Mr. Babb reports on the Chiefs for the Kansas City Star.
You can find his work at ‘The Red Zone,’ which is the KC Star’s blog on the Chiefs and the NFL. Mr. Babb is also providing regular Chiefs Twitter updates.
Links to both are below:
http://chiefsblog.kansascity.com/
With Kansas City visiting Baltimore two weeks from tomorrow, Mr. Babb has provided Baltimore Sports and Life with an update of where the Chiefs are as an organization.
BSL thanks Mr. Babb for his time, and answers provided.
Baltimore Sports and Life: “There is new leadership at the top, with the tandem of General Manager Scott Pioli, and Head Coach Todd Haley. This has led to an influx of new players, new schemes, etc. Can you speak to any noticeable differences yousee with this camp vs. the immediate past?”
Mr. Kent Babb: “The attitude and culture is entirely different. Herm Edwards wanted to be everybody’s buddy. His practices were calm and easy; even the toughest days were not much more strenuous than a walk-through. Todd Haley does not run training camp. He runs boot camp. If a player jumps offside, Haley makes them run to the fence and back before practice can resume. If a player is out of shape, Haley assigns them unusual tasks – bear crawls, crab walks and the transportation of heavy equipment are not typical football drills. Plus, they are close enough to fans that they can be heckled. And if anyone does something that is not to Haley’s standards, well, the coach just loses his mind. He is not above mind games, profanity or humiliation. And you know what? I think that is exactly what this team needs after winning six games in thepast two years. Pioli’s strategy is not limited to any one thing. Whereas the Chiefs last year were interested only in rookies and young players, Pioli has addressed the teams needs directly. It’s a much more hands-on approach than Kansas City is used to, and for the time being, at-least, it is a needed change.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “QB Matt Cassel started 16 games for New England last-year, and threw for 3,700 yards in Josh McDaniels offense. Obviously Pioli believes he is an upgrade over Tyler Thigpen. Thigpen gained a lot of experience himself lastyear, and finished strong. Was the fan-base, and locker-room surprised by the Cassel addition? Has Cassel looked better in practice?”
Mr. Kent Babb: “I don’t know that anyone was surprised that the Chiefs wanted to upgrade their quarterback situation. If a guy with Cassel’s potential is available, particularly for a second-round pick, you have to make that deal. I think Thigpen thought he could be the Chiefs starter, and he might be right. But the problem is that he is not a typical NFL quarterback. He does not read defenses well from under center, and it took the team moving to the spread last year for Thigpen to really feelcomfortable and thrive. Cassel’s addition was welcome in Kansas City, which has not had a franchise quarterback in the better part of 30 years. Thigpen was not going to be it, no matter how much he improved. Thigpen has got heart and a unique skill set. But Cassel gives the Chiefs achance to get a terrific quarterback at an early stage of his career.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Chiefs have a number of bigger receivers with Dwayne Bowe (6’2, 221), Amani Toomer (6’3, 203), Mark Bradley (6’2, 200), former Raven Devard Darling (6’1, 215), and Ashley Lelie (63, 192). Do you think KC will carryall five? Is Bowe ready to take the next-step towards the elite of theelite? Any tread left on Toomer’s tires? That looks to be a set of receivers that could pose an interesting match-up in Week 1 for the shorter Raven CBs.”
Mr. Kent Babb: “It is possible the Chiefs keep all those receivers, but I do not think it is likely. Bowe and Bradley will almost definitely make the team, along with Bobby Engram. The remaining two or three wide receiver roster spots are questions for now. I think they will keep Toomer or Lelie, not both. I could be wrong, but I just do not see them keeping two veteran receivers that might be nearing the end of their careers. Right now, my guess would be on the bigger, stronger and more experienced Toomer.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “Larry Johnson was limited to 193 carries last-year, but averaged 4.5yards per rush. Does Johnson still have the burst necessary to be a 1,300yard back?”
Mr. Kent Babb: “The short answer is no, and that is not all Johnson’s fault. He has slowed down from when he was a Pro Bowl rusher, and that is a byproduct of his age, he will turn this season, and the broken foot he suffered two years ago. The other part hinges on whether the Chiefs offensive line can be anything but a liability, which is the fear, and whether Cassel can be a solid quarterback and spread out defenses.Johnson is still tremendously talented, but I certainly do not see him being an elite running back anymore.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “Do you see Haley, and the Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey attempting to spread the field with receivers, to pull defenders out of the box, andopen-up running room for Johnson, and Jamaal Charles?”
Mr. Kent Babb: “I think they will try that sometimes, and right now I think they are in an experimental process to try anything to move the ball.The line is going to be a clear weakness, so I think they will have toget a little funky with the offense at times. The Chiefs defense should be decent, but the offense will still have to score some points, open rushing lanes and keep Cassel healthy.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “2008 1st-round pick Branden Albert is going into his 2nd-season. Thoughts on him, and the rest of the Offensive-line?
Mr. Kent Babb: “Albert is one of the Chiefs most promising young players. Everybody loves the guy. He can be a big-time left tackle, and he has been a bright spot on an otherwise cobbled-together line. Albert and left guard Brian Waters, who is a four-time Pro Bowler, are two of the best players on offense. Now, as you work your way to the right of those guys, it starts looking a lot less promising. Albert is going to be a star if he keeps improving. His body, head and focus are all in the right place.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “KC used their 2009 1st and 3rd round picks to beef up the D-line with Tyson Jackson, and Alex Magee. Combining with former 1st-round picks Glenn Dorsey, and Tamba Hali, how talented a group is this?”
Mr. Kent Babb: “On paper, the talent is there on defense. Derrick Johnson, another linebacker along with the converted Hali, is also a former first-round pick. Jackson and Dorsey are tremendously talented, but they are both going to have to work hard to match their potential. Dorsey was uninspiring last year after being the fifth overall pick, and he reported to training camp out of shape. He took the longest to get into condition, and that isnot a good thing for a young player trying to win some trust among a new group of leaders. He is also moving positions, from tackle to end, to accommodate the teams move to the 3-4 scheme. That is a tall order for a guy who is really not built to be an end, so he will have to show his versatility on top of tapping into that well of talent he has got. The Chiefs are not expecting Jackson to become a star, despite that he was the third overall pick this year; they just want him to be solid and anchor the defensive line for a long time. Haley said recently that Jackson will be given time to develop, and it will be important but difficult for the Kansas City community to be patient on him after he was picked so high.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “In the off-season, KC brought-in 36 year-old Zach Thomas, and 34-year-old Mike Vrabel to join the aforementioned 2005 1st-rounder Derrick Johnson at line-backer. Will Thomas, and Vrabel have their snaps limited under new Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast? Any other LBs to be aware of?”
Mr. Kent Babb: “If they are on the roster and in the starting lineup, they won’t have their snaps limited. The Chiefs have made it clear they did not acquire part-time players. Now, those players ages might interfere with that objective, and it has already seemed to cost Thomas. He missed all but four days of training camp with an injury the team has not identified, and he has spent his time on a stationary bike, trying to stay in shape but missing a lot of valuable practice time.
Now, as disappointing as that news is for the Chiefs, they have gotten some good news out of it so far. Corey Mays, a journeyman linebacker who might be getting his last shot, has really emerged during camp and the first two preseason games. He is a good pass rusher and can give offenses some headaches on a variety of levels. The Chiefs probably would not have discovered Mays’ talents if Thomas had not been hurt, so it is kind of a bittersweet situation.
Vrabel has been terrific this preseason. He is aging, too, but his attitude and leadership skills have helped drive this defense into being, if nothing else, a pretty respectable bunch. He will be counted on a lot for that this year.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “CB Brandon Flowers, and SS Bernard Pollard appear to be solid-pieces. What are your thoughts on the Secondary as a whole?”
Mr. Kent Babb: “Flowers is another jewel of last years draft class, and he could have multiple Pro Bowls in his future. Pollard has had some issues with fundamentals and tackling, and the Chiefs brought in veteran safety Mike Brown this year to push Pollard and either make the youngster better or steal his job. So far, Pollard has responded, and he is likely to be the starting strong safety. He has plenty of things he could improve on, but he is good enough if not great.
The Chiefs secondary is strength, with lots of young and talented youngsters. Cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Maurice Leggett were good finds for the previous group of decision-makers, and the new group should be able to take advantage.“
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.