Bills vs. Chiefs Key Matchup: Keeping Tamba Hali At Bay

by Brian Galliford on Sep 10, 2011 1:40 PM EDT in Buffalo Bills Opinion

Earlier this week, we talked about Kansas City Chiefs pass rusher Tamba Hali being one of two Chiefs players counted among the league's elite at his position. The Buffalo Bills, seeking a Week 1 win at Arrowhead Stadium tomorrow afternoon, will need to keep Hali out of the backfield - well away from Ryan Fitzpatrick - if they want to accomplish that feat.

Hali is particularly valuable as a player that can line up in different positions, so this matchup can't simply be boiled down to Hali against Demetrius Bell, or Hali against Erik Pears. Both tackles will see Hali in this game. The team's blocking tight ends - Scott Chandler and David Martin in particular - will be helping on Hali, as will Fred Jackson chipping out of the backfield. You may see the Bills pull left guard Andy Levitre on passing plays, like they did frequently during the 2010 season, to try to slow Hali down just a hair more.

Chan Gailey will be able to help the efforts against Hali, too, by being judicious dialing up shots down the field and getting the ball out of Fitzpatrick's hands quickly. A quick start by the running game would help, too. When you're trying to deal with a player like Hali, it really is a team effort, and the Bills must keep Hali at bay if they're going to steal a Week 1 win.

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Keeping ALL pass rushers at bay would be nice.

Year two is upon us.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Sep 10, 2011 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t even want to think about watching another season of shotty O-line play. Let’s just hope these young mammoths can move some bodies and the rest of the offense can overcome any potential setbacks

by BuFFaL0nian on Sep 10, 2011 3:23 PM EDT reply actions

I'm with you.

After seeing Bulaga dominate on Thursday night, we better see Spiller show MAJOR signs of improvement in the Chris Johnson mold. I still can’t belive Nix spent a 9 pick on a scatback when Bulaga was there. I sure hope Spiller and Nix make me eat my words by CJ having a 2000 yd rushing season, but I just don’t see it happening.

Girls use hair spray, Men don't.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GROW UP BY NOT USING HAIRSPRAY MALES!

Don't be a Paully!

by The Buffalo Kid on Sep 11, 2011 2:56 AM EDT up reply actions

ironically if Spiller doesn't run well, most people will blame it on the Oline

If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

"...at that point the cops showed up and I had the right to remain silent....but, I didn't have the ability." - Ron White

by Joe P. on Sep 11, 2011 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions

that excuse won’t wash with me.

Fred Jackson does just fine behind this OL.

All the people who will use that excuse,

they should have a poster of nix and gailey that says at the bottom “I Want To Believe” ala Fox Mulder’s poster in his office in the X-Files series.

Girls use hair spray, Men don't.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GROW UP BY NOT USING HAIRSPRAY MALES!

Don't be a Paully!

by The Buffalo Kid on Sep 11, 2011 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

are you sure bulaga started?

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Sep 11, 2011 9:29 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

it doesn't matter

to the kid, Bulaga is a god.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Sep 11, 2011 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions

o

i dont mess with gods…

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Sep 11, 2011 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

are you sure bulaga started?

1000% percent sure,

he has started every game at RT since Tauscher went down early last season, including the playoffs and super bowl and is being groomed to be LT once Clifton is done, because he isn’t getting younger.

Bulaga just keeps getting better and better, just like I knew he would.

Girls use hair spray, Men don't.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GROW UP BY NOT USING HAIRSPRAY MALES!

Don't be a Paully!

by The Buffalo Kid on Sep 11, 2011 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

well either way

Pears looked good today

- the one sack by Tamba

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Sep 11, 2011 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Serious question...

The Bills are using David Martin as a blocking TE? The former Tennessee wideout, and Packer? And Dolphin? Blocking?? Yeesh…that man is a fish out of water. Unless he’s gotten up to 265 or so and gotten a whole new attitude, that’s just not going to work. Hali will eat that man for lunch and dinner—not kidding.

Ever since Reimersma (spelling?) left town, it seems like you all have been hurting for a complete TE. Any changes in this regard in the foreseeable future?

"You've only got 10 fingers to stick in the dike. Is there a breaking point that pushes you over the edge?...Where's the limit?"

-Marty Schottenheimer

by go_saleaumua on Sep 10, 2011 11:34 PM EDT reply actions

First of all Martin won't be taking Hali on one on one very often if at all.

There are multiple schemes that can be used to buy time for Fitzpatrick. Although, Hali is recognized as an elite pass rusher, he is not the only one in the league that the Bills will have to scheme for. I am sure he will make some plays, the guy is that good, but if you think he is going to control the game, I don’t really see it as that significant.

We got to line them up and let them do thier thing. Martin will be fine, as will Bell, as will Jackson, as will our full back. I think Hali played against us last year too as did Martin.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Sep 11, 2011 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Hi Van, thanks for the response.

A little reassurance…I don’t think Hali will “control the game,” and I do recognize that there are several schemes out there that help neutralize the Hali’s and Cameron Wake’s of the world. They get used every game, starting with this one (for our teams at least).

I was just making an offhand comment about an obscure player who I had high hopes for once—I kind of wanted KC to pick him up from the Pack, actually—but had completely forgotten about.

More a question about the progress of the TE position in Buffalo, and your team itself. I halfway like the Bills and appreciate the football knowledge on this blog.

Carry on.

"You've only got 10 fingers to stick in the dike. Is there a breaking point that pushes you over the edge?...Where's the limit?"

-Marty Schottenheimer

by go_saleaumua on Sep 11, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

my bad as well, I often come accross harsh.

I understand where your coming from. Our tightend situation as well as other positions on both sides of the ball we feel have been upgraded. Martin will not be the known starter. We feel he was kept mainly as the blocking tightend which he has been known to be solid or more experienced at. Scott Chandler will be the known starter at tight end. Chandler was many of the waiver/practice squad players the coaches and staff plucked last year during the season. None of these guys are household names, but we feel that some of them are more than players from other teams scrap pile.

As a true die hard Bills fan, the one thing I have held sacred is the lack of intimidation from other teams. Hali brings that intimidation. Our record has been dismall at best in the last decade but it hasn’t been due to the lack of effort given by the team. I love watching our no name O-Lineman match up against the Hali’s, Porter’s, and Peppers of the league. It builds character. This tight end thing is an area of great interest for Bills fans because we haven’t been solid there in a while. It could be a while longer or we could of found someone who can actually play and contribute in all aspects. Martin is insurance, a solid blocker and surprise weapon in the passing game. He will get his reps, but we are focused more on Scott Chandler. Good Luck there Chiefs fan.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Sep 11, 2011 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Go Iowa Hawkeyes--Scott Chandler just nailed your 1st touchdown.

Breaks my heart as a Chiefs fan…but I’m glad to see Chandler break out.

"You've only got 10 fingers to stick in the dike. Is there a breaking point that pushes you over the edge?...Where's the limit?"

-Marty Schottenheimer

by go_saleaumua on Sep 11, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Not trying to cause a fuss—I’m only trying to apoligize for sounding like a mouth-breather last night. I didn’t ask my question effectively.

"You've only got 10 fingers to stick in the dike. Is there a breaking point that pushes you over the edge?...Where's the limit?"

-Marty Schottenheimer

by go_saleaumua on Sep 11, 2011 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions

ND has the worst Defense in the world

every completed pass in the game was because their DB would not turn around.

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Sep 10, 2011 11:39 PM EDT reply actions

Tim Tebow

by tyoungs25 on Sep 11, 2011 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Forget the matchups....

I would not worry so much about matchups of Tamba Hali or any other defensive linemen slash outside linebacker that serve as a distraction to this team. There are 16 games with one bye week of better talent than Hali. All the critics including ESPN predict Buffalo the loser of this contest and a failure for this season. Little do they know the Bills made some serious upgrades on both sides of the football. Although GM Nix used cost effective methods to obtain undrafted players, young backups players from playoff teams that were cut and brought in to fill spots on our team, everyone doubts the Bills to the fullest. That’s O.K., let the bandwagoners show their true face. Chris Berman said it right " No one circles the wagons, like the Buffalo Bills". Watch this team turn some heads this year.

by Anthony7 on Sep 11, 2011 12:04 AM EDT reply actions

why do I do this to myself?

just did a “shoulda coulda woulda” draft check. That was the year we took Whitner:(

"This is what happens Larry!, This is what happens! "-Walter Sobchak" "Did we give up when the germans bombed pearl harbor!!??"-John Belushi

by BigEasyBillsKrewe on Sep 11, 2011 4:32 AM EDT reply actions

an inspiring letter

This is a little old but I read it today and found it appropriate for the date.7178448_a_team_to_cheer_for. If you search it in yahoo it’ll come up. (sorry I couldn’t get it to print here).

by brassman78 on Sep 11, 2011 6:30 AM EDT reply actions