Shining moments for Hali, Pollard

By Clayton Wendler  |   Tuesday, August 29, 2006  |  Comments( 2 )

Kansas City Chiefs
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
It was only a preseason game, and it was only two plays.

But they were two of the most exciting defensive highlights Kansas City Chiefs fans have witnessed in years.

Rookie defenders Tamba Hali and Bernard Pollard put on a show under the bright lights in Kansas City this past Saturday, in the Chiefs' 16-12 victory over the St. Louis Rams. Hali started at defensive end and recorded one sack and a forced fumble. Pollard, a strong safety, added four tackles, an interception and another forced fumble.

But actions speak louder than words, and mere stats don't convey the impression that Hali and Pollard made on Saturday.

First up was Hali. He had come close to sacking Rams quarterback Marc Bulger several times already. The first-round pick had rushed from the right and from the left. He had rushed up the middle. And then, with 32 seconds remaining before halftime, it finally happened.

Hali lined up across from Rams left tackle Todd Steussie.

Steussie is a 13-year veteran with 190 games of NFL regular-season experience.

Hali was a rookie playing in his first preseason game.

It didn't matter.

Hali rocketed past Steussie like he was standing in mud. Steussie flailed wildly at the air in a futile attempt to stop him. Bulger pump faked.

And then it was all over.

Hali slapped the football out of Bulger's hand. Defensive tackle James Reed fell on the fumble. The Chiefs had the football, Hali had a sack and 80,000 people sitting in Arrowhead Stadium had Derrick Thomas flashbacks. Roll credits on "Shining Moment No. 1."

Now it was Pollard's turn. He had already grabbed an interception earlier in the game, plucking an overthrown pass out of the air and returning it 19 yards. It was a nice play, but nothing special.

What was special was the play that won the game.

The Rams had stopped the Chiefs' offense with about two minutes left. They had time for one last drive. Sure, it was only a meaningless preseason game, but you know Herm Edwards wanted to win. The Chiefs had lost eight exhibition games in a row since 2004, and were 0-2 this year.

Pollard made sure they wouldn't fall to 0-3.

Rams backup quarterback Gus Frerotte dropped back to pass with about a minute and a half left. Like Bulger had in the first half, Frerotte pumped the ball. That probably told Pollard exactly where he needed to go.

Frerotte flung a pass toward wide receiver Brandon Middleton, who has been in the NFL for one year. Before Saturday, he probably didn't know who Bernard Pollard was. They called him "Bonecrusher" at Purdue.

Middleton caught the ball. A split second later, he caught a human missile right in his chest.

It was only a glancing blow. The force of the collision still sent Middleton pinwheeling as the ball popped into the air. Chiefs cornerback Benny Sapp caught it. Bones crushed. Game over.

Middleton probably still doesn't know who Bernard Pollard is.

But if Saturday's game was a preview of things to come, the whole NFL will know who Pollard and Hali are by season's end.

Comments? Suggestions? Criticism? Contact C.E. Wendler at cwendler@realfootball365.com

Get more original Kansas City Chiefs columns at Realfootball365.com
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (2)

Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report