Dee Ford compared to Von Miller, Derrick Thomas
 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap200...derrick-thomas

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos...Shawn-Merriman

General manager John Dorsey recently explained that Dee Ford was selected at No. 23 overall because the Auburn star was the best player left on the Kansas City Chiefs' board and the second-best pass rusher in the draft.

Coach Andy Reid has praised Ford's quickness and athletic ability while rating the outside linebacker's intangibles as "off the charts."

On a more impressive note, Ford's explosive first step has already drawn comparisons to Chiefs Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas and Broncos All-Pro Von Miller.

"If anybody reminds you of Derrick Thomas, that kid should pretty much remind you of Derrick Thomas with his first step," Pro Bowl linebacker Tamba Hali said last week, per The Huntsville Times. "He gets off the ball so fast it's scary. I just kept rewinding (the video) yesterday just looking at his first step. I don't know if he times it, but his first step is incredible."

New teammate Joe Mays, who played with Miller in Denver, sees similar traits in Ford.

"That guys is explosive. He's quick off the ball," Mays said Tuesday, per the Chiefs' official website. "He kind of reminds me of Von Miller with the way that he gets off the ball and gets around the offensive linemen. He's a freak. He knows how to work angles and uses his hands real well. He can bend and do all types of stuff you don't see in the everyday pass rushers. Definitely 'as-advertised'."

The quotes coming out of Kansas City suggest Ford should have been a top-10 draft pick last month.

As much talent as Ford boasts, it's going to be tough for him to challenge for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award while fighting for snaps behind Hali and Justin Houston.

With Hali carrying a prohibitive $12 million salary cap figure in 2015, though, Ford should be a prime "Making the Leap" candidate at this point next offseason.

Well, hopefully he plays "as advertised."

I'll hold my breath.

fluff piece is fluffy.

What would you expect teammates to say? The guy sucks?

I hope he doesn't cheat drug tests like Von.

:grr:

If you imagine this smiley with puffed cheeks, then eventually passing out, it would be you.

The only thing is, Ford's arms are about an inch shorter than Miller's.

Ford: 32 7/8" arms

Miller: 33 1/2" arms

Some people might not think that it makes much of a difference but it really does. Part of the reason why I didn't rate Ford as a top 25 player in the draft was because of that lack of arm length. He's going to have to play with perfect technique and have the best snap anticipation in the NFL if he's going to win against OTs who average over 34" in arm length.

.625" Is not a big deal.

[QUOTE=OldSchool;10684863]The only thing is, Ford's arms are about an inch shorter than Miller's


But Ford's dick is 2 inches longer so he makes up for it there.

Look around the league. The best edge rushers almost all have arms that are 34" long.

The only good player that I can even think of with arms that are less than 33" long is Trent Cole at 32 7/8".

Sorry man but a little over half an inch is not going to make or break a player in ANY circumstance.

32.875 = Bust

33.5 = HOF

Stupid comparison. Dee Ford is a weaker Vernon Gholston.

Oh the irony ROFL

Khalil Mack has 33 1/4" arms btw

Old School might be placing more emphasis on arm length than neededn but there is a reason it's measured.

Look up Jared Allen and Elvis Dumervil. I believe they are only 32.

No I agree 100%, but that's taking it a little too far.

You're a weaker version of Stephen Hawking.

Comparing rookie in camp to DT...:shake:

Dee Ford is Derrick Thomas just like Glen Dorsey was Warren Sapp.

Yeahhhhhhh, Im sure Dee Ford is like thanks a lot dick.

I wouldn't want that comparison honestly.

Dwight Freeney!

It's amazing that people miss the point. It's not about him being the next DT or Miller it's about having that unique first step that they both possessed when looking at his potential.

Im not missing the point at all. I got that. but, fans are irrational. They don't think like that.

Some short armed (under 33) pass rushers:

James Harrison
Jared Allen
Terrell Suggs
Cameron Wake
Joey Porter
Trent Cole
Elvis Dumervil
Clay Matthews

There were reports that Tamba Hali's arms were only 30 3/8

So yeah, I'd say the idea that Pass rushers who don't have 33 inch arms are somehow hamstrung is probably not really true.

That's not to say it doesn't help, but proper technique is always going to matter more.

"We've seen a lot of promise from Dee FoBUY SEASON TICKETS!!!!!"

I'm excited to see him play.

Wasn't talking about you, but yea it's also bc they want to be negative about a pick they don't know much about.

Gholstons problem wwas he had no core flexibility. Ford is known for his "bend"

Geez, way to **** this thread up!

For a pass rusher, Von doesn't have much luck outrunning the police.

Who ever wrote this article went full KnowMo KC style...

Such a shit pile of words...

Never go full knowmo... Very few Cpers can look objectively at anything the Chiefs do or say. Most drink the red koolaid...

Lets hope he is not a dumbass like Miller.

There isn't a single Chiefs fan here that is remotely close to Knowmo.

Let's see him in live action against NFL talent before we crown the guy.

Untrue

as does " a quick first step"

he's a mix between Jared Allen Bruce Smith lt dt and von miller

Saccapoo is that you?????

Math iz guud.

At Chiefsplanet? I haven't seen anyone here like that.

Not a regular member. Who is it?

Longer arms are definitely better but it's simply an attribute. Learning how to use your own skill set and perfect it via repetitions(live and in practice) is what makes a player useful.

Do you guys think Jeremiah Attaochu will be as productive as Ford?

This

Von could be great but he has a few question marks surrounding him right now. I would have to think if Ford can be like the first four of those players no one could truly complain.

Next time we play the Jags it'll be Ford vs Joeckel, a.k.a. "The T-Rex Throwdown".

We all need to stop and think about the o-linemen he's going against here. Not exactly a stellar group.

short answer: yes.

long answer: depends on situation. Attaochu will have more playing time (and opportunities), but has a poor defensive line keeping him clean (compared to the chiefs). Dee Ford has more players around him to help him succeed, but he may have less opportunity (at least early on) than Attaochu because he is behind Hali and Houston.

Yep. He'll thrive even if he sucks. At least in practice.

I think you need to stop and think about the attribute that is being compared.

The first step, which has nothing to do with O-Linemen.

They should stop with the Derrick Thomas comparisons, it's getting pretty ridiculous.

People need to get over it.

There are always going to be comparisons drawn between a young player with apparent potential and HoF players.

No one is saying that they are going to be that player.

They are simply saying that they have attributes that remind them of others.

Panties are getting bunched over nothing.

Yeah. I liked Attaochu more than I liked Ford in the draft. He was significantly more productive in college than Ford was and he is also a much more raw product.

I don't know...how long are his arms?

Isn't just Ford's arm length that bothers me, it's also his lack of production and the fact that he took the longest on average, out of the top pass rushers/OLB prospects, to get his sacks.

They will collide and simultaneously hurt each other the first time and be out for the season:p

This !

It's all hype to sell tickets.

Funny, there wasn't any 'Dee DT Ford' comparison talk during his last year in college. Now all of a sudden he has a first step equivalent to DT ?:rolleyes:

Yup, and Thomas was an absolute monster in college. 27 sacks in 1988, that's ridiculous.

College production doesn't mean shit. Our gm clearly drafts on potential.

Dee ford is gonna make us all forget we ever had a Derrick Thomas

Johnny Manziel is going to make Cleveland fans forget they ever had a Tim Couch.

You got that right !

:facepalm:

Will never happen..if the guy breaks the single game sack record I will give you $100

And a new pig you can fondle

Derrick Thomas was a Lincoln, Ford is a Ford.

Lincoln is made by Ford.

explanation:
Based on an NFL HOF career vs a College Career.

yes sir, but a Focus doesn't ride like a Lincoln.

I feel really good about this pick. That speed should pay bigtime dividends and his hand placement/leverage in his hips is spot on.

He needs to learn to diagnose run plays instead of just going uphill for the kill every time. Only problem I had with him.

Dee Ford > War e's corpse

This pass rush has no reason not to be insane. Added an interior push with Walker and a 3rd from the outside. Helping fix two huge weakness. A big reason people are smoking dope when they say the team did nothing to improve over last year.

yep, Manning cant put up HOF numbers laying on his back.
:thumb:

believe you're referring to a PFF breakdown of the pass rusher prospect, but can't find the link, do you still have it?

you ahhh wicked re-tahded.

Had a dream last night we traded Hali to Detroit for a 1st and a 3rd. Ford took his spot and had 14 sacks on the way to D rookie of the year.

I woke myself up before we lost in the playoffs.

Is Gun still with Detroit?

If Cat and Walker are the real deal then this defense is easily top 10. That was one of the problems with this defense last year. Our DE's couldn't generate pressure once players got hurt.