Kansas City Chiefs LB Tamba Hali was supposed to be among the worst outside linebackers in the NFL. He was supposed to be traded. He was supposed to be forgotten.
Apparently, Hali didn't get the message because all he did this season was set a career high for sacks with 8.5. He's been incredibly consistent in three of his four seasons with sack totals of 8.0, 7.5, 2.5 and 8.5.
His personal total for the 2009 season represents more than a third of the Chiefs total sacks. He also forced four fumbles which is also a team high and more than a third of the Chiefs team total.
No, the Chiefs pass rush wasn't great - just 22 sacks - but it's still 12 more than what they garnered last season.
What's even more amazing for Hali's production was the lack of production among the starters on the defensive line. As many of you know, outside linebackers in a 3-4 rely upon the defensive line to clog the lanes. That didn't happen too often.
In fact, Glenn Dorsey recorded his first and only sack of the season yesterday against the Denver Broncos. That was actually the FIRST sack for the Chiefs starting defensive line. Backups Wallace Gilberry and Alex Magee combined for 6.5 sacks but Tyson Jackson, Ron Edwards and Glenn Dorsey combined for just one.
On a bad pass rush team, Hali shines.