The Best Offensive and Defensive Trios In Chiefs History
By Laddie Morse
ER-ER-DT
- Derrick Thomas, Neil Smith and Dan Saleaumua
- Bobby Bell, Jim Lynch, Buck Buchanan (or Curley Culp)
- Tamba Hali, Justin Houston and Dontari Poe
- HM: Art Still, Mike Bell and Gary Spani
Derrick Thomas, Neil Smith and Dan Saleaumua
Derrick Thomas was a once in a generation type player. I’ve never seen a player… perhaps at any position… who could have such a dynamics and profound impact on a game as he could. I’m sure his quickness off the line of scrimmage gave LTs nightmares weeks before they had to face him. Teams would gameplan for him and still not be able to contain him. Did it help to have the rangy Neil Smith playing on the other side? Sure, but Derrick Thomas would have been great no matter who he was playing with or against. Neil Smith gained my contempt by defecting to the Broncos but his seasons with the Chiefs helped to make this trio the best ever Chiefs triplets. That’s also because of a guy like DT Dan Saleumua who had 35.5 career sacks which is amazing for an interior lineman. He once had 7 in one season (of course, DT had 7 in one game).
Bobby Bell, Jim Lynch, Buck Buchanan (or Curley Culp)
The more I think about these 3 or 4 players the more I think they should be ranked number one. And, if you were around to see them play together you wouldn’t argue with that at all. The NFL didn’t keep track of sacks back then but it wasn’t a passing league back then either. It was decidedly a runners league. The team with the best running back almost always won and the Chiefs and the number two defense in the whole league 1969 against the run. This group listed above doesn’t even take MLB Willie Lanier into consideration and he was one of the best LBs to ever pull on pads. Lanier was dubbed, “Contact” because of his aggressive style of play and was so fast and agile he also had 27 INTs in his career.
Tamba Hali, Justin Houston and Dontari Poe
Tamba Hali has 76.5 sacks in just over 8 seasons with the Chiefs averaging nearly 10 sacks per season along the way. He’s famous for his motor and gaining an advantage as the game wears on because of his physical conditioning. Justin Houston is a better OLB right now and has 17 sacks in his last 16 games. A rare accomplishment. Houston is 25 years old and his best years are ahead of him and we can only hope that the Chiefs find a way to sign him to a big contract and not let another off season drag on without wrapping up this gifted talent. Dontari Poe, in his third year, is already one of the elite DT in the game. With 104 tackle and 6.5 sacks in just 36 games Poe forces other teams to double him constantly and is still able to affect plays for his team mates. Hali, Houston and Poe have the potential to become the greatest ER-ER-DT set of triplets ever for the Chiefs… as long as they can stay healthy and get more years together.
HM: Art Still, Mike Bell and Gary Spani (Honorable Mention)
Art Still has long been one of my favorite Chiefs players. He never got a chance to play on a good team so it’s sad to have witnessed most of his talents going to waste. Mike Bell was much the same way but there was something about Still that made you want to stand and cheer. And he got a lot of that from me. Gary Spani is mentioned here (still the all time leader in tackles for the Chiefs at 999)… and although he was not a DT… these three were the closest thing the Chiefs of the early 80’s had to a triple threat on defense. My hats off to these three Chiefs. They were all highly skillful football players who deserved a chance at glory but instead had to dally with some not so memorable names.
Coach Andy Reid has stated repeatedly that he and his staff plan to put their players in the best position to succeed. Unless GM John Dorsey signs Justin Houston and Andy Reid actually follows through and consistently gives Jamaal Charles the number plays he deserves, then even the three-in-one in heaven won’t be able to save this team.
What do you say Addict fans? Is there a threesome you’d rather have mentioned here?