Pollard, Pollard, Pollard

by R2J_24 on Dec 22, 2008 12:14 PM CST

Our dear Bernard Pollard has been playing his heart out. I won't doubt that.... but is he really the right guy for our SS position?? Pollard is a hittier (hence: "Bone Crusher"), but is he the SS that we need?

We look at a guy like Troy Palamalu, Brian Dawkins, Bob Sanders, etc etc... And quite frankly, Jarrad Page is fitting that mold a bit more than #49. Page has 4 INTs, 80 tackles, and 2 FFs. He's playing like a progressing Safety.

Now, I'm not saying Pollard is playing like sh*t at the position. He's doing a decent job (w/ 92 tackles, 2 FFs, and 1 INT). BUT... imagine how many more tackles he'd have and would have made if (hear me out for a second) he were a Linebacker.

As a Safety, as you all know, he's playing 10-12 yards off the line of scrimmage. So, Pollard finds himself on a constant pursuit. If he were a LB, he'd be able to utilize his hitting abilities and speed a lot better.

Poll

Should we try Bernard Pollard as an outside linebacker next season?

Definitely!

19 votes

No, he's fine where he's at.

22 votes

Try it out in camp & the pre-season.

58 votes

99 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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Comments

Nice post

I agree. I really wanted Pollard to continue to develop but essentially he’s become a “If you run right at me, I’ll probably tackle you” guy versus a guy that can blow plays up. That said, I’m pretty happy with our defensive back unit right now, so I don’t want to see us focus on upgrading him until we have other things (DEFENSIVE LINE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD) filled.

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by Ridiculous Matt on Dec 22, 2008 12:19 PM CST reply actions

The Myth of Pollards Tackling Ability

This year Bernard Pollard is the leading tackler on the team with 92 total tackles, 76 solo (the second leading tackler on the Chiefs has 79 total tackles and only 59 solo. Last year Pollard had 89 Tackles, 73 Solo.

So while yes, he does wiff on tackles from time to time, the reason it attracts our attention is because he’s running his ass off from sideline to sideline and getting in on nearly every play.

by ChiefDJ on Dec 22, 2008 8:41 PM CST up reply actions

Agree

I think he has been one of the better players on a pretty bad defense, for what that is worth. But I think he can still improve and really hope that he can do so. Along with Page back there laying licks, opposing WRs might regret going across the middle for years to come!

by TheQ on Dec 22, 2008 8:49 PM CST up reply actions

The thing with Pollard

Is that he was very young coming out of college. He was a Junior, but a young Junior. He’s in his 3rd year in the NFL and is still only 24 years old. So he is still maturing both physically and mentally. I think he will continue to improve and be a good player.

by ChiefDJ on Dec 22, 2008 10:55 PM CST up reply actions

I forgot about his age

He does have a lot of room to grow. By the time he is 28 he could be one of the top safeties in the league? We’ll see. I try not to get too frustrated with him because the guy gives great effort like you mentioned. It is about getting to that time to start a “keep” pile and a “throw away” pile. He is definitely a keeper. One more thing, the guy is an incredible special teams player when he gets the opportunity. Best kick blocker the Chiefs has had since Dale Carter?

by TheQ on Dec 23, 2008 6:34 PM CST up reply actions

This has been mentioned earlier this year

whatever we do, we need to find linebackers.

We need a future defensive leader, his name is James Laurinaitis and he can be selected in round 1 of the upcoming Draft.

"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"

by Lanier63 on Dec 22, 2008 12:35 PM CST reply actions

Pollard is connected to Herm and the Cover 2

I think Pollard is around as long as Herm and/or the Cover 2 are around. He’s a hard hitting safety, something that is needed/wanted in a cover 2. But, as Roy Williams in Dallas learned over the offseason, not everyone is particularly pumped about having one of your safety’s handicapped in coverage.

by Joel Thorman on Dec 22, 2008 2:47 PM CST reply actions

I Think Comparing Pollard To Roy Williams Is Accurate

To his credit, though, Pollard understands his weaknesses in pass coverage and appears to be working on them. And I don’t think he gets a lot of help from the coaches, judging by the minimal progression of many players on defense (plus, it’s not like the lack of a pass rush helps).

Williams always struck me as a guy who lived in denial of his deficiencies.

Herm Edwards will not be the Chiefs' head coach next season.

by UCrawford on Dec 22, 2008 2:55 PM CST up reply actions

Comparing him is accurate

Roy Williams has been a Pro Bowler for the last 5 years. But, now, apparently he might run out of Dallas because he’s not a coverage guy.

by Joel Thorman on Dec 22, 2008 3:03 PM CST up reply actions

Although I'm not worried about Pollard

I think we could upgrade, but I’m not too concerned with that right now. He appears to be playing competently…I’d consider him one of our smallest problems.

by Joel Thorman on Dec 22, 2008 3:04 PM CST up reply actions

Word

I’m content with Page/Pollard & Flowers/Carr for the forseeable future..

by KansasCityShuffle on Dec 22, 2008 3:12 PM CST up reply actions

I think it would be interesting to try him out there

With his speed I think he could be something like Ian Gold is. But it is probably a very difficult adjustment from SS to WLB. Might just be messing with the works?

by TheQ on Dec 22, 2008 7:15 PM CST reply actions

might be worth a try

i think he would be fine at SS if we had some truly skilled LB’s though. i think a lot of his cover problems come from having to cover our current LB’s ass because they are almost always out of position and he knows it.

by KCCheeze on Dec 22, 2008 8:27 PM CST up reply actions

I really can't make up my mind on Pollard

he flashes good play from time to time, but makes completely inexcusable whiffs also. I think that he has the drive to get better though so he could definitlely end up being a stud someday.

by TheQ on Dec 22, 2008 8:40 PM CST up reply actions

I think so, this would also give our 3rd rnd pick Morgan a chance to get on the field

Coaches will always say they want their best 22 football players on the field. Well move Pollard to OLB and see if DaJuan Morgan is one of those 22. (i think he has the potential to be a big play safety.) Pollard is a good football player, not a great wrap up tackler and not that great in coverage. He plays hard, flys around and knocks the dogshit outta guys across the middle. I saw some fire in him on that goal line stand on sunday, he’s a leader, keep him on the field.

"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."

by bigbe on Dec 22, 2008 11:39 PM CST up reply actions

I would love to see what we have in Morgan

He was a 3rd round pick so our expectations should be fairly high and I know a lot of fans are dissapointed that we haven’t seen more from him, even if it is on special teams. I think he has been dogged by some injuries?

by TheQ on Dec 23, 2008 6:36 PM CST up reply actions