Strong Safety: When I predicted the regression of Bernard Pollard, mean ol' MDC made fun of me. ...

Strong Safety: When I predicted the regression of Bernard Pollard, mean ol' MDC made fun of me. /sniff/ As I long argued throughout 2009, we were able to succeed because we were able to stuff the box with Pollard. The moment he had to cover, we were screwed. Pollard's numbers reflect this. His 124.9 passer rating against is atrocious. On an overall basis, Pollard ranked 70th out of 86 for all safeties. The vast majority of his value is as a pass rusher, not in either stopping the run and especially not against the pass. In fact, his negative rating against the run is a testament to his poor angles and, quite frankly, inability to finish tackles. You have arms for a reason, Bernie.

No matter how you examine the situation, Pollard is a tremendous liability to the team when asked to do the "normal" things a SS is asked to do. He was exposed all year as a fraud in coverage, and his 2009 looks increasingly like an outlier.

Comments

I knew he sucked...

I was shocked how the media hyped him up last year. Bernard does a few things that are special like acting as another LB or blocking punts. But, he isn’t a safety in this league, sorry.

by I_Bleed_Red. on Jan 20, 2011 3:51 PM CST reply actions

Might have been one of the best moves the new management has made

by groundedchevy on Jan 20, 2011 3:54 PM CST up reply actions

that's a funny statement, but possibly true

i was SHOCKED that they cut him, but looking back… the team is now better for it.

Prediction: KC will not draft a LB before the 3rd round

by stagdsp on Jan 20, 2011 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

Pretty sure he led the league in getting burnt for TDs during that magical 2009 season.

by WURoyal on Jan 20, 2011 6:58 PM CST up reply actions

ahahahahaha "you have arms for a reason Bernie"

Thank god we got rid of him. I never liked him, even when he was successful in Houston. I knew it was only a matter of time. The guy is a huge liability in the secondary, and should think about converting to LB.

by Larryemcdaniel on Jan 20, 2011 4:07 PM CST reply actions

So agreed!

"We're making progress, that's the key thing." - Todd Haley

by chiefsfan62 on Jan 20, 2011 4:51 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

A special teams LB maybe.

"Success is never ending, failure is never final."

by GenericBrand on Jan 20, 2011 5:09 PM CST up reply actions

The only thing I miss is thinking he was going block every punt.

Pollard is one of the best I have ever seen at that. Other than, good riddance. We have the best young safety tandem in the league.

The views expressed by craig in calgary do not necessarily represent the views of all Canadians.

by saskwatch on Jan 21, 2011 9:02 AM CST up reply actions

should think about converting to LB.

Not if he doesn’t improve his run defense…Linebackers who display poor tackling and take bad angles don’t last any longer than strong safeties that can’t cover

Ryan Succop will be the kicker for the AFC in the 2011 Pro Bowl

by PVChiefsfan on Jan 21, 2011 12:18 PM CST up reply actions

Always hated watching him chance receivers into the end zone

This is one guy I was happy to see gone. Dude could not wrap and tackle for nothing. Always seemed to be going for the ESPN highlight kill shot.

by stram#1 on Jan 20, 2011 7:23 PM CST reply actions

I'm not normally happy when another goes somewhere else and struggles

Mostly because I don’t really care anymore now that they aren’t a Chief. But this makes me happy, There was a large contigent of Chiefs fans that were anti-Pioli when this move was made and a lot of crow shall be eaten now.

The sterner the discipline, the greater the devotion.

by BJ Kissel on Jan 21, 2011 1:28 AM CST reply actions

I think most of those people were against this move because of who replaced for Pollard. Mike Brown didn’t exactly play much better.

If someone asks you if you want extra mayonnaise you have to say yes, cus that's part of it.
-Jared Allen

by JComp11 on Jan 21, 2011 9:03 AM CST up reply actions

I agree.

Pollard was bad, but at least he looked like he might have a chance to make a tackle, unlike Brown who seem to be on his knees with no one even around him as the guy raced down the field.

Who would have predicted 2 rookies would give us the best safety play in years, and it is not even close.

The views expressed by craig in calgary do not necessarily represent the views of all Canadians.

by saskwatch on Jan 21, 2011 9:05 AM CST up reply actions

Mike Brown didn't have enough left in the tank

when he was burned it was because of declining athletic ability, NOT poor angles or shoddy tackling technique. Mike Brown’s brain was doing things the way Haley wanted them to be done, but his body just couldn’t keep up with younger guys.

I see a similarity in the “Bench DJ for Corey Mays” scenario from 2009 except unlike Pollard, DJ actually bought in, started studying film and paying attention to filling the correct gap, practicing sound tackling technique, and being where he was supposed to be.

Ryan Succop will be the kicker for the AFC in the 2011 Pro Bowl

by PVChiefsfan on Jan 21, 2011 12:21 PM CST up reply actions