MVN - Most Valuable Network

I Hate the Bootleg - So How Do We Defend It? A Review of Free Agent Linebackers

I hate the bootleg.  Seriously - I scream in pain every time a Chiefs’ opponent runs a play-action bootleg pass.  The Chiefs look like computer-controlled team on Madden with the level set to “Rookie” whenever Denver runs that play.  Even Duante Culpepper looked like Steve DeBerg when running the bootleg last season.  The quarterback is so ridiculously alone, he’s registering with match.com while scanning his receivers downfield when they run a bootleg against the Kansas City good guys.

So why can’t the Chiefs defend the bootleg?  I used to blame former defensive coordinator Greg Robinson - but I used to blame him for a lot of things:  The inability to defend a bootleg, not stopping a run on 3rd-and-6, the traffic on the Grandview Triangle, my steady weight gain through college, and if I could have gotten away with it, I would have framed him for the OJ murders.  But I digress.

 The Chiefs have struggled to stop the bootleg due to two reasons:  unaware defensive linemen who are so focused (or unfocused, depending on how you look at it) on getting the ball carrier they do not see the quarterback slip to the weak side after faking the handoff.  I can cut them a little slack.  Defensive linemen don’t have the advantage of space to decipher a play and make a tackle.  They are immediately engaged with 330-pound oafs who are trying to take them out at the knees - so figuring out who has the ball between the running back and the quarterback can be a little confusing.  I mean really - if Ryan Sims could have named two days of the week, I would have been surprised.  We are supposed to expect him to break down who has the ball when Jake Plummer would handoff to Olandis Gary?  Maybe we were expecting too much.

The second reason is that our linebackers look like prize-winning trout being yanked out of a lake when a bootleg is run.  Mike Shannahan should have Marvcus Patton stuffed and mounted in his den with a small plaque that says “Chiefs vs. Broncos, October 20, 2002″.  Do you remember that game?  I sure do.

 The Chiefs lost 37-34 in overtime, but the game was highlighted by Brian Griese (yes, THAT Brian Griese) going 30-for-50 for 376 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions.  Plus, he had no cleaning bill that week, because the Chiefs didn’t touch him all game long.  Shannon Sharpe had 12 catches for 214 yards and two touchdowns, including one for 82 yards that I’m pretty sure he sends a copy of to Patton and William Bartee every year, giggling the entire time while thinking of their reactions.

Most of the plays were run off of a play-action bootleg to Clinton Portis, who probably keeps a Chiefs jersey in his home to remind him of better times when he could run for 6.1 yards per carry and score 4-5 touchdowns at will.  But the Chiefs never stopped the bootleg, and the team has been scarred ever since.  So to stop it, the team imported “ahem” star free agents like Kendrell Bell and Shawn Barber to help.  Instead of help put out the fire, it was like their uniforms were doused in gasoline - they became more trout yanked out of the lake.

 Now with Derrick Johnson and Donnie Edwards, the Chiefs are almost there.  They need one more linebacker not named Napoleon Harris to make their defensive front seven a devastating unit.  Let’s take a look at potential free agents for the linebacker position.

Lance Briggs, UFA, Chicago Bears - I am firmly in the camp that Briggs will not be as good as advertised once his is removed from the umbrella of Brian Urlacher.  I think he’s like Peerless Price - he’s a good complementary player, but he will never be a star.  He thinks he is worth more than the market really dictates, too - so I think he’ll be too overpriced.  He’s not worth the investment, and I don’t think he’s that good.

Tedy Bruschi, UFA, New England Patriots - besides his uncanny resemblance to my buddy Doug, I hate this guy.  He will probably retire after this year, as there is little to no market for a 36-year old slow linebacker with a hole in his heart. 

Karlos Dansby, UFA, Arizona Cardinals - Giddy up!  Now we’re talking!  Unfortunately, I think he will be resigned by the Cardinals very soon (if they don’t, then Carl Peterson has some competition for worst GM in the league).  He’s fast, he’s a ball-hawk (4 forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks, 21 passes defensed this year), and he’s young (26 years old).  I don’t know how willing the Chiefs would be to replace Harris after one year, but I would suggest they investigate the possibility.

Demorrio Williams, UFA, Atlanta Falcons - Interesting player.  A little fella (6′0″, 232 pounds) but has two interceptions and over 80 tackles each of the last two years.  He is still learning the position, so there may be some growing pains, but he might be someone to investigate if the price is right.  Plus, if I were an NFL player, I would want the hell out of Atlanta as soon as possible - that city is cursed when the NFL is involved.

Boss Bailey, UFA, Detroit Lions - good player, great name.  I wanted to draft him four years ago, but that didn’t happen.  He’s really injury prone, so we already may have his twin brother in the form of Kendrell Bell.  A short-term contract would definitely be in order, but he may be someone to look at.
Danny Clark UFA Houston Texans - could serve as a great special teams player.  If the Chiefs were involved in a bench-clearing brawl, somehow I feel that Clark would be the guy I want on my side.  No reason for it - just a hunch.  We need a wildman on special teams ever since Maslowski retired - Clark may be him.

Kawika Mitchell UFA New York Giants - Why not?  If the price is right, was Kawika really that bad?  Well, let me rephrase - was the 2006 version of Kawika really that bad?  I say no.  If we’re getting the 2003-2005 version, no thanks.  I would rather stick Key Fox out there and cross my fingers.

Mark Simoneau UFA New Orleans Saints - A poor man’s Marvcus Patton, and that is not a compliment for either player.  No thanks.

While not a priority, the Chiefs should not ignore the linebacker position.  The team needs depth for special teams, and because they were extraordinarily healthy this year.  Donnie Edwards will not play forever, and Derrick Johnson is one play away from having some lummox roll up on his knee. 

Your thoughts?

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 10th, 2008 at 10:57 am and is filed under Roster/Personnel, Analysis, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.