Chiefs Vote Derrick Johnson Team MVP; Justin Houston Is Rookie Of The Year

by Joel Thorman on Jan 2, 2012 2:57 PM CST

Kansas City Chiefs players voted on their team MVP and rookie of the year following the season finale against the Denver Broncos and to little surprise the Chiefs selected LB Derrick Johnson as their team MVP and LB Justin Houston as the rookie of the year.

DJ had a terrific year, probably his best in the NFL. He made a huge step last year and took another big one this year establishing himself as one of the top inside linebackers in the NFL. He was voted to the Pro Bowl this year and for good reason -- he was the Chiefs best player.

The only real competition for DJ would've been LB Tamba Hali.

Houston finished the season with 5.5 sacks and really came on in the second half of the season. He had a slow start during training camp and at the beginning of the year before overtaking Andy Studebaker's spot at outside linebacker.

I'm salivating thinking about the Chiefs linebacking corps over the next few years -- DJ, Tamba and Houston. That's a heck of a combo right there.

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The linebacker unit is only going to get better...

Now what is next for that inside LB position. Jovan is a great player, but he is too inconsistent in coverage and gets knocked out of position far too often IMO.

What’s the next move for the Chiefs LB’s?

Congrats DJ and Houston! (Reportedly Justin Houston is still holding out.)

Meh...
I don't only want to stand out here when we get our asses kicked... I like to stand out here when we kick somebody else's ass... Big Win, Big Win ~ Todd Haley
@w_a_watts

by Chief-blinders-on on Jan 2, 2012 3:01 PM CST reply actions

ILB should be interesting to watch this offseason

Johnson is a lock. Belcher and Siler likely are as well. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Williams move on this year, so we’d need more depth, unless they feel Greenwood can be that guy. I think we’ll see a couple mid-tier FA’s brought in for competition and see how it all shakes out in camp. Doubt they use a draft pick on one, unless someone really good falls in their laps.

by bh13 on Jan 2, 2012 3:19 PM CST up reply actions

So Jovan is a "great player"

He just can’t play his position that well? :)

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by Scaryclouds on Jan 2, 2012 3:26 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

In some ways he is great... He flashes greatness often, that is the problem.

I definitely think he should be a Chief, but he definitely needs some competition.

Meh...
I don't only want to stand out here when we get our asses kicked... I like to stand out here when we kick somebody else's ass... Big Win, Big Win ~ Todd Haley
@w_a_watts

by Chief-blinders-on on Jan 2, 2012 3:38 PM CST up reply actions

big jovan supporter, wouldnt call him great, but hes an improving player at a position he didnt play in college

hes getting better, hes a true thumper and one of our best run enforcers. hes incredibly underrated.

Pay Brandon Carr/Romeo
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jan 2, 2012 3:41 PM CST up reply actions

I don't know about incredibly underrated

Underrated by some, yes. He could stand to improve in some areas, but considering he’s an UDFA from Maine that switched from DE to ILB, I’d say he’s come a long way.

He could be replaced, but I definitely don’t think it’s a priority.

by bh13 on Jan 2, 2012 3:59 PM CST up reply actions

Brandon Siler

was given an extension and can create competition for Belcher. Our linebackers are great though.

by PhxChief75 on Jan 2, 2012 3:13 PM CST reply actions

That injury he had is an ugly one to come back from..

Hopefully he can pull it off… or it gives him some “rookie of the year” style glitch that makes him better.

Meh...
I don't only want to stand out here when we get our asses kicked... I like to stand out here when we kick somebody else's ass... Big Win, Big Win ~ Todd Haley
@w_a_watts

by Chief-blinders-on on Jan 2, 2012 3:39 PM CST up reply actions

DJ & Tamba are great, no doubt

but they won’t be around forever……fortunately it seems Pioli has a pretty good eye for the defensive players in the draft…..gotta consistently shut down the run & the big pass play, still killing us.

D-Bowe says: "THAT'S MY BIKE, PUNK!!!!"

by reedeasy on Jan 2, 2012 3:15 PM CST reply actions

insert free agent Bart Scott?

by CHIEFFAN82 on Jan 2, 2012 3:38 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Can't wait!

Kansas City Chiefs: Undefeated in 2012, baby!

by Tarkus on Jan 2, 2012 3:38 PM CST up reply actions

or we can roll with siler and belcher. especially belcher

Pay Brandon Carr/Romeo
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jan 2, 2012 3:40 PM CST up reply actions

for some odd reason i feel more comfortable with Belcher and Scott there

by CHIEFFAN82 on Jan 2, 2012 3:46 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

A 31 year old with issues controlling his emotions at times?

No thanks. If we’re going to try to improve ILB, I’d rather go with a young guy with upside.

by bh13 on Jan 2, 2012 4:01 PM CST up reply actions

dj did two things. somehow he actually got better as a tackler, at shedding blocks etc

and he found a way to become consistent

really incredible to improve upon even his best moments of the past.

Pay Brandon Carr/Romeo
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jan 2, 2012 3:40 PM CST reply actions

GO BADGERS!

by craig in calgary on Jan 2, 2012 3:41 PM CST reply actions

Yes.

Go back to Wisconsin!

Kansas City Chiefs: Undefeated in 2012, baby!

by Tarkus on Jan 2, 2012 3:45 PM CST up reply actions

With Tamba and DJ being 28 and 29 years old already

How much longer should we able to expect this type of production from them?

by KC_Chiefs on Jan 2, 2012 3:46 PM CST reply actions

Good question.

I think Hali may have peaked, but I could see DJ getting even better. I don’t think we have to worry about either one for at least two or three years, though.

Kansas City Chiefs: Undefeated in 2012, baby!

by Tarkus on Jan 2, 2012 3:50 PM CST up reply actions

I'd guess around 3-4 years barring injury

by bh13 on Jan 2, 2012 4:02 PM CST up reply actions

10 more years or until we wear them out

by Chiefshero on Jan 2, 2012 5:03 PM CST up reply actions

Big Congrats to both - well deserved!

I'm dressin my voodoo doll in stripes every season...

by WorL4Chiefs on Jan 3, 2012 1:05 AM CST reply actions

I'm still sticking to my guns on DJ, damnit!

You’ll never convince me that they should cut him, you bastards!

Wait…what happened? You mean you won’t make fun of my calling him my favorite Chief?

"Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'"
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by burntorangehorn on Jan 3, 2012 8:57 AM CST reply actions