Kansas City Chiefs: 8 Winners and Losers from Week 5
By Brett Gering
Loser: Dee Ford
Jul 26, 2014; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford (55) during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
I like Ford, but, to quote his critique of Jadeveon Clowney, he reacted like a “blind dog in a meat market” on this play.
This is a product of a three things: Ford’s weakness (run defense), a position change (4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker) and Kaepernick’s Road Runner-like speed.
This is also why the Kansas City Chiefs retained Tamba Hali for (at least) another year.
Judging by the All-22 angle and what he (re)tweeted, Ford was under the impression that Kaepernick was running a bootleg or rollout.
@dee_ford_ you thought it was boot, right?
— KC Wright (@wright_kc) October 6, 2014
@dee_ford_ you played pass anyone who knows football can see that.Simple mistake players make all the time.The media blows up little things
— Robert (@BigRob58) October 6, 2014
There’s little doubt in my mind that No. 55 will become the next big name from Kansas City’s conveyor belt of pass-rushers. Mirroring the guy’s first step is like trying to block the “seven days…” girl from The Ring. (I’ll check for burglars, but if that teleporting imp is in the other room; it’s every man, woman and child for themselves.)
Ford still needs some fine-tuning before he’s ready for the showroom floor, though.