Chiefs DEs Dorsey and Jackson Getting Attention of Broncos Coach

by Joel Thorman on Dec 3, 2009 10:00 AM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

Way, way back in March and April, as teams prepared for the NFL Draft, a lot of folks were linking Tyson Jackson to 3-4 defense teams in the first round. Jackson had been called the prototypical 3-4 defensive end and apparently caught the eye of a few teams.

One of those clubs was the Broncos. Yesterday Broncos coach Josh McDaniels talked about the Chiefs defensive ends, first year Tyson Jackson and second year Glenn Dorsey. He said both players are "playing well, penetrating at times."

Quotes after the jump come via MileHighReport.com.

"I know something we liked about Jackson this year when we looked at him was he was able to hold a point in the running game, which he can do," McDaniels said.

"Both of them have been disruptive at times in the backfield in the running game and added some things to the pass rush at times inside, also. (They are) two big bodies (who are) hard to move out. You’ve got to do a nice job of staying tight on any kind of double-team blocks or anything like that or else they can get into the backfield and create some problems for you and put you in long-yardage situations.

He also said a focal point for the Broncos this week has been avoiding third and long situations because teams haven't fared well in those situations against the Chiefs.

The former Pats coordinator also talked a little bit about drafting philosophy. It seems like reporters were prodding him a little bit on the link between Jackson and the Broncos.

"I don’t want to speak for anybody else in terms of their philosophy, but I know (Jackson and Dorsey) are two good players."

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Comments

???

After reading McDaniels comments on Cassel, and now Jackson…I’m convinced that he’s a MileHigh.

Seriously.

by Scott B. on Dec 3, 2009 10:07 AM CST reply actions

????

I think Cassel and Jackson have both played well, considering this is there first year. Glenn Dorsey is also quietly having a breakout year. I think McDaniel’s assessment is pretty spot-on.

by Nick Britt on Dec 3, 2009 10:38 AM CST up reply actions

agreed

AND… Head Coaches always compliment the talented players on the team they are about to face… listen to Haley rave about opponents…

* "I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
* the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009
* The OL is NOT as bad as you think it is... give it time, and you'll see improvement this season
* Stats are for losers

by stagdsp on Dec 3, 2009 11:41 AM CST up reply actions

Totally incorrect on Cassel

There is no way that you can say that he’s played well. I saw some of the best protection last game (where all he had to do was take a step forward to be safe in the pocket) which he either didn’t use or used and then threw terribly. He has been innacurrate, weak armed, and made poor decisions since he came here, and he has been one of our biggest dissappointments this season.

I do agree about Jackson and Dorsey though.

by EyePod on Dec 3, 2009 11:54 AM CST up reply actions

one could argue that you're incorrect

there is plenty of good things you can say about Cassel

by stagdsp on Dec 3, 2009 1:07 PM CST up reply actions

Just once I'd like to hear...

Any head coach, when talking about the upcoming opponent:

“It’s a real head scratcher why they even drafted that guy. He sucks at the point of attack, and when we run to his side, he just kind of falls down. We’re looking forward to cramming it down his throat this Sunday.”

by Ozarks on Dec 3, 2009 12:08 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Pretty sure a player said that about Hali a year or two ago

Though that’s different than a coach saying it.

by Chiefs4Life on Dec 3, 2009 4:03 PM CST up reply actions

Will be interesting to see...

The Glenn Dorsey – Ryan Clady matchup. Even though Glenn Dorsey is having a good year, I think realistically Clady wins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-N-COI6hhc

by Nick Britt on Dec 3, 2009 10:41 AM CST reply actions

I remember last year. There was at least 4 times in one game which Clady pulled out to block on some sort of WR or RB screen. Each time he ran out and then fell on the ground and rolled at a defender. I lost a lot of respect for him blocking like this. I think he’s overrated.

by EyePod on Dec 3, 2009 11:57 AM CST up reply actions

Overrated?

No way. I would like to see the 4 times this happend, and just because he fell down doesn’t make him a poor blocker. He is one of the best in the NFL.

Look at his age!!! Hardly overrated.

by Nick Britt on Dec 3, 2009 3:43 PM CST up reply actions

MHR says he's had a bit of a sophomore slump.

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Dec 3, 2009 6:06 PM CST up reply actions

ok im convinced piolo has mcdaniels on the pay roll

Glen is having a break out year tyson we will see the jury is still out on him. I think they would benifit from a wilfork type guy then ur talking dominance

FOUR F'S FIND UM FEEL UM FUGUM FORGET UM.

by sexassassin on Dec 3, 2009 10:59 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Coaches always talk up the other team...it is common courtesy

The only reason these comments are making storylines this week is due to the Pioli-McDaniels and Cassel-McDaniels connections and the whole QB fiasco that happened in Denver over the offseason. It is the first time these guys have faced off on seperate teams. You won’t see these stories later on down the road, even if McDaniels keeps making the same comments.

by Nick Britt on Dec 3, 2009 3:46 PM CST up reply actions

I think the fans underestimate the value of the 3-4 DEs

They aren’t the most visable players on the field to the fans, but coaches in the league are starting to realize the talent and ability of Dorsey and Jackson.

by stagdsp on Dec 3, 2009 11:39 AM CST reply actions

Rarely see them being single-blocked.

One more guy on that line that requires extra attention and the Chiefs have something special. Edwards isn’t doing too badly, but the most difficult thing, here, is re-setting your football clock to facilitating others more than trying to finish every play on your own.

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Dec 3, 2009 6:11 PM CST up reply actions

dorsey was a monster DT in college, and so was jackson at DE

to transform into 3-4 DE’s isnt an easy transition for 1 player who never played an NFL snap and another player who played in a 4-3 cover 2 all last season. once romeo crennell gets here, he will take care of our linebackers and hell make dorsey and jackson into the next richard seymour and ty warren

Give Todd Haley a full regular and off-season to build Bowe's Cassel, and we will all wreap the benefits...

by CHIEFER on Dec 3, 2009 11:43 AM CST reply actions

I'm going to wait and see on Jackson

but I often watch him during the game and he gets absolutely no push and is always the last off the ball. Compared to Dorsey’s “bust” of a rookie season last year Jackson is doing far worse. You take away his “breakout” game against the Jags and he only has 7 tackles I think on the season and has gotten progressively worse since then. Last game he didn’t even show up in the stat sheet. Heres to hoping he makes some serious strides in the off season…

I don't want no Yo-Yos

by CaptainPoopDeck on Dec 3, 2009 12:08 PM CST reply actions

Lol

who said Dorsey or Jackson had a “bust of a rookie season”?

Their positional history PROVES that those players in that position typically take atleast 2-3 seasons before they really start to break out. The reason why teams would still start a player in that position is because they need to get the experience and the learning curve, not to mention being that high of a draft pick.

However, if either of those guys were later round picks, they likely would have been role players off the bench for atleast a season.

Look at Ron Brace in NE. Drafted in the 2nd round and hes barely seen the field. My assumption is that NE plans to franchise Wilfork, let Brace get more PT next year, and let Wilfork go after the end of next seaon, letting Brace take over from there.

by Petey14 on Dec 3, 2009 8:35 PM CST up reply actions

To clarify...

I’m not discounting Jackson’s future…or his potential. But for McDaniels to say he’s been “disruptive in the backfield” and “penetrating at times”? Or to say that the NFL’s leading fumbler (Cassel) “takes care of the football”?

What games has he been watching? Because if either of those things are happening…I’m missing it.

by Scott B. on Dec 3, 2009 12:18 PM CST reply actions

well in terms of INTs hes done ok

but at the same time he hasn’t really thrown the ball down field as much as you would like to see this season. So you can’t exactly praise him on not having few INTs when hes been so conservative.

As for Jackson. If he puts up the numbers that Dorsey did his rookie season next year then relatively speaking you would have to consider that a breakout year. Hes been that non existent in the stat sheet. And if someone wants to say 3-4 DEs don’t get on the stat sheet much I would agree and point to Dorsey. Not great stats but decent and he gets off the ball and has far more of a push than Jackson. PLEASE I hope that everyone watches Jackson close this game to see how badly he has actually been playing for us lately. (we’re talking about the most highly paid player on the team)

I don't want no Yo-Yos

by CaptainPoopDeck on Dec 3, 2009 12:58 PM CST up reply actions

Fumbles are proportional to the pass rush

The pressure on Cassel this season has been very heavy. Some of the fumbles were his fault (the one last week and the one on the handoff to Charles against the Raiders), but how many of the other fumbles occured when he was getting sack.

By “holding on to the ball” McDaniels means decision-making and not throwing INTS — which Cassel is good at. Take away the ones that weren’t his fault (bouncing off a defenders head or dropped passes turning into picks) and he is doing a very good job holding on to the football. I have been impressed with his poise in the pocket and his decision making, especially out of the no-huddle and in crucial situations.

by Nick Britt on Dec 3, 2009 3:49 PM CST up reply actions

Bouncing off the defender's helmet...

That was Cassel’s fault. He was throwing inaccurately all game last week. The defender didn’t make a great play, Cassel just threw the ball too low and in the wrong spot. It wasn’t a freak play, it was a mistake.

by Chiefs4Life on Dec 3, 2009 4:08 PM CST up reply actions

Cassel’s very good at putting it where the defender can’t get it. WRs need to take some responsibility for knowing where the defender is and where Cassel’s likely to put it. That being said, he didn’t do much to manipulate the pass rushers. The bounce of the helmet was not good. The blocked pass, when he had the defender in the air and could’ve sidestepped was QB 101 stuff that he should do instinctively by this point in his career. On his behalf, I’d argue that he’s not getting much predictability from his protections, and he’s keeping his eyes down the field without feeling the level or angle of the pressure he’s facing. These things will even out as the O-Line develops and he gets some stability at WR and some trust with Jamaal.

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Dec 3, 2009 6:15 PM CST up reply actions

Jackson typically draws a crowd. He’s not expected to get as many stats on the strong side as Dorsey on the weak side, where he’s more likely to face a single lineman and a chip from a RB, rather than 2 linemen and/or a TE and/or a FB. Chiefs have looked much better against the run in their base D. Unfortunately, their base D sucks against the pass!

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Dec 3, 2009 6:18 PM CST up reply actions

yeah, could definitely be a bust and another wasted draft pick...

but im willing to not make that judgment for another couple of years. it takes time for those players to develop. certainly, he has a long ways to go.

by MountainManMike on Dec 3, 2009 1:48 PM CST reply actions

Nah. Not a bust. And even if a bust, the closest thing to a sure thing Pioli was likely to find.

I think it entirely likely that Denver would’ve taken Jackson with their #1 pick if the Chiefs hadn’t pre-empted them.

Denver’s been criticized for taking players higher than their projected draft position, but, like Pioli, they’re looking more for what fits what they want to do than BPA.

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Dec 3, 2009 6:20 PM CST up reply actions