Babb:Chiefs’ Hali says his job is all about getting sacks
 

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/782788.html

Chiefs’ Hali says his job is all about getting sacks
BY KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
Chiefs defensive end Tamba Hali, who pressured Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler in a game last season, said tackles are nice but his goal every game is to sack the quarterback.



Everyone keeps telling him to wait his turn and the sacks will come, but Tamba Hali can’t. Not any longer.

Hali went four preseason games with no sacks, and that simply will not do. Not in Hali’s world, and not when he’s been tabbed as Jared Allen’s successor, the defensive end who will fill Allen’s spot on the right side, and the man expected to at least pick up some of Allen’s 15 1/2 sacks last year.

Hali was close a few times in those four preseason games. But after each one, he staggered into the locker room, lowered his head and went home another night without a sack.

“I don’t feel good,” he said this week. “I can have a million tackles, but if I don’t have a sack …”

One moment, Hali said he was trying too hard; worrying too much at times about sacks and not playing within the Chiefs’ defense. A moment later, he said maybe he didn’t try hard enough. He was close a few times, but it just didn’t happen. He felt slow. Maybe it was the long grass at Chicago. Maybe it was the wet grass last week at Arrowhead.

“No excuses, man,” he said, correcting himself.

The Chiefs need Hali to anchor the defensive line. He’s the 24-year-old veteran of a group that makes him look like an old pro. The three other starters — Turk McBride, Tank Tyler and Glenn Dorsey — are in their first or second season. Heck, Hali is in his third year. But the others already are looking toward him for inspiration and guidance. And whether he is ready or not, the Chiefs’ young linemen expect Hali to lead them and set the sack standard.

“I’m starting to feed off the energy that he has,” McBride said. “I see how he goes at practice; now I know how to practice. Tamba is just one of those players at practice that you look at for how to do things.”

Hali said he hasn’t lacked intensity in those four games. And yes, Hali and the other starters didn’t play much. The preseason is about quick appearances and saved energy. Hali didn’t have time to make a statement, right? Just like everyone else. Right?

But there was McBride in the Chicago game, walking back up the tunnel with a sack in his back pocket and two more in the Arizona game. Each of those times, Hali walked up the ramp with nothing.

He hasn’t exactly gotten over that yet.

“It’s a lot of pressure,” he said. “It’s a lot of pressure on me to perform. It’s a production business.

“I don’t have a choice. What, am I going to quit? I can’t quit. I can’t fold. It’s a new position, and I can be a better player and help our team in a tremendous way.

“Do I want to have 15 sacks like Jared did last year? I’m sure everybody playing that position would. Is it going to happen? I can’t tell you I’m going to get 15. But I’ll tell you that every game, the goal is to sack the quarterback, especially on that right side. That’s my job.”

Hali hears about it every day. Coaches tell linemen that each sack translates to a three-point scoring difference. Translation: Sacks equal victories, or at least they give the Chiefs’ offense a chance.

Hali feels as if he’s not doing his part, even if his teammates think he’s being too hard on himself.

“All the great ones,” McBride said, “they expect to make the play every time. Even if the ball is thrown 60 yards down the field, he expects to make that tackle.”

Hali said he hasn’t thought much about his goals this season. But he knows this year is an important one, for him and the defense and team. Fair or not, he will be counted on to shoulder the load that Allen left behind when the Chiefs traded him to Minnesota.

Hali said he wants double-digit sacks, which would at least be two more than his career high last year.

“Otherwise,” he said, “that’s going backward.”

He’s had enough. Hali said he wants to talk about something besides his sack production; he’d prefer to talk about the team or the defensive game plan — anything that gets his mind off the itch he’s been trying to scratch for more than four weeks.

“It’ll come,” he said. “I believe it. I believe they’ll come when they’re supposed to. There’s no problem. I’ve just got to get there.”

If the Chiefs want Hali to get sacks, they should have left him on the left side.

Yeah dude sack the QB every play. ROCKANDROLL U.S.A!!!!

Or how about we take a wait and see approach before we make assumptions? Yep, I think that sounds like a great idea.

It's to bad Tamba Hali isn't going to be some huge sack guy...

Keep F'king doubting Tamba Hali!

Right. Because 8 all season is just destroying the opponent's game plan.

He is what he is a 6-8 sack guy, asking him to be more isn't a good idea but they don't have much choice right now.

Agreed. ( As if you care what I think. Nevertheless, I agree.)

If he stays healthy and Dorsey stays healthy, he'll get a dozen.

I'd be stunned, he wasn't getting doubled with Allen being here and was coming off the RT side and couldn't do that.

Tell smitty to set it up in casino! $500 casino cash says he registers double digits this year.

I'd take that bet every single time.

ROFL

Hali will be the MAN ... I think ... I wish ... Well maybe ....

get pressure from Dorsey and RT, occasional blitz. He will get 8-10.

If he wants to get more sacks, he should try harder. Seriously, if the output isn't where he wants it he should change something. Step up his plyometrics to get quicker feet, adjust his lifting to his upper body so he can fight off blocks, watch more film, develop a new move, refine his current moves, ****ing SOMETHING. Just do something to get better. Intensity in practice is very necessary, but if he wants to improve, he's got to work with someone to make him better.

Posted via Mobile Device

If Hali has a poor performance, there will still be some sacks available.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...06/nutsack.jpg

Yeah he's really been kicking ass in preseason on the right side against medicore players and playcalling at best...:rolleyes:

if the chiefs wanted sacks they should have kept allen instead of the scrubs we got in return

fo reals, I bet 1000 dollars cazino cazh that Allen has more sacks than Dorsey and Albert COMBINED.

where u at puusAAAs?

Allen didn't want to be here... you think he was going to keep performing like he did?

Yes but he was coming into the QB's field of vision instead of the blind side. i think he'll be productive. He's got a motor similar to Allen & he wasn't healthy nearly all of last year.

He'll be chasing the QB from his blind side now, but he'll also be facing Left Tackles week in and week out.

Still... I think a presence inside this year helps.
10-12 sacks is doable.

i haven't seen much, so far, to indicate that Hali is much of a pass rushing threat.

Post 18 should be deleted...

What bothers me is "Hali hasn't thought much about his goals for the season..."

At first blush, it's a throwaway line. But when you think about it, most of the elite guys come in with a goal in mind, a number or task they're pusing towards. Even weekend weightlifters and the like have a goal.

I just don't like that he hasn't set a goal for himself, it seems like a flaw in his motivation.

I hope hali can get 8 sacks...

No but it is more fun to prentend he would

I agree, if Dorsey is anything close to what we hope he is it's only going to make it that much easier for Hali. I say he gets 10... 11 sacks this year.

You have no clue about the Xs and Os of football. Glenn Dorsey is an undertackle and if he becomes a good one Hali's job on the right side will be half as difficult as it was on the left side with or without Jared Allen.

We'll see. He had 8 sacks as a rookie and 7.5 despite playing on one wheel all of last year, so I think calling him a 6-8 sack guy is underselling him a little. And the RT side is traditionally the power side of the formation, with the TE lining up off the tackle's shoulder, so the move means he'll be in more one-on-one situations by default, without even considering the addition of Dorsey in the middle or the progression (if there's been any...) of Tank Tyler. Defensive scheme will play a role, too, the moving and stunting that they didn't do a bit in the preseason. I just think the factors are virtually all in his favor. Which, of course, doesn't mean he'll do it, just that I think he could.

Hali feels like the Claythan of the d line

T

I thing Hali's sack total will increase in average per game as the season progresses. As Dorsey adapts to the speed and strength of the NFL, it'll make Hali's job easier because the QB won't have a pocket to step into. If Allen had this last season, he might have had 20 sack.

Ill take that.

And now he's on the LT side where the better players lineup...he just isn't a great pass rusher. And it has nothing to do with motor or want to, it has to do with him being a maxed out player, it's why he's still he same player he was the day he was drafted.

Wow, way to discount the fact that he won't likely have to deal with as many tight ends on the right side. Oh and the fact that he'll be approaching from the blind-side.

Line Walden up at the Falcon!

If you think he's getting 12 sacks you're high on crack.

And possibly some other drugs...

I pm'd smitty about setting it up in casino.

We'll see.

The KC star photo and someone here on Chiefsplanet inspired me!!:D

http://a521.ac-images.myspacecdn.com...a479381d88.jpg

Photo courtesy of KC Star (Give credit where credit is due.)

Mecca isn't a Chiefs fan because he doesn't wear homer glasses! :)

I really don't understand how anyone can look at that guy and how he's played for the last 2 years and think he's going to get drastically better, which is basically what some are saying.

Guys who's biggest knocks are being physically maxed out without much upside don't get drastically better.

8.5 sacks, my prediction.

I have this crazy feeling that McBride will get more sacks than Hali...

Well, it might have to do with his being healthy after playing hurt the entire 2007 season and adding the best DT in the draft beside him. I know it's crazy to think that things like that might have a positive impact on his production.

As for 'drastically' better, well, I said 12, which would be a whopping 4 more than his careeer best, 4.5 more than last year, when he was hobbled. It's not like predicting an 8-INT season for William Bartee or something. I could see that reaction if I'd said 17 or something nutty like that.

how many sacks did jared have the year before last? comparable to hali's last year? 7.5 is the answer so from 7.5 to 15.5 is a pretty big jump right? now im not saying hali will get 15.5 but 10 -12 would be an acceptable (and not to far of a stretch) number
and jared NEVER had a DT next to him who was worth a shit

Dorsey is a rookie and an extremely difficult position to translate to...I think some may be expecting a little to much a little to fast.

so you think that dorsey (or tank for that matter) wont demand double teams? because no dt we've had in years has actually commanded doubles

The draft analysts were all slobbering over him, saying he was the best player to come out of this years draft overall. So i am going to have high expectations for him.

I think expecting him to be Sapp from day 1 of his rookie season is asking a bit much.

no one has said that, just sayin that he'll make the players around him better

That's asking him to be a pro bowl level player from day 1, it took Albert Haynesworth years to develop into that kind of player.

Could he sure, I'm just saying I wouldn't expect it, it's asking alot.

no one said pro bowl level either. only probowlers make others better? are you serious?

And he'll get doubled anyway because most LT's will be able to take Hali by themselves and we don't have another end.

I'm telling you the draft analysts were that close to whipping out there puds and jacking their meat about Dorsey when they talking on and on about him.

Then when we drafted him i thought "ok, hes as good as it gets."

Hes the real deal. I'm telling you.

man you are the greatest spinner in history. ok mecca you're right:rolleyes:

Because I frankly don't think Tamba Hali is good enough to beat LT's very often?

And Dorsey will get doubles because 1 he has talent, 2 even as a rookie teams will see hes the most talented player on the line and 3 I doubt they will have any fear of the ends.

I have an idea for Hali.

If his job is to get some sacks. Get some sacks.

FAX

This year should be telling. Hopefully, we draft a DE in the 1st or 2nd next year because, so far, Hali doesn't look like a guy that I would even try to re-sign after his rookie contract. He's basically Jimmy Wilkerson with more playing time.

So far, I have to agree with you. Hali has flashes but.... Hermone keeps saying that it took JA four years to develop and we should give Hali the same time to develop. I believe JA was picked up as a long snapper and then turned into a DE out of despair....Did not Hali spend his entire time as a DE? The learning curve should be quicker, no?

Excellent point there, Mr. BIG K.

It seems to me that JA became a sackmaster out of sheer, unadulterated, want-to and energy. He had a kind of Wildman of the Apes attitude about him and, although his technique (particularly in his first year or so) left something to be desired, he got the job done simply by being a little crazier than the guy in front of him.

Hali was touted as having a non-stop motor when he was drafted. That may be true, but he either hasn't developed his technique to the point that he can out-finesse his man or he doesn't have that "nutso" quality that you need to plant the quarterback when two or three giant guys are trying their best to stop you.

At this point, I have grave doubts about The Mamba's ability to live up to his draft day hype.

FAX

On this we agree.

He doesn't play strong and he doesn't use his limited strength well.

I think he'd be great as a rotational player out of the nickel or dime but not a 3 down DE...

The problem is that Hali is neither strong, fast, or athletic.

He doesn't have the speed to get around the edge, isn't strong enough to overpower the LT, and, quite frankly, looks silly attempting moves.

The Chiefs did attempt one stunt this preseason, and Hali was just to slow to get to the inside.
He attempted a couple of spin moves, and the only way it was going to work is if the LT fell down laughing.

I'm keeping an open mind.

So far Hali hasn't made me a believer, but we'll see what happens this year.

And yeah, it's difficult being really optimistic about him.

It is nice to see an "All Chiefs draftee" defensive line. When was the last time that happened?

But Hali wont be a JA or even come close. Its just something we are going to have to accept and deal with throughout the season.

Hali will be a nice rotational DE when we get a real RDE.

And by the time we we get a real RDE, we'll have probably learned that Turk is a better LDE than Hali was.