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:18:11 -0000

via ESPN.com

Happy Friday!! Rock the red if you can. Here is today's Chiefs news from across the internet.

They will honor Derrick Thomas on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium during the Chiefs game against the Broncos, retiring his No. 58 jersey.

Denver linebacker Elvis Dumervil just might sneak out of the locker room a bit early at the intermission so he can see the ceremonies.

The NFL’s leading sacker, Dumervil has always had hero, one player he modeled his game after.

"Derrick Thomas, hands down, because of his ability to get the ball out, to force fumbles," Dumervil said. "Seven sacks in one game; he was relentless, and that’s what I want to be known as, a guy who is non-stop; someone that you have to account for four quarters.

"He was the perfect defensive player. He played with great energy and attitude. That was my guy growing up. He just destroyed people."

Elvis Will Be In The Building … Friday Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz

Studebaker said it was a good thing that Vrabel was in his ear all that time, and Haley has said that part of his long-term vision for the Chiefs is to pack the roster with players such as Vrabel, a starter who’s willing to mentor younger players even if it means they’ll someday threaten his own starting job.

"As soon as he thinks he can help," Studebaker said, "he’s there helping. Whether it was on the sidelines during the games or walking off the field after the walkthrough on Saturday, any time he sees anything he thinks can help, he’ll say something."

Studebaker said Vrabel most often emphasizes communication among other defenders. If there’s clarity, there’s a better chance of success. Studebaker understood that, and he said that’s why he felt ready to join the starting lineup two weeks ago against the Steelers.

He had been taught well, and although he was on his own, he said he had been prepared well.

"We beat a very good team with him playing," Haley said. "… We had a guy that we didn’t know a lot about that now we have at least an idea of some of the things he might be capable of."

Vrabel’s injury reveals bright spot in Studebaker from KC Star

It’s been almost a whole season and very little has come out of Motown featuring former Chiefs head coach and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham.

That finally ended on Thursday, when the Detroit Free Press sat down to talk with Gun about offenses in the NFL.

And he had plenty to say, some of it very familiar to Chiefs fans who will remember the first game of Cunningham’s two years as head coach, back in September of 1999. The opponent that day was the Bears and they had a new offense in place, one that Gun called "frisbee football."

A decade later, his thoughts haven’t changed.

Gunther With Something To Say from Bob Gretz

Former Chiefs defensive end Neil Smith is facing charges of driving while intoxicated and failing to drive in a single lane.

Smith, 43, was scheduled to appear Thursday in Jackson County Circuit Court, but the matter was continued until Jan. 7, according to court records.

Kevin Regan, an attorney for Smith, denied the allegations.

"Neil Smith is an outstanding giver in many ways in our community, and he takes that role very seriously," Regan said Thursday.

Smith, former Chief, faces DWI charge from KC Star

Hindsight has brought greater understanding of the Broncos' flirtation with Matt Cassel.

What nobody knew then, but what everybody can guess at now, is that experience alone wasn't going to cure Jay Cutler of his flaws as an NFL quarterback.

Cutler's talent is off the charts. So are his NFL-high 20 interceptions. Josh McDaniels, the Broncos' new head coach, must have seen then what he won't talk about now.

McDaniels' offensive system demands a disciplined quarterback. A great arm helps, sure, but not at the expense of taking unnecessary risks.

Josh McDaniels had a vision that better fit Cassel, Orton from The Denver Post

It was a long journey for Andy Studebaker. Starting 2 yards deep in his end zone, the Kansas City Chiefs’ outside linebacker chugged and churned until finally being brought down at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 8-yard line.

Immediately, he was swarmed by teammates following his pivotal interception and return on Nov. 22 at Kansas City.

"You’re going on adrenalin during the run and when you’re down, you realize how winded you are," Studebaker said. "Everybody is chest bumping me and I’m like, ‘Where’s the sideline? I need to sit down.’ "

Kindred: Small-town boy Studebaker making a big NFL impact from Pantagraph.com

The Kansas City Chiefs indoor training facility is on the road to completion. Students had a chance to have their voices heard by the President of Missouri Western Robert Vartabedian and members of his cabinet at the second annual President’s Forum.

Many students who attended the forum had concerns about the Chiefs training facility and how it will affect Missouri Western. Athletic Director Dave Williams attended the forum and answered concerns students had about the Chiefs coming to campus.

"As far as I am concerned, the Chiefs facility will be called the MWSU facility," Williams said. "For 49 weeks out of the year, it’s ours and the Chiefs for only three."

Chiefs facility shows progress from The Griffon News

A McCook youngster will display his football skills in Kansas City this weekend.

Noah Hofman has qualified for the regional NFL Punt, Pass & Kick competition. Hufman will travel to Kansas City this weekend to compete with four others from the region. The football skills event will be held Sunday morning at Arrowhead Stadium prior to the Kansas City Chiefs-Denver Broncos NFL game Sunday afternoon.

Hofman is the 11-year-old son of Andy Hofman of McCook and Raquel Andersen of Crete. Noah is a sixth-grader at McCook junior High School.

McCook boy earns Punt, Pass & Kick trip to Kansas City from The McCook Daily Gazette

Player Tweets

MrKolbySmith RT @tasteboutique: I can't bel Ang isn't going with me. We do almost everything together. http://twitpic.com/s0l7q put a sock in it. Lmao

almighty31 im ready

Media and Fans

ArrowheadPride RT @awessley This Oregon - Oregon St game is one of the most entertaining games I've watched this season...besides my Chiefs upsetting PIT

KCChiefs4Life69: Lets Go Chiefs!!! Beat The Broncos This Sunday In Memory Of Derrick Thomas!!!

nicholascott: #thingsilove Kansas City Chiefs, my team. #DontJudgeMe

gregharris66720: @thechrisjordan if the chiefs play like they did last week it doesnt deserve to be called football anyways lol. But yes I am going

richeisen: RT @banglinjr: I know my chiefs aren't good but whose season did they hurt worse Giants w/ Mannings heel or Steelers w/ Roethlisbergers head

TONYBINATL: @richeisen Chiefs also had a hand in Romo getting off his game for awhile too.

dragonocho: @richeisen Chiefs hurt Brady and Favre in 08. Arrowhead Turf injured Manning and DJ hurt Roethlisberger. Hate that my team is hurting QBs.

Chiefs LB Mike Vrabel Inactive Again

Joel Thorman — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:36:52 -0000

More photos » by Orlin Wagner - AP

2 months ago: San Diego Chargers running back Darren Sproles (43) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel (50) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Browse more photos »

Despite running pretty well in pre-game warmups, Kansas City Chiefs LB Mike Vrabel is listed as inactive once again. LB Andy Studebaker will once again get the nod in Vrabel's place.

Other inactives for the Chiefs:

RB Dantrell Savage
LB David Herron
LB Justin Rogers
G Andy Alleman
TE Jake O'Connell
TE Sean Ryan
QB Matt Gutierrez (3rd QB)

Injury related: Savage, Rogers and Alleman did not participate in practice last Friday and were listed as out for today's game. Vrabel was limited and listed as questionable. Herron was listed as questionable with a knee injury.

Non-injury related: TE Sean Ryan is again a healthy scratch.

WR Quinten Lawrence was called up from the practice squad yesterday and is active in today's game.

Notable inactives for the Chargers include RT Jon Runyan, DE Luis Castillo and former Chiefs RB Michael Bennett.

Todd Haley: Brilliant Personnel Guy? Or Just a Guy?

Jon Yoon — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:00:13 -0000

In writing this column, I know exactly what I want to write. The problem is, I don't. On the one hand, some of Todd Haley's personnel decisions have been really confusing. There have been plenty of surprise cuts throughout the year and some players have started in the place of others who seemed more deserving. On the other hand, Haley's been right on several occasions. The good news is, as time passes by, more and more of his personnel decisions appear to be pretty good ones.

This may sound like a pretty small issue, but there are many that would argue that New England's success in the past was largely due to a partnership between Scott Pioli and Bill Belichick. It will be immensely helpful if Haley can help Pioli make good personnel decisions.

Let's start with the bad and then look into the good:

The Bad: Win Now? Or Build Through Youth:

I understand that there is a delicate balance between winning for now, and rebuilding for later. For as much as Herm Edwards has been mocked for his comment: "You play to win the game," the answer isn't always that obvious. Sometimes you have to play the lesser player that gives you less of a chance to win today, in the hopes that he will put your team in better shape to win tomorrow. Sometimes you don't play to win the game. Helloooo.

For the most part, Haley doesn't seem to mind playing young guys. That doesn't mean he's been perfect. Jamaal Charles is playing better and better and better every week. Let me ask the obvious question: why wasn't he playing all along? I understand that LJ was the Chiefs' primary back and that the Chiefs were committed to his contract and ultimately his playing time. But I think in looking at Charles' success right now, there are more than a few people who wonder why he wasn't seeing more carries earlier in the season, if only as a change-of-pace back. Charles was barely getting about five carries a game and his role was largely limited to return and receiving duties. Had LJ not made a few stupid comments on Twitter, we'd still be wondering today if Charles had anything to offer in this league. Judging by his recent success, that would have been an outrageous oversight.

How about another classic example: Andy Studebaker. I really liked what I saw out of this kid on Sunday. I'm not sure that he can be an every-down OLB and he still has a lot to prove as a pass rusher, but I was really impressed with his play on run defense. There were several plays where I saw him trail an outside runner and slip between two blockers to influence the play. Now, this isn't as clear-cut of a case because Vrabel didn't play that poorly and because Studebaker wasn't exactly a prospect that made people do cartwheels. But it goes back to the idea that Haley needs to let his young guys play. Studebaker should have gotten more reps earlier in the season.

I wonder if the same situation is developing with their Safeties. John McGraw and Mike Brown are not answers at Safety. I like the idea of McGraw as a depth guy, but as a long-term starter, he's not a guy you can continually depend on. And don't let Brown's recent Defensive Player of the Year accolades fool you---he's still not a very good player. Two games ago, he benefitted from a few tipped passes where he happened to be in the right place at the right time. Last game, he got credit for making a nice sack at the right time. That doesn't change the fact that he is not a playmaker. As I said in an earlier column, he lets plays come to him; playmakers like Polamalu anticipate plays and blow them up before they get to them.

Hopefully, you see where I'm going with this. Neither McGraw or Brown have anything to offer this team in the long-term. And it's not like they're offering anything much in the short-term. They're in there because they don't make a lot of mistakes. I want the Chiefs to win now, but I would much rather watch Morgan make mistakes and see if he improves over time than watch two Safeties with zero upside play mistakeless football at an average level. If this was a 5-4 team, I can understand what Haley's doing. But this is a 3-6 football team. You have to give the young player with upside some in-game reps. Even if you don't start him the whole game, you do not keep him inactive on the roster or let him rot on your bench. McGraw or Brown are not going to be starters two years from now. Morgan could be. I don't know if Morgan will shine as Charles has, but it's hopefully a lesson to Haley that his young guys might surprise him.

Haley got lucky on Charles and Studebaker. The problem is, he only found out what they're made out of because he had no other choice. When LJ mouthed his way off of the team and Vrabel fell to injury, Haley didn't have much choice but to go with youth. I want to see Haley become more proactive about evaluating young players during the rebuild. It's time to see what Morgan is made of. If he fails, he fails. At least you know he isn't the answer. If he succeeds, well, then suddenly you have one less need to fill in the upcoming offseason.

The Good: Haley's Smarter Than We Give Him Credit For

I've been critical about a lot of moves Haley has made so far this season. And you know what? In many cases, I've been flat-out wrong.

The most glaring example is Derrick Johnson. I couldn't understand why DJ was in Haley's doghouse. As he's gotten more and more playing time, I'm beginning to understand why. He's not really that good. I know some people will point to his "improved" play on Sunday against Pittsburgh as a validation that he's getting better and should have been getting more playing time in the first place. I would have to disagree. DJ made a lot of big, flashy plays. Some of them came at key moments. But if you actually watch him snap for snap, you'll find that he still makes way too many mistakes for a player of his experience level. I don't like the angles he takes to make tackles. In many cases he overruns his gap. In other cases he whiffs on his assignment. The commentators on Sunday very aptly pointed out that DJ's missed assignment led to a receiver waltzing into the end zone untouched. I sense that Haley doesn't like DJ because he freestyles too much. Like a Lavar Arrington, he'll make a few big plays, but he'll make some headscratchingly bad ones too. Haley wants consistency. DJ doesn't give him that. I get that.

The other glaring example is Dwayne Bowe. There were some who wondered if maybe his struggles were due to the fact that he's getting separation but Cassel isn't hitting him quick enough. I'm starting to understand now why Haley has been so tough on Bowe. Thusfar this season, he hasn't been very good. Maybe some of that is on the quarterback, but given Cassel's recent success with Chris Chambers in the lineup, you have to think it's not all on Cassel. I don't agree with Haley's decision to play musical chairs with his receiver corps in the offseason and strip Cassel/Bowe from quality reps. But I do agree more and more with his decision to be tough on Bowe.

Tough Decisions Ahead:

Haley's going to have some very tough decisions to make. His job will actually be much tougher next year than it was this year. In many instances, Haley had to choose between crap and crap. And in many of those instances, it seemed pretty clear that Haley chose to scrap certain players because they weren't "Haley guys." Yet in other instances, as with Charles and Studebaker, he lucked into the right decisions by players getting injured. Arguably, the only position where he's installed a ton of accountability is at the Wide Receiver position, a position that he knows very well from his assistant coaching days.

Next year, he'll need to make much tougher decisions. He'll have to decide whether to play a late-round rookie or to bench one of the veteran Haley guys. It was easy for Haley to bench a Derrick Johnson or a Tank Tyler or a Bernard Pollard who either didn't fit his system or didn't fit his player profile. I wonder if he'll find it nearly as easy to bench a guy like Lance Long or Mike Vrabel. The same applies to guys he likes a lot because they bought into the program---what if Branden Albert doesn't get much better? When do you pull the plug on him? What if Matt Cassel doesn't improve with a better supporting cast? What if Tyson Jackson doesn't improve over time? How do you justify starting a 7^th round rookie over a player who's playing average,

Remember, Dick Vermeil made a lot of sweeping changes after his first season as a head coach for Kansas City. Once he got his guys in the door, he was loyal probably to an extreme. It's easy to push a guy like Tyson Jackson onto the starting roster, given his draft credentials, but is it going to be nearly as easy to put in a raw 4^th round guy with upside to replace an average veteran who doesn't make mistakes? That's going to depend heavily on Haley's ability to see things in practice that he believes will translate onto the field. His inability to see potential in Charles or Studebaker make me pause at this question. They don't make me panic, but they do make me hesitate to answer that question with any kind of certainty.

If Haley can get the personnel side right, that is going to go a very long way to shaping the Chiefs into a team that has a chance to go places.

Chiefs Coach Talks About GM Pioli and the Rotating Roster

Joel Thorman — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:50:37 -0000

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley appeared on Sirius NFL Radio yesterday morning with Adam Schein and Rich Gannon to talk about the constantly rotating roster of the Chiefs and preparing for the San Diego Chargers.

Haley said it can be difficult at times with the Chiefs players because there are so many moving parts. As he's said before, though, players that can handle that type of adversity are the types of players the club, and GM Scott Pioli, is looking for.

"Scott does a great job for us," he said, "and he's great to work with just for that reason. If there's something we feel we need to improve the team, he's there for us."

Video can be seen at the Mothership. I've collected a few quotes after the jump.

Haley also said that there was no second guessing the signing of Chris Chambers when his name floated across the waiver wire four weeks ago.

"That was a decision that, as an organization, we didn't hesitate on," he said. "It's obviously paid off for us. Chris is an experienced guy who has done a good job of taking care of his body through the years. He got beat up in the game and fought to get back onto the field in overtime."

He was also asked about the week's most popular player: Andy Studebaker out of little Wheaton College.

"Venice Beach," he said laughing when asked about Studebaker. "He's a great example for us because he's a guy that's done everything we asked him to do in the offseason dating back to March. Running, lifting and doing everything he can to play. "

He says Studebaker "played a really good game with the big plays not withstanding."

The Chiefs now turn their focus to the Chargers, headed by Philip Rivers.

"We get done with one game and it's onto the next. It's a hot team and he's a hot quarterback. They've won five in a row and I think they've got the running game going now. When we first played them it wasn't quite where it's at now. I think No. 21, LaDainain, is going again but the quarterback makes it go. He's capable of making plays all over the field and we'll have our work cut out for us again."

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 11/25

NJ Chiefs Fan — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:07:35 -0000

Things I'm Thankful For

via SBN

Good morning! Just a note that I am away over the Thanksgiving weekend, so I'm unable to do another Arrowheadlines until Monday morning. I will likely be able to peek in from time to time before then, but there's no way I'll be able to do the morning post. I'm pretty sure Chris and Joel will pick up my slack. That being said, very best holiday wishes to you and yours. To those traveling, be safe.

I also wanted to include a look back to 2006 and the Thanksgiving game against Denver. That's after the jump.

Just under four weeks after he walked into Turner’s office, Chambers has become a growing part of the Chiefs offense. He’s already caught 10 passes for 249 yards in three games. He’s got a pair of touchdown catches and his 61-yard play against the Steelers set up the game winning FG in overtime.

And, Sunday he’s going back to San Diego to face his old team as the Chiefs seek their third-straight victory.

"I’m definitely playing with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder because of the way things ended in San Diego," said Chambers. "I’m just looking to prove to myself and my teammates that I can help them win games."

Chambers Returns To San Diego … Wednesday Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz

Todd Haley was talking again Tuesday about the detailed process — and the many unseen steps it takes — of rebuilding the Chiefs into a relevant part of the NFL conversation.

Haley has described how talent can be overshadowed by hard work, and how a player’s name and presumed job security don’t mean much when he plays for a team that has won five of its last 35 games.

He has said that the Chiefs need players who want to pursue greatness instead of wait for it, and finding those who might develop into something that once seemed unlikely.

Underdogs get a reward from KC Star

Clary, the Chargers' starting right tackle, suffered ligament damage in his left ankle during San Diego's win over Denver on Sunday and was placed on injured reserve last night, ending his season.

The Chargers signed Runyan, the right tackle who started every game in this decade for the Eagles before this season.

Runyan will turn 36 on Friday. He played 144 consecutive regular-season games for the Eagles from 2000 to 2008.

Eagles Notes: Jon Runyan joins San Diego Chargers from The Philadelphia Inquirer

From NFL.com: Dante' Hall Highlight, WK 12 vs. Broncos 2006

The Dallas Texans won the fourth quarter of their contest with the New York Titans, 22-13.

Only problem was the Titans won the first three quarters and thus won the game 41-35. It was the highest scoring game in the first season of the American Football League and was one of those games that earned the league the reputation of being wide-open and built on passing. A small crowd of 14,344 sat in the Polo Grounds (right) and watched the game on Thanksgiving. The game was also broadcast on national television, which helped create the aura of the wild, high scoring AFL.

The teams combined for 76 points, nine touchdowns, 814 yards in total offense, 527 net passing yards, as the quarterbacks were a combined 35 of 70.

Texans Fall On Thanksgiving To Titans from Bob Gretz

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to play this weekend against the Baltimore Ravens.

Roethlisberger took a knee to the head in last week's overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Tomlin, speaking at his weekly news conference, confirmed that Roethlisberger suffered a concussion but the quarterback passed all of the neurological tests Monday.

Big Ben's Concussion...ESPN

"A team coming off two big wins like Kansas City is, I think helps our guys," Norv Turner said. "The most important thing for them is to put the film on and when we watch our first game, there are some physical matchups and there are some plays that we made because we were in the right place at the right time."

Now, the pressure is squarely on the Broncos, especially if the Chargers beat the Chiefs on Sunday. If that happens -- and if Denver loses any of its three remaining divisional games -- San Diego will all but lock up the division crown and the home playoff game that comes with it.

But if the Chargers lose to Kansas City, it opens the door for the Broncos to not only get back into the division race, but to reclaim the tiebreaker as well.

"It feels great [to lead the division]," Malcom Floyd said, "but Kansas City just beat Pittsburgh, so we have to get ready for them."

Kans as City Game Vital to Playoff Push from SD Bolt Report

Player to watch:

Chris Chambers, WR

The veteran wideout was a Charger just four weeks ago. The Chargers released Chambers after a lackluster start, citing a desire to use his backup, WR Malcom Floyd, more often. The change in scenery apparently did Chambers some good. He already has more catches as a Chief than he did in seven games with the Chargers. He's the Chiefs' No. 1 receiver now that DeWayne Bowe has been suspended for violating the NFL's policy on banned substances. He has 10 receptions for 249 yards and two touchdowns, a strong total that includes a clutch 61-yard reception that set up last week's victory over Pittsburgh. Chambers has flourished in Kansas City, proving that his standout career is not yet over.

CHARGERS SCOUTING REPORT: Kansas City Chiefs from North County Times

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chris Chambers, WR. Pretty obvious, right? After catching just nine passes in seven games for the Chargers, Chambers was claimed off waivers by the Chiefs, and suddenly he's turned into Jerry Rice. Or at least vintage Chris Chambers. In three games, he has 10 catches for a whopping 249 yards and two TDs, and don't you think he might want to prove something Sunday?

Jamaal Charles, RB/KR. This week's version of Eddie Royal, capable of hurting the Chargers in multiple ways. A week ago Charles rushed for 103 yards against the Raiders, and last week he returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a TD. He's averaging a healthy 4.9 yards per carry and 25.7 yards per kickoff return. He also has 23 receptions.

Andy Studebaker, OLB. Making his first career start last week, the second-year player from Wheaton College produced the first two interceptions of his career, including one he returned 94 yards. The takeaways set up 10 Chiefs points.

Scouting the Chiefs from The San Diego Union-Tribune

Ryan Succop gained the dubious honor of being "Mr. Irrelevant" when he was the 256th and final player selected in April's NFL draft.

He could not have been more relevant on Sunday, when his 22-yard field goal in overtime lifted the Kansas City Chiefs to a shocking 27-24 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium.

Rookie Focus: Chiefs' Succop Proving to be Anyhting but Irrelevant from USA Today

Following Sunday’s emotionally charged 27-24 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium, we met the young man the Kansas City Chiefs hired as their head coach back in February.

If that statement confuses you, please let me explain.

We’ve all seen the dazed and confused head coach who seems to have occasional problems with clock management.

We’ve witnessed the guy who gets in his players’ faces on the sidelines and makes such a spectacle of himself that it overshadows anything his team might accomplish.

We’ve listened to the guy who drags himself into postgame interviews and displays about as much joy and love of the game as a seventh grade soccer coach whose team is made up of ADD students on a sugar high.

The guy never seemed to have any fun, and his lack of enthusiasm was contagious – on the field and in the stands.

But Sunday, we met the new and improved Todd Haley.

Haley Shows His Mettle from The Examiner

Sour Play of the Week: With Pittsburgh leading 24-17 with seven minutes remaining in regulation at Kansas City, Matt Cassel pump-faked right, then threw deep left 47 yards to Chris Chambers, setting up the touchdown that forced overtime. On the play, cornerback Ike Taylor let Chambers go when Cassel pump-faked, and no Pittsburgh safety picked him up -- three Steelers were standing like topiary in the middle of the field, covering no one, as the opposition's deep threat streaked deep. But the Pittsburgh defense could get even more sour than that. See below.
Passing = winning in the NFL from ESPN

The Chiefs are 13.5 point underdogs this weekend against the Chargers.

How to bet the point spread on NFL...BetUs.com

Player Tweets

almighty31 im playin mexican train wit the fam

Media and Fans

Adam_Schefter Thanksgiving is one of the best days of the year, but it always has condensed what already is a busy work week into an even busier one.

Adam_Schefter ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer on Jay Cutler in today's NY Times: "He was never as good as everybody said he was....He's a very average player."

kb_kcstar Former Chiefs linebackers are finding work: Monty Beisel has signed with Arizona, and Rocky Boiman has signed with Pittsburgh.

colettemarie89: is having a great break!....saw New Moon, watched the Chiefs win, road tripped to Ok w/Michael, saw Blind Side & had lots of ice cream! :)

dalephelps: Maybe it will only last a week, but it's nice to have the #Chiefs seem somewhat relevant again.