Showing posts with label Justin Houston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Justin Houston. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Tamba Hali Suspended For Chiefs Season Opener

The Chiefs defense has suffered some injuries to several key players over the past few weeks, and now the unit has received more bad news. Tamba Hali, the team’s best pass rusher and a key to Kansas City’s defense, has been suspended from the season opener against Atlanta. Hali will be suspended without pay, and will be fined an additional game’s paycheck as well.

The good news for Chiefs fans is that Hali only received a one-game suspension. Often, the NFL doles out a four game suspension (or longer) for a substance-abuse violation. The bad news is the one game Hali will miss is a big one – the season opener against a talented Atlanta Falcons team. The Falcons have been a playoff team for the past two seasons, and should give Kansas City all it can handle to start the season. Even worse, the team is missing Brandon Flowers and Kendrick Lewis, and it is unknown when the two defensive backs will return. A depleted secondary and the absence of the team’s best pass rusher could be a recipe for disaster for Kansas City.

Since the team drafted him in the first round, Hali has been a consistent force for Kansas City. In his career, Hali has 266 tackles and 53.5 sacks, as well as 22 forced fumbles. His last two years have been his best, with 14.5 sacks two years ago and 12 last season.

It is unknown who will replace Hali in the starting lineup. Andy Studebaker is the most likely replacement, as he has been a reliable backup for the team over the past four seasons and knows the defense well. The other option is Cameron Sheffield, who hasn’t seen much playing time in his three year career. Neither player is known for his ability to pressure the quarterback, which will make second-year player Justin Houston’s play even more important. Houston showed the ability to get to the quarterback in his rookie season, and the Chiefs will need him to step up and play well with Hali sidelined.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Chiefs Sign Edgar Jones & Other Training Camp Updates

The Chiefs’ 2012 Training Camp is in full swing, and the team has been busy signing free agents to bolster depth while dealing with several injuries. Kansas City recently signed linebacker Edgar Jones, who had spent his first five seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens.

Jones has never started an NFL game, but comes from the highly-successful Ravens defense that has always had stars at the linebacker position. The Chiefs didn’t have much quality depth behind Tamba Hali and Justin Houston – Andy Studebaker, Cameron Sheffeld and Gabe Miller are the other outside linebackers on the roster – and Houston has missed some time in camp with an illness. Jones’ experience in the Ravens’ system behind standouts like Terrell Suggs should be useful for the young and talented group in Kansas City.

The Chiefs had their first significant injury of camp over the weekend, as defensive back Kyle McCarthy suffered what coach Romeo Crennel described as “it doesn’t look good.” McCarthy is a former Notre Dame player who was trying to make the team as a reserve DB as well as someone who could play special teams.

Position battles are heating up in camp, and one player who has made some huge strides is nose tackle Anthony Toribio. Toribio spent last season on the team’s practice squad, but has impressed the coaches so far in camp. Will he unseat 2012 first round pick Dontari Poe as the starting NT? Most expect Poe to be in the starting lineup by the time the regular season approaches, but Toribio should push the rookie and, at the very least, provide some solid depth at the position.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Chiefs Signed Brandon Carr And Justin Houstin

After signing OLB Tamba Hali to a five year deal, Kansas City only had two key free agents left to sign and get into camp. The Chiefs have now reached terms with cornerback Brandon Carr and rookie LB Justin Houston, putting Kansas City at full strength on the defensive side of the ball.

Carr has started every game at corner for the Chiefs over the past three seasons, pairing with Brandon Flowers to form one of the best cornerback tandums in the league. Yesterday, Carr signed his restricted free agent tender, and will join the team in camp shortly. After agreeing to terms with Carr, Kansas City added more depth to its defensive backfield, signing safety Sabby Piscitelli.

Kansas City finally came to terms with rookie Justin Houston, making the former Georgia star the last rookie to sign with the team. Houston's four year deal is worth around 2.8 million dollars, a bargain for a player many thought was talented enough to be drafted in the first round. Kansas City is counting on Houston to provide a much-needed pass rush opposite of Hali, who has been the team's only consistent threat to opposing quarterbacks.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Chiefs Sign Tamba Hali To Five Year Deal

The Chiefs have signed OLB Tamba Hali to a new five year deal worth 60 million, making the Chiefs star one of the highest paid pass rushers in the league. According to sources, 35 million of the contract will be guaranteed.

This has been a long time coming for Hali, who has quietly developed into one of the best pass rushers in the league. Hali led the AFC with 14.5 sacks last season, and has been extremely consistent since being drafted 20th overall from Penn State in 2006.

The deal was absolutely necessary for Kansas City, and the Chiefs were smart to lock up Hali for the rest of his prime. The team doesn't have much of a pass rush without Hali - Wallace Gilberry placed second on the team in sacks last season with seven. As we learned last season, teams cannot reach the Superbowl without a strong pass rush, and a player like Hali makes the entire defense better.

Hali could join the team's practice today, as could Gilberry, who also recently signed. Kansas City has signed all of its top defensive players but two - CB Brandon Carr and rookie LB Justin Houston.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Chiefs Sign First Round Pick Jonathan Baldwin, Several Free Agents

Kansas City has signed its first round pick from the 2011 draft. The Chiefs reached terms with WR Jonathan Baldwin, inking the former Pittsburgh star to a four year deal with an option for a fifth season.

While the news was expected, the Chiefs can breath a sigh of relief now that the team doesn't have to suffer through a messy holdout from its top draft selection. Despite being a rookie, Baldwin is expected to be an immediate contributor to Kansas City's offense, pairing with pro bowler Dwayne Bowe and the newly acquired Steve Breaston to give the Chiefs one of the strongest WR corps it has had in years.

Signing Baldwin means that Kansas City has now come to terms with every one of its draft picks except Justin Houston. Houston, a defensive end selected in the third round out of Georgia, was expected to contend for some serious playing time this season, and should be a priority for the Chiefs now that Baldwin is signed.

Apart from Breaston, the Chiefs also announced several other roster additions - all players who played for Kansas City last year. The team will be bringing back center Casey Wiegmann, tight end Leonard Pope, wide receiver Terrance Copper, running back Jackie Battle, safety Jon McGraw, cornerback Travis Daniels and tackle Ryan O'Callaghan. Fullback Mike Cox signed his restricted free agent tender, while safety Reshard Langford signed an exclusive rights free agent tender. The team released 2008 third round pick Brad Cottam, who was unable to recover from a serious vertebra injury sustained in 2009.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Chiefs' 2011 Draft Recap

The 2011 NFL draft is over, and most experts felt that Kansas City did a decent job. While the Chiefs' first pick was somewhat of a surprise, Kansas City addressed areas that had to be upgraded, and did a good job of building quality depth.

Kansas City had two primary goals entering the 2011 NFL draft - find another pass catcher to compliment Dwayne Bowe and another outside linebacker to take some of the pressure of Tamba Hali. Jonathan Baldwin will hopefully be the receiver the Chiefs need, but it was Kansas City's next picks that impressed the draft experts. The offensive line got some much-needed depth with the arrival of Rodney Hudson, and finding OLB Justin Houston in the third round was a steal. Houston was projected by many to be a first round selection, however a failed drug test gave Houston a red flag, and he fell into Kansas City's lap in the third round. The character issues are a bit concerning, but Houston has the talent to be a star. He was certainly worth a gamble with a third round pick.

The Chiefs's later round selections were also quality picks. Massive NT Jerrell Powe has the potential to be a run-stopping machine, and adds depth and competition to a position of weakness on Kansas City's defensive line. QB Ricky Stanzi should add solid depth, and teams have often grabbed quarterbacks late in the draft, developed them, then traded them later for a higher draft pick.

While on paper the Cheifs' draft looks good, one must be concerned with character issues. Baldwin has been described as a potential diva and Houston failed two drug tests last year (a failed test in the NFL will lead to an automatic suspension). Kansas City addressed the areas it needed to, and hopefully gambles like Houston pay off.

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