Chiefs’ McCluster has potential but still seeks his niche

[Tribal Warfare]

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.”

[lcarus]

Originally Posted by SNR

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.

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.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by SNR

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

Yeah, maybe Jamaal won't fumble every time.

[Sofa King]

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

[Sofa King]

Originally Posted by lcarus

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.

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.

[Molitoth]

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.

[Rasputin]

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

[Mr. Laz]

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.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

of course it was....

Originally Posted by PGM

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

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.

[lcarus]

Originally Posted by Hulk Hogan

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.

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.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Molitoth

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.

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

[DeezNutz]

The only people DMC makes miss consistently are CP evaluators.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

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

/drool

[loochy]

Originally Posted by The Macho Man

/drool

SNAP INTO THE PRESEASON

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Hulk Hogan

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

He has maybe 10 actual highlight plays in two years.

So, no.

[Sofa King]

Originally Posted by lcarus

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.

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

Useful for 3 plays = worthless.