SB Nation User Blog: KaloPhoenix

Appreciating what we have, and how to help keep it that way.

KaloPhoenix — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:49:46 -0000

Arrowhead Pride is a great place for all of us to get together and share our love for our NFL team. Chris and Joel have done a fantastic job of running the place, and our editors, moderators, and contributors are top notch. We are considered to be the top of the the class of SBNation blogs, and we owe that to the outstanding team of people we have here. Let's help to keep it that way.

I know we're going through rough times as fans. Times like these bring out lots of negativity, which leads to negative FanPosts and comments. Chris posted about that here. I'd like to help remind everyone (or introduce some) to some general FanPost guidelines that have been made in addition to that to make these guys' work easier around here.

1. Don't Duplicate Posts.

We're a big blog right now. Lots of people have some great ideas and comments about our team. The last thing we want to do is stifle someone else's ideas, especially ones that are well thought out and those that have a lot of work put into them. However, we're watching FanPosts slip into the archives at an alarming rate (10 hours). There are some fantastic posts that are not being read/getting recognized due to the swarm of posts per day. This is a casualty of a bigger blog, of course...but before you post something, make sure it hasn't been done (especially if it's been done recently). We're all passionate about our Chiefs, but well-written posts have been knocked off in hours by repetitive ones about Mock Drafts, Free Agent Acquisitions, Benching/Trading Players, etc. There's new ones every day that your views can be discussed in the comments section. Use them, and if you like them, reccommend them so they'll stick around.

2. Make sure it qualifies as a FanPost.

Do you have a good idea? Great. Is it longer than a handful of sentences? If no, put it in the FanShot section. We've got many who use the "quote" button as a way of expressing a short and sweet idea/emotion. It's a great way to tell us a quick hit or something you're aggrivated/excited about that may not fit as a comment. We all still read them, and they get rec'd the same way. Stuff like highlight reels, round-by-round mock drafts, rumors about coaches/players we may acquire should go into a FanShot...especially if there's little analysis done by the poster.

3. Keep it fresh.

The end of the season is arriving, and many will be looking forward to next season. We all want change for the better for this team, and most of us have ideas on who/what should be fixed first. There will be FA suggestions, mock drafts, and calls for coaching changes. Before you do it, think about what others have said regarding the situation. Did you agree with most of a previous post, with some slight tweaks? Did someone in the comments of a previous post say something you agreed with? Most importantly, are you coming in with old, previously stated information? If those are "yes" answers, it helps to comment in the appropriate FanPost, rather than creating a new one.

4. Remember the "Recently Active"

Sometimes a discussion gets going on a certain topic, and continues for awhile. This post by kcskip hit 324 comments last week. Some agreed with it, some didn't. It was healthy conversation, but it didn't get reccommended enough times to go "to the top". When it disappeared off the front page, a couple new, similar posts went up regarding the subject. The discussions/debates were still continuing in the other post, but because they weren't on the front page anymore, it was lost by some. Make sure to click the "FanPosts" button at the top of the page and click "Recently Active" to see where the posts are. You can still continue the discussions long after the post has gone into the archives. Also, for those that struggle to keep up with some of the larger commented posts, use these tools (thanks Chris):

Press C to tab through new comments, Shift-C to tab backwards, X to mark a comment as read, and Shift-A to mark all read. Z will simultaneously mark and tab forward, and R will reply to the comment that has focus. If you're going to respond to a particular comment by another user, you'll want to hit "reply" underneath that comment instead of just posting from the main box. That way, the conversation will be much more organized.

5. Try not to let your emotions write a FanPost for you.

We're not doing well as a team right now, and yeah, it's hard to watch sometimes. We all share that sentiment. However, defaming coaches/players with little or no statistical/factual evidence, or rambling on about how much you've hated "decision x" and "decision y" without analysis of the decision does little to help out the community. Not only does it come off negatively on the poster, chances are good the community will respond negatively as well. Suggest a different decision, backed up by facts/analysis, and you'll typically get a favorable response. "Haley sucks" or "Why I hate Matt Cassel" posts have been done to death, and if you write them with little to no facts/statistics, there's more than likely going to be a backlash.

*****

As I stated at the beginning, Chris and Joel do this for fun. They have created ~~one of~~ the best Chiefs site on the 'net. They do a good job of keeping the clutter down, but as we get closer and closer to the end of the season, there's been a lot more of it around. Please keep them in mind before you post. Thanks.

Defensive Analysis of a Chiefs Play: The TE Post

KaloPhoenix — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:54:52 -0000

via NFL.com

From the FanPosts. Bumped up the time. -Joel

I started to make a post about the glaring weaknesses about the defense, and do my usual grading, but felt it would be overwhelmed with negativity (my own and in the comments), so I thought I'd try a little something new.

The defense this week gave up four touchdowns to the Chargers. Two were short runs from LT, one set up by a long, fairly well covered jump ball, and the other by a botched snap. While tough to swallow, those plays weren't entirely on the called coverage scheme. However, the glaring weakness we've seen all year is the inability for our defense to cover a tight end in the middle of the field. With Gates' two post routes for TD's, I thought I'd give a look at the scheme, how it broke down as the play went along, and where the coverage/call went wrong.

Touchdown #1

The lineup:

via i775.photobucket.com

As you'll see, the defense is lined up in a 2 down lineman, 4 linebacker setup (that's Daniels up near the 'backers). Gates is highlighted in yellow, and the Chargers are in a 4 WR set. The two outside WR's are covered by Flowers and Carr, and Daniels has the second WR on the top. The two OLB's are going to rush the passer leaving Belcher and DJ with the responsibilities of covering the TE and the RB, respectively. San Diego wants to throw at Belcher, so Sproles is lined up on DJ's side, leaving Belcher with Gates. Brown and McGraw (off screen) are playing a deep zone.

The Break:

via i775.photobucket.com

Alright, snapping forward, the outside receivers have started their deep routes, the slot receiver has cut to the outside, and Sproles has started his move into the flat. DJ passes responsibility of Gates to Belcher and moves to cover Sproles. They've got the matchup they want now.

The Throw:

via i775.photobucket.com

Going forward once again, the routes have run everyone out of the short middle of the field, leaving Belcher and Gates 1-on-1. This is an all day easy matchup for Gates, as he's bigger and more athletic than Jovan in the passing game. He's officially shielded Belcher from where Rivers will put the ball and has turned up towards the endzone. Take note: Tamba's being blatantly held right in front of Rivers.

The Catch:

via i775.photobucket.com

And the TD. Belcher is officially left in the dust, failing to make the tackle on the faster Gates. The DB's (not circling McGraw due to yet another blatant penalty, this time a block in the back) are VERY out of position. Carr (top circle) was responsible for Floyd at the start of the play, who is laying the block on McGraw, and was doubling Naane on the top route. Brown (lower circle) is doubling Vincent Jackson. This left McGraw (on deep, goal-line duties) to be the last resort for a pass in the middle of the field, instead of putting another DB on the Gates route. Belcher jumped the pass, missed, and Gates has 10+ yards of clear space with no Chief nearby. Thus, touchdown. Poor coverage call with 5 eligible receivers when we had been playing a 1-on-1 coverage on Floyd/Jackson most plays before this.

Touchdown #2

The Lineup:

via i775.photobucket.com

Alright, on this play, the Chargers line up with 5 WR. We're in our base 3-4, and before the play, Tamba and Studebaker have switched sides so Tamba doesn't have to drop into coverage. Floyd and Jackson are on the lower side of your screen, with Naane and LT to the top. Gates, as usual, is circled. Studebaker is matched up on Floyd, Williams is on Naane, Flowers is on LT, and Carr (off screen, what a cushion!) is on Jackson. That leaves Corey Mays on Gates, yet another matchup that they like. Once again, Brown and McGraw are playing a goalline zone.

The Break:

via i775.photobucket.com

The play starts, and the linebackers shift. Williams sticks with Naane and gets run outside of the short zone. Mays starts to cover Gates through the middle zone, while Studebaker sticks with Floyd on the slant. As Floyd continues his slant, Studebaker drops further into coverage and passes him to Mays. Mays steps up to cover Floyd and passes Gates to McGraw at the same time that Williams passes Naane to Brown. The problem? McGraw's shading towards Jackson on a double team.

The Catch:

via i775.photobucket.com

McGraw can't get over in time to make up for Mays' "let go" of Gates (see how far he moved forward on Naane?), and Studebaker can't get back quickly enough for the switch. I've highlighted Studebaker and Williams to show how Pendergast tried to solve this TE Post problem. By running the LB's nearly straight backwards, he's trying to cover up the gap in the center of the field. The problem is still there and unfixed, though. McGraw is buried in the endzone, and Brown is up on the endzone fade route. Flowers is stuck on LT, still standing near the line of scrimmage, leaving Brown with that responsibility, instead of shifting Williams to the outside. In this situation, the best pass defenders on the team are "frozen out" of the play, and a short cut across the middle leaves a monster-truck sized hole in the secondary for the second time in the game.

***

I'm harping on the matchups and the switching so much in this post because we've been burned so many times by it. We don't have a stud pass-defending LB on this team, and when Vrabel's out, we don't really have a mediocre one. Pendergast HAS to recognize this by now. Yet, too often, he doubles the outside receiver or lets the safety get run out by a passed receiver, leaving a hole in the defense. He's got to either get those safeties to stay home or get his linebackers to drop further.

Take note, these aren't blitzing plays. We're dropping 7 into coverage on 5 eligible receivers, and that leaves little excuse for the size of the gaps we're seeing in the middle of the field. Flowers and Carr played well on Floyd and Jackson yesterday when they were heads-up with them.

If you're shutting down receivers as the game goes along, and you're consistently getting burnt by the TE, the logical solution is to stick Brown or McGraw on a double team with a LB and limit the catches/yardage. It didn't happen yesterday, and has happened rarely this year. Does the problem lie in Pendergast's ability to call coverage schemes? Is it lack of talent on our LB/DB corps? Or is it both? Whatever the solution, something needs to happen to make it stop.

We've given up too many easy first downs and touchdowns to the same play that could've been prevented by a coverage call/audible that didn't happen. Someone needs to get something to fix it in the playbook in a hurry.

Chiefs 3-4 Front 7 Grade Re-evaluation: Bye Week

KaloPhoenix — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:40:33 -0000

Photo Source

From the FanPosts -Joel

If you had to describe our defense thus far, unfortunately it's not good. However, with the abundance of Mock Drafts popping up and people trying to look past this year already, I thought I'd reevaluate and update my post on the defensive grades I'd give the Chiefs. I'm going to try to keep the grades in perspective. Yes, we're struggling, but there are a few bright spots here and there I'll comment on while grading them.

In the interest of not assigning failing grades to everyone by comparing them to the Elvis Dumervil and Jared Allens of the world, these will be relative to the preseason grades I had given in the previous post.

Nose Tackle:

Ron Edwards - Edwards took over the position and has started 5 of the 7 games thus far, totaling 11 tackles (10 solo), no sacks, fumbles forced, or PBU's. He's the heart of a 25th ranked rushing defense, and the FO was secure enough with him to let Tank Tyler go to the Panthers. There have been a small handful of times where he's got some pressure up the gut of the defense, but more often than not, he's getting stuffed. I've watched many times as both offensive guards have gotten to our linebackers on rushing plays. His job is to occupy a couple of blockers, and he's not getting that done on a consistent basis. When he does, he gets pancaked too often. However, he has picked up both men and Dorsey has cut through his 1-on-1. If he can do that more often, it'll make a huge difference. Grade: D

Defensive End:

Glenn Dorsey - 25 tackles (17 solo) and a PBU thus far this season. By far the best guy we've got as a down lineman. Gets penetration several times a game, and has done fairly well to turn RB's back into the pile behind the line of scrimmage. Also tracking back to catch players when the LB's miss, covering our defense's proverbial butt on several occasions. Not consistent enough picking up the extra man on safety blitzes, our rushers are getting a hand put on them, slowing them down. Has helped Tamba make this transition easier. I really think he's grasped the position, now just needs to refine the techniques. Grade: B

Tyson Jackson - 5 tackles (3 solo) and a PBU aren't numbers that are lighting the world on fire. He really has found himself "lost in the wash" of rushing plays in his direction. He's not necessarily getting steamrolled, but he's also not really getting after his man. Typically has the tackle or guard, but rarely both, which tends to stymie Vrabel's advancement. Last week was better from him on all fronts. Hopefully that improvment continues. Grade: C-

Wallace Gilberry - 12 tackles (11 solo) and 2 sacks made for a surprise...especially for the DE position. He has benefitted from planned stunts where Tamba rolls inside and he swaps the outside...a testament to some speed? Usually in on 3rd and longs with Dorsey in a 2 down lineman set. Not really much for the typical DE responsibilities, but a nice wrench for Clancy to throw into the equation. Grade B-

Linebackers:

Mike Vrabel - 28 tackles (25 solo), 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 3 PBU's. Mike has done very, very well at keeping the RB inside of him on rushes his direction. He's made several tackles through his blocker, and really has played the run well. Pass defense has been less than stellar, and he's usually responsible for the short flat...something that most teams have run to Tamba's side this year. Not a sack machine, but not expected to be with how often he drops back into coverage. Often mentoring Jackson as to the gaps he needs to hit on the field, after the play. Oh yeah, and he's got a TD catch. So far, so good. Grade: B+

DeMorrio Williams - 44 tackles (37 solo), 2 PBU's. DeMorrio took DJ's spot midway through the pre-season and surprisingly hasn't given it back. Pass coverage has been okay, especially as of late with the TE corps we've faced. Not hitting the hole, or choosing the right angle as well as I'd like. Tends to get caught by free-roaming guards, but has been overpowered several times by a fullback. Does not tackle well enough at the point of attack, getting most tackles well beyond the line of scrimmage. Not quite handling the rush as well as I'd like, but not entirely his fault with that side of the line in front of him. Grade: C

Corey Mays - 36 tackles (25 solo), 1 PBU. Not quite living up to the preseason hype he created. Does hit the hole well, and strong. However, when he gets to the hole a little late, tries to arm tackle and gets shed often. Somewhat of a liability in pass coverage. Postered LT on the goal line last week with an awesome stop. He seems to be spectacular or mediocre without much in between. Grade: C

Derrick Johnson - 10 tackles (10 solo), 1 INT, 1 sack, 1 PBU. Fell out of favor early, but starting to see a little more playing time on passing downs. Ineffective on special teams thus far. Huge pick against the Ravens and a nice sack against Oakland. Seems to make plays when he's on the field, but can't crack the starting lineup. Haven't seen much at all in his ability to stop the run, which might be keeping him off the field. Grade: C

Jovan Belcher - 16 tackles (15 solo). "He's a Cinderella boy. Tears in his eyes..." Not staggering stats, but seeing more and more time on the field as of late. Seems to be running the defense in Mays' absence. Plays smart football, takes away passing lanes well. Still needs some work on getting to the hole quicker, but tends to pick the right angle most of the time. Has a chance to be a serious contributor if he can get to the RB quicker with some power. Grade: C

Tamba Hali - 23 tackles (16 solo), 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 PBU, 1 safety. I know I said it before, but I'll say it again: I was wrong about Tamba. Little to no delay in the transition to OLB. Handling pass rush just as well or better than last year, but still not getting by the LT fast enough. Coverage is improving (see: SD's 2nd TD where Tamba took away Gates), but not being asked to do it as much. Not sealing the edge well enough on running plays. Quicker RB's have turned the corner on him too readily. Not reading screens well enough on his side. Has shown some good quickness getting to the other side of the line. He and Dorsey have teamed well together and look like they're blossoming into a positive for this season. Grade: B

We've got holes. Edwards isn't getting it done consistently enough, and therefore, neither are our linebackers. We don't get enough pressure, and our blitzes are too slow. We seem to do pretty well against the run, then give up a 50 yard play to ruin all the work...need to concentrate more on consistently filling the holes and keeping the gap assignments. The positives are there with this front 7. We can see the spots that we're doing okay in, and as the season goes along, it's got to get better (schedule alone will help that). I hope when I revisit this at the end of the year that Jackson's become more consistent, DJ gets some more opportunities, Tamba's got a bunch more sacks, Dorsey's getting through on a regular basis, and Edwards holds his own better.

Thoughts? Comments?

Statistical Analysis: The Chiefs Offense 1/4 Through

KaloPhoenix — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:16:56 -0000

Photo Source

From the FanPosts -Joel

It'll come as no surprise to anyone reading this that the offense has been bad. I would agree. However, several posters have made reference to Haley being the complete fault of this, and that Chan's offense last year was better. I went searching to find out the truth, and why that may be the case, and here's what I found when I pulled the numbers together.

Week 1

2008 - New England

10 points scored

284 Total Yards

4.6 Yards/play

1 INT

0 Fumbles Lost

2009 - Baltimore

17 points scored (not counting blocked punt)

188 Total

4.3 Yards/play

0 INTs

0 Fumbles lost

Week 2

2008 - Oakland

8 points scored

190 Total Yards

3.1 Yards/play

2 INTs

0 Fumbles lost

2009 - Oakland

10 points scored

409 Total Yards

5.2 Yards/play

2 INTs

0 Fumbles lost

Week 3

2008 - Atlanta

14 points scored

301 Total Yards

4.2 Yards/play

3 INTs

0 Fumbles lost

2009 - Philly

14 points scored

196 Total Yards

3.8 Yards/play

0 INTs

1 Fumble lost

Week 4

2008 - Denver

33 points scored

370 Total yards

6.0 Yards/play

0 INTs

1 Fumble lost

2009 - New York Giants

16 points scored

193 Total yards

3.1 Yards/play

0 INTs

0 Fumbles lost (Charles fumble on Special Teams)

Totals

2008

16.25 points per game

286.25 Total yards per game

4.48 Yards/play

6 INTs

1 Fumble lost

2009

13.5 points per game (16 ppg with the blocked punt)

246.5 Total yards per game

4.1 Yards/play

2 INTs

1 Fumbles lost

Just looking at the statistics alone, yes, 2008 is better from a yardage and scoring standpoint. However, if you want to make the argument that Chan's offense was better, you've got to dig a little deeper.

1. Statistical Anomalies (aka, Spikes in Performance)

The first three games of the 2008 and 2009 season were about even in total yards, while 2009's yards/play and scoring (as well as turnovers) were better. Week 4 of 2008 was a game where LJ played out of his mind and racked up 197 yards on the ground. The scoreboard showed this, and that skewed the totals in 2008's favor. Larry only got into the endzone twice more and only broke 100 yards once more that season. 2009's Chiefs have not seen an "above and beyond" performance like this, so the numbers are lower. Still, numbers are numbers, and we can't discount LJ's performance, even though it was a rarity.

2. Time of Possession

Many have faulted the offense for keeping the defense on the field (I, one of them), so I looked into the amount of time spent by this year and last year's teams on the field. I was a little surprised at the results. In 2008, the Chiefs offense spent about 33 minutes/game on the field through the first quarter. In 2009, they've spent about 29 minutes/game on the field. Most of the 2009 numbers stem from the 4th quarters of the Eagles/Giants games, and from the Oakland game. So, for 6 quarters, we held the ball well. The other 10 we couldn't keep it. Is 4 minutes/game enough to skew the numbers? Possibly, but not enough to put the blame there.

3. Defensive Ratings

We know the schedule makers didn't give us an easy go to get this thing started. New coach, new scheme, new QB, and a new attitude are things to get adjusted to as the year goes along. Last year had a QB carousel through the first 4 games, but the vibe from the previous year was still there. That being said, what's the hardest thing to get figured out with so many new components? A rhythm amongst the players. That has not happened amongst our guys (partially due to the constantly shifting depth chart), and it shows when we take the field. Going against a strong defense is one of the toughest barriers to overcome when you don't have that rhythm. With 2008 and 2009 starting off with some new components, how tough were the defenses to overcome?

2008 - Average defensive ranking: 23rd in the NFL

2009 - Average defensive ranking: 8th in the NFL

That's a leap that very few established teams would be able to handle. A team trying to get some cohesion is understandably struggling. The strength of the defenses that we're playing are causing our coaching staff to change the way they call plays. We may see it as poor play calling, when in truth it could be a superior defense forcing our hand. Watching a pass-happy Cardinals team, and a preseason Chiefs team more comfortable with throwing the ball, I think it's pretty safe to say Haley's disappointed with the amount of plays he can successfully run. Is that the reason for the poor offensive outings so far? Most likely. Our 409 yards of offense against the worst defense we've seen (Raiders - 18th) supports this somewhat...unless that is our statistical anamoly. Dallas (26th overall) should help prove or disprove this theory.

So is this offense bad? Yes, they've shown little to prove otherwise. Is it completely on one aspect of our offense (Cassel, Haley, offensive line, LJ)? Hardly. Too little credit has been given to toughness of the defenses we've played, and the extent they've changed our gameplans. Give it time, let us play a couple more teams without such strong defenses (Dallas, Washington, Jacksonville, Oakland in our next 4 - average of 21st overall at the moment), and then evaluate. A brand new offense takes time to develop without tough D. Let's take a step back and give it such.

Early Chiefs Defensive Stat Analysis

KaloPhoenix — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:09:30 -0000

Photo via ESPN

From the FanPosts -Joel

So.

Two weeks in. 0-2. Most of the "doom-and-gloomers" are out and about. I have made some comments after week 1 about the defensive stat lines, but now that Week 2 is in the books, I thought I'd do an overlook of what our "terrible, crappy" defense had done so far. I'm well aware that you're all able to go on NFL.com and read through the stats, the same as I am, but for those who'd like a comprehensive stat analysis without doing the work yourself, this post is the one for you.

To the JUMP!

Alright, first and foremost, all you "Ravens and Raiders don't have an offense" naysayers, can it. It's two weeks, it's what it is, and I'll get to an equal qualifier as the post goes along. Now, for some relevant stats.

Rushing:

The Ravens and the Raiders have two of the better rushing attacks in the league. Last year, both teams were in the top 10 in the league in rushing yardage per game. Rushing yards should be a decent barometer against these teams. The stats (and last year's):

Yards per game: 132.5 (21st) -- 158.9 (30th)

Attempts per game: 33 (6th) -- 31.8 (4th)

Yards per attempt: 4.0 (14th) -- 5.0 (30th)

So, against two of the top 10 teams in the league in rushing, we've put together 25 less yards per game, with more attempts, making a full yard less gained by the opposition. Obviously, the Ravens ran better on us than the Raiders, but two games is two games...and with two run heavy teams. 14th in the league in yards per attempt isn't fantastic, but those making us out to have been run over should look at that stat closely. People still run on us often, as the attempts per game shows, but a yard per game difference makes a big...well, difference in the end game.

Passing:

Last year the Ravens and Raiders ranked 28th and 32nd in passing yardage per game. This year, they're 13th (Ravens) and 29th (Raiders). So, we're talking about an upgrade for the Ravens, partially due to our first game, and about the same for the Raiders. The stats:

Yards per game: 201.0 (14th) -- 234.2 (28th)

Attempts per game: 33.5 (15th) -- 32.6 (15th)

Yards per attempt: 6.2 (8th) -- 7.3 (24th)

Against two typically bad passing teams, we've held much better number than last year's average. That's to be expected. Still, our yards per attempt ranks in the top 10 of the league, while in the top half of attempts taken. From a strictly YPA figure, we rank much better in passing than we do rushing. Again, with two strong rushing teams, these figures should be holding these parallels.

Sacks and INTs:

Our sack total last year showed our defenses' complete ineptitude. It's the figure that most have concentrated on this offseason, and rightfully so. Stats:

Sacks: 3 (16th) -- 10 (32nd)

Opposing Passer Rating: 77.7 (13th) -- 91.1 (25th)

Interceptions: 1 (18th) -- 13 (17th)

Sacks are better from a league average. Same with passer rating. INT's should be one more (Flowers pick six) at least, if not another dropped from Flacco's arm. More turnovers changes a couple of those games. It shows.

Total Yardage:

Stark contrast in the two games so far. 500+ to under 200 in the two respectively. Up and down at best. How it ranks in the NFL:

Total Yards per game: 333.5 (18th) -- 393.2 (31st)

Total Attempts per game: 68 (8th) -- 65.1 (4th)

Total Yards per attempt: 4.9 (9th) -- 6.0 (29th)

That's right, we're 0-2 with a top 10 YPA. Meanwhile, we're giving up the 8th most plays in the NFL. That tells me that we're making our defense feel the brunt of the game. It also tells me that our defense can stop the opposing offense, but will eventually break due to the pressure being put on them.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thus far, the only team to play both the Raiders and the Ravens is the Chargers...how do they stack up?

Rushing YPG: KC 132.5 -- SD 139.0

Passing YPG: KC 201.0 -- SD 199.5

Sacks: KC 3 -- SD 2

INT: KC 1 -- SD 3

Rushing YPA: KC 4.0 -- SD 4.3

Passing YPA: KC 6.2 -- SD 7.0

Total YPG: KC 333.5 -- SD 338.5

Total YPA: KC 4.9 -- SD 5.4

So comparing the two teams, ours is clearly better on the defensive side of the ball. The glaring error is INT's, and as stated before, a Flowers pick-6 makes that less glaring, as also puts us at 1-1...the same as SD. This is the same defense touted as being one of the best in the league (San Diego) getting beat statistically by one of the worst touted in the league.

What's it come down to on this side of the ball? Getting off the field. We've got the defense to stay in these games, but whether it be giving up 3rd downs, or our offense putting them back on the field...the sheer number of plays these guys are seeing is enough to doom them.

This defense is 9th in the league at yards given up per play, yet we're 0-2. That's good enough to win against most teams, certainly better than last year. Some turnovers and some offense can turn this around. Another good showing against the Eagles could prove to the rest of the public the improvements we're seeing on defense.

Kansas City Chiefs Preseason Defensive Grades: Re-Rack

KaloPhoenix — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:17:13 -0000

via Kansas City Star

From the FanPosts -Joel

In my previous posts about the 3-4 Position Primer, I've focused on specific personnel and where they fit into the 3-4 defense. This one will focus more on the players in the front seven and the statlines so far this preseason, while still giving my grades to the various players/parts of the defense.

So...here we go!

DISCLAIMER: I recognize it's the preseason, and these numbers may not mean everything. It's simply an intro-analysis before Week 1.

Game 1: Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs

In the first half, when it was mainly 1st's vs. 1st's, we gave up 11 first downs, 123 passing yards, 56 rushing yards, and 13 points. Leggett had a first team sack, and both Flowers and Mike Brown forced fumbles.

Lowlights:

12 play, 94 yard drive given up by the first team, capped off by a 2-yd TD run.

Only one rush was tackled for a loss the entire game.

4 forced fumbles, no recoveries.

Highlights:

Held a prolific passing offense to a 15% (2/13) 3rd down conversion rate. When they had to pass, we were able to lock it down.

Held the offense to a 33% (1/3) red zone conversion rate. The scoreline shows this well. When they got down the field, we did okay at forcing a field goal.

280 Net Yards in the game. Not bad, but not great...certainly an improvement.

Game 2: Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Ruined Brett Favre's debut, made Tavaris Jackson look like a superstar. Gave up 150+ yards, 12 first downs, and 7 points when the 1st teams were on the field.

Lowlights:

No sacks, no picks, no fumbles forced. Gotta have those.

Tavaris Jackson throwing for 202 yards after being replaced as the starter...and he only had 1 rush for 5 yards, so he didn't really beat us with his feet.

6.7 yards given up per offensive play. Unacceptable.

Highlights:

4 Tackles for Loss on running plays against a solid line.

3.4 yard rushing average against one of the best rushing attacks in the league.

4/11 on third downs, and 1/2 in the red zone. Still respectable numbers.

Game 3: Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Lots of yards given up, lots of poor play all around on the defensive side. Not the way the 1st team wanted to show up to play for three quarters.

Lowlights:

406 Total yards. Ouch.

11/19 third down conversion rate, one of the strong points in prior games, really killed us here.

Secondary ran ragged by their three starting receivers and Matt Hasselbeck. Looked like we were just watching them run over us.

Highlights:

Couple sacks, one by Studebaker, and one by TJ.

Our only score: a well read pick-six by Flowers.

2.9 yards allowed per rush on 38 rushes. They tried to ram it down our throats, but we did well to stonewall them.

Game 4: St. Louis Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs

A forgettable performance by the offense, but a solid outing for the defense. Their offensive touchdown came at the expense of a couple big pass plays on our second team, but before that, we shut them down.

Lowlights:

Couple big pass plays leading to their only offensive TD, but not a whole lot else to say...mostly backups in this one.

Highlights:

Tank steps up with a 9 Tackle (2 for loss) and 1 Forced Fumble game.

3 sacks for 23 yards.

4 tackles for loss for 14 yards.

3.5 yards per play allowed, and a great 2.4 yards per rush allowed, most coming at the expense of the second team.

Total Stats (With League Rank):

16 points per game (9th)

324.5 yards per game (19th)

227.5 pass yards per game (27th)

97 rushing yards per game (9th)

3.1 rushing yards per attempt (1ST) - And we were ran on the 5th most

7.3 passing yards per attempt (24th)

7 sacks (21st)

Grades (starters):

Defensive Line:

Glenn Dorsey - 3 tackles and no sacks does not tie in well with the mountain of expectations from the young player. However, he was responsible for disrupting the backfield a few times, creating opportunities for other players to step in. For instance, Corey Mays was arguably the best find so far this offseason due to his preseason play. He's lined up behind Dorsey. Coincidence? Not at all. Dorsey is thus far eating blockers well, and when switched to an "under-tackle", he's knifed into the backfield and has been dangerous. Those tackle totals won't skyrocket, but expect a few sacks and lots of linebacker tackles that we can attribute to him. Grade: B.

Tyson Jackson - 3 tackles and 2 sacks from the rookie. He's shown that he's quite strong, and the two sacks are promising. The neverending cycle of linebackers behind him make it difficult to judge his impact as a hole-opener in the straight 3-4. Tends to get sucked outside a little too readily, maybe a hard to break habit from his little time as a 4-3 DE? Inconsistent with blockers, seems to blow through a guy one play, then disappear for the next 3. He's a rookie, though, and the speed/consistency of the game will come in time. Grade: C.

Tank Tyler - 16 tackles at the nose, compared to Edwards' 3. It's hard to argue with a preseason leading 3.1 yard per rush defensive line, and it obvious he's getting it done. Teams have run up the middle most against us, with the least success. Had to earn a spot back with the first team, but showed very well against the Rams. If this is the type of player that shows up every week, we're looking a lot better. Unfortunately, over half his tackles came against the lowly Rams. Baltimore is a good test of a decent o-line to see if it continues. Grade: B-.

Linebackers:

Mike Vrabel - 5 Tackles, no picks, and no sacks. Definitely the team leader, his stat line looks a little weak. However, three of those tackles were for a loss, usually shooting through the right side of the offensive line and tracking the RB across the field. Looks to be helping the younger guys get better, especially Studebaker. Doesn't seem to have the QB-blitz freedom that he did in New England, but Pendergast is allocating that elsewhere so far. The dink-and-dunk pass coverage needs to be better out of him to get those passing stats down. Grade: C.

DeMorrio Williams - 17 tackles behind Jackson in a very free-roaming position. Most of those tackles have come further down the field, as he's playing pass more than the run. Many times his first step is away from the line of scrimmage, with his eyes on the QB and TE. This could very well be a call from Pendergast, so I won't judge. Hasn't been blitzed yet. Also needs to work on his center of the field pass coverage. Too much space given so far. Hard to really grade fairly, as he's been cycled in and out of that position frequently. Grade: C-.

Corey Mays - Our new fan favorite? 13 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, and countless stuffs at the line of scrimmage. Took the job away from a Pro Bowler and made it his. Pendergast has blitzed Mays many, many times thus far, and he's done an excellent job of getting his hands on the QB, even after the ball is gone. Another big reason why the rush defense has been effective. He should probably take Dorsey out to eat every game for being so effective. Grade: A-.

Tamba Hali - 11 Tackles, 1 sack. It's an understatement to say that Tamba has surprised me thus far. His transition to a two point stance has thus far gone smoothly, and he's been dangerous in the backfield. With defenses needing to worry about Dorsey and Mays, he becomes the odd man out and gets 1-on-1 with a free shot at the QB. Looks much faster from this position, and has had no threat from other potential takers thus far, also a surprise. Hasn't had to drop into coverage much yet, but also hasn't been exploited in that area, so kudos. From the guy who wasn't convinced, Tamba, I salute you. Grade: B.

So far, just okay. The secondary isn't really shutting down the medium out routes, but I'm really not the guy to analyze the secondary...too focused on the front 7. The run defense has been solid thus far. The sacks haven't come as often as we'd like, but several QB hurries already this preseason show that there is potential for more. We're throwing lots of looks at the opposition (unders, overs, 2-5's, etc.), and that can only work to our advantage. Blitz packages have been a highlight so far, with Pendergast sending many different positions at the QB. Pass defense needs to be better, and it would be sad if our once proud secondary became the low point of this defense. Still, there are many positives to take from the preseason so far, and many tricks up our sleeve that I'm sure we haven't pulled yet. A full game with the starters on the field will tell us more, as we seemed to see a definite dropoff when switching to 2nd's vs. 2nd's.

16 points per game allowed, with most coming near the end after the starters were out. If we get some offense on the flipside, things can go well. Yeah, it's just the preseason, but there's something we can take from all of this: we're improving. Finally. =)

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CHIEFS!!!!

Training Camp: Reevaluating the 3-4 Position Primer

KaloPhoenix — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:31:45 -0000

From the FanPosts -Joel

...or, as I'm sure I'll find out later: why I was wrong. =)

Back in May, I wrote a post detailing our future use of the 3-4 defense. At the time, I was vehemently against the switch, specifically for Dorsey, DJ, and Tamba. I'd like to revisit the argument this week after some camp reports and before we trot out our defense for the first preseason game. I plan on revisiting the primer and evaluating the evolution of the defense as the year goes along.

One of my main stressors in the prior post was that we were trotting out high draft picks, best suited for a 4-3, into positions they had not played before. I assumed that since they were uncomfortable with a standard 3-4, that we would run a hybrid focused more on the 4-3. As the preseason got closer and closer, it became apparent that the 3-4 would be the base defense. However, as RedNose aptly pointed out in the other post:

The Pats' 3-4 has been a base D only from what I've seen. 3-4 first down most times to be sure.
2-4,2-5,1-5,1-6 were shown often depending on down and distance.

Yes, we'll see other looks, and yes, the defense will switch up from down to down. This is purely an evaluation of the base defense only. We know we'll line up in a 3-4, that much is for sure. Shifts/hybrids/blitzes are all purely speculation at this point, so I won't attempt to focus there until another post. Without further ado, my reevaluation:

I stated originally that I thought Tank Tyler would be an acceptable fit at Nose Tackle for us. At the time, he seemed to have the job locked up, and many were excited to see what he has done. Now it seems Tank is sharing time on the first team with Ron Edwards. What changed?

“I’m looking at your eyes men. Tank, you’re looking at the ground,” Krumrie hollered. “See me!”

During a drill involving both offensive and defensive linemen, center Eric Ghiaciuc pushed defensive tackle Tank Tyler over. The crowd, including both offensive and defensive players, let out some “oooh’s” after the play. Ghiaciuc offered to help Tyler up, but Tyler declined the hand and sprinted back to complete the drill.

Defensive Line Coach Tim Krumrie got frustrated with defensive tackle Tank Tyler when Tyler didn’t sprint back to the line of scrimmage after the whistle blew.

During the 11-on-11 drill, defensive tackle Tank Tyler applied great pressure to quarterback Brodie Croyle. Pleased with Tyler’s performance, Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast hollered, “Hey, Tank. Do that every (dang) time.” from the sidelines. Later, Tyler fell to the ground after a play. Pendergast encouraged Tyler to “stay up.” However, Tyler fell again, and this time Head Coach Todd Haley hollered, “Stay up, Tank!”

- all from UWRF...and will continue to be

Not exactly glowing endorsements coming out of camp from the guy. Edwards doesn't have a whole lot said about him, but no news may be good news in this case. Ratings Change: N/A. Unfortunately, training camp isn't going to reveal a ton about the NT position. After a couple of preseason games, we'll see a clearer picture.

I stepped through the 3-4 DE's on the roster, including Jackson, MaGee, and Dorsey. At the time, I stated that Jackson and MaGee would fit well enough, and that it could be a potential disaster for Dorsey. Jackson has barely been in camp, but all reports state he's working hard to learn the speed and strength of the pro game. As for MaGee:

Rookie defensive end Alex Magee was getting his fair share of praise from Defensive Line Coach Tim Krumrie. At one point Krumrie told the end from Purdue that he was doing a good job. “There ya go. Good, Alex, good,” Krumrie said.

The offensive and defensive linemen ran a drill in which one defensive player would try to bust past the blocking offender to get to the hypothetical quarterback. During the drill, Defensive Line Coach Tim Krumrie hollered at rookie defensive end Alex Magee when he didn’t get back fast enough. “When that whistle blows, you fight your butt off him,” Krumrie said. “What the (heck) ya waiting for? Get back. It’s not that (dang) hard.”

Defensive end Alex Magee was having a hard time knowing how to place his arms when they were pinning the single sled. Krumrie had the rookie hit the sled multiple times until he was satistifed with Magee’s performance.

A session with the defensive lineman and the offensive lineman, running a 2-on-1 blocking drill was dominated by the defense. The stand-out of the drill was defensive end Alex Magee. Magee destroyed offensive linemen Mike Goff and Wade Smith on separate occasions.

When it was Jackson’s turn on the sled, Krumrie was pleased. The only thing he asked of the rookie was that Jackson watch fellow rookie defensive end Alex Magee, who has been impressive on the single sleds thus far.

Fellow rookie defensive end Alex Magee seemed to have a good afternoon in the drill. After button his chin strap as Krumrie ordered, Magee received a compliment from the coach. “That’s the way to strike, Alex,” Krumrie commended.

Lots and lots of praise in there for the rookie. As it is, he's still running with the first team, actually getting the starting nod and being supplanted by Dorsey depending on the situation.

Glenn is a different story. His failure to complete the conditioning test, his injured shin, and coming in overweight have been chronicled here very well. He hasn't gotten a ton of work in yet, but of the stuff that he's done, here's the quotes:

When asked how players were transitioning into the 3-4, Haley mentioned defensive end Glenn Dorsey who practiced for just the second time this morning. Haley said that he saw Dorsey be active and disciplined today.

After hitting the sled once, the players hit it for a second time before charging at Equipment Assistant Kyle Crumbaugh, who represented the ball carrier. During the drill, defensive end Glenn Dorsey got complimented by Krumrie. “The second one was really good,” the coach told the second-year player.

Defensive end Glenn Dorsey and linebacker Tamba Hali had sacks on Croyle later in the drive.

During 7-on-7, Defensive Line Coach Tim Krumrie hollered at second-year defensive end Glenn Dorsey. “Stop skating, Glenn,” Krumrie said. “Drive his (butt) up the field.” Krumrie was frustrated after Dorsey had let the offensive blocker knock him to his knees.

Also during the drill, defensive end Glenn Dorsey jumped offsides, swore loudly and had to run.

Defensive end Glenn Dorsey would have had a sack on Croyle, and linebacker Turk McBride showed good pressure on Croyle as well.

For being a guy who showed up with some problems, he's actually integrated far better than I expected. The recommendation from Haley right off the bat is a good one, and I know all of us Dorsey fans like to see those two sacks pop up.

Grades? Tyson Jackson - N/A. Contract worked out, we'll see how it goes with some more time. Alex MaGee - Upgrade to Perfect Fit. I had worries about his transition to the pro game, but it seems he's been one of the more impressive players on the field thus far. Glenn Dorsey - Upgrade to Acceptable Fit. I may take some heat for this, but my chief concern (pun intended) was his lack of penetration in a 3-4, as well as his ability to adapt. With the Haley comment, and a couple of sacks, I believe an upgrade is in order.

Our ILB's have been off and on hurt this camp. At the time, I commented that Thomas would fit well, and DJ would fit poorly. Let's see what Zach's been up to:

Linebacker Zach Thomas got the defense off to a good start. Thomas landed a huge hit on running back Mike Cox, picking him up and throwing him down like it was nothing.

Quarterback Matt Cassel handed the ball off to running back Larry Johnson who was immediately stopped by linebackers Mike Vrabel and Zach Thomas. The big stop got hoots and hollers from the defensive sidelines.

There's also a neverending stream of quotes from players talking about how much of a leader he is and how well he commands the huddle. The scary part is that he's not suiting up right now. It sounds like he's still got the hitstick, but his body might be shutting down.

As for DJ:

The hit of the day was put on by linebacker Derrick Johnson. Johnson came flying through the line and smoked running back Larry Johnson in the backfield. The crowd erupted after the collision, and Derrick Johnson was pumped up.

“The play he made on the goal line was tremendous. If you can run and hit like that, you will be a big help to the defense,” Haley said about a hit Johnson had on running back Larry Johnson during the team’s 11-on-11 drill.

Linebackers Derrick Johnson and Corey Mays teamed up to sack quarterback Matt Cassel during the team’s 11-on-11 third down situation drill.

Two passes later, linebacker Derrick Johnson got his hand on a pass that was intended for tight end Jake O’Connell.

On quarterback Brodie Croyle’s first drive, linebacker Derrick Johnson had a would-be sack had the team been allowed to sack the quarterback. Johnson came flying through the offensive line untouched and would have completely drilled Croyle.

Nothing bad about DJ, and is sounds like he's doing well in coverage. The main concern I held was his ability to shed blocks. As the reports show, he's blowing through the line and getting to the ball. Either we're finally blitzing him correctly, or that's a testament to the d-line. Regardless, it bodes well for DJ.

Grades: Zach Thomas - No Change. He's a good fit for the D. He'd be upgraded to "perfect" if we could keep him on the field. DJ - Upgrade to Good Fit. That's right, I've completely reversed my stance on his role in this defense. I'm just seeing and hearing too many good things to say he doesn't fit right now. The scary part is that Zach and DJ have limited time on the field together...that could turn out better than expected.

Finally, the OLB's. Of course I graded Vrabel highly, due to his extreme familiarity with the defense. Tamba was one of the three "Poor" fits that I had. Let's see how they've done:

Quarterback Matt Cassel was the first quarterback to run the team’s 7-on-7 drill. His first pass was a completed pass to running back Larry Johnson behind the line of scrimmage. This received some heat from linebacker Mike Vrabel. Vrabel yelled across the field, “You’re one-for-one on check downs! They don’t throw check downs in Foxborough! No check downs for Tom!” Vrabel was referring to the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

After a drill, linebacker Mike Vrabel, a 13-year veteran, was showing two-year linebacker Andy Studebaker how he should be using his arms during the drill. As the two walked away, joining the rest of the linebackers on field 1, Studebaker patted Vrabel on the back.

During the teams field goal kicking session, tight end Sean Ryan wasn't on the field like he should have been. Linebacker Mike Vrabel noticed there were only 10 guys blocking and yelled, “No one’s there. Block that kick!”

On the first play of the “Team Run” drill, which is 7-on-7 running plays, defensive end Alex Magee made his presence known. Magee pushed tackle Branden Albert back into the backfield and right into running back Larry Johnson. Johnson was able to stay up and fought for a five-yard gain. Veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel didn’t seem too pleased with the effort from the rest of the defense. “Recognize these (freaking) formations!”

Surprisingly little about his play out there, but you have to love the emotion and leadership he's throwing out there for the younger guys. Very aware on the field, too.

Finally, Tamba:

The offfensive line was looking strong again when tackle Cameron Goldberg knocked linebacker Tamba Hali over pretty handedly. Hali got back up and continued to battle toward the quarterback.

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.

Hali made an athletic move to shoot to the inside of Barry Richardson without being touched.

During the 7-on-7 team running session linebacker Tamba Hali came flying around the back edge and stuffed running back Jackie Battle for no gain.

He also mentioned that defensive ends turned linebackers Tamba Hali, Andy Studebaker and Turk McBride are all making impressive progress as well. “It’s too early to pass judgment, however,” Haley said.

Linebacker Tamba Hali caught some grief from Head Coach Todd Haley as a result. “That’s a breakdown 9-1!”

Quarterback Matt Cassel was sacked by linebacker Tamba Hali, who came free off the right edge into Cassel’s roll out

Later, linebacker Tamba Hali and rookie defensive end Tyson Jackson had an assisted sack on the quarterback

Kind of a half-and-half camp for Tamba. It sounds like he started slow, has picked it up a bit, but is still not consistent. A handful of sacks are nice to hear, but nothing about his coverage abilities have been addressed. In fact, he's spent more time with the d-line than the linebackers during drills. It brings up the question of whether or not he's a liability there.

Grades: Mike Vrabel - No Change. Hard to change a "perfect" grade when he's in here doing the things he was brought in to do. Should have quenched anybody's waning concerns about whether or not he's dedicated to the team. Tamba Hali - No Change. We need to expect more from his position than what we're getting in camp. I'd love to see him turn it around in the games, but as of right now, I still see him as a "poor" fit.

So there it is. Some new concerns about the NT position have formulated, but Dorsey seems to be doing better than expected. DJ's currently thriving in the system, so my concerns have been set aside for the time being. Tamba still has to show a little more before I'm willing to say he doesn't fit the system. Overall, my pessimism over the base 3-4 has waned. There's still a lot more to do, and matchups against other offensive lines will tell us a lot more than training camp has currently revealed. As always, I reserve the right to go back and stare at my potentially incorrect analysis, and I'm completely open to criticisms about it. I'm ecstatic to hear the good things coming out of camp, and I'm anxious to put the pads on for real and see how it holds up in a game situation!

Oh, and as always, a thank you to the UWRF staff. Anybody who can make a diehard Chief fan think there's an information overload deserves a medal. Well done, guys!

Conditioning test...CAKE. Now it's time to eat!!!

KaloPhoenix — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:47:50 -0000

Conditioning test...CAKE. Now it's time to eat!!!

@brandoncarr

Sporting News Top 10 Offseason Moves 4. Kansas City Chiefs Land Cassel When the free-agency...

KaloPhoenix — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:20:32 -0000

Sporting News Top 10 Offseason Moves

4. Kansas City Chiefs Land Cassel

When the free-agency period opened in late February, the Patriots had a problem. Actually, they had two of them.

Quarterback Matt Cassel was consuming $14.65 million in cap space, and linebacker Matt Vrabel was due to receive a $1-million roster bonus on the third day of the league year.

Chiefs GM Scott Pioli, who spent nine seasons in New England before getting his current job, knew the Pats needed to unload both contracts in order to focus on pursuing new free agents and/or retaining their own.

So Pioli moved quickly and quietly to lay the foundation for a trade that sent only a second-round pick to New England for both players. By the time the Broncos (coached by former Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who also should have known the predicament his former team faced) commenced the process of chasing Cassel, it was too late.

So now the Chiefs have a quarterback who has shown he can perform successfully at the professional level -- and a veteran linebacker who can provide real leadership for a locker room that sorely needs it. And the Chiefs gave up only a second-round pick for both of them.

The 3-4 Positional Post (AKA Why I'd Rather Not Run the 3-4 Defense)

KaloPhoenix — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:28:18 -0000

From the FanPosts. -Chris

With more and more talk of the 3-4 being our "base" defense, and us running "variations" of the 3-4, I did a little more scavenging, and watched a little more tape from last year. What I saw didn't exactly get my hopes up for a 3-4 lineup. So, without further ado, I present a positional breakdown of the 3-4, where our guys fit, and my case against the full switch.

via www.geocities.com

"There will be a transition," Capers said. "How fast you transition into a true 3-4 is based on your personnel and how well they adapt to the things you ask them to do. You've got to be flexible enough to keep some 4-3 elements but also keep enough flexibility to feature your best football players."

NFL.com's article on switching from 4-3 to 3-4

The switch can be done, yes. I also believe we'll end up in the 3-4 full time within the next 2-3 years. However, as Dom Capers says above, there's got to be some pieces in place to make this switch happen. Too often (on both sides of the ball) people forget the distinct differences in scheme switches. It's not just having Tamba step back into an OLB that creates this defense. There are matchups and gaps that have to be addressed, and it's a completely different philosophy outside of "stop the run, rush the passer".

Now, before I start, let me go over some of the advantages of switching to the 3-4, for those who may not know.

1. Linebackers are "easier" to get than a solid 4-3 pass rushing DE (don't we know it).

2. At any given time, there are 5 men on the line of scrimmage that can rush the passer.

3. Until the ball is snapped, the offense only knows where three of the five men on the line of scrimmage will be . This makes it harder to determine blocking assignments pre-snap, and harder on the QB to audible.

Keep these in mind as I dissect the positions.

First off is your Nose Tackle. He is responsible for both "A" gaps, and is lined up in the zero technique. His one and only job is to plug the center of the line and make sure nobody can get through. This is the heart of the defense. If the NT cannot hold his ground, the offense will run roughshod over the center of a 3-4 defense. Tank is a strong player, and he's got the size to play NT. However, we're talking about a guy who had trouble holding down ONE gap last year. A different mindset may change that. Knowing he doesn't have to get penetration, as long as that trench is his, may allow him to play more to his strengths. Tank Tyler - NT, 3-4 Acceptable Fit

Next up: 3-4 DE's. They line up in the 5-technique, and are responsible for the "B" and "C" gaps on their respective sides. These are the guys typically listed as DT/DE 'tweeners. Their number one job is to stuff the run and eat up blockers the LB's typically would have had to shed. Tyson Jackson is this kind of player, and is a good fit. On the other side, Magee might be the answer, but that places Glenn Dorsey as a "depth" player. I don't think the coaches would want to do that, but Dorsey presents one of the bigger problems in this defense. As we saw last year, he struggled with lining up over the offensive guard. This defense would have him lining up opposite a better, potentially bigger, more agile offensive tackle. His arm length will be much shorter than that of most tackles, so his ability to get into the gap will be impeded by someone whose arms can get there first. I know it's been beaten to death, but I just don't see Dorsey fitting this defense. Tyson Jackson - DE, 3-4 Perfect Fit Alex Magee - DE, 3-4 Acceptable Fit Glenn Dorsey - DE, 3-4 Poor Fit

On to the 3-4 ILB's. These guys are run stoppers, and mid-range pass coverage. The running game depends completely on the ability of the 3 DL to contain the run and tie up blockers. As there are 5 offensive linemen (not including TE), if the DL doesn't hold blocks well, there are 2+ offensive linemen bearing down on LB's. Thus, the ILB's must be able to shed blocks effectively on players much larger than they are. Check out a quote from Ray Lewis from a couple years back:

"We're in the 46 defense now, and finally, finally again, I get to play football. My job is not to take on offensive linemen, but to make running backs not want to play against me"

It's an all-too-telling quote from one of the toughest guys in the sport: playing 3-4 ILB is rough. I believe we've got a tough as nails guy in Zach Thomas, who may have seen better days, but is still capable of making this a better team. However, slotting in DJ as the other ILB? Shedding blocks is not his forte, but we're currently lacking a better option. He's good in pass coverage, but having a guard plow him over every play is not going to get the best production out of him. Zach Thomas - ILB, 3-4 Good Fit Derrick Johnson - ILB, 3-4 Poor Fit

Finally, the 3-4 OLB's. These guys are the athletes, the pass rushers, and the glory-mongers of this defense. They must be able to get the the Quarterback, and they must be able to drop into pass coverage. This area is of special concern for this team after last year. We desperately needed someone who could come in and make a big difference. We picked up Vrabel. Playing on the outside in 2007, Mike picked up a hefty 12.5 sacks. That's big production and will improve this team next year. However, the other spot seems to be up for grabs. There are several players trying out for the position, but the consensus seems to be Tamba Hali. Tamba is not a good pass coverage option, and there's so much to think about. From former Bengals DE/OLB David Pollack:

"The biggest thing is when you play defensive end, you don't have to think. You line up, you have an assignment and you do that assignment regardless. When you move to linebacker, your assignment is predicated on formations. You have to know when it's Cover 2, if they run at me, what to do or what my responsibilities are if you see action away from you. There's a lot more thinking, so it can really slow you down. What killed me is I would have everything right and then a guy would go in motion, and that changed what I was supposed to do. When you are (at 4-3) end and you're an effective pass rusher, you can get in a rhythm. You can figure out what the guy across from you likes to do when he run blocks or how you can beat a guy when he backs up to pass block. It's different when you play with your hand off the ground."

That screams adaptability to me. Tamba was not rated highly as an OLB coming out of college. Many just didn't think he had the skillset or speed to transition to a 3-4. Currently, he's a decent secondary option at DE, and as the quote says, that's just getting into a rhythm and playing your man for 4 quarters. An OLB changes from play to play. Half of the job is pass coverage, and the other half is pass rush. Unfortunately, Tamba's terrible at one, and mediocre at another. Mike Vrabel - OLB, 3-4 Perfect Fit Tamba Hali - OLB, 3-4 Poor Fit

Now, there's no hard and fast rule to all of this, mind you. Players develop, and skillsets are found. New coaches may milk some more skill/effort/talent out of these guys. But, you look at this lineup see the strong side as being really strong...but our weak side being really weak. If I were an opposing offense, I'd run at that side of the line all day, and roll my QB to the weakside during passing plays.

-Vrabel----Jackson----Tank----Dorsey----Hali-

-------------------Thomas------DJ--------------------

You play the scheme that fits your players. Like I said, we will eventually run the 3-4 exclusively. I truly believe that. When that happens, we may very well not have any of the young players on the weakside of our front seven on the team. There are other schemes (gone over and referenced at length) that fit those three players better, and don't sacrifice the talents/skills of the other players. If we're making the full switch, let's get what we can from them in a different scheme this year, really show the league that they can play, then try to trade them away for draft picks/players that fit the 3-4. As it is, I just struggle to see how we can let three 1st round picks potentially waste away in an unfit scheme.