Will Chiefs Continue Trend Of Releasing Leading Tacklers?
by Joel Thorman on Feb 16, 2010 1:30 PM CST
in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Season
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PrintWill the Kansas City Chiefs continue the trend?
Three years ago it was Kawika Mitchell. Two years ago it was Napoleon Harris. Last year it was Bernard Pollard.
Three straight years the Chiefs have released their leading tackler from the previous year.
Will it happen again?
Doesn't sound like it. Demorrio Williams led the team in tackles this season and appears to be a Todd Haley favorite so even if a new starter were brought in, it's hard to see Williams leaving.
Then again, I said the same thing last year about Bernard Pollard.
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Didn't Mitchell leave via UFA?
I don’t think that the Chiefs released him…just couldn’t get him inked in UFA
"Losing" and not "releasing" may be better language
You’re right.
by Joel Thorman on Feb 16, 2010 1:49 PM CST up reply actions
is Williams on the FA list?
if not i expect he stays, depending on the final judgement/verdict/ruling/ultimate decision from Crennel
Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....
How is Williams a Haley favorite?
And I think Crennel will have a big say in final cuts.
"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 Feb 16, 2010 1:46 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Haley talked a lot about Williams throughout the season...
Even deflected questions about why DJ isn’t starting to Williams outplaying him.
by Joel Thorman on Feb 16, 2010 1:48 PM CST up reply actions
Do you think
Maybe that had something to do with the fact that Haley had no one to tell him any different. Maybe his middle school defensive staff couldn’t tell the difference between their butts and a hole in the ground.
Romeo Crennel will put his insight in the mix here. Haley’s ideas and opinions about his defensive players will change.
My opinion is that Haley doesn’t need to put a finger on defense. Just demand results. He needs to stay on the offensive side of the ball.
"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 Feb 16, 2010 1:55 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I agree that Haley shouldn't touch the D.
but I don’t think the preious staff evaluated this position poorly. Williams sucks…just not as much as the others. So he should have started….which is sad.
This is my signature line. It is full of awesome and win.
by KCSatchmo on Feb 16, 2010 1:58 PM CST up reply actions
he was forced to comment on the defense i mean come on
he’s the head coach now, he cant just talk about offense. So naturally Williams name came up because he was the last name on the jersey usually tackling the guy who just ran for 40 yards and it caught Haley’s eye. I agree though he should stick to offense let Crennel speak for the defense
Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....
head coaches should be involved in all phases of the game
he shouldn’t call defenses or meddle but he needs to be involved. i think some people forget that weis and crennel work for haley and not the other way around. yes, he will listen and respect their input but at the end of the day, all accountability falls on the head coach so it would be bad business to just turn it over to others without being involved
The only players I hurt with my words are the ones who have an inflated opinion of their ability. I can't worry about that.
Bill Parcells
Knowledge is confidence. And confidence lets you play fast.
Bill Parcells
he will be involved guaranteed
just now finally we have a DC and OC who will step into the spotlight and let Haley focus on the team as a whole.
Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....
Williams isn't very good...
Lot’s of tackles sure but he can’t cover anyone. No sacks to INT’s…the guy isn’t a “playmaker” by any means….His profile says he’s 6’1" which is probably pretty liberal….get rid of him
Don't Fuccop Succop
by chicks_love_chiefs on Feb 16, 2010 1:49 PM CST reply actions
DW can play well enough
Upgrade at DT and get a really good MLB and DW is a fine puzzle piece. Turn DJ into a safety! (Tongue firmly in cheek)
by just a guy on Feb 16, 2010 2:53 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Can we PLEASE draft a freaking MLB (now ILB)?
So we can stop the freakin’ merry-go-round?
We had Mitchell, and we let him go because he couldn’t play MLB in a Tampa 2 (he couldn’t get into the deep middle zone quickly enough in pas coverage) and we replaced him with Napolean Harris, who was supposed to be fast enough to get back to that zone in pass coverage – the prototypical Tampa 2 MLB, if you will….turns out HE wasn’t fast enough EITHER, so we replaced HIM with Pat Thomas, who was slower than a drunken sloth stuck in a mud hole – now we’ve changed schemes, so the Tampa 2 MLB is no longer a need, but in a way we’ve made our problem worse…now we need to field a PAIR of ILB’s – Yes, I suppose we could have one (Mays) who can play the run (sort of) and another (Williams) who can play the pass, and is okay against the run.
But wouldn’t it be great to have two ILB’s who were good against the run AND the pass? Sheer insanity, I know, but a man can dream…
Ryan Succop will be the kicker for the AFC in the 2011 Pro Bowl
by PVChiefsfan on Feb 16, 2010 1:51 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
An idea
Sign Karlos Dansby and draft Rolando McClain…. How does that sound? Makes me lick my chops!!
"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 Feb 16, 2010 1:57 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I'd be happy with one of those guys and Belcher
you can’t fix everything in one offseason…
This is my signature line. It is full of awesome and win.
by KCSatchmo on Feb 16, 2010 1:58 PM CST up reply actions
why not try to fix it all in one offseason?
i bet we could sign Dansby and still draft McClain we would rattle some heads
Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....
I don't know about Dansby and McClain
We WILL acquire an actual NT this offseason, be it through the draft or free agency.
If we don’t get one as a FA, it would not surprise me at all if we used our first rounder on a NT (after trying to trade down of course)…in that case, I’d love to use one of our 2nd rounders on an ILB – maybe Spikes, who can play both the run and the pass fairly well. If we DO acquire a NT through free agency (or if Crennel, Haley and Pioli evaluate Cody and think he’s “IT”, and they think he’ll be there at 2a) I’d love to draft McClain at #5.
Ryan Succop will be the kicker for the AFC in the 2011 Pro Bowl
Don't care
Mike Maslowski lead the team in tackles once for christ sake. Williams numbers aren’t the result of great play. He simply sucks less than our other ILBs. He can stay or go. We need an upgrade at starter either way.
This is my signature line. It is full of awesome and win.
by KCSatchmo on Feb 16, 2010 1:56 PM CST reply actions
I liked Maslowski...He looks like Stone Cold Steve austin
AND…His last name is Maslowski. Best football name EVER!
Two Words
Mike Cox.
This is my signature line. It is full of awesome and win.
by KCSatchmo on Feb 16, 2010 2:44 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
what kind of music you play reedeasy?
Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....
Doesn't matter who's playing ILB
Whether it’s Demorrio Williams. DJ. McClain. Dansby.
Nobody’s getting to get the job done when your nose tackle can’t even block one guy, let alone three.
3-4 D-linemen in this scheme are supposed to free linebackers up to make plays. Not to say Demorrio would be a playmaker, but with at least average play from the NT, you wouldn’t see nearly as many big plays given up by the run defense.
No idea why people insist on making this a chiken
or the egg arguement. We need upgrades at NT AND ILB. period.
This is my signature line. It is full of awesome and win.
by KCSatchmo on Feb 16, 2010 2:52 PM CST up reply actions
It's a chicken or egg thing because
we’re evaluating the performance of one relative to the other. People are clamoring for McClain when the Chiefs problems in the run game will not be much improved through the acquisition of McClain.
The only way the Chiefs improve by selecting McClain is by selecting McClain PLUS acquiring a nosetackle. Could be said that selecting the nosetackle might make for the greater improvement.
well the second we get a nose tackle
i want a linebacker like McClain to be in place to dominate, not have to wait a few more years for one to come along
Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....
BOTH of those things MUST happen
if this D is ever going to be worth anything. a NT w’ no ILB will only force the O to adjust their blocking schemes by adding an extra guy on the LOS to double the nose & scrape off on the ILB, and an ILB w’ no NT will get blocked out of every play anyway, so having one w/o the other would be completely ineffective…..
but if there was the barrel of a .45 @ my temple forcing me to choose, I’d say NT
Every discussion of upgrading ILB
does not need to be followed by a lecture on why it doesn’t matter until we get a NT. The fact is, it matters. You say the run D will not improve significantly by aquiring an ILB. I say that’s true. I also say that the run D will not improve significantly with the aquisition of a NT. We freaking need both.
Edwards play was an abomination. However, his bad play did not make cause Williams to constantly miss tackles or wind up out of position. It didn’t make Mays constantly over run plays or look completely lost in pass coverage.
This is my signature line. It is full of awesome and win.
by KCSatchmo on Feb 16, 2010 3:20 PM CST up reply actions
I say keep him.
He was at least making the tackles instead of just watching them go by…
I’m looking at you, Mike Brown.
Don't release him but...
Keep him as depth. He is not a starter in the 3-4 defense. Too small and no playmaking ability. 0 sacks, ints, FFs, FRs…nothing
by Larryemcdaniel on Feb 16, 2010 3:02 PM CST via mobile reply actions
sounds about right.
Williams definitely hustles. He’s worth keeping around but, I too would like to see that spot upgraded.
BERNIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I miss Bernie P so much.
by The_Bernard_Pollard_Rule on Feb 16, 2010 3:09 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
last i heard he plays for the Texans
im sure they have a following on their SB nation blog, “We still suck even with Pollard”
Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....
I will never understand
having a mancrush on a guy who played on some of the worst Ds in team history.
This is my signature line. It is full of awesome and win.
by KCSatchmo on Feb 16, 2010 3:21 PM CST up reply actions
Agree 100%
The guy was not that good. I just can’t figure out why so many people think he was…and have been absolutely heartbroken since we cut him.
Strange phenomenon.
anyone see the highlight reel on NFLN
there was like 4 highlights from 2 years ago and it was all Pollard whiffing on tackles on all of them
Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....
Pollard turned around the Texans D and led them to their 1st winning season
In one game Bonecrusher intercepted both Manning and Reggie Wayne, almost getting a win vs Indy
In another game he got in a fight with Jackson of St Louis – took him right out of the game
36 Bernard Pollard HOU SS 102 81 21 1.5 0 11 4 1 121 70T 1 3 1
Pollard missed several games before he was signed, then went to a new defense and team and had these stats :
11 passes defensed
4 ints
3 forced fumbles
2 defensive TDs scored
102 tackles
No one on KC matched that defensive season
He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is
williams is good ....
for a BAD defense like we had… but if we really want a great defense we’ll at least have to replace him. I think everyone agrees that DJ was a better player but the reason williams started was becuase DJ was in the dog house
You're a goddamn quarterback! You know what that means? It's the top spot, kid. It's the guy who takes the fall. It's the guy everybody's looking at first - the leader of a team - who will support you when they understand you. Who will break their ribs and their noses and their necks for you, because they believe. 'Cause you make them believe. That's a quarterback.
--- Any given sunday
Cassel can lead us.
Thanks for posting this Joel
Only one thing – you didn’t go back far enough to get the full streak
Leading KC tackler in 2004 was :
32 Scott Fujita KC OLB 90 67 23 4
32nd overall in the NFL that year – KC traded him to Dallas for a 6th rounder I think
I freaked out when each of these players was released, traded for jack, or not offered a decent contract
KC was been a poor tackling team for many years, and dumping the top tackler every year has made things worse
Some said – well those guys weren’t really that good – but Kwicka started for the Giants and won a Superbowl and Fujita started for the Saints and won a Superbowl
Bad personnel decisions about who to retain on defense has been a problem during the Vermeil, Edwards and Haley coaching tenures
Getting rid of the top tackler each year sends the wrong message to players
He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is
i really cant see getting rid of demarrio… even if he loses his starting job he is quite a capable special teams player… he still carries a ton of value as far as i am concerned…
feb draft wish:
1. rolando mcclain ilb
2. sean weatherspoon ilb
2. morgan burnett ss
3. jd walton oc
4. cam thomas nt
5. danario alexander wr
5. legarrette blount rb
5. myron rolle fs
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