A Breakdown of Dee Ford

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

You must have missed the second half of the season last year when the Chiefs managed zero pass rush. To call Ford a backup-must mean that we will have no injuries-which would be nice. Based on last season-he will get a lot of playing time. A team can never have too many pass rushers.

Houston was basically a non-factor after the third game, then got hurt and Hali was left alone to do what he does - attempt to out work the other guy, all game long.

Without sufficient help, that's going to wear a guy down - even a guy with the tenacity of Hali.

As well, our secondary was absolute dog shit after Flowers started to hobble. The safeties couldn't zone (although, Abdullah made a valiant effort, but it was a day late and a dollar short from a coaching perspective), and our MLB was basically non-existent as DJ was spending his work days trying to cover over on the absence of Houston as well as effectively attempting to do his job as well (with minimal at best support from the other ILB spot).

Basically, what it meant was that once we got through the gauntlet of cheese the first three weeks, defensive coordinators figured out that we didn't have jack dick in terms of speed and length on the defensive side of the ball.

We then got violated.

Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith in their prime couldn't have helped us. (Nor could they have in their prime as it seems.)

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Houston was basically a non-factor after the third game, then got hurt and Hali was left alone to do what he does - attempt to out work the other guy, all game long.

Without sufficient help, that's going to wear a guy down - even a guy with the tenacity of Hali.

As well, our secondary was absolute dog shit after Flowers started to hobble. The safeties couldn't zone (although, Abdullah made a valiant effort, but it was a day late and a dollar short from a coaching perspective), and our MLB was basically non-existent as DJ was spending his work days trying to cover over on the absence of Houston as well as effectively attempting to do his job as well (with minimal at best support from the other ILB spot).

Basically, what it meant was that once we got through the gauntlet of cheese the first three weeks, defensive coordinators figured out that we didn't have jack dick in terms of speed and length on the defensive side of the ball.

We then got violated.

Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith in their prime couldn't have helped us. (Nor could they have in their prime as it seems.)

In short, KC's pass rush sucks with Hali and Houston so don't bother improving it, right?

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

In short, KC's pass rush sucks with Hali and Houston so don't bother improving it, right?

What would have improved it would have been Kyle Van Noy lined up next to Derrick Johnson.

Not only would that have given you substantially more flexibility in the pass, defending the middle, disrupting the timing patterns on crossing routes, but it would have given us a guy who was superlative at inside blitz/rushes which would have freed up the double teams either Hali or Houston see on a per play basis. It would have also allowed Houston to continue to rush versus having him drop back into coverage. As well, Van Noy has the flexibility to play inside and out in blitz/rush, pass defense and run defense. Based on his college production, Ford only does one thing mildly effective and that's timed QB rushes. He's not effective against the run. He hardly ever played in coverage. And he was down right bad in making impact plays past some sacks.

Because, outside of DJ, there wasn't jack and shit on the roster at ILB/MLB. Zombo was/is just as effective as Ford is going to be in the role of backup rush backer. Probably more so actually.

I think it was an Al Davis level pick based on his Pro Day numbers and his shirtless 40 runs.

Maybe the guy turns out to be special, but I'm not holding my breath on it.