“The more that you talk, the more that you can give someone a subtle reminder as to what their job is,” OLB Andy Studebaker said.  “It enables everybody to play faster.  When you can play fast and be in the right place, great things are going to happen.”

An unrestricted free agent to be, Vrabel agreed to a contract extension in Kansas City shortly before the gates of free agency opened.

For most, another year of Vrabel pointed to increased mentoring for one of the Chiefs most promising developmental players – Andy Studebaker.

In his first year playing the outside linebacker position, Studebaker saw limited action behind Vrabel.  But when Vrabel suffered a mid-season knee injury, it became Studebaker’s time to shine…and shine he did with two INT returns for TDs vs. Pittsburgh.

Before the game, exactly what we could expect was up to debate, but after Studebaker’s breakout showing his name was immediately thrust into the mix as a future defensive difference maker.  The general assumption was that Studebaker was still raw and just needed a bit more fine-tuning from someone like Vrabel.

You will get old in a hurry in this league if you have too many mentor-type players (we saw that first hand here in Kansas City) but it never hurts to have a couple on each side of the ball to help the coaches day in and day out.  Vrabel has more than earned his keep, not just by being a rock on the field, but also helping Studebaker, Tamba Hali and the rest of the linebackers learn the Chiefs new defense.

Seeing the impact that Vrabel has had is one of the reasons I wanted the Chiefs to bring Trent Green back to town.  A few weeks ago there were some rumblings that Green almost joined the Bears as a Vrabel-like player/coach and it seemed like the perfect time to try and bring him to Kansas City as a coach.  He’s close enough to his playing days that he could be able to relate to the Chiefs quarterbacks in a way the current coaches couldn’t.

Alex Magee, Shaun Smith, Dion Gales and rookie Jeffrey Fitzgerald of Kansas State got some starters’ snaps on the defensive line.  Andy Studebaker and Pierre Walters took some turns at linebacker.

On the offensive side, Casey Wiegmann replaced Rudy Niswanger for some snaps at center and Barry Richardson stood in for Ryan O’Callaghan at right tackle.

Not a huge surprise on the offensive side of the ball.

We should see Wiegmann and Niswanger go back and forth through most of training camp in what should be a great battle to watch.  I don’t see Richardson as a guy that will push O’Callaghan for the starting job so much as Todd Haley and Charlie Weis making sure he’s prepared if needed.

The names popping up on defense are much more intriguing.

Magee was mostly invisible during his rookie year, which isn’t a shock considering the learning curve for defensive linemen.  Could he be one of these players ready to take a huge leap forward his sophomore year?  Magee showed a special sort of versatility during his time at Purdue that could get him on the field plenty in Romeo Crennel’s system.

Smith and Gales will need to help out Ron Edwards at nose, especially if Glenn Dorsey isn’t going to get much run inside.

Two guys to watch closely once the pads go on are Fitzgerald at defensive end and Walters at outside linebacker.

I would argue that Fitzgerald is the most athletic lineman (on either side of the ball) that the Chiefs have.  We don’t know just how that will translate to the field, but when it clicked during his time at Virginia and Kansas State, Fitzgerald was very impressive.

We saw a little (okay, very little) of Walters last year, but don’t overlook the fact that he stuck on the roster from start to finish last season and an undrafted free agent.  That’s something draft picks Quinten Lawrence and Javarris Williams weren’t able to do.  Like Fitzgerald, Walters brings a unique set of physical gifts to the table that could be a huge addition to the defense if he can take a big step in his second season.

Run and Hit – Todd Haley likes guys who can run and hit.   Essentially, that’s what helped secure roster spots for rookie free agent linebackers Jovan Belcher and Pierre Walters a year ago.  Throw Andy Studebaker, who made the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker, in that group as well.  Will these guys take the next step in 2010?

For Walters, the next step could be as simple as finding his way into defensive sub-packages as well as on each of the coverage units, while Belcher and Studebaker would love to push for more extensive roles after their 2009 performances as reserve players.  The next step for each of these players begins on Monday.

Most of the focus on defense will likely be on Eric Berry and the secondary, but the linebackers are incredibly intriguing.  Belcher and Studebaker were great stories last year that turned into regular rotation players.  Walters on the other hand has a chance to be a wild card during his second season in the league.

Last year it was a surprise anytime Walters hit the field during the regular season, but don’t lose sight of the fact that he was on the 53-man roster from start to finish.  He was (is?) a developmental project, but one that Todd Haley and Scott Pioli clearly believed in enough that they didn’t want to risk losing him to another team by trying to squeeze him through waivers and onto the practice squad.

With the only addition to the position being fifth round pick Cameron Sheffield and UDFA Justin Cole, there is every opportunity for the Chiefs young linebackers to establish themselves in 2010.

After the NFL season, while many players vacation at five-star hotels around the world, Studebaker headed to South Africa, where he stayed at a modest hotel and worked at an orphanage for a week.

Studebaker, accompanied by his wife, Mallory, led 14 current players on a spring-break trip through the Wheaton Football Ministry Partnership (WFMP).  They painted and laid concrete at an orphanage established by a former Wheaton football player.

”We gave [the orphanage] a face-lift,” Studebaker said, ”and we made a big impact.”

The cost of the trip is about $2,000 per person, but [defensive line coach Jeff] Peltz said they won’t let money be a ”deciding factor.”  The only requirement of anyone going is that each person send out 25 letters seeking donations and prayers.

The trip is fulfilling for players because they bond with one another and help others.

”It’s a good chance for us to get a lot done,” Studebaker said, ”and it’s a good chance to encourage guys who are half a world away from home.”

But Studebaker also helps those closer to home. Peltz said a single mom gushed about how Studebaker mentored her son for several years, something Peltz didn’t learn of until after Studebaker left the school.

”Andy spent time with him, he played with him,” Peltz said.  ”Even after he left [school], he was calling this boy and just kept in touch.

”As this lady is talking, we’re both getting kind of wet around the eyes.”

Asked about the young man, Studebaker said, ”I would rather keep that private.”

But Haley certainly was impressed when he heard the story.

”He’s just the type of player you’re looking for,” Haley said.  ”He found his way into the league in a little different way, but nobody’s outworked him.  Then, when the opportunity came about, he took advantage of it.”

Fantastic story from the Chicago Sun-Times.

When the Chiefs needed Studebaker the most — against the Steelers late in the season — he shocked the football world by dominating the Pittsburgh offense, specifically Ben Roethlisberger.  From his time on Philadelphia’s practice squad to his starts for Kansas City, no one would have thought twice if the kid from the tiny school was overwhelmed, but all he’s done is go out and do his job.

I’m not sure how much he will get on the field with the Cheifs (hopefully) re-vamped defense, but it’s safe to say his playing time will not be determined by his work ethic.

“One hundred yards looked a lot like 200 yards at that point,” Studebaker said.  “It was a long ways away.  I don’t even know who caught me.  I don’t even know where he ended up catching me.”

In the bigger picture, Studebaker’s play was pleasing to the Chiefs.  They were hoping to discover whether he was capable of being the eventual successor to Vrabel.

The early answer is in the affirmative . Studebaker played well in the second half of last week’s game against Oakland after replacing Vrabel.

He was credited for being in on five tackles plus getting a half-sack against Pittsburgh.

“You get a guy like Andy Studebaker, who I said all offseason there was nobody better,” coach Todd Haley said.  “Then to see it translate into some of the things the kid did out there …”

Studebaker was part of a Chiefs defense that yielded 515 yards.  But the Chiefs were able to sack Roethlisberger three times, and Studebaker had his two interceptions.

The Chiefs could have dragged Roethlisberger down more, but he wriggled out of trouble several times.

“He’s a strong guy,” Studebaker said of Roethlisberger.  “He’s a great quarterback and makes a living on making guys miss and keeping plays alive.  We just kept after him and kept after him, and we eventually did our jobs.

“Pressure came from second-effort, third-effort, fourth-effort kind of plays.  You didn’t see a lot of one pass rush move type of sacks.  You’ve got to stay after them.”

The stats definitely don’t do Studebaker or the rest of the defense justice.  The Chiefs were all over Roethlisberger all game long and easily could have had 4-5 more sacks.  And that’s just counting the plays when they had more than a hand on him.

One of the biggest questions for the defense was how the young Studebaker would fill in for Vrabel and I’d say he answered the bell and then some.  He was finally run down on that long interception by RB Rashard Mendenhall, but watch the replay again and you’ll see he was able to out run Santonio Holmes.  Yes, that Santonio Holmes, owner of a 4.45 40-yard dash time.

The most surprising outcome of Sunday might have been from one of their columnists.  The Kansas City Star’s Jason Whitlock put pen to paper after the game and his message was… positive.

The victory was just icing. The progress could be seen long before Matt Cassel shook off a critical fumble and began the process of rehabilitating his image.

The progress started with Kansas City’s rookie head coach, Todd Haley, who may have finally figured out what to do with his game-day emotions.

Rather than castigate his players, F-bomb his assistants and bicker with the refs, Haley spent his most productive Sunday as an NFL head coach fueling his players with positive energy.  They responded with their most promising performance in two years.

Haley coached an excellent football game. He concentrated on play-calling and encouraging his players. He left the refs alone. He didn’t overreact to the mistakes made by his players.

Had the Chiefs lost the game, I would be writing the exact same thing.  Haley is learning how to be a head coach.  His players are noticing and appreciative of his change in demeanor.

Good things happen when you expect positive results, when you put your mind in a positive place, when you treat the people fighting with you like they have as much invested in the outcome as you do.

Haley’s transformation from coaching mad man to competent leader has been going on for several weeks.  Sunday, he finally struck the right balance.  His team reflected his new spirit.  The players wanted to shock the Steelers as much as their coach, whose father played and worked for the Steelers.

Are things perfect between Haley and his players?  No.  But there’s been a lot of progress.

Progress indeed.

I would like to congratulate Mr. Whitlock on making some progress of his own.  Immediately following the game I turned to a friend and started wondering out loud how he would spin this fantastic game in a negative way.  But when I arrived home it was the kinder, gentler Whitlock.

I like it, Jason.  Keep it up.

The Chiefs can’t celebrate this victory too long with the San Diego Chargers next up on the schedule.  The Chargers manhandled the Broncos on Sunday and their defense was a machine when it came to turnovers, much to the delight of Shaun Phillips.

“One turnover, two turnovers, three,” said Phillips, the Chargers outside linebacker who’s become a defensive demon.  “Turnovers become contagious.”

The Chargers have a bad case of turnoveritis.  Well, a good case of them.  Just as they’ve gone from a more passive bunch with a sometimes-nonexistent pass rush to an assault team with 20 sacks over the past five games — by no mere coincidence, all wins — the Chargers thrice took away the ball from the Broncos yesterday.  Two of the turnovers, both fumbles recovered by safety Steve Gregory, came at critical junctures of their 32-3 victory.

The first was forced by Phillips, recording his sixth sack in five games, knocking the ball out of quarterback Chris Simms’ left hand to kill an opening drive in which the Broncos had basically run over and around the Chargers.

“They ran, ran, ran, ran,” Phillips said.  “I just figured they had to pass sometime, guessed right and won my one-on-one battle.”

Turning it around on Denver, the Chargers immediately drove to what essentially stood as the game-winning touchdown.  To be sure, the sudden turnabout seemed to deflate the Broncos, even though it was very early in the contest.

“Turnovers demoralize any team,” Phillips said.  “Anytime we create turnovers, we put ourselves in a good situation to win.  It’s one of the things we practice and practice and practice, creating turnovers.  Not only trying to create turnovers, but trying to score with the turnovers.”

Kansas City saw first hand against the Steelers how huge turnovers can be and they will have to try and avoid the turnover bug next week in San Diego.  Handling the Pittsburgh defense isn’t anything to take lightly, but few teams are playing as well as the Chargers right now.

20 sacks in five games?

Cassel better ice himself up today and then start warming his legs up because he is going to be doing a lot of his work on the run next week.  Surviving Pittsburgh is a great opening act and now he gets to try and step onto the main stage against a division rival.

These are the most rewarding game balls we’ve had the chance to hand out around here.

Offense: Matt Cassel

(photos via David Eulitt)

Cassel, along with most of the Chiefs offense, struggled mightily in the first half.  But he gutted out another week without much protection and delivered when he needed to the most.  With the help of Chris Chambers and Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs quarterback tied the game at the end of regulation and then setup Ryan Succop’s game winning FG.

The fact that it could be argued either Chambers or Charles could be in this spot proves that Todd Haley’s system is finally sinking in and should take off once the offensive line starts to hold up their end of the bargain more often.

Defense: Andy Studebaker

The young linebacker delivered one of the the biggest plays of the game with his 94-yard oh-so-close to a TD interception return that led to the tying FG in the third quarter.  But it shouldn’t be overlooked that at no point during his first career start did the game seem to big for him, a huge concern for a guy only two years removed from being a non-scholarship player at D-III Wheaton College.

On top of the long INT, he also picked off Roethlisberger earlier in the third quarter after a long kick return by Pittsburgh gave the Steelers great field position.  To go along with the interceptions, Studebaker also recorded 6 tackles and half of a sack for a defense that showed heart all day long even as Big Ben proved difficult to take down.

Before the game I said the entire Chiefs defense would feel the ripple effect if Studebaker could not handle the big stage.  He more than handled it today and should calm the nerves of defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast as he awaits the return of Mike Vrabel from a knee injury.

Special Teams: Jamaal Charles

Ryan Succop may have kicked the game winning FG, but it was Charles that sent the tone for the game when he returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown.  If there were any questions about the effort the Kansas City Chiefs would put out there against the defending Super Bowl champs, there weren’t once Charles put his team on the board seconds into the game.

The special teams units as a whole were great today.  If you need signs that this team is “getting it” you need not look any further than special teams.

“I’m not overwhelmed right now,” Studebaker said.  “It’s going to be fun on Sunday.  Just getting that opportunity, coming from a small school, not a lot of guys get to do that.”

The Chiefs and coach Todd Haley will be looking closely for signs that the game might be too big for Studebaker.  He will replace the injured Mike Vrabel, who didn’t practice this week because of a sore knee and was listed by the Chiefs as doubtful for Sunday’s game.

“In the offseason, you wondered all those things,” Haley said.  “You can’t look any better than Andy.  I called him Venice Beach.  He likes to take his shirt off. He likes to work out.  He likes to lift.  He loves to run.  He wins every run there is, just about.

“So you’re sitting there saying, ‘Is this going to translate to the football field?’ You don’t know until you see him actually playing.  It’s a big job, but he’s prepared for it.”

Vrabel should return to the lineup later in the season.  Until then, Studebaker can make a strong claim to be the eventual successor to Vrabel, 34.

That process started early in the third quarter of last week’s game in Oakland.  Vrabel left the game because of his injury, and Studebaker finished the game by knocking down a pass and getting in on four tackles as the Chiefs held on for their second win of the season.

“It was not perfect, but that being said, for his first real action it did not appear too big for him,” Haley said.  “He knew what to do, and he did it.  He made some plays, and he was active.  Those were all good signs.  He did a pretty good job last week, and now he’ll get a chance to build on that.

“He’s been a bit of a bright spot for us.  He’s a guy that’s been very good for us on special teams, definitely one of our top three special-teamers week in and week out.”

For me, he’s the player to watch today on the Chiefs defense.  It’s going to take more than a good performance from the young linebacker to stop the Steelers rushing attack, but if he can’t handle the big stage it could create a ripple effect across the rest of the defense.  Mike Vrabel has been a rock outside and allowed Demorrio Williams and Corey Mays to hit early and often on the inside.  If they have to clean up anything on Studebaker’s side it could open things up between the tackles.

Just because starting Bengals running back Cedric Benson rediscovered himself in Cincinnati, don’t expect Larry Johnson to do the same.  Especially at the expense of your fantasy team.

Johnson’s chances of being productive in a potent Bengals offense is leaps and bounds above the eight-man fronts and terrible offensive line play he was dealing with in Kansas City.  That is, if he gets the ball.  He is scheduled to be Benson’s backup.  If Johnson assumes the duties of prior No. 2 Bernard Scott, then L.J. can expect about 3-6 carries a game.  We wouldn’t be surprised if that number increased to 8-10, but still not enough to warrant a fantasy start.  Look at what Willis McGahee is doing behind Ray Rice in Baltimore, and that is slightly more than we expect from L.J. the rest of the year.

Monitor Benson’s hip injury, but reports indicate he likely will sit out Sunday, so L.J. is a decent play vs. the Raiders, if you’re desperate.  Stick with that plan the rest of the way: Only start Johnson if Benson is definitely out, and the Bengals face a weak run defense.

LJ wasn’t worth anything more than a backup fantasy role when he was with the Chiefs and that isn’t going to change now that he is with the Bengals.  If you’re in a keeper league, maybe stow him away until the offseason when he finds a new team and maybe a new starting job.

Speaking of the Bengals…

After losing to Cincinnati and a week away from a showdown with Baltimore, could the Steelers be overlooking the Chiefs?  Pittsburgh fans might be, but injured safety Troy Polamalu says the team isn’t.

Last week, a newspaper ran a web poll asking readers whether Troy Polamalu should play for the Steelers today against the Kansas Chiefs, even if he’s cleared by team doctors.  An overwhelming majority responded in the negative.

Of course, the Chiefs are only 2-7.  The thinking must be that it’s more important for Polamalu to be healthy for the following week’s game in Baltimore.

Polamalu, of course, believes that’s a dangerous way for anyone to view today’s game in Kansas City.

“No question it is,” he said.  “You can’t take for granted the NFL and the challenges each week brings around.  I know there were some times in my rookie year when we weren’t that good that we still felt we could challenge anybody.  I’m sure they feel the same way.”

The young Chiefs, though, will be up against one of the great defenses in NFL history, even without Polamalu and defensive end Travis Kirschke.

Both players have been ruled out of today’s game.  But even though Polamalu has missed four full games and three-quarters of two others, and Kirschke has missed the past two games after stepping in for an injured Aaron Smith, the Steelers’ run defense has never posted better numbers.

Opponents are averaging an NFL-low 69.3 yards rushing per game against the Steelers, down significantly from last season’s average against the Steelers of 80.3.

In fact, the Steelers are well ahead of their 2001 team-record pace of yielding only 74.7 yards rushing per game, and could even challenge the league record. Only two NFL teams in the past 65 years have been stingier against the run: The 2000 Baltimore Ravens (60.6) and the 2006 Minnesota Vikings (61.6).

It is going to have to be a special day for the Chiefs all the way around if they plan to take out the Steelers.  Polamalu being out of the lineup is part of that equation.  Another is the Pittsburgh players overlooking the game at Arrowhead as they wait for next week’s nationally televised match up in Baltimore.

Here are three players (Offense, Defense and Special Teams) from each team to keep your eyes on.

Chiefs

Offense: Chris Chambers

Will the No. 1 receiver please stand up.

With Dwayne Bowe out for the next month, the Chiefs need somebody — anybody — to be a playmaker if the offense has any hope of putting points on the board.  It’s a tall task, but one that Chambers just might be up to meeting.  In his two games with the team since being picked up on waivers from the Chargers, the veteran receiver has averaged nearly 23 yards per reception.  If Matt Cassel hopes to stretch the field, Chambers will have to be the one making the plays down the field.

For what it’s worth, Bowe — the man he is trying to replace — averaged 14.1 yards per reception.

Defense: Andy Studebaker

It looks like Mike Vrabel is going to be out at least the next few games with a knee injury and Studebaker will be taking his spot in the starting lineup.

Last week he took over for the veteran and recorded 6 tackles.  With Corey Mays, Demorrio Williams and Tamba Hali playing well at the other three linebacker spots, a lot of responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the young Studebaker.

Special Teams: Bobby Wade

With Dantrell Savage likely out of the lineup with an injury (no, not fumblitis) and Dwayne Bowe’s suspension, Wade will be back on the field and ready to make an impact.  If there is one area that the Chiefs have shown no improvement at all, it’s punt return.

Wade handled the duties every game he has been active, but due to a numbers game was inactive the last two weeks.  If Kansas City plans to upset Pittsburgh Sunday, they will need to get a big play from one of the return units.  With the Steelers focusing primarily on the kick return this week, that could open the door for Wade on punts.  If he can take one to the house, it would be the first time for the Chiefs in 55 games.

Steelers

Offense: Ben Roethlisberger

Coming off a game in which he only completed a JaMarcus Russell-like 50% of his passes in a loss to the Bengals, the Steelers signal caller will be looking to redeem himself.  He will get to try and do that against a Chiefs defense that will be looking to load the box up to stop the running game, giving him a chance to try and pick apart the secondary playing without a net.

He has only had three 300 yard games so far this season with all three of those coming in Steeler victories.

Defense: Tyrone Carter

How big of a difference will the Pittsburgh defense be without the services of Troy Polamalu?  The answer to that question lies with one man: Carter.

Last week the defense held against Cincinnati after they lost Polamalu, but it’s a whole different situation to know leading up to the game that you will be without your leader than being forced to step up at a moments notice.  The Pittsburgh unit is certainly more than one man, but if Carter has a subpar game, it will go a long way toward giving Matt Cassel, Jamaal Charles and the rest of the Chiefs offense a chance to bust open a big play or two.

Special Teams: Jeff Reed

The Steelers biggest weakness this year has been their coverage on kicks.  Fans and media members alike have laid a lot of that blame at Reed.  And it’s not because of where his kicks have landed, but rather his pursuit and tackling of the returner.  Seriously.

Kickers aren’t paid to tackle, but I do think the idea of his lack of tackling ability might just be getting into his head.  Keep an eye on Reed as he heads down the field.  Not because I think he’ll light someone up, but if he does decide to try he just could knock himself out of the game.  If the Chiefs can play another close game, an amped up opposing kicker working on his tackling can only help matters.