Chiefs' Pollard: 'This is going to be a different defense'
by Joel Thorman on May 27, 2009 2:08 PM CDT
in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Offseason
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PrintOver at the mothership, Jonathan Rand has a nice article on the Kansas City Chiefs secondary. Continuity (Thanks, Herm) is the key word here as the secondary has been lining up in OTAs the same as they were when they ended 2008.
The two Brandons, Flowers and Carr, are manning the corners while Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page are the safeties. Here's how the rest of the roster shakes out by round drafted:
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | UDFA |
| Colclough | Morgan | Daniels | Carr | Page | Bates | ||
| Flowers | Washington | Leggett | |||||
| Pollard | Fryar | ||||||
| McGraw | Price |
Rand uses the old line, "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it" when it comes to the secondary. Rarely does a unit, like the Chiefs secondary, get to grow up together in the NFL.
Bernard Pollard said he is ready to learn one defense together for consecutive years.
For three years we were always playing a cover two defense and a couple of other things and we never got really good at one thing."
Herm Edwards' cover two defense was usually described as a bend but don't break coverage. Don't get beat deep and funnel everything to the middle so players like Pollard can make them pay.
Guys are excited. Our coach is setting us up to make plays – we’re not just sitting back and waiting. This is going to be a different defense. It’s going to be fun.
If (big if) the new 3-4 alignment can create pressure at the point of attack then it will open up even more holes for an already precocious secondary. The Chiefs finished the season with 13 interceptions. Page was the team leader with four.
What's amazing about the secondary last season is that they played well considering all the pressure that was on them. Four of the five leading tacklers were from the secondary, which was expected when you have the 3rd worst rush defense in the NFL.
The way it appears now, the starting secondary will be unchanged from 2008. But if Donald Washington turns out to live up to his perceived potential, the Chiefs could be facing a good problem - finding a way to get all the talent on the field.
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Not right now, Gunther, I'm kinda busy...
…In fact, look, I’m gonna have to ask you to just go ahead and come back another time. I got a meeting with “The Brandons” in a couple of minutes.
It could be like the days of Hasty and Carter...
if we can generate any kind of pass rush that is
We have a shot...at what...we don't know yet.
We can only hope
For all Herm’s shortcomings, I gotta hand it to him, he did a damn fine job of evaluating DBs.
Bask in the glory that is Kwame Harris. Poor Alex...
I'm not slamming your comment JHWK, but I keep hearing that same thing
It proves that Carl wasted three years on a good Scout masquerading as a bad Head Coach.
"But what do I know, I'm AP's new assclown and I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"
Well put
"From Kansas City, I miss home, Cali is business but man its pretty"
by KansasCityShuffle on May 27, 2009 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions
I completely agree
But that’s Carl’s fault for wasting our time, it doesn’t change the validity of the statement. Herm was a horrible HC but a great evaluator of talent in the secondary.
Bask in the glory that is Kwame Harris. Poor Alex...
Yes, excellent, pump-you-up read!
One of the things I loved was the closeness and teamwork of the DBs. Flowers even talked about bowling together and Thursday night outings. Having those guys on the same page is awesome. And it’s great they’re excited about the new defense. Believing in the scheme is just about as important as the scheme itself!
Just last week Flowers was mulling a playbook assignment and felt the need for some peer feedback.
"I’m calling Brandon Carr late at night to ask what he thinks about this and that," Flowers said, "just so we know how to play the same thing when we get on the field. Having that relationship with the other DBs goes a long way."
Secondary
Is the best on our team right now, IMO. If Washington does pan out, then let the better man win. Im sure Pendergast sp* will find a way to put them all on the field. Im glad we got such young guys that aren’t in their prime yet. Next year is going to be a big year for t he DBs.
If all those guys are on the field at the same time...
It will probably only be on third and long situations. Last year, I was dreading 3rd and long because teams were constantly converting. I think it will be different this year. We should be able to keep the D off the field if we can get pressure up front.
by Chiefsfan1970 on May 28, 2009 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions
Foundation is being laid
Belief in the scheme. Belief in themselves. Belief in each other. That’s the foundation of a winning program.
by JBChiefs on May 27, 2009 2:38 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
If wecould just get a damn Pass rush
we’d besending at least one of our secondary players to the Pro Bowl consistently
Time is a great teacher... unfortunately it kills all it's pupils.
"Growing up together"
I love it.
I would like to see DaJuan Morgan bust out and live up to his full potential before we see Washington doing so…
Colclough has got to go
The only rookie UDFA I’d like to see make a presence this year is Fryar (providing its not at MoLegg’s expense). If Morgan steps up we have no room for reserve safeties (i.e, Price)
Our defensive secondary is so young & gifted. By far the brightest spot on our team
"From Kansas City, I miss home, Cali is business but man its pretty"
by KansasCityShuffle on May 27, 2009 2:56 PM CDT reply actions
I'm just afraid Morgan could end up the odd man out.
"But what do I know, I'm AP's new assclown and I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"
He's a prototypical FS
who Herm & Gun were subbing in as a SS. I hope to see Haley moving back to his true position and its only up to DaJuan to showcase what talent he has. If he becomes the odd man out that would mean a 3rd rounder loses his job to an UDFA. One thing is for sure, Morgan wouldn’t last long on the waiver wire
"From Kansas City, I miss home, Cali is business but man its pretty"
by KansasCityShuffle on May 27, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I hope not
even if he doesn’t start he can come in and play both safety positions should one go down with injury. Like Chris Bober did with our O line, Morgan will do for our safeties in the worst case scenario.
Now if he wins the job that’s something to be excited about considering it means we’ve made an upgrade to an already solid position
Time is a great teacher... unfortunately it kills all it's pupils.
Macklin > Colclough
Had he not been arrested I wonder if he too would still be on the roster. I’m not sure why Ricardo hasn’t been cut yet but am hoping the move is imminent. Not worth the roster spot when we have young UDFA’s who haven’t had their chance – Ricardo has had several
"From Kansas City, I miss home, Cali is business but man its pretty"
by KansasCityShuffle on May 27, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Thats cool
they let Jackie Bates play CB since he didn’t work out at RB
"From Kansas City, I miss home, Cali is business but man its pretty"
by KansasCityShuffle on May 27, 2009 3:12 PM CDT reply actions
Yea
that was dildo bait
"From Kansas City, I miss home, Cali is business but man its pretty"
by KansasCityShuffle on May 27, 2009 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions
What about Legget???
I loved him on special teams coverage and thought he did quite well when he was in coverage. I just haven’t read much on him. Anyone know anything?
Also, while I like the Pollard-Page tag team, I’d like to see Pollard put on 20 pounds and watch him wreak havoc from the OLB spot.
you mean...
since he won Chiefs rookie of the year award??? He is recovering from an injury
I am tired of that discussion. Pollard is a safety who like to HIT NOT TACKLE.
Pollard just needs to stay right where he is. I think he is a potential Pro bowler as a Safety.
by Chiefsfan1970 on May 28, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions
If Washington lives up to his potential...
Would that move flowers to Nickel?
Not only did these guys do great last year for first and second year players but remember we had just awful depth at CB last year so they were asked to be on the field alot too.
I attributed Pollard's remark to Flowers the other day.
Either I got it wrong (most likely) or Flowers and Pollard are saying the same things (also likely).
?
What remark
"From Kansas City, I miss home, Cali is business but man its pretty"
by KansasCityShuffle on May 27, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions
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