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Kansas City Chiefs players voted on their team MVP and rookie of the year following the season finale against the Denver Broncos and to little surprise the Chiefs selected LB Derrick Johnson as their team MVP and LB Justin Houston as the rookie of the year.
DJ had a terrific year, probably his best in the NFL. He made a huge step last year and took another big one this year establishing himself as one of the top inside linebackers in the NFL. He was voted to the Pro Bowl this year and for good reason -- he was the Chiefs best player.
The only real competition for DJ would've been LB Tamba Hali.
Houston finished the season with 5.5 sacks and really came on in the second half of the season. He had a slow start during training camp and at the beginning of the year before overtaking Andy Studebaker's spot at outside linebacker.
I'm salivating thinking about the Chiefs linebacking corps over the next few years -- DJ, Tamba and Houston. That's a heck of a combo right there.
0 recs | 24 comments
The linebacker unit is only going to get better...
Now what is next for that inside LB position. Jovan is a great player, but he is too inconsistent in coverage and gets knocked out of position far too often IMO.
What’s the next move for the Chiefs LB’s?
Congrats DJ and Houston! (Reportedly Justin Houston is still holding out.)
Chief-blinders-on - January 2, 2012
ILB should be interesting to watch this offseason
Johnson is a lock. Belcher and Siler likely are as well. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Williams move on this year, so we’d need more depth, unless they feel Greenwood can be that guy. I think we’ll see a couple mid-tier FA’s brought in for competition and see how it all shakes out in camp. Doubt they use a draft pick on one, unless someone really good falls in their laps.
bh13 - January 2, 2012
So Jovan is a "great player"
He just can’t play his position that well? :)
Scaryclouds - January 2, 2012 via mobile
In some ways he is great... He flashes greatness often, that is the problem.
I definitely think he should be a Chief, but he definitely needs some competition.
Chief-blinders-on - January 2, 2012
big jovan supporter, wouldnt call him great, but hes an improving player at a position he didnt play in college
hes getting better, hes a true thumper and one of our best run enforcers. hes incredibly underrated.
SDChief - January 2, 2012
I don't know about incredibly underrated
Underrated by some, yes. He could stand to improve in some areas, but considering he’s an UDFA from Maine that switched from DE to ILB, I’d say he’s come a long way.
He could be replaced, but I definitely don’t think it’s a priority.
bh13 - January 2, 2012
Brandon Siler
was given an extension and can create competition for Belcher. Our linebackers are great though.
PhxChief75 - January 2, 2012
That injury he had is an ugly one to come back from..
Hopefully he can pull it off… or it gives him some “rookie of the year” style glitch that makes him better.
Chief-blinders-on - January 2, 2012
DJ & Tamba are great, no doubt
but they won’t be around forever……fortunately it seems Pioli has a pretty good eye for the defensive players in the draft…..gotta consistently shut down the run & the big pass play, still killing us.
reedeasy - January 2, 2012
insert free agent Bart Scott?
CHIEFFAN82 - January 2, 2012 via mobile
Can't wait!
Tarkus - January 2, 2012
or we can roll with siler and belcher. especially belcher
SDChief - January 2, 2012
for some odd reason i feel more comfortable with Belcher and Scott there
CHIEFFAN82 - January 2, 2012 via mobile
A 31 year old with issues controlling his emotions at times?
No thanks. If we’re going to try to improve ILB, I’d rather go with a young guy with upside.
bh13 - January 2, 2012
dj did two things. somehow he actually got better as a tackler, at shedding blocks etc
and he found a way to become consistent
really incredible to improve upon even his best moments of the past.
SDChief - January 2, 2012
GO BADGERS!
craig in calgary - January 2, 2012
Yes.
Go back to Wisconsin!
Tarkus - January 2, 2012
With Tamba and DJ being 28 and 29 years old already
How much longer should we able to expect this type of production from them?
KC_Chiefs - January 2, 2012
Good question.
I think Hali may have peaked, but I could see DJ getting even better. I don’t think we have to worry about either one for at least two or three years, though.
Tarkus - January 2, 2012
I'd guess around 3-4 years barring injury
bh13 - January 2, 2012
10 more years or until we wear them out
Chiefshero - January 2, 2012
Big Congrats to both - well deserved!
WorL4Chiefs - January 3, 2012
I'm still sticking to my guns on DJ, damnit!
You’ll never convince me that they should cut him, you bastards!
Wait…what happened? You mean you won’t make fun of my calling him my favorite Chief?
burntorangehorn - January 3, 2012
*anymore
burntorangehorn - January 3, 2012
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