Five Questions with Arrowhead Pride

by Sander on Aug 10, 2011 12:00 PM EDT

With the Bucs playing the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday I exchanged a couple of questions with the guys from Arrowhead Pride, SB Nation's Kansas City Chiefs blog.

1. Can you name one under-the-radar, emerging star on offense who Bucs fans should pay attention to on Friday?
TE Tony Moeaki. He's entering his second year in the league but has quickly established himself as a reliable player. He had one of the best catches of the year last year against San Francisco with a leaping, one-handed touchdown so he's athletic, reliable and smart.

2. Can you name one under-the-radar, emerging star on defense who Bucs fans should pay attention to on Friday?
DE Wallace Gilberry. He was actually second on the team in sacks last year behind LB Tamba Hali. He'll be in on nickel downs and, even though he's unknown to the rest of the world, he really is a solid pass-rusher. Sort of an under-sized, but fast and athletic 3-4 defensive end.

3. I think the Bucs and Chiefs were very similar last year: both had very young teams who surprised the NFL by winning 10 games. Of course, the Chiefs managed to get a playoff berth while the Bucs stayed at home. Do you see any other similarities between the two teams?

The quarterback -- both pretty young guys. I'm a fan of what Josh Freeman is doing. Then the coaches with both Raheem Morris and Todd Haley in the early parts of their career. Chiefs GM Scott Pioli tends to be a little more conservative in free agency as does GM Mark Dominik (and I'm sure Bucs fans are saying, "Why aren't we spending money in free agency??" like some Chiefs fans). These are both good, young teams on the rise.

4. With Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles in the backfield last season, you guys had a really potent rushing duo, but Charles didn't seem to get as many carries as his production would warrant. Why are the Chiefs approaching the running game like that, and do you expect this to change this year?
I don't think it'll change a whole lot. The reason it was done is because Haley didn't want the Chiefs to overuse Charles and limit his effectiveness down the stretch. In hindsight, it was a good strategy as Charles ended up second in the league in rushing. I'd look for a similar set-up with the Chiefs this year, but with Charles getting slightly more carries this year, possibly more than 250.

5. What is your prediction for the Chiefs' 2010 season, coming off a division title?
I'm really looking forward to this year because the Chiefs are a team on the rise yet have one of the toughest schedules. This is a prove-it year. I'll change my mind on this but for now I'll say 9-7.

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Is Sabby going to play?

Looking forward to seeing him get run over is much more fun than dreading it.

by aakks on Aug 10, 2011 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

I'd love to see him blow a coverage on K2...

the way he blew a coverage on Todd Heap last season.

by GameManager on Aug 10, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know much about Sabby...

As a Chiefs fan and having a LOT of respect for what the Bucs are doing (and living in the Orlando area doesn’t hurt either) I just wanted to say that I am looking forward to a good game on Friday and see how our team is developing since the lockout. Second, just to answer the question, Kendrick Lewis is out starting FS and, of course, Eric Berry is our starting SS. As RamX21 states below, he’ll be looked at in nickel situations and giving good depth. I am interested in seeing what he gets out of a 3-4 defensive alignment and from our coaching staff. Not to knock your coaches at all, but maybe Romeo Crennel and the DB’s coach Thomas has a way of getting to him more than others. From what I’ve seen of Raheem Morris, he seems like a player’s coach and really supports his players but maybe it takes something different for Sabby to understand how to utilize his talents for the scheme.

There's no hope with dope...

by chrisjo07 on Aug 10, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I love what you guys are doing too

We’re both rebuilding the right way and up and coming.

As for Sabby, I wouldn’t get your hopes too high. I don’t think the problem was coaching.

by aakks on Aug 10, 2011 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I really like what the Chiefs are doing as well.

If you didn’t know, Rah was a DB coach before he got promoted to DC, then to HC after Gruden was fired, so he knows DBs well. Rah has been able to get the most of his DBs whether they were a 1st round pick like Aqib Talib or a 7th rounder like Cody Grimm. Sabby really underachieved here considering his draft position; granted, fantasizing that he could be the next John Lynch didn’t help either. Hopefully a change of scenery does him good but hopefully for the Chiefs’ sake, I hope you don’t have to rely on him very much. Good luck this year, I hope you repeat as AFCW champs.

by GameManager on Aug 10, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Raheem was a great DB coach before becoming a head coach

Sabby’s suckiness has nothing to do with scheme. Taking the wrong angles, missing tackles, not knowing your assignments – that’s all fundamentals that come with every scheme. And he has no clue how any of that works.

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by Sander on Aug 10, 2011 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions