tk13
04-09-2005, 01:09 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/11349686.htm
Parker still in progress
By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star
To say the Chiefs are eager to see more from wide receiver Samie Parker would be an understatement.
They remember the big plays and tough catches he delivered last season when he finally broke into their lineup in the final three games. They know all about his game-breaking speed, a big reason they drafted Parker from Oregon with the first of last year's two fourth-round picks.
The Chiefs are still cautious about projecting more from Parker. That's why they met with free agent Kevin Johnson this week and why they might draft a receiver in an early round of the draft later in April.
They were planning to meet next week with two receiving draft prospects, Oklahoma's Mark Bradley and Tulane's Roydell Williams. Both are projected as middle- to late-round choices.
The Chiefs are moving slowly with Parker because as big a jump as he took last year from oblivion to playmaker, this one from part-timer to full-timer is even larger.
“This will be a tougher experience at the beginning because of the simple fact I really haven't played that much,” Parker said before one of the Chiefs' offseason conditioning sessions last week. “But I'm going to work hard in the offseason and at the (practices) to prepare myself to get ready for that.”
Unless Parker plays so well the Chiefs have no choice but to play him a lot, the starting lineup will have to wait.
“You can project in Samie Parker that one day he can start for a winning football team,” coach Dick Vermeil said. “It took him a while to be ready to be even a part-time player. That experience was very good for him. When he went in, he did a good job. But playing full time is a lot different.
“Right now, we'd like to at least see him do what he was able to do at the end of last season, which was go in and play as a contributor.”
That the Chiefs are thinking of Parker in even those relatively modest terms would have been a surprise heading into last season's final weeks. Parker missed most of last year's offseason practices because of college commitments. A hamstring injury deprived him of a large chunk of training camp.
So he was buried deep on the bench for most of his rookie season. Parker was leapfrogged early in the season by Chris Horn and a fellow rookie, Richard Smith. He played in only one game, and then for just a couple of plays, until December.
“I didn't get to practice much, so the coaches got to see very little of me, see what kind of playmaker I could be,” Parker said. “So I can't blame them for not playing me earlier than they did. But the season ended pretty well for me. It was a chance to show the coaches and everybody else what I can do.”
Finally healthy and game-ready, Parker took full advantage of the chance when it arrived. He caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from Trent Green in a win over Denver and had eight other receptions in the last three games.
“He should command more playing time if he keeps doing the things he was doing at the end of last year,” receivers coach Charlie Joiner said. “He'll get a lot of (playing time) if he keeps progressing.”
The Chiefs won't begin formal offseason practices until the middle of May. But Joiner said he can already sense the changes in Parker that the Chiefs wanted to see.
“He's not showing those signs of being a rookie anymore,” Joiner said. “He seems pretty sure of himself. He feels like he's a part of the offense now. He's just walking with that air of more confidence. He's not bleary-eyed anymore when we talk about football. He doesn't have that crazy look on his face when you ask him about certain plays. He knows where he's supposed to be and what he's supposed to do.”
If that continues, the process involving Parker may take less time than the Chiefs hoped.
“I've been hearing them talking about being excited about seeing what I can do,” Parker said. “I think they want to see if I can keep that momentum going and take it to the next level from there.”
• TACKLE SIGNS: The Chiefs signed offensive tackle Thomas Barnett to a two-year contract Friday. Barnett, who played in college at Kansas State, went to training camp with the Chiefs last season but was released before the start of the regular season.
Parker still in progress
By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star
To say the Chiefs are eager to see more from wide receiver Samie Parker would be an understatement.
They remember the big plays and tough catches he delivered last season when he finally broke into their lineup in the final three games. They know all about his game-breaking speed, a big reason they drafted Parker from Oregon with the first of last year's two fourth-round picks.
The Chiefs are still cautious about projecting more from Parker. That's why they met with free agent Kevin Johnson this week and why they might draft a receiver in an early round of the draft later in April.
They were planning to meet next week with two receiving draft prospects, Oklahoma's Mark Bradley and Tulane's Roydell Williams. Both are projected as middle- to late-round choices.
The Chiefs are moving slowly with Parker because as big a jump as he took last year from oblivion to playmaker, this one from part-timer to full-timer is even larger.
“This will be a tougher experience at the beginning because of the simple fact I really haven't played that much,” Parker said before one of the Chiefs' offseason conditioning sessions last week. “But I'm going to work hard in the offseason and at the (practices) to prepare myself to get ready for that.”
Unless Parker plays so well the Chiefs have no choice but to play him a lot, the starting lineup will have to wait.
“You can project in Samie Parker that one day he can start for a winning football team,” coach Dick Vermeil said. “It took him a while to be ready to be even a part-time player. That experience was very good for him. When he went in, he did a good job. But playing full time is a lot different.
“Right now, we'd like to at least see him do what he was able to do at the end of last season, which was go in and play as a contributor.”
That the Chiefs are thinking of Parker in even those relatively modest terms would have been a surprise heading into last season's final weeks. Parker missed most of last year's offseason practices because of college commitments. A hamstring injury deprived him of a large chunk of training camp.
So he was buried deep on the bench for most of his rookie season. Parker was leapfrogged early in the season by Chris Horn and a fellow rookie, Richard Smith. He played in only one game, and then for just a couple of plays, until December.
“I didn't get to practice much, so the coaches got to see very little of me, see what kind of playmaker I could be,” Parker said. “So I can't blame them for not playing me earlier than they did. But the season ended pretty well for me. It was a chance to show the coaches and everybody else what I can do.”
Finally healthy and game-ready, Parker took full advantage of the chance when it arrived. He caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from Trent Green in a win over Denver and had eight other receptions in the last three games.
“He should command more playing time if he keeps doing the things he was doing at the end of last year,” receivers coach Charlie Joiner said. “He'll get a lot of (playing time) if he keeps progressing.”
The Chiefs won't begin formal offseason practices until the middle of May. But Joiner said he can already sense the changes in Parker that the Chiefs wanted to see.
“He's not showing those signs of being a rookie anymore,” Joiner said. “He seems pretty sure of himself. He feels like he's a part of the offense now. He's just walking with that air of more confidence. He's not bleary-eyed anymore when we talk about football. He doesn't have that crazy look on his face when you ask him about certain plays. He knows where he's supposed to be and what he's supposed to do.”
If that continues, the process involving Parker may take less time than the Chiefs hoped.
“I've been hearing them talking about being excited about seeing what I can do,” Parker said. “I think they want to see if I can keep that momentum going and take it to the next level from there.”
• TACKLE SIGNS: The Chiefs signed offensive tackle Thomas Barnett to a two-year contract Friday. Barnett, who played in college at Kansas State, went to training camp with the Chiefs last season but was released before the start of the regular season.