Defense: Remarkable Day For Studebaker

From Arrowhead Stadium

It will go down as one of the more remarkable stories in the first 50 seasons of Chiefs football.

A Division III defensive end gets switched to outside linebacker with a new coaching staff installing a new defensive scheme. With 15 games of NFL playing experience, almost all of it on special teams, this young man gets his first NFL start. It comes against the defending Super Bowl champions.

And all Wheaton College’s Andy Studebaker did was earn himself the defensive star of the game, as he grabbed two interceptions, was credited with five tackles and shared a sack of Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He also helped knock Big Ben out of the game in overtime with a hit.

In the Chiefs improbable 27-24 victory over the Steelers, Studebaker said hello to the NFL.

“That was a blast,” Studebaker said. “What an afternoon.”

The 24-year old Studebaker was replacing veteran OLB Mike Vrabel, who is dealing with a knee injury that’s likely going to keep him out of action for several weeks. Although, as Vrabel watched the game from the Chiefs sideline he was probably thinking he needed to get back on the field as soon as possible. He doesn’t want to go the way of Wally Pipp.

Not to say after one start that Studebaker is in the class of Lou Gehrig. But what happened was not an accident.

“You get a guy like Andy Studebaker, who I said all off-season there was nobody that was better,” said Todd Haley. “And then to see it translated into some of the things that kid did out there today; I’m happy some of that is starting to show.”

Maybe the best indicator on how remarkable Studebaker’s performance was comes in his pedigree. Yes, he was a sixth-round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that has drafted very well for the last decade. But he wasn’t ready to play in Philly last year, which is why he was on the practice squad. That’s when he was picked off by the Chiefs for the final six games of the ‘08 season.

Then this year it was moving from defensive end to outside linebacker. But every day, Studebaker got a little bit better. He’s one of the most complete athletes on the team, when it comes to the combined traits of speed, strength and quickness. Special teams blocking and coverage was his forte until Sunday against the Chiefs.

“I just wanted to go out and play well and help the team win,” said Studebaker. “I was in and out of there with Pierre (Walters). I’m on all the special teams, so they wanted to give me a break every now and then.”

In fact, that Studebaker got those interceptions was a surprise. When the Chiefs were in their base 3-4 defense, Studebaker was at LOLB. But coordinator Clancy Pendergast came up with two variations of his nickel defense and Walters would come in for Studebaker in both nickels.

But Studebaker’s first interception came early in the third quarter when the Chiefs were in the base defense, and he was trailing behind Pittsburgh TE Heath Miller. Roethlisberger’s throw hit Miller in the hands, and bounced in the air, where Studebaker grabbed the ball and picked up two yards before he was brought down. Seven plays later, the Chiefs added a touchdown and pulled within three points of the Steelers.

Later in the third quarter, Studebaker got interception No. 2. This one was huge, and it also came on a first down play. Roethlisberger was hit just as he released the ball by OLB Tamba Hali and the ball fluttered into the end zone, where Studebaker grabbed it and started running. And running, and running.

By the team he was dragged down from behind by Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall, the ball was at the Pittsburgh eight-yard line. That turnover set up a field goal.

That’s two Studebaker interceptions and 10 points for the Chiefs.

“One was a batted ball and the other, Tamba got to him with pressure and the ball came wobbling out,” said Studebaker. “It was team defense, the whole team fitting together and I couldn’t have made those interceptions without the rest of the team.”

Studebaker became the first player from Wheaton College to start an NFL game. That’s no big deal since only one other player from the Division III school has ever played before in an NFL game. His name was Doug Rothschild. He was also a linebacker and he played for the Chicago Bears in the three replacement games when the real NFL players were on strike back in the 1987 season.

More than likely, Studebaker will get his second start next Sunday in San Diego. It will be hard to top what went down with his first one.

“I can’t wait to see the tape, but once we do, it’s done,” said Studebaker. “Can’t celebrate for long, we got more games to play.”

Sounds like a veteran already.