Missing leadership on the defense?
by Droppin Deuces on Dec 3, 2008 3:22 PM CST
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Looking ahead to the draft and free agency I looked through our team and noticed that we don't have a leader on our defense. This is a big reason why our defense has suffered over the years, a lack of leadership. I think Kawika was on his way before we let him go but I can't think of anyone who would meet that description post-Derrick Thomas.
When you look at the top defenses around the league they have a leader (not just a star player but more); Polamalu in Pittsburgh, Lewis in Baltimore, and Bulluck in Tennessee. I'm not a huge fan of any of these teams so they might have a different idea of who their defensive leader is, but when I watch these teams they look to these guys to lead them.
Donnie Edwards was brought in to fill that role but it's hard to be an effective leader when you aren't on the field. I don't see DJ as a leader (although he might still develop into one) and none of the rookies seems to want the role yet. The offense still has Tony and Brian Waters as the veteran leadership that younger players look to and learn from but there isn't a player on our defense that has those qualities or doesn't display them on the field. We drafted Glenn Dorsey and I think a lot of us expect him to become this player one day although it's hard to be a leader of a defense as a rookie. It's not impossible as Patrick Willis proved with the 49ers last year.
So if our defensive leader isn't likely to come from the draft who would be someone that you would want the Chiefs to go after in free agency that meets a team need that would also be a team leader? I checked who would be unrestricted free agents (going after restricted free agents would be a terrible idea for us as we are trying to build through the draft) to see who we would want and if they could be a team leader.
DL - Julius Peppers (most likely franchised), Terrell Suggs (franchised last year could be again)
LB - Karlos Dansby (franchised last year could be again), Bart Scott (Ravens will have to choose between Scott and Suggs if they aren't able to sign either to long term contracts), Ray Lewis
DB - Nnadi Asomugha (franchised last year could be again), Brian Dawkins
Most of these players will end up being franchised but I listed them anyway. I included Dawkins and Lewis because they are obvious leaders but they would be contrary to our youth movement. I wouldn't mind if we signed one of them to a reasonable contract because they are natural leaders and a young team would respond to them. I also included Asomugha in case the Raiders have dug themselves such a big financial hole that they couldn't pay to franchise him. (Unlikely I know.) Who would you want to go after in free agency that could fill our leadership void? Do you agree that there is a leadership void on our defense?
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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Good post
I really think that not having a veteran leader on the team hurts the young Chiefs. We have no defensive identity.
Not sure where the next defensive leader is coming from. They aren’t on the team now.
by Chris Thorman on Dec 3, 2008 3:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
This has been a problem with the way rebuilding has commenced
Majority of 1st,2nd year kids without too many guys to lead them. TG is only one guy from 53. You need a handful (at least) in all aspects of the game…except screw the kicker, he can get a shrink ;)
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.
by THE_TRUTH on Dec 3, 2008 3:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
TG
is a leader, but not very vocal. He leads by example. Brian Waters is very vocal, except he’s a LG and on the offensive side of the ball.
I remember watching Patriots score their final touchdown last year in the Super Bowl, and then watching Michael Strahan stand in front of the offensive line (like a f*cking Army General) and TELL these guys that they were gonna score on the next drive.
Now THATS leadership.
by ROC 27 on Dec 3, 2008 5:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Agree about Donnie
I think Donnie could be the leader, but you can’t lead from the sideline. DJ is the obvious candidate, but isn’t stepping into the role. I think they are leaders in character, technique, and work ethic, but it is the emotional motivating spark that we are lacking. I think Boiman, Babin, and Pollard have the personalities, but are too new to the team and possibly don’t feel they have the right to step into it.
A guy like Suggs, Peppers, or Dansby could very well provide that energy and spark that we are lacking. I’d like any one or all three.
by TXChiefan on Dec 3, 2008 3:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
"Emotional spark is lacking"
Exactly!
by Chris Thorman on Dec 3, 2008 4:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Is Peppers
REALLY that emotional?? Is he the Shawn Merriman of the Carolina Panthers?? He seems more like a silent assasin type of player.
by ROC 27 on Dec 3, 2008 5:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
BART SCOTT "THE MAD-BACKER" IN '09
In Baltimore, Ray Lewis is the heart and soul of the Ravens defense, and team at that. Bart Scott has had the advantage to play with Sugar-Ray for quite some time now. Enough time to know how to be a leader as well as a great LB.
The thing;
Heres the thing… the Baltimore Ravens will ALWAYS be Ray Lewis’ team. Bart Scott is living in his shadow. And I think Scott definitely needs his own team to lead. And quite frankly, I would follow him to hell and back if he was the leader of this lacking football team. D.J., Jarrad Page, Brandon Flowers, etc etc… they are the supporting cast. It may be that Derrick Johnson may NEVER be that outspoken leader… Therefore, we need to find it somewhere else. And I think that Bart Scott is the guy for the job.
Brian Dawkins is also a hell of a leader, but I don’t see Herm and Carl rallying to pickup a 35 year old Safety, who’ll likely retire within the next year or so.
by ROC 27 on Dec 3, 2008 5:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Great observation
Defenses don’t automatically go out and play hard and become “great” defenses without leaders. When Donnie is out there you can see the difference he makes. Looking forward to next year, I would hope that some of the guys already on the roster will step up and start showing the kind of leadership that TG and Waters give the offense. Guys like Dorsey, Johnson, Flowers, or any of the rest. It is a shame to use so many high draft picks on players and not one of them seems to be the kind fo vocal leader that we need. As to free agency, I would love to see a physical linebacker like Dansby come to the Chiefs. He would be expensive, but his talent and aggressiveness would do wonders for our D.
by TheQ on Dec 3, 2008 7:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I'm glad you posted this
I believe the leadership on defense has to come from the MLB simply because he is the one who brings the calls to the other 10 guys. I guess I am old school too often, but the smartest and meanest guy on the D should be the MLB. You can have meaner guys (Joe Green) but the man who has too step up every play is the MLB to control and manage the temperament of each of the 10 guys and himself.
I’ll leave with this example: There were numerous great moments throughout his career, but none exemplifies his heart and desire as much as the Chiefs’ goal line stand against the New York Jets in the 1969 divisional playoff game. Leading 6-3 in the fourth quarter, New York had a first-and-goal at the Chiefs’ one-yard line after a pass interference call on Kansas City. It was then that Lanier made an emotional appeal to the rest of the Chiefs defense. “They’re not going to score!” Lanier yelled at this teammates. “They’re not going to score!” The Chiefs shut down the Jets on three straight plays and held them to a field goal. When Kansas City scored a touchdown on its next possession, the game was over. The first important step to the Super Bowl was complete.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Lanier
"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"
by Lanier63 on Dec 4, 2008 9:55 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Willie was a pretty good linebacker =)
by PVChiefsfan on Dec 4, 2008 10:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Awesome post
Now that’s what it is all about and that is the spirit we have lost. Our D has the talent to succeed and they are good team players, but we just don’t have the guy for them to look up to. Each one of them wants to be a difference maker, but that central figure for them to rally on and draw emotional energy from is lacking.
It would be great to have Willie come talk to them, then stare down D.J. in front of the entire defense and tell him to step up to the plate, and accept the mantel of team leader. A shot of inspiration would help…..not fix all the problems, but help.
by TXChiefan on Dec 4, 2008 12:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
That is why
I am so passionate about drafting a “true” middle linebacker, a young man that can grow into his own and become that stud leader we have sorely missed. In my post recently about Redeem our Defense, Willie was on video saying, “I had a five year plan to unseat Butkus as the dominant middle linebacker from the All Pro team standpoint”
He wanted to be the best that ever played his position. Working toward that goal made the entire defense better.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8018c6c7
"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"
by Lanier63 on Dec 4, 2008 12:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Agree 100%
MLB should be the most likely leader for all the reasons that you listed. I really enjoyed your draft analysis on MLB from a few weeks ago. I really hope that we are in a position (picks 6-10) to grab either Maualuga or Lauranitis, although I’m partial to Lauranitis. He seems like he could be the type of player that we are looking for, and he fills a need at MLB.
by Droppin Deuces on Dec 4, 2008 12:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Some here are gonna tear me a new one but
I really think Maualuga is more a play maker than a true Middle Linebacker. Don’t get me wrong, I think he is a hell of a ball player, but I think he lacks the consistency of bringing it every play the way Laurinaitis does.
"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"
by Lanier63 on Dec 4, 2008 1:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I love Rey, but Laurinaitis is the full package inside and out.
by Shawn on Dec 4, 2008 1:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Also Laurinaitis is definately a good character guy
One of my good friends dated him for a couple of years. He seems to do a lot of charity work already with Ohio State. I think that is the kind of guy that screams leader especially from a college standpoint.
by Shawn on Dec 4, 2008 1:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Haven't seen this mentioned
but getting a MLB Maualuga or Larinaitis is great and possibly even Scott, Peppers or even Dansby if not some combination of that but does anyone have or know a list of URFA DT b/c we can have god LBs and opposing team arestill gonna rush thru the gapping holes in our terrible DL.
When deep space exploration ramps up, it'll be the corporations that name everything, the IBM Stellar Sphere, the Microsoft Galaxy, Planet Starbucks.
I'd be fine with 9-7 or 10-6 and competiting for the divsion title
by madtheory on Dec 4, 2008 1:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Ha-ha I mentioned
that possibility already… It’s cool though. I like that we think alike. Go to KFFL.com they have the Free Agent (Restricted and un-) there.
by ROC 27 on Dec 4, 2008 4:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I thought the list was the Chiefs Practice squad
"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"
by Lanier63 on Dec 4, 2008 4:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
thank you will do
When deep space exploration ramps up, it'll be the corporations that name everything, the IBM Stellar Sphere, the Microsoft Galaxy, Planet Starbucks.
I'd be fine with 9-7 or 10-6 and competiting for the divsion title
by madtheory on Dec 5, 2008 9:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
DJ will NEVER be the leader
I realize never is a strong word but i really don’t see him coming through. He’s been here a few years and not only has he underachieved on the field but he hasn’t commanded the teams attention on the sideline or in the locker-room. The fact that Herm and co. are worried about whether or not he loses focus at time is absolutely RIDICULOUS. You can never lose focus in an NFL football game, and for that to be the excuse for a 1st rd’er is even more ridiculous. I really think these next couple of games is a tryout for him not just for the MLB spot but for a secured spot in the team. He would be great trade fodder if he ends the season well. I just never really liked that pick, he just isn’t that physical LB that is required to stick his nose in and stop the run. That, in addition to him not being an emotional leader and “losing focus” puts him on the trade block if he’s on my team.
by bigbe on Dec 5, 2008 3:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Well, guy..
You said yourself that you never really liked the pick of Derrick Johnson in the 1st round. So, after I read that everything else you said was null and void. I for one think that D.J. is one of our better players on the team. And for you to say that he isnt a physical LB is simply mind-boggling. I mean, granted this year is a down year for D.J., but tell me who is having an AMAZING year (besides T.G.) on the CHIEFS roster.
I’m sure you werent saying “Derrick Johnson isn’t a physical LB!” when he stripped the ball from 6’4- 230 lbs Brandon Marshall, slamming his face into the ground.
And keep in mind, you don’t win the Dick Butkus for being a shitty LB, brah.
by ROC 27 on Dec 5, 2008 6:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Lack of Consistency
Never said DJ isn’t good, just saying i don’t think he has the consistency i would expect out of a 1st round, butkus award winning linebacker in his 3rd or 4th year. Not saying he isn’t a good player (never said he was shitty my friend, far from it), not saying he won’t get even better but i feel he just isn’t what i would want for a LB on my team. I think he has been an underachiever since he got to KC, maybe that is saying something about the coaching he is receiving because it is confirmed that he is an athletic freak. And just cause he stripped a WR doesn’t make him physical in my book. When i see him take on a pulling guard and plant him on his ASS play, after play i’ll think about calling him a physical player. Thats what this team needs, LB’s and DL’s to play their gaps. Part of the reason we can’t stop the run is cause DJ and other LB’s sidestep blockers instead of winning the war at the point of attack (which takes a set of balls and some physicality). Don’t get me started about DL running around blocks instead of using leverage to keep their gaps.
"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."
by bigbe on Dec 6, 2008 6:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
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