Chiefs Vance Walker and backup NT - Page 4

**RealSNR** · 08-09-2014, 02:40 PM

I never really understood this whole playing Walker at NT thing the Chiefs are doing. I know it's one preseason game, but many people are commenting how Walker was kind of poopy.

Bob Sutton had pretty much the same thing to say in today's press conference:

“Vance, we had to move out to big end—he’s played inside. And that’s part of this camp too. We got to develop some depth here and some games we don’t take as many D-linemen in the game so somebody has got to be able to play multiple positions. So, they’re playing similar positions but I wouldn’t say they’re the exact same positions.”

So Walker IS going to play end primarily. Jaye Howard was listed as a NT for much of last year even though he didn't play a down until the final San Diego game. He's been playing end for us, and while he made one or two impressive plays, he was no more effective against the run than Walker was.

So we've got great rotational depth at DE with all kinds of options and still not much at the nose except on 3rd down when we shift a smaller guy inside. The same problem as last year.

Can anybody else wrap their minds around this? If we're playing Walker at nose just for the time being so they can get experience playing all positions, then who is our real backup NT? I'd like to hope it would be Howard, but the Chiefs seem to still think that guy is an end. And when the final roster comes out, we've got these bodies we need to fit in:

DeVito
Poe
Bailey
Catapano
Walker
Howard

That's 5 ends and no true backup NT. Unless we keep 7 guys, and it would be kind of unfortunate to keep around a worthless dicksack like Kyle Love instead of a promising lineman like Frenchie or a core special teams player.

What do you think?

**RealSNR** · 08-10-2014, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

FYP

And I think that this is a wonderful time to bring up the conundrum that is/was Jerrell Powe.

During the preseasons, he provided a better pocket push than Poe, seemed to be able to do everything that you'd want from a NT, and yet he's a complete ghost for the regular season when they are turning Poe into the defensive equivalent of Jamaal Charles.

Now we are back to the same situation of not having a competent NT because they don't want to carry two true NT's versus having one of multiple five techs on the roster swing down inside on subpackages.

I still don't get it (the Powe thing).

Will be interesting to see how much playing time Houston gives him, since Romeo is there and all.

**Easy 6** · 08-10-2014, 10:05 AM

I dont get the Powe thing either, very bad decision letting him go... he apparently isnt too dumb to play for Houston.

chiefzilla1501 · 08-10-2014, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy 6

I dont get the Powe thing either, very bad decision letting him go... he apparently isnt too dumb to play for Houston.

Powe wasn't getting any sniffs from any teams when he was constantly shuffled on and off the roster so other teams don't seem to see much in him either. It should be noted that the team that took him is coached by Romeo, a guy who still sees value in a mostly one-dimensional nose tackle.

**Easy 6** · 08-10-2014, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Powe wasn't getting any sniffs from any teams when he was constantly shuffled on and off the roster so other teams don't seem to see much in him either. It should be noted that the team that took him is coached by Romeo, a guy who still sees value in a mostly one-dimensional nose tackle.

Dont care, we needed that guy.

He may never be a star, but every time I watched him he made plays.

Now we have an end trying to convert to NT and the early returns arent looking good... he could've spelled Poe and our short yardage/goal line packages would've been murderous.

mcaj22 · 08-10-2014, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Sure. Why not? This is a good signing I can stand behind. He'll be better than Tyson Jackson, he's dirt cheap, and he's easy to cut. Same deal with Mays.

The strategy isn't a bad one. Same one we used with Fasano, Devito, Schwartz, Avery. But for the strategy to work, they have to get more draft players to come in so we can get out of these veteran contracts and so far we haven't seen that. In this case, it's a great thing if the reason Walker is on the bench is because Catapano was better than expected. I hope the same happens at ILB too.

The idea that the Chiefs feel obligated to keep him on the roster is silly. They can pretty much get rid of him any time they want to and not take a big haircut.

These little dinky contracts on these JAG veterans ADDS up you know. So rather than the Chiefs spend on ONE good player they spent small on 5 JAGs that keep them from extending their good in house players because all the money is tied up on these crappy deals to these guys nobody even really wants on the team. (Fasano, Walker, Devito, Avery, Smith, etc)

John Dope · 08-10-2014, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Dont care, we needed that guy.

He may never be a star, but every time I watched him he made plays.

Now we have an end trying to convert to NT and the early returns arent looking good... he could've spelled Poe and our short yardage/goal line packages would've been murderous.

He played on a team that won two games and could not sniff the field and the only guy that would pick him up was the guy that coached that team.

I wanted him to work out but he didn't. He is one of the most overhyped bench warmers the Chiefs have ever had. He just wasn't that good.

MagicHef · 08-10-2014, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

They were calling you guys the Dream Team last season?

Of course you'll be one of the best teams. You were one of the best teams last season and only added guys. But you did so in the hopes that it would put you over the hump (you know, the SB slaughter hump). Do you think you'll be able to take home the Lombardi this season?

Are we good enough to win the Super Bowl? Yes.

Will we? I have no idea.

Just Passin' By · 08-10-2014, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

He isn't better than Tyson Jackson if he isn't on the field. There's no reason to play him out of position. If he's a DE, he can be a backup DE just as easily as a backup NT.

The simple fact is they didn't address the backup NT position and now they're jamming square pegs in round holes trying to figure it out.

The idea of Walker being better than Jackson has always been a matter of hype and hope, rather than history and logic.

John Dope · 08-10-2014, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

The idea of Walker being better than Jackson has always been a matter of hype and hope, rather than history and logic.

Who says he was ever going to be Jackson's replacement? I really don't believe that was ever the plan. I think he's going to be a pass rush specialist in the nickel and dime and a back up 3-4 DE. He never ran with the starters from day one like DeVito did last year. - Even in OTAs.

ThaVirus · 08-10-2014, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicHef

Are we good enough to win the Super Bowl? Yes.

Will we? I have no idea.

List the teams in the league that you think are "good enough to win the Super Bowl".

chiefzilla1501 · 08-10-2014, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcaj22

These little dinky contracts on these JAG veterans ADDS up you know. So rather than the Chiefs spend on ONE good player they spent small on 5 JAGs that keep them from extending their good in house players because all the money is tied up on these crappy deals to these guys nobody even really wants on the team. (Fasano, Walker, Devito, Avery, Smith, etc)

When the team starts getting drafted players into the starting lineup, there will be less need to triage this many positions with stopgaps. Given the way the Packers are run, I doubt this is a strategy they keep doing. Probably just a strategy to get the team competitive quickly.

This all depends on the Chiefs drafting well. So far, they have yet to do that but I hope this year's class will fare better.

**Easy 6** · 08-10-2014, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Dope

He played on a team that won two games and could not sniff the field and the only guy that would pick him up was the guy that coached that team.

I wanted him to work out but he didn't. He is one of the most overhyped bench warmers the Chiefs have ever had. He just wasn't that good.

Yeah he sucks, thats why he's a starter now and was one of the few bright spots for them the other night, picking up a sack.

John Dope · 08-10-2014, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Yeah he sucks, thats why he's a starter now and was one of the few bright spots for them the other night, picking up a sack.

I guess Kendrick Lewis doesn't suck anymore either right? He's a starter there to.

08-09-2014, 02:40 PM
RealSNR Special Teams ACE!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Where the hell is SNR Casino cash: $895208	Vance Walker and backup NT I never really understood this whole playing Walker at NT thing the Chiefs are doing. I know it's one preseason game, but many people are commenting how Walker was kind of poopy. Bob Sutton had pretty much the same thing to say in today's press conference: “Vance, we had to move out to big end—he’s played inside. And that’s part of this camp too. We got to develop some depth here and some games we don’t take as many D-linemen in the game so somebody has got to be able to play multiple positions. So, they’re playing similar positions but I wouldn’t say they’re the exact same positions.” So Walker IS going to play end primarily. Jaye Howard was listed as a NT for much of last year even though he didn't play a down until the final San Diego game. He's been playing end for us, and while he made one or two impressive plays, he was no more effective against the run than Walker was. So we've got great rotational depth at DE with all kinds of options and still not much at the nose except on 3rd down when we shift a smaller guy inside. The same problem as last year. Can anybody else wrap their minds around this? If we're playing Walker at nose just for the time being so they can get experience playing all positions, then who is our real backup NT? I'd like to hope it would be Howard, but the Chiefs seem to still think that guy is an end. And when the final roster comes out, we've got these bodies we need to fit in: DeVito Poe Bailey Catapano Walker Howard That's 5 ends and no true backup NT. Unless we keep 7 guys, and it would be kind of unfortunate to keep around a worthless dicksack like Kyle Love instead of a promising lineman like Frenchie or a core special teams player. What do you think?
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08-10-2014, 10:05 AM	#47
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $2247775	I dont get the Powe thing either, very bad decision letting him go... he apparently isnt too dumb to play for Houston.
Posts: 94,005