Give Peace, and Dee Ford, a Chance
We’re spoiled. How could we not be? The early 2000s were rough if you’re into defense like I am. Then along comes Jared Allen in 2004 and we got our hopes up that the team would have a dynamic sack attacker. Tamba Hali arrived in 2006 and gave us more hope that the defense would be able to get to the quarterback with he and Jared Allen doing their best impressions of the 1990s in the form of Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith.
That lasted for two short seasons and in 2007 Tamba Hali had 7.5 sacks while Jared Allen ate up the league with 15.5 sacks but in the process thoroughly suckered fans into the idea that… the sack was back. But suddenly Allen was shipped off to Minnesota (I won’t bring up his issues with alcohol… oops, I just did).
Note: In that trade with the Vikings, Minnesota received Jared Allen, plus the Chiefs 6th round pick that year which they used to select John Sullivan who became their starting Center, while the Chiefs received their 1st round pick and took OT Branden Albert, plus 2 third round selections which K.C. used to take Jamaal Charles and DJuan Morgan plus the Vikings 6th round pick which the Chiefs used to take WR Kevin Robinson.
From 2010 through 2013 Tamba Hali averaged more than 11.5 sacks per season and both he and Justin Houston had 11 sacks each in 2013. Then in 2014 Justin Houston began to eat up right tackles like they were blades of grass under his lawn mower registering 22.0 sacks while Hali still provided essential pressure but faded to 6.0 sacks that year.
The combination of Tamba Hali and Justin Houston have made offensive coordinators do extra gyrations in the planning room. For Kansas City Chiefs fans… their performances together… like locomotives meeting in the middle of the shipping yard at full speed… have given us fans an expectation of excellence not seen since DJ and Neil were making QBs pick up the pieces.
Now, fans have “expectations” for OLB Dee Ford that are Tamba-like or Justin-esque. And it’s really probably unfair to Ford. Will Ford turn into an unforgettable rush linebacker? Bucky Brooks at NFL.com thought he would be, if not unforgettable, at least very good. Brooks said the following while comparing Ford to Kony Ealy as a prospect in 2014:
“I believe Ford is a better prospect and should be a terrific player in a scheme that allows him to hunt the quarterback extensively. Although he lacks the ideal physical dimensions some teams prefer, I’m confident he will develop into a double-digit sack artist as a pro.”
“A double-digit sack-artist as a pro.” That sounds like he may someday project to Hali’s level and numbers. I went back through the preseason tapes and found plays where Ford is doing well… hitting hard… manning his post and staying in his own lane… and applying pressure. One of the criticisms of Ford is simply that he doesn’t hit hard. Take a look at this hit by Ford vs. the Bears:
Why all the hate for Dee Ford?
Here’s a good hit by Dee: pic.twitter.com/pF203LcIXW— Ladner Morse (@Laddiemorse) September 10, 2016
Sure, the hit is five yards downfield but if you re-watch the gif again you’ll notice that the Chiefs defensive line, and all other linebackers, get cleared out by the Bears offensive line and Dee Ford actually saves the play from being a huge gainer. Below is another one where Dee Ford takes on his man, turns the play inside, fights off of his block, then helps make the tackle:
Here’s Dee Ford setting the edge, shedding his blocker and making the tackle. pic.twitter.com/sAHFVeOUs6
— Ladner Morse (@Laddiemorse) September 10, 2016
I also went back and watched Dee Ford’s very defensive series versus the Seattle Seahawks in game one of the preseason and found nothing but positives. The first play, he gets his legs cut out from underneath him… and I was wondering why that wasn’t a penalty. He sets the edge every time on that drive and what is interesting is that the Seahawks didn’t run to his side once… and when they passed, they made sure those plays were short passes that didn’t give Ford time to get upfield to QB Russell Wilson. Did Ford have a sack on that drive? No. However, you may recall that Seattle chewed up the Chiefs on the ground and up the heart of their defense in that game so although it looked like Ford was having no effect on the game at that point, he was doing exactly what he should have been doing, and doing it well.
As many of you are aware I have spent my life in the field of education and one of my degrees is in Psychology (I know, that can be a dangerous thing). I bring that up here because I would suggest there is a possibility that Dee Ford has what’s called, “a sensitivity to criticism.” You can tell when Ford is talking to the media that he’s friendly but reticent, a sensitive type. However, with Dee, it may be more than that. Without filling a psychoanalysis BS hole too deep to dig out of, as it relates to Mr. Ford, I’ll simply say that individuals who are highly sensitive to criticism, will often use the personal-defense strategy of “pleasing others” (one way of adapting) and often do so as a way of taking the focus off of themselves. Now consider what many first round draft picks experience going from college to the pros: at school they are the BMOC and suddenly they’re told they not only have a lot to learn but are relegated to backup status, perhaps for the first time in their lives. Does second-guessing take over? You bet, and a ton of internal criticism with it (it’s those voices in your head that will get you every time).
While it may be possible that Dee Ford is the type who gets overwhelmed by all the performance feedback he gets it just means he’s likely not the type of guy who needs a swift kick in the britches… but instead needs a hands-off approach. If so, he’d be better off being told… “just go be you… and whatever you do will be great.” Of course, he needs coaching… just not scolding. He would likely be better off with a coach like Dick Vermeil than Bear Bryant.
Note: Personally, I grew up being coached by coaches who possessed an aggressive coaching style and that’s how I prefer to be coached: clear, concise, loud and enthusiastic, passionate yet firm leadership. No, I don’t like to be cussed at but I’ve never experienced that approach personally… although I’ve witnessed it. However, I believe a coach can be passionate while also be compassionate so coaches like Dick Vermeil and Andy Reid make my list of all-time favorites.
No, Dee Ford may not be the type to be dealt with the way Todd Haley benched Derrick Johnson either.
I’m glad you brought up Derrick Johnson… because he had this to say about Dee Ford… just his week:
Derrick Johnson thinks Dee Ford is the next coming in a long line of impact defenders in #KC
Division Picks: https://t.co/snVRNk7KsT
— Pat Kirwan (@PatKirwanCBS) September 6, 2016
Yes, I agree that what I have proposed about Dee Ford is highly speculative, but what I believe about him is that we’re about to see his performances take a step forward and we’re about to see his “star shine.” However, I never did like that analogy — star shine — because of the Cowboys. So, perhaps I should say this instead… his arrow is pointing upwards.
We do know the reality in terms of expectations for Dee Ford are based on Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. If he’s not as good as one of them right out of the box then he’s a failure. However, last year Ford was second on the team in sacks… in terms of “snaps-per-sack.” I’ve posted this previously but it’s worth sharing again:
So, if Ford was ahead of Tamba Hali in sacks per snaps then why all the social media consternation and public criticism?
One reason: unrealistic expectations.
Are the expectations for Dee Ford really that high? Yes. Are the expectations for Dee Ford unrealistic? Probably. Especially in the short term.
There is only one person in Kansas City Chiefs history with more sacks than Tamba Hali and that’s DT (Derrick Thomas, for you younger and/or newer Chiefs fans). In Justin Houston’s short five year career he has compiled enough sacks to already rank 4th on the Chiefs all-time list with only Neil Smith, Tamba and DT ahead of him. So, have Kansas City Chiefs fans gotten a bit spoiled?
That’s a high percentage call.
Am I suggesting Chiefs fans be satisfied with “mediocrity” at OLB? No, but tempering the expectations will go a long way towards enjoying the incredibly gifted and talented OLB we do have in Dee Ford… just the way he is now. If you think about it, there have only been a few plays, at most, in which he’s looked bad or been out of position. But because we are hyper-connected to our social media we know full well about every one of those mistakes of his. If you think Ford plays tentatively — I get that — but I also understand he’s gone from the one-minded task of rushing the passer in college to learning the nuances of playing coverage (which he’s actually very good at) plus rushing and setting the edge. No small transition.
Aside from the quarterback’s position, the 3-4 OLB may have the most difficult job on the field (and is paid accordingly). Here’s what one of my all-time favorite coaches, Bill Walsh, had to say about the 3-4 OLB:
“These pass rushing outside linebackers must have natural gifts, or instincts for dealing with offensive tackles who are up to 100 pounds heavier. Quickness is part of it. They must know how to use leverage, how to get underneath the larger man’s pads and work back toward the quarterbacks. And he must be strong enough to bounce off blocks and still make the play.”
The original design for the 3-4 OLB has changed since Bill Walsh utilized the position in his own way:
“The pass rush combination guy is going to be primarily a pass rusher and then a run defender. He is a zone defender. Rarely will he cover man to man because coaches should not ask him to (although the Chiefs do this). That profile is of the quickest, fastest, large enough man to play this position. He can sell out as long as he works in relationship with the defensive end in combination.”
The outside linebacker is largely a read-and-react position but add a half-dozen (at least) instantaneous reads to his list of responsibilities. While a defensive lineman is reading whether it’s a pass-play or a run-play, heading left-or-right… the OLB is reading many more cues and has many more decisions to make in the amount of time it may take you to blink. So… the transition is not as easy as it may first appear.
We witnessed Tamba Hali making that transition so naturally, we think Dee Ford should be able to do it “easy-breezy” as well. However, when Tamba Hali made the transition it wasn’t a smooth one… but eventually, he picked it up. All we care to recall is what Hali looked like after his transition.
Do I think that Philip Rivers should “Beware!?” Based on the game Dee had against them last season when he pretty much dominated the contest then delivered a victory at the end with a critical pass defensed in the end zone? Yes, but, I don’t plan on sharing that with Philip… besides I threw his phone number in the dumpster years ago. What I would like to say to Chiefs fans is… let’s give peace, and Dee Ford, a chance.
Go Chiefs… and peace my brother… or sister, as the case may be.