Toribio-nosing Into Starting Job

[chiefnut]

Toribio hopes to make big impact for Chiefs



By ADAM TEICHER

The Kansas City Star


By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star
Updated: 2012-08-06T04:43:48Z


Nose tackle Anthony Anthony Toribio wants to make a big impact with the Chiefs.





ST. JOSEPH -- Anthony Toribio might have been tempted to pack his bags in the spring and head out of Kansas City, and if so, it would have made sense.
The Chiefs had just drafted Dontari Poe, a 346-pound man with uncommon athletic ability, in the first round and that move figured only to push Toribio even further down the depth chart at nose tackle. Toribio stuck around and the Chiefs, who return to the training camp practice field today after taking a day off, are thankful he did. Toribio surfaced to the top of the depth chart while the Chiefs bring Poe along slowly.
“Obviously, he’s a great player but they’re still giving me a chance to compete,” Toribio said. “That’s all you can ask for. I have a chance.”
There’s also a good chance Toribio could be the starter on Sept. 9 when the Chiefs open the season against Atlanta at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs could promote Poe to the starting lineup any time but appear content for the time being to use him mostly on obvious passing downs.
That would leave most first and second downs for Toribio.
The Chiefs will make the move with Poe when they believe he’s ready. Even Toribio marveled at his physical gifts.
“He’s the strongest, most athletic lineman I’ve ever been around,” Toribio said. “He’s a monster. But learning our scheme is hard to do. We’re all trying to help him, but it’s hard. He’s picking it up fast. It’s just a matter of time.”
But it may be selling Toribio short to say the timing has everything to do with Poe. Toribio was in contention for playing time last year before a preseason knee injury set him back.
“He’s reading all the blocks and showing good technique and (beating) the blocks he’s supposed to (beat),” coach Romeo Crennel said of Toribio. “He did a really nice job last year. If he hadn’t been hurt, I think he would have been competing for the starting position.”
After missing some practice time and exhibition games, the Chiefs placed Toribio on their practice squad, where he stayed all season. He received daily individual instruction from defensive line coach Anthony Pleasant, who played 14 seasons in the NFL.
“It really helped me to be able to work with him on the side,” Toribio said. “That’s what’s helping me out right now, keeping me confident. So at first, I looked at going back on the practice squad as a bummer. I’ve been there before and I didn’t want to go back. But it gave me another year to understand and learn and get more coaching.”
The teacher and pupil reviewed the necessary techniques every day at practice.
“We’d emphasize the fundamentals over and over again,” Pleasant said. “We saw constant improvement from him as the season went on.”
Even after drafting Poe, the Chiefs weren’t ready to give upon Toribio. He played small college football at Carson-Newman and bounced around in the NFL from Miami to Green Bay before landing with the Chiefs two years ago.
Big guys often take longer to develop than smaller players. At 315 pounds, Toribio qualifies as a big guy.
“The big guys, they play a position where the discipline that’s required to play the way I want them to play, it takes a little bit more time,” Crennel said. “I have to understand that and give them more time. But if they’re showing me they’re doing it the way I want it done and they’re making some progress, even though it might be slight and it might not be jumping out at everybody else, then I’m encouraged the guy might be able to help us at some point.”
Perhaps the time has come for Toribio.“You’re never going to sell yourself short or say you don’t have a chance,” he said. “Things have kind of gone down a windy road for me but the opportunity appeared again. Now it’s up to me to take full advantage of it.”


Copyright 2012 The Kansas City Star. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

got this from KC Star...
Posted on Sun, Aug. 05, 2012 08:25 PM

Read more here: Toribio hopes to make big impact for Chiefs - KansasCity.com

[chiefnut]

I think you meant POE, not POWE. Or am I mistaken?

(Dontari Poe...Jerrell Powe)

yep [POE] it is

[brdempsey69]

LIKE WOW!! I've read posts all over the web that are already sweeping Poe under the bus. He ain't even played his first game, yet. Ridiculous.

People are forgetting that B.J. Raji was no ball of fire in his first year in 2009 with GB.

Give Poe some freakin' time, folks.

[#58ChiefsFan]

Romeo Crennel stated that Toribio was a technician at nose tackle, extremely high praise from a coach who preaches technique. Toribio hasn't come out of nowhere, he was cut by GB when they were stacked on their line much like the way Winston came available. He had some injuries but is supposedly back on his game now.

I don't understand where the misconception that Poe is not developing the way he should. Romeo stated he wants to make him a three down player but never said it would be on opening day. Poe is doing well for a rookie. Taken at 11 he will develop into "that guy" but give the kid a chance to learn how to do it. He will make an immediate impression but it will be on passing downs, again give the kid a little time.

I'm more excited we have an actual NT rotation than worried about a brand new player living up to unreasonable expectation.

[chief31]

LIKE WOW!! I've read posts all over the web that are already sweeping Poe under the bus. He ain't even played his first game, yet. Ridiculous.

People are forgetting that B.J. Raji was no ball of fire in his first year in 2009 with GB.

Give Poe some freakin' time, folks.

I have no problem allowing Poe time to adjust. But I have to be concerned when a no-name is beating out him, Powe, and winning the starting job.

Certainly, it could be that Toribio is excelling. But I don't see how one could entertain that possibility without also entertaining the possibility that the competition level has come.down to Toribio, instead of Toribio rising to exceed all competition.

I stated that I am ok with Poe taking some time to adjust. But a guy drafted where he was comes with an expectation of being an immediate starter. And the lack of Powe talk concerns me as well.

[ChiefMojo]

One also has to remember that Powe just like the other rookies from last season did not have a off-season of OTA's and a rookie camp. So basically last year was a red-shirt year for those guys. So this is basically Powe's first year of really getting a grasp on what he is being asked to do.

Of course that holds true for Poe as well. This is his rookie year and he has only had OTA's/rookie camp before starting this Training Camp. He won't be a superstar right off the bat and it will likely take a couple of years for him to really start performing at the level we hope he does consistently.

[brdempsey69]

I have no problem allowing Poe time to adjust. But I have to be concerned when a no-name is beating out him, Powe, and winning the starting job.

Certainly, it could be that Toribio is excelling. But I don't see how one could entertain that possibility without also entertaining the possibility that the competition level has come.down to Toribio, instead of Toribio rising to exceed all competition.

I stated that I am ok with Poe taking some time to adjust. But a guy drafted where he was comes with an expectation of being an immediate starter. And the lack of Powe talk concerns me as well.

Sorry, I should have been more specific about the posts that I was referring to throwing Poe under the bus, as it wasn't yours. Your concerns are quite legit.

It was the one's at NFL.com via Facebook. They are just ripping Poe's guts out like he's already a bust -- that has yet determined, as he hasn't even played a game, yet.

The difference is you are not throwing Poe under the bus, but they are over at NFL.com.

[chiefnut]

you can't even consider poe a bust, yet! he is just on a slower learning curve. time will tell how he measures up. i am sure even crennel would like him to be game ready now but he is showing his great athletic ability, just having trouble with technique and reads. we'll see how he does by the end of the season

[pojote]

NT is the slowest learning position, it's hard to understand all the technique involved.

[chief31]

Sorry, I should have been more specific about the posts that I was referring to throwing Poe under the bus, as it wasn't yours. Your concerns are quite legit.

It was the one's at NFL.com via Facebook. They are just ripping Poe's guts out like he's already a bust -- that has yet determined, as he hasn't even played a game, yet.

The difference is you are not throwing Poe under the bus, but they are over at NFL.com.

Ah... Gotcha.

Thanks for clearing that up.

I fully expected Poe to take awhile getting accustomed to the job. So I am not disappointed by him. Just kind of disappointed that Powe is not making any noise, I suppose.

[brdempsey69]

Ah... Gotcha.

Thanks for clearing that up.

I fully expected Poe to take awhile getting accustomed to the job. So I am not disappointed by him. Just kind of disappointed that Powe is not making any noise, I suppose.

No Problem.

I still would like to hear some noise from Powe, as well.

As for Dontari Poe, he may not be the stud NT, just yet, but if he can be a situational pass-rusher on obvious passing situations, and collapse the middle of the pocket -- then at least he gives them something right away that they didn't have before.