Chiefs’ McCluster has potential but still seeks his niche
 

Chiefs’ McCluster has potential but still seeks his niche
McCluster has scored only four TDs in two years as he’s sought a niche with the Chiefs.
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
The Chiefs list Dexter McCluster as a running back, but he’s seldom in the backfield.

McCluster participates in drills with the wide receivers, not the running backs. In team work, he lines up as a slot receiver in most formations and splits wide in others. He occasionally gets a carry on a sweep or a reverse and sees work as a quarterback in the wildcat. And he’s also a prime candidate to return kicks and punts.

So where does head coach Romeo Crennel like McCluster the most?

“In the end zone,” said Crennel, with a hearty laugh. “That’s where I like him best.”

McCluster, a second-round draft pick in 2010, spent his first two seasons trying to find his niche in the offense as well as in the end zone.

He’s had 244 combined touches as a running back, receiver and kick returner and but has scored just four touchdowns.

A case can be made that McCluster — who would begrudgingly have to change his No. 22 jersey if classified as a wide receiver — hasn’t fulfilled his potential in the NFL because his attention has been divided between so many roles, and he hasn’t been able to master one position.

He disagrees.

“I think being more versatile gives me different outlets to get on the field,” said McCluster, a 5-8, 170-pounder. “Being more versatile can help throw defenses off balance. I like the fact that I can play multiple roles, I like the challenge.

“The running backs coach and the wide receiver coach are doing just as much to help me get better at that position as the next one, so right now I feel like I am mastering both.”

Quarterback Matt Cassel expects the Chiefs’ new offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, to take advantage of McCluster’s diverse skills.

“He can do it all,” Cassel said of McCluster. “He really does have so much versatility that sometimes you have to make a decision what you want to do with him.”

McCluster, an all-purpose performer at Mississippi who earned all-Southeastern Conference honors as a receiver and a running back in his last two seasons, has provided glimpses of his big-play potential.

In 2010 in his first game as a pro, McCluster bolted a franchise-record 94 yards for a touchdown, sparking an opening-night victory over San Diego and igniting the Chiefs’ run to the AFC West title. Last year, he gained 516 yards on 114 rushing carries and picked up 328 yards on 46 pass receptions. He averaged 10.8 yards a carry on punt returns and 22.3 yards on kick returns.

But McCluster is the first to admit he’s still trying to put together a complete season.

“I know what I’m capable of,” he said. “I’m a very humble guy, a very patient guy … A lot of people ask when is it going to happen … They have seen what I’m capable of, but honestly I know I have more than that in me.”

McCluster spent the offseason studying tape of similar players whom Daboll has coached, including Reggie Bush of the Dolphins and Josh Cribbs of the Browns.

“The thing I like about coach Daboll is he tries to eliminate your weaknesses and heightens your strengths,” said McCluster. “It opens up a lot of playmaking possibilities. He lets you play football. … ‘This is how I want it done, this is how I’ve been doing it, this is how it’s been working. So watch the film. Watch guys before who have done it. And try to mimic that in your way.’ ”

The critical issues in determining McCluster’s workload are his durability and his ball security.

After getting off to a good start in his rookie season, McCluster, in a game against Jacksonville in which he ran four times for 28 yards and caught five passes for 41 yards, suffered an ankle sprain that sidelined him for five games and rendered him ineffective in the final five games.

Concerned about keeping him healthy, the Chiefs tried to monitor his touches last season when he averaged 12 per game — seven rushing, three receiving and two in the kicking game. So what’s ideal for him? Ten to 12 touches? Fifteen? Twenty?

“Twenty-five is not too much. I’m going to put that on the record right now,” McCluster said. “People from the outside looking in look at me and say, ‘He’s small.’ But I’ve been doing this all my life. … I know what I can do, I know what I’m capable of.

“My size … I accepted that, and I play bigger than I am. This year, I’m more in the film room. It’s more about technique. … Everybody is running the same speed, everybody has the same capability, but it’s all about technique and that extra space that you need to get open.”

As far as the fumbles go, McCluster is aware that at his size, he has to take extra precautions when hit by players outweighing him by 50 to 75 pounds.

“It’s football,” he said. “You’re going to have fumbles, you’re going to dropped balls. Ultimately it’s your job to limit that … knowing it’s that extra fighting for that extra yard, the ball can pop loose, so it’s making sure you have both hands on the ball as you’re going on.”

Boom goes Clays head...

:popcorn:This should be good.

Now this thread has potential!

wes welker + kevin faulk x peter dinklage = brian shay in blackface

with an OC that can take advantage of his skills,
maybe.

Chester McCluster

Dex needs to do one thing well, and that is play the slot like a goddamn criminal converting downs.

If #25 is back, the rest of these dumbasses are mere compliments.

(in before Clayton goes postal)

Maybe Scott could give Dexter a gig putting Cassel's hat on when he goes to the sidelines?

LMAO

McCluster is neither exceptionally fast, elusive, and certainly not powerful.

I've seen what he's capable of, and that is taking snaps from more talented players.

dude, we should totally have him in on 3rd and long instead of Charles...

I can't believe people think he'll get cut this year ROFL

yep
he was drafted too high.
Scott hasn't given up on Cassel, McCluster's safe.

on a draw play at that, they'll never see it coming!

If Wylie can't take Dex's spot, Wylie probably sucks.

If Wylie is ANY good (and he should be, since The Great And Powerful Pioli drafted him), Dex is our 5th wide receiver.

Midgets who don't cover kicks don't often play the 5th wide receiver role.

Luv me sum McCluster!

wait am i reading this right...

McCluster wants 25 touches per game on offense this season? What in the rats pisshole?! On what planet.. I dont even..

He's a rather delusional young man.

I also heard a nice story about how he takes artwork from a well-known Chiefs artist, signs it, and sells it at his autograph sessions.

He's a piece of shit on and off the field.

25?

Dream on.

The only way he should get 25 touches is if he decides to drive to a game and the team plane gets shot down by terrorists.

I will slash his tires.

the best offensive player on this team doesnt even get 25 touches. that's the funniest part.

If McCluster gets 25 touches per game, I'm gonna become a Broncos/Raiders fan.

He would need 25 touches per game to get 1,000 total yards like that fan thinks he can get.

You, of all people, should know he had exactly 10 touches per game last year and gained 850 yards.

He would need 10 yards per game more to gain 1000.

The more he touches the ball the less effective he would be.

Guy can catch the ball fairly well. I'd like to see him returning punts and kicks\\ (as long as he can hold onto the ball) and play some out of the slot.

He's not elusive enough to return punts. My grandma is more elusive than McCluster and she's dead.

Well... You cant get to your grandma without digging her up, so...

I'm really curious to know what Daboll thinks of McCluster.
If he truly thinks he's an asset to this football team, he'll find creative ways to use him.

I think he can continue contribute to this team in the right situations.

this^

You are kind of the same way, The more you post the less effective you are with your credibility...


McCluster clowned you last year. I am sure he will do it again this year. Mr Welcher...

I may just enjoy using this signature a bit longer. Thanks Clay.

Drink the McKoolaid, huh?

Give us some projected stats for the sawed-off wonder ****.

Already destroyed you last year... I dont have it in my heart to clown you yet again... After last years debacle on your part, I feel its best just to leave you alone.

What's hilarious is you are dumb enough to think he was anything close to good last year.

Never said he was good... All I said is that he would get more touches than your expert opinion said he would.

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=249844

So stop making shit up like you always do and throwing it around as fact...

You are also too dumb to realize the only reason he got those touches was because of an injury to our starter.

What are you talking about? Cassel is involved in every single play!

but he looks fast in the open field~!

I dont get the over done criticism of this guy? Is he perfect? No. He wasnt drafted to be a franchise "cornerstone". He was a better pick than alot of Carls 2nd rounders like Mike Cloud, Junior Siavii and Kris Wilson.

At least we get production from him and the occasional big play. He pretty much was the single reason we almost won the Raiders game at the end last year.

Hes not perfect but neither does he deserves all the crap alot of you guys heap upon him. Its tired.

Its Claythan, Just part of his gig....

ROFL

of course it was....

Kid's got more excuses than anyone I've ever seen.

Using a 2nd round pick on a gimmick type player, and it turns out all his gimmicky stuff doesn't really translate to the NFL very well.

He's not an all out bust like Siavii. And what he did last year is probably enough to buy him more time. But as someone else said, it turns out he's not that fast, not that elusive, and not that powerful. He may be a jack of all trades, but it's reasonable that he could be replaced with masters of individual trades.

I think I said it last year. If he finds his vision, he can probably be a good player. I do think he has the athleticism to make people miss. He just hasn't shown the vision and timing for it.

Too bad McCluster hasn't "clowned" any football player since the entire San Diego special teams in the 2010 opening game.

Since then he's been a huge wet fart.

He's not so much of a "jack of all trades" as a "jackoff of all trades."

Dude, your hatred for Cassel is more than warranted and I applaud you for it, but I think you hate McCluster a too much. He isn't bad.

We could find just about anyone to do what he does, man.

He's unspecial.

I agree that he's not special and that we drafted him too high, but I still think he can be a good role player on our team. As long as he just doesn't get the ball too much I'm fine with it.

I just wish McCluster would find the damn weight room.

Soooooo.... As long as said football player doesn't touch the football, you're good with it???

What ****ing sense does that make?

using the #36th pick on a #4 WR/RB was smart...

I think he serves a role on the team, but I don't want him getting the ball TOO much. How does that not make sense? I don't want him taking away from Charles or Hillis, but the occasional touches are fine. As long as they don't treat him like he's the second coming of Reggie Bush or Darren Sproles and give him the ball 15 times a game I'm ok with him.

That's not how the team will treat him and you ****ing know it.

The past two years we've had to suffer through all these plays drawn up with the sole purpose of getting the ball into McCluster's hands, and 97% of them are underwhelming garbage. And the hilarious part is that all these plays we're drawing up would be perfect for a RB with incredible field speed and who possesses perhaps the best vision in the entire NFL. Someone with moves, who makes defenders miss all the time, and who can fit through tiny holes or break one deep when he gets into open space.

Someone like JAMAAL ****ING CHARLES.

So you're saying that on every single 3rd and long we should run a draw to Jamaal Charles?

Pretty much.

Better than running a draw to ****stick Mcone who sucks the penis

I agree, and I hope Charles being back and the addition of Hillis means less McCluster. My point is, in smaller doses, I'm fine with McCluster. He can make a play occasionally. With charles hurt and Battle and Jones left, McCluster got the ball too much last year.

Yeah, maybe Jamaal won't fumble every time.

I'm surprised Wendler hasn't just made a "highlight" video of McCluster.

You're wasting his spots if you're scared to give him the ball. There's players on this team already that can do a better job than he can. We have a better returner, better slot guys, and better rb's.

Was drafting McCluster in the 2nd round smart? Probably not, and in hindsight surely no.
Was he used completely wrong last year being run in between the tackles? Yes. Our OC's have been jackoffs.
Could he be useful if given the ball in the open field beyond the LOS? In my mind, no doubt.

Four more days to kick off of preseason. Can't ****ing wait.

blah,blah,blah

all his versatility only goes as far as he can make people miss ... so far, not very.

unless he figures out how to be elusive, there is nothing he does that we don't already have someone better for on the roster.

Charles is a better RB
Charles is a better WR/RB
Hillis is better between the tackles
Breaston is a better WR
Arenas is a better returner
we have several young guys with return potential too

get me somebody that brings something new and something we need to the table with DMC's roster spot. imo.

If DMC isn't our version of Desean Jackson then he can hit the road.

It's not an excuse....it's the ****ing truth. If Charles doesn't get injured.....McCluster doesn't see 75% of the touches he got last year.

I'm not scared to give him the ball, I just don't want him to get the ball too much. Give him a few plays a game, where he's fully rested and ready to make something happen. He may not be the best returner, slot receiver, or RB, but he can do all of those things. Therefore, I believe there's a role for him on the team.

Then he can fumble farther up the field, hurting us less than if he fumbled near the LOS.

The only people DMC makes miss consistently are CP evaluators.

/drool

SNAP INTO THE PRESEASON

He has maybe 10 actual highlight plays in two years.

So, no.

So 3 plays a game is worth a roster spot???

Useful for 3 plays = worthless.

I think he meant you should GIF UP his suckage and fumblage

LMAO I'm aware of that, mang. But the 30 spinmove and fall plays combined with his fumbles would make a pretty sweet highlight reel.

The truth according to your speculation... You dont know that for a fact and hindsight is the easiest out for baseless opinions...

You dont have a ****ing clue how Haley and Co was going to use him...

Worth as much as most 3rd string RBs/4th or 5th WRs. There is such a thing as depth. He averaged 4.5 yards per rush last season, so he's not all that bad....