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

[Tribal Warfare]

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.”

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by RustShack

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.

[Fairplay]

8.5 sacks, my prediction.

[RustShack]

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

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Mecca

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.

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.

[SAUTO]

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

[Mecca]

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.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Mecca

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

[Fairplay]

Originally Posted by Mecca

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.

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.

[Mecca]

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

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Mecca

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

[Mecca]

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.

[SAUTO]

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

[Mecca]

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.

[Fairplay]

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.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Mecca

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.

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