What About The Defensive Line?
ChiefDJ at ArrowheadPride.com wrote an article a couple days ago giving 5 reasons why the Chiefs’ offensive line would be better this coming season. Good article, if you haven’t read it, you’d better check it out.
The article got me thinking (which all good articles do) a little bit and my mind started to wander over to the defensive side of the ball. Is it going to be better? Many of you would say the obvious answer is yes, after the drafting of Glenn “Jumbalyah, Swamp Thing, Forrest, Meer Cat” Dorsey in last Aprils draft. My answer is no, they won’t be better, if anything the D line will be a little worse and here is why.
First and foremost, the Chiefs lost one of if not the best pass rusher in the league coming off the edge when they made the deal to send Jared Allen to the Minnesota Vikings. The Chiefs plan to move Tamba Hali from the spot he has been playing the past 2 years to LE and replace Allen. The Chiefs have even gone as far to say they believe Hali will be more productive playing LE than RE because he will be facing the QB’s blind side and they won’t be able to see him coming. Now I will be the first to admit that I saw some times where Hali got free and the QB moved just enough to avoid the sack the past couple years, but what I don’t get is how they think going against the premire offensive line position (left tackle) week in and week out is going to allow Hali to be more productive. I think Hali will have to adjust to the new position and adjust to playing against better athletes, I look for his production to stay the same or maybe go down a little.
Next we have the two inside positions that will be manned by Glenn Dorsey and who? Tank Tyler? Ron Edwards? Tank needs to improve if he is going to crack the starting line up, and I think he will. He is no longer a rookie trying to make a team, he is now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs and is expected to step up and start. So that will leave a rookie and a 2nd year player starting in the interior of the defensive line-that doesn’t sound real promising to me. Listen, I think Glenn Dorsey is going to be a good player in this league. Great? I don’t know about that, only time will tell. He is going to go through growing pains, we will have to go through them with him. Am going to predict Dorsey will win the Rookie Of The Year award? No. Am I going to tell you he won’t? No.
This leaves the left end position, which was Tamba’s and now it’s going to be…Alphonso Boone? Are you serious? Ok, this one really has me worried, I know Herm said Boone has trimmed down and is excited about playing end blah blah blah. Is anyone else worried that opposing running backs are going to run around the defensive left end continually? I am. I can’t see Boone being the answer, but what do I know? I know some people have been talking about Brian Johnston being the second coming of Jared Allen, I won’t hold my breath waiting for him to arrive. I thought Boone was the Chiefs best DT last year, I would like to see he and Dorsey in the middle.
Here is my final thought on why I believe the Chiefs defensive line will be worse this year and it might be the most significant. Gunther Cunningham is also the linebackers coach this year. So? Gunthter Cunninham, when fired by the media as the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs found a job with the Titans as Linebackers coach. And? Under is tutelage, Keith Bullock became a pro bowl linebacker. Like what’s your point dude? My point is this: The Chiefs recognize the defensive line is going to struggle this year and have put Gunther in a position to focus more on the linebackers hoping to improve the play of Napoleon Harris and make Derrick Johnson a pro bowler. The Chiefs will rely more on the play of their linebackers this year than they have for a while. It is the strongest group on paper and they need to play like it this year or the Chiefs will struggle with stopping the run and getting a significant pass rush.
There you have it fellow Chiefs fans, why I think the Chiefs’ D Line will suffer a little bit this year. Whay say you?
I am with you. I don’t see Boone as a DE at all. We really need Turk and Tank to step up this year. Without someone emerging (besides Dorsey), our D-line play will go down.
June 30th, 2008 at 8:38 amWhile I tend to disagree with your overall assessment, I do agree that putting Boone at LDE does not seem like the ideal fit which leads me to conclude that there must be a pretty compelling reason for the switch. I’ll suspend judgment until I see how he plays.
As far as the line itself, I believe it could very well be better because I see Boone and Hali as already being solid DLs. Hali’s sack production at LDE has certainly been respectable year after year and his pressures from the left side were a major reason for Allen’s high sack total last season. What I find particularly remarkable about Hali is that he put up the kind of numbers he did even though he was normally double-teamed. That should be more the exception than the rule for him at LDE. I just think that Hali became somewhat overlooked and underrated last season simply because Allen commanded so much of the spotlight.
I expect Dorsey to be major factor and to make an immediate impact under the combination of Krumrie’s tutelage and Gunther’s aggressive schemes. Dorsey played a very conservative style of defense at LSU. Expect Cunningham to turn him loose in ways that are designed to harrass QBs and RBs. That, in turn, will create sack opportunities for Hali, Boone and whoever else Gun wants to send in. Any team that chooses to double team either Hali or Dorsey will only find themselves creating more problems than they solve imo.
With their rookie seasons behind them, I look for Tyler and McBride will each turn it up a notch or two this season. I see Johnston as more of a development project who will probably contribute immediately on Special Teams but also be given opportunities to come in and make plays in special situations.
June 30th, 2008 at 9:03 amI only disagree with one point…I am not sure that Allen is one of the best or the best pass rushers in the league…don’t get me wrong, I loved the guy, but although he led the NFL in sacks last year, he only had 7.5 the year before. Did his 15.5 sack performance earn him a huge paycheck? yes. Will he get 15.5 sacks now that he has gotten paid? maybe. If he does lead the league in sacks again, will the two Pro Bowl DT’s next to him account for some of those? Definitely. I just don’t think we can label Allen as the best or one of the best when he has only had 2 seasons of double-digit sacks. If he can stay away from the drink and play his ass off like he did last year in his upcoming non-contract years, then yes, he will be the best DE in football.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:24 amGreat article, Steven. Totally agree with Jared, Boone, Gunther, Johnston, etc…I also think, however, that Tamba and Swamp Thing are going to have incredible years, and that’s coming from one of the biggest pessimists out there Chiefs-wise.
Also, let’s not count out Turk McBride. The Star mentioned him as a possible starter at DT just a little while ago, and I think he’d be a possibility at LE, too. This Boone thing is scary. Couldn’t be more right about that, Steven.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:34 amThe key to our defensive line this year will be rotation. This is not only because it will keep our D-line constantly fresh, but because it will also help determine the definite starters. I wouldn’t worry too much about it — we are deep enough at D-line (it seems) that it will work itself out!
If Brian Johnston does what people think he could, Alfonso Boone works out at DE, and Tank&Turk both step it up, I cane see Johnston, Hali, Boone, and Turk rotating at the DE positions and Dorsey, Tank, Boone, and Turk rotating at the tackles.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:18 amPVChiefsfan:
Who do you consider better at the position Jared Allen?
If I’m doing the math correctly in my head, he’s on pace to pass Michael Strahan for his career. Pure speculation, but impressive nonetheless.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:22 amThe overwhelming consensus on Chief forums is that Boone at DE is a mistake. I am not so sure. Certainly he’s bigger than the average 4-3 DE even after dropping 20 pounds. But guys who are 295-300 play DE in the 3-4 all the time. Certainly the responsibilities are different in the 3-4, but they are on the end of the D-Line. Also, Boone is a quick DT with a fairly quick first step. Although he may get ran around by fast backs like Maurice Jones-Drew, be is less likely to get run over by the big power backs. Most Chiefs fans seem to be overlooking this, focusing only on his foot speed as if every RB runs a 4.4 40.
Boone also doesn’t fit at the other DT position as so many have suggested. The position occupied by Edwards/Tyler is a “clogger” spot. Boone is like Dorsey – a penetrating DT. He would be misused and miserable in that spot. His quick feet make the move to the strong side DE plausible. Certainly on passing downs he likely will be replaced by either McBride or the one of the rookies.
I think Dorsey fell in the Chiefs laps and once they got him, it was unclear what to do with Boone. Whether the move to DE works or not will not be known ’til training camp and the exhibition games. I would urge all to keep an open mind until then. Herm usually knows what he’s doing on defense. Have faith!
June 30th, 2008 at 11:27 amSeanbcool – If he recovers from his injuries, I’d say Freeney. His first 4 years he had double-digit sacks every year, so at that point, before he was injured, he was on pace to obliterate Strahan’s record…who’s to say the injury bug (or possibly the tequila bug) won’t bite Allen this season?
June 30th, 2008 at 11:34 amI agree that rotation will be key here. I think we will see Boone and Swamp Thang rotate alot with Tank and Edwards at the other tackle spot. I think Turk will get alot of reps at Strong DE and hopefully establish himself as the starter.
What I see as incredibly important is that depth that they have built along the line. To get pressure and stuff the run in the 4th quarter to get the ball back and/or close out teams, your down 4 need fresh legs…..period! That didn’t happen last year mostly because our offense was so horrible that the D had to be on the field all the time. I think that the number one reason that our d-line will improve has nothing to do with personnel, and everything to do with the offense improving, at least marginally.
Sure, we lost One Man Gang who is a great defensive end. But the strides we make on offense because of the draft picks we got from him I think will help keep the defense fresh and more than make up for his departure. Plus…I am cautiously optimistic that in the next couple years with Turk Tank Boone Swamp Thang and Hali for our d-line will be pretty solid and not something that we have to touch early in the draft. Throw in a wildcard like Johnston and lets say he becomes a speed rush threat….and that becomes a pretty scary group….but only if the offense can stay on the field so they all have gas left in the 4th…which hopefully is on its way!
June 30th, 2008 at 11:51 amAlso forgot, might not see it this year, but with improvement at the corners and safeties from our draft this year (may take time and experience)….that also increases the effectiveness if your line by allowing more help on the run as well as more time to sack the QB.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:54 amSeanB:
Great point about rotation – in fact, I see it as a strength not just of DL, but also for the backers and the secondary. Any team that underestimates the strength of our D will end up paying heavily for it and it’s also the biggest reason why I believe we have a legitimate shot at walking away with a “W” in game 1.
Maine_Chief: Good in depth analysis of why switching Boone to LDE makes some sense. One thing I’ll be for sure be watching closely during the preseason is how well Boone deals with runs to his side.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:36 pmI totally agree on the rotation and Boone presumably not playing outside on obvious passing downs. Great points.
As far as who’s better than Jared, I’d say Jason Taylor and Dwight Freeney, when healthy. He’s right there, though. Last year he might have been the best in the league. Osi is also becoming an absolute beast.
Still cracking up over the tequila bug comment!
June 30th, 2008 at 1:23 pmButter – Good point. Flowers and anybody will be better at run support than Law and Surtain…even though he is small, I think run support and tackling are two of Flowers’ strengths.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:59 pmWow, I tell you what, this is why I love this site. The fans that comment on here are informed, intelligent and trying to submit their honest opinion instead of pissing someone off. I remember the early days of the internet before “blogs” when you just had message boards. I got so mad at the people on there just trying to be funny or just make someone angry.
June 30th, 2008 at 5:08 pmThis site and a couple other dedicated to Chiefs football is a wonderful thing, and without sounding too corny, I would like to thank all of you for your thoughts and opinions. Keep up the great work.
when you made your point that the d-line would suffer a little cuz of Gunny’s work with the linebackers this year; i think that is exactly why they will improve this year. with better support from the linebackers and maybe a few more blitzes from DJ and company ,i think that the line will have less pressure on them and will be able to just go for the ball( whether in the QB’s or RB;s hands). i think that with the additions that we have made(more youth and speed oriented) that opposing offenses will have their hands full. and it works both ways. with a better rush from the d-line, the secondary will have an easier time covering receivers and backs and can support the front seven even better. in any case i hope that i am right and we improve in all aspects of the game because i would dearly love to see a 1 and 0 total after the first game of the regular season.
i really like coming hame after work and looking on here because i know that i will be amused and encouraged about next season. keep up the great work everyone!!
June 30th, 2008 at 6:51 pmGood points lobo, with better, faster linebackers, and a younger, faster (albeit, less experienced) group in the secondary, our D-line doesn’t NEED to be spectacular. If they’re patient, do their job, and just go hard every play, good things will happen with all the speed and talent we have on the field. Top-ten defense anyone? Add in the fact that our offense will be better (well.. fingers crossed that Albert works out,) and able to hold the ball more than 15-20 minutes a game. I believe we have the foundation set, so that in the next couple years or so, we can be seriously challenging for the AFC West title, the Lamar Trophy a year or two after that, and who knows, maybe even a Lombardi.. or several. The foundation is set; now let’s see how the rest of the project comes along.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:19 pmAnytime you are relying on rookie and second year players there is absolutely no way to tell how they will perform. The safe money is on worse even if a couple first round talents are slated to start. Do I think Dorsey will be good? Yes. What about Tyler? Yes. What about McBride? Maybe. But there is no way to judge the learning curve of such young players. Add in the fact that who knows when Dorsey will be signed, and how much of camp he may or may not miss, and you’ve got a pretty wide range of possible results.
June 30th, 2008 at 8:53 pm