In 2006, Penn State’s Tamba Hali was the second rated defensive end behind NC State’s Mario Williams heading into the NFL Draft.
While he was expected to go later than 20th overall, scouts were still enamored with Hali’s potential at the defensive end position. He made an impression on the Chiefs early in camp and went on to win the Mack Lee Hill award as the top Chiefs rookie in 2006. He would eventually move from left to right end in 2008 when Jared Allen was traded to the Vikings and was viewed as the team’s best pass rusher.
But when the Chiefs hired Todd Haley in 2009, the defense switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4, meaning Hali was left without a position. He wasn’t a fit for end in the 3-4, so the team moved him to outside linebacker in hopes that he would be an effective edge rusher out of a two-point stance.
Nice call, Chief.
After recording three last week in the Chiefs’ win over the 49ers, Hali now has 8.5 sacks in his last eight games dating back to last season. There’s no doubt that he’s comfortable in his new position and he continues to be Kansas City’s best pass rusher week in and week out.
If Hali’s story sounds familiar, it’s because Elvis Dumervil took a similar path to lead the NFL in sacks last season. Dumervil was also a defensive end in college (although he didn’t have as highly decorated career as Hali did) and was also forced into a new role when Mike Nolan was hired as Denver’s defensive coordinator last year. He too switched to outside linebacker in the Broncos’ new 3-4 scheme and racked up 17 sacks in the process.
While Hali still has a long way to go to register as many QB takedowns as Dumervil did in ‘09, his effort over the past eight games has been noteworthy. A new pass-rushing star in the mold of Dumervil has started to sprout in KC.
