Chiefs Promote Dion Gales, Not Derek Lokey

by Joel Thorman on Dec 12, 2009 4:30 PM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

When the Kansas City Chiefs released NT Kenny Smith earlier this week, it was widely presumed that someone would be promoted from the practice squad to replace him as a backup to Ron Edwards. And it was also widely presumed that the player would be NT Derek Lokey.

That presumption was wrong.

The Chiefs promoted defensive end Dion Gales from the practice squad this afternoon.

Gales is listed as a defensive end, not a nose tackle. He's also listed as 6'5", 259 pounds, which is far below the ideal weight for a nose tackle, backup or otherwise.

So is Gales backing up Edwards? We'll find out tomorrow but the timing of the transaction, and the current state of the Chiefs nose tackles would suggest that he is.

In nickel situations, Wallace Gilberry has lined up as a defensive tackle as well.

Gales' promotion also means that there is now one open spot on the practice squad.

Interesting side note on Gales: He had 85 rushing yards as a junior in high school. Can you imagine him running over 17 and 18 year old kids? Sheesh, talk about the high school version of Brandon Jacobs.

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4-3 anyone

We Will kick at least 4 Teams Asses in 09. Almost there :)
And Succop will be the Key in two of them. Skins & Raiders! Pittsburgh Sweet!
" Think and talk positive football off the field." Hank Stram

by Steve_Chiefs on Dec 12, 2009 4:33 PM CST reply actions

maybe...

Maybe they line up in the 4-3 and put in three DEs to rush. It worked for Mizzou on occasion this season.

by JASiege on Dec 12, 2009 4:49 PM CST up reply actions

Funny, my thoughts also

After the bills has praticed all week for the 3-4 might be a very good move. I love thinking out of the box even though it might not work. Who knows, Dion running the ball?Crazy!

gordymule

by gordymule on Dec 12, 2009 4:59 PM CST reply actions

I just dont buy it...I want to see more 3-4 period...then in the offseason people will curse loudly as we add or spend huge on a NT first...which btw, will fix our D...

as for gates being promoted…says a lot about that group of DT’s we brought in favorite/lokey/joseph….

by SDChief on Dec 12, 2009 5:42 PM CST reply actions

well in nickel situation they bring in magee and gilberry...maybe magee moves inside

by SDChief on Dec 12, 2009 5:42 PM CST reply actions

him or Dorsey

Magee is more tackle size than the diminutive gales who is no bigger than a LB. Using more 4-3 seems like a bad move thought given the personnel. a 4-3 with only two Ts means no backups. Dorsey might even be a better candidate to move inside since that is his natural position whereas Magee has always been an end.

by SillyHatDay on Dec 12, 2009 7:16 PM CST up reply actions

Magee was a DT

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/alex-magee?id=79601

The consummate team player, Magee volunteered to move to defensive end from his familiar defensive tackle position when injuries depleted the depth at that position in 2008.

by bh13 on Dec 12, 2009 7:33 PM CST up reply actions

I kinda think Gales is a minor move down near the bottom of the roster.

But it does give a platform for discussing bigger questions, such as the absence of anybody behind Edwards.

Short-term, something a lot like a 4-3 might be sustainable if you had to run without Edwards. But you have to get over notions of DT-vs-DE, at this point. Counting Gilberry, the Chiefs basically have 3 widebodies, 5 deep, right now, plus Hali, Walters, Gales, Studebaker, Vrabel to play outside of that.

Like bh13 says, Magee played plenty of DT. Doesn’t mean he’s a true NT, but I’d feel pretty good about KC being able to field 3 or 4 bigs. But the 4-3 looks might not involve either Jax or Dorsey at the ends, necessarily.

Prediction for '09: Chiefs are looking like a .500 team, especially considering Denver's inattention to D-Line, Chokeland's disarray, and a San Diego team that looks like it's on the decline. With a weak schedule, Chiefs steal a few and win between 7 and 9 games, and if .500 or better, will contend for supremacy in a weak division.

by hmills110 on Dec 12, 2009 9:00 PM CST up reply actions

I kinda don't get it, but mainly because I didn't care much for the way Gales was playing last I saw.

I know there’s a lot of love for the kid, here on AP, but he didn’t look very aware, or very quick when I focused in on him.

But if the plan were to move to 4-3 at some point this season, you’d think they’d’ve kept Tank Tyler or Alphonso Boone around.

Maybe it’s just a “Gee we need SOMEbody who’s kind of a wide-body to put out there.”

This whole thread puts the crosshairs squarely on the gorilla that has left the room: Kenny Smith. Still have to expect some straight-up 3-4, but maybe this signals a lot more Gilberry on the field, with Jackson/Magee and Dorsey/Magee playing 3-tech. Seems like there might be some magic, if there IS any, with Jackson, Magee and Dorsey on the field at the same time.

Walters, who’s listed #3 behind Vrabel and Studebaker is about 270. So they CAN go with or without Edwards and still put a pretty big set of players on the field, although the configurations appear somewhat murky, to me, and I haven’t spent much time looking at personnel on D in the last bloodbath. Finals week, ‘n’ all.

by hmills110 on Dec 12, 2009 8:13 PM CST reply actions

I've wondered about that at times

Whether a line of Dorsey-Jackson-Magee could be a good one. I know Jackson was drafted to be our DE but for now, why not rotate him around. If he shows some signs of being able to handle NT, either shift him inside and pick up someone new (Suh?) or let Magee hold it down. At the very least, it would add some flexibility to the D. The more you can do, the more valuable you are.

As for Gales, I’d be somewhat surprised if he’s active tomorrow.

by bh13 on Dec 12, 2009 8:51 PM CST up reply actions

See "And maybe..." below. Missed the reply button.

by hmills110 on Dec 12, 2009 9:10 PM CST up reply actions

And maybe that's sorta been the plan, right along.

I would expect Gales to be active and be given a chance to try to show something, because if he doesn’t, I doubt he’ll be back next year. But maybe the Chiefs and my AP brethren see something in him that I don’t, and the plan is to keep bringing him along.

by hmills110 on Dec 12, 2009 9:10 PM CST reply actions

Finally!!!!!

Hell yeah!!!! My boy Gales made it!! Good luck Dion! I can’t wait until u prove mills wrong!!!! Haha

"Its going to be a challenge, its going to feel like forever, and there will be difficulties. But we will emerge on the other side of it stronger than we were when we entered." ~ Sudden

by Matt_Grbac on Dec 13, 2009 11:52 AM CST via mobile reply actions