Chiefs More proof these coaches and decision makers are incompetent

B_Ambuehl · 11-21-2008, 05:16 PM

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/footb...icle911430.ece

Jimmy Wilkerson kicking ass and taking names. The funny thing is how Herm tried to talk bad about him after drafting Turk McBride when McBride has done nothing but prove to be the definition of useless.

Wilkerson's play has Tampa Bay Buccaneers finding a bigger role for him
By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
In print: Friday, November 21, 2008

TAMPA — Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, attempting to inspire his players the night before Sunday's game against the Vikings, showed a highlight tape filled exclusively with all-out-hustle plays.

Some involved a defender not giving up on running down a streaking ballcarrier. Others showed the potential payoff for playing until the whistle and never assuming a play is dead.

It's now clear that at least one guy in that room was paying close attention.

Sunday, Jimmy Wilkerson watched as Vikings running back Chester Taylor burst through the defensive front and caught a pass from Gus Frerotte with his mind focused on scoring the winning touchdown with just more than a minute left.

Wilkerson had other ideas. He ran Taylor down from behind and stripped him of the ball. When the play was over, cornerback Ronde Barber had recovered the ball, holding it and victory in his hands.

"We had that film with (Derrick) Brooks and Barber and all the great hustle plays we've had here," Kiffin said. "I think we might be seeing Jimmy Wilkerson on there sometime. That was a great hustle play. That's what it's all about."

After a sack, a forced fumble and five tackles against Minnesota, Wilkerson, 27, is beginning to show what he might do in an expanded role, one that Wilkerson, a career special-teamer until this season, believes has been a long time coming.

"My playing time is not even close," Wilkerson said when asked to compare his experience this year with that of his first five seasons, all with the Chiefs.

They were anonymous years, with Wilkerson starting five games and never gaining a place in the regular rotation. His two starts last season came at defensive end only because Pro Bowl player Jared Allen was suspended.

"Sometimes I'd play three snaps, five snaps, maybe 10 snaps if I was lucky," he said. "I played more on special teams than I did on defense. It had been like that for basically five years. Now, I'm averaging about 20 snaps a game on defense, and I'm on just about every special team.

"I'm having fun, man. In Kansas City I was just basically mad all the time. I'd take it out on people on special teams. I had a lot of frustrations and was mad at the coaches, wondering why I wasn't playing."

He took those concerns to defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham. Told by Cunningham the front office would have to address his issue, Wilkerson went there for answers. Then, like a caller trapped in an automated phone system, he was bounced around again.

"I went to management and asked them the same question," he said. "I was told that the coaches wanted to play the young guys that they drafted. That didn't make any sense to me. Here you had me, a guy with years of experience in the system against guys who were just out of college and just learning the system. They're getting playing time before me?"

How, then, did the Bucs come to recognize the former Oklahoma Sooner's suitability for their defense when he so rarely was on the field?

Tried and true scouting methods that have uncovered defensive gems such as Jovan Haye and Greg White are the reason Wilkerson's number was among the first the Bucs dialed on the first day of free agency this year.

"Part of the thing we saw in Jimmy in preseason film and the little bit of regular-season film we saw was the Buc defensive line characteristics that we always try to find," said Mark Dominik, in his seventh season as director of pro personnel.

"It's that high-energy pursuit and toughness. He showed those. And you also saw a guy who looked like he had some instincts and could locate the ball and attack and pursue from the backside. If there was a play it didn't look like he could make, he'd still try to run it down."

Those are skills Wilkerson, 6 feet 2, 290 pounds, has shown of late as he forces coaches to find a place for him in the rotation. He is frequently used as a nickel rusher, playing on the interior defensive line in passing situations. At other times, he switches to left defensive end, where he helped create a consistent pass rush against Minnesota that yielded five sacks.

Wilkerson's role is the biggest of his career. The only question is whether it continues to grow.

"We thought he was a good player," Kiffin said. "But really, he's exceeded our expectations."

[Last modified: Nov 21, 2008 06:12 PM]

Hammock Parties · 11-21-2008, 05:19 PM

Our pass rush is the league's worst, but we couldn't use this guy...nah....

Mr. Laz · 11-21-2008, 05:19 PM

yep ... i like Wilkerson

really wanted to keep him

**the Talking Can** · 11-21-2008, 05:30 PM

our coaching staff deserves to be genocided....their families too

KCChiefsMan · 11-21-2008, 05:31 PM

ya I always liked him too

**Rain Man** · 11-21-2008, 05:35 PM

Yeah, I was a Wilkerson fan. I was very surprised they let him walk. No competent team would've done that.

I noticed the other day that the Vikings had three ex-Chiefs playing on defense: Jared Allen, Nap Harris, and Benny Sapp.

suds79 · 11-21-2008, 05:40 PM

It's hearing about guys like Wilkerson, Fujita & Mitchell doing just fine now is why we need to so badly fire Herm & Gunther this offseason so our young players have a chance to develop before it's too late.

I have absolutely zero faith in the current coaching staff's ability to develop young defensive talent.

Without that move, I fear we'll indeed turn a Glenn Dorsey into the next Ryan Sims.

ToxSocks · 11-21-2008, 05:40 PM

These types of articles really make me feel like there is no hope for this team

**morphius** · 11-21-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

yep ... i like Wilkerson

really wanted to keep him

I really always wondered why they didn't use him more or properly.

**the Talking Can** · 11-21-2008, 05:47 PM

wilkerson didn't cost anything, and he's better than Herm's draft pick McBride...

but Herm is immune from criticism because we're rebuilding..he's a damn genius

Mr. Laz · 11-21-2008, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morphius

I really always wondered why they didn't use him more or properly.

you know ..... everyone always says i'm too negative about everything.

but guess what, i liked wilkerson (and said so before we let him go)

he was AT LEAST a solid backup, at a position that we've been sucking ass at for year.

disappointing

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-21-2008, 05:56 PM

Come the **** on.

Teams lose players to free agency all the time.

Wilkerson's had 15 tackles and 2 sacks all season.

McBride's had 41 tackles and 1 forced fumble. And he's been playing in pain and missed a few games.

With these responses, you'd think the Chiefs had let go Reggie White.

JFC.

**The Bad Guy** · 11-21-2008, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Come the **** on.

Teams lose players to free agency all the time.

Wilkerson's had 15 tackles and 2 sacks all season.

McBride's had 41 tackles and 1 forced fumble. And he's been playing in pain and missed a few games.

With these responses, you'd think the Chiefs had let go Reggie White.

JFC.

This isn't a thread about Wilkerson's stellar abilities, it's about how the coaching staff is such shit that it can't get a lot of out players like obviously the Bucs' staff can.

Micjones · 11-21-2008, 06:01 PM

I'm not heartbroken about losing Wilkerson. He hasn't been a world beater in Tampa.
He was an underachiever as a Chief. I'm fully aware that our staff leaves a lot to be desired, but until he can produce consistenly elsewhere... I'm not all that concerned about him not playing here anymore.

**notorious** · 11-21-2008, 06:20 PM

Wilkerson is going to be a monster. He was developing fine at OU, came out too early, and got stuck on the worst team/organiziation in the NFL. He would have been a first rounder if he would have stayed at OU another year.

Thank God, for his sake, we let him go. F*** you, Carl, for letting him go.

11-21-2008, 05:16 PM
B_Ambuehl Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Casino cash: $9705405	More proof these coaches and decision makers are incompetent http://www.tampabay.com/sports/footb...icle911430.ece Jimmy Wilkerson kicking ass and taking names. The funny thing is how Herm tried to talk bad about him after drafting Turk McBride when McBride has done nothing but prove to be the definition of useless. Wilkerson's play has Tampa Bay Buccaneers finding a bigger role for him By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer In print: Friday, November 21, 2008 TAMPA — Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, attempting to inspire his players the night before Sunday's game against the Vikings, showed a highlight tape filled exclusively with all-out-hustle plays. Some involved a defender not giving up on running down a streaking ballcarrier. Others showed the potential payoff for playing until the whistle and never assuming a play is dead. It's now clear that at least one guy in that room was paying close attention. Sunday, Jimmy Wilkerson watched as Vikings running back Chester Taylor burst through the defensive front and caught a pass from Gus Frerotte with his mind focused on scoring the winning touchdown with just more than a minute left. Wilkerson had other ideas. He ran Taylor down from behind and stripped him of the ball. When the play was over, cornerback Ronde Barber had recovered the ball, holding it and victory in his hands. "We had that film with (Derrick) Brooks and Barber and all the great hustle plays we've had here," Kiffin said. "I think we might be seeing Jimmy Wilkerson on there sometime. That was a great hustle play. That's what it's all about." After a sack, a forced fumble and five tackles against Minnesota, Wilkerson, 27, is beginning to show what he might do in an expanded role, one that Wilkerson, a career special-teamer until this season, believes has been a long time coming. "My playing time is not even close," Wilkerson said when asked to compare his experience this year with that of his first five seasons, all with the Chiefs. They were anonymous years, with Wilkerson starting five games and never gaining a place in the regular rotation. His two starts last season came at defensive end only because Pro Bowl player Jared Allen was suspended. "Sometimes I'd play three snaps, five snaps, maybe 10 snaps if I was lucky," he said. "I played more on special teams than I did on defense. It had been like that for basically five years. Now, I'm averaging about 20 snaps a game on defense, and I'm on just about every special team. "I'm having fun, man. In Kansas City I was just basically mad all the time. I'd take it out on people on special teams. I had a lot of frustrations and was mad at the coaches, wondering why I wasn't playing." He took those concerns to defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham. Told by Cunningham the front office would have to address his issue, Wilkerson went there for answers. Then, like a caller trapped in an automated phone system, he was bounced around again. "I went to management and asked them the same question," he said. "I was told that the coaches wanted to play the young guys that they drafted. That didn't make any sense to me. Here you had me, a guy with years of experience in the system against guys who were just out of college and just learning the system. They're getting playing time before me?" How, then, did the Bucs come to recognize the former Oklahoma Sooner's suitability for their defense when he so rarely was on the field? Tried and true scouting methods that have uncovered defensive gems such as Jovan Haye and Greg White are the reason Wilkerson's number was among the first the Bucs dialed on the first day of free agency this year. "Part of the thing we saw in Jimmy in preseason film and the little bit of regular-season film we saw was the Buc defensive line characteristics that we always try to find," said Mark Dominik, in his seventh season as director of pro personnel. "It's that high-energy pursuit and toughness. He showed those. And you also saw a guy who looked like he had some instincts and could locate the ball and attack and pursue from the backside. If there was a play it didn't look like he could make, he'd still try to run it down." Those are skills Wilkerson, 6 feet 2, 290 pounds, has shown of late as he forces coaches to find a place for him in the rotation. He is frequently used as a nickel rusher, playing on the interior defensive line in passing situations. At other times, he switches to left defensive end, where he helped create a consistent pass rush against Minnesota that yielded five sacks. Wilkerson's role is the biggest of his career. The only question is whether it continues to grow. "We thought he was a good player," Kiffin said. "But really, he's exceeded our expectations." [Last modified: Nov 21, 2008 06:12 PM]
Posts: 2,613

11-21-2008, 05:19 PM	#2
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $1050478	Our pass rush is the league's worst, but we couldn't use this guy...nah.... __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 296,670

11-21-2008, 05:19 PM	#3
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	yep ... i like Wilkerson really wanted to keep him __________________
Posts: 95,626

11-21-2008, 05:30 PM	#4
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $9402208	our coaching staff deserves to be genocided....their families too __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"
Posts: 51,585

11-21-2008, 05:31 PM	#5
KCChiefsMan AIC Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Roxbury, MA Casino cash: $10004900	ya I always liked him too
Posts: 11,478

11-21-2008, 05:35 PM	#6
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-432449 VARSITY	Yeah, I was a Wilkerson fan. I was very surprised they let him walk. No competent team would've done that. I noticed the other day that the Vikings had three ex-Chiefs playing on defense: Jared Allen, Nap Harris, and Benny Sapp. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,222

11-21-2008, 05:40 PM	#7
suds79 MVP Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $10005036	It's hearing about guys like Wilkerson, Fujita & Mitchell doing just fine now is why we need to so badly fire Herm & Gunther this offseason so our young players have a chance to develop before it's too late. I have absolutely zero faith in the current coaching staff's ability to develop young defensive talent. Without that move, I fear we'll indeed turn a Glenn Dorsey into the next Ryan Sims.
Posts: 5,747

11-21-2008, 05:40 PM	#8
ToxSocks Needs more middle fingers Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego Casino cash: $2143063	These types of articles really make me feel like there is no hope for this team
Posts: 65,925

11-21-2008, 05:47 PM	#10
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $9402208	wilkerson didn't cost anything, and he's better than Herm's draft pick McBride... but Herm is immune from criticism because we're rebuilding..he's a damn genius __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"
Posts: 51,585

11-21-2008, 05:56 PM	#12
DaneMcCloud Supporter Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hollywood, CA Casino cash: $10053648	Come the **** on. Teams lose players to free agency all the time. Wilkerson's had 15 tackles and 2 sacks all season. McBride's had 41 tackles and 1 forced fumble. And he's been playing in pain and missed a few games. With these responses, you'd think the Chiefs had let go Reggie White. JFC.
Posts: 88,960

11-21-2008, 06:01 PM	#14
Micjones Whose house? Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $10005180	I'm not heartbroken about losing Wilkerson. He hasn't been a world beater in Tampa. He was an underachiever as a Chief. I'm fully aware that our staff leaves a lot to be desired, but until he can produce consistenly elsewhere... I'm not all that concerned about him not playing here anymore. __________________ It's like when I'm right I'm right, when I'm wrong I could been right, so I'm still right cause I coulda been wrong.
Posts: 15,344

11-21-2008, 06:20 PM	#15
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $-724116	Wilkerson is going to be a monster. He was developing fine at OU, came out too early, and got stuck on the worst team/organiziation in the NFL. He would have been a first rounder if he would have stayed at OU another year. Thank God, for his sake, we let him go. F*** you, Carl, for letting him go.
Posts: 88,484