Webb and Hannon ready for 2007

[Hammock Parties]

http://chiefs.scout.com/2/626377.html



Webb and Hannon ready for 2007

By Mike Nugent
Warpaint Illustrated Beat Writer
Posted Mar 12, 2007

As I finish my interview with Chris Hannon and Jeff Webb, the Chiefs young wide receivers, Webb walks out of the locker room. Hannon leans in close to tell me something.

“I’m faster than he is,” says Hannon.

“Really?” I answer, incredulously.

“Yeah,” he confirms, “I’m the fastest guy on the team.”

Webb reenters the locker room, and approaches us.

“Webb,” Hannon asks, “who the fastest guy on the team?”

Webb points at Hannon.

“Chris.”

“Whoa,” says Hannon with a big smile, “I can’t believe he actually admitted it.”

The first thing you notice about Hannon is youthful exuberance. Webb is a bit more low key, but emotional nonetheless. Who could forget the image of tears running down his face after being told by the media he would be a member of the 2006 Chiefs?

Both guys are confident, with that swagger that only NFL wide receivers and cornerbacks possess. Webb was selected in the fifth round of last year’s draft out of San Diego State University. Hannon was an undrafted free agent, but both guys know they belong and can play in this league. Neither is a particularly cocky guy, but both seem very self assured and comfortable with being a Chief, despite their lack of experience.

Maybe it’s the cornerbacks. Everyday in practice, Hannon and Webb go against two of the NFL’s finest defensive backs - Patrick Surtain and Ty Law. For a young wide receiver, going against a premier cornerback every other rep or so is like taking a class on being an NFL wide receiver. Going against two is like taking a master’s class. You can’t take a rep off.

Webb’s eyes widen as he talks about the opportunity to practice against KC’s veteran corners.

“We compete a lot against Ty Law and Surtain, and we just look at that as a privilege to go against two of the best corners in the league and getting our average up,” says Webb. “I just look at that as a blessing, to go against those two, getting better everyday. I don’t look at it like just another practice. I look at it as getting better for the future, for the organization.”

Hannon nods in agreement.

“They show us the ins and outs of how cornerbacks think,” says Hannon, “how they do the things they can get away with. When we go against regular corners, it’s easier.”

“A lot easier,” adds Webb.

Webb and Hannon have been anointed by some as the future of the Chiefs at the wide receiver position, and are figuring huge in the team’s plans for 2007. Webb has been on the roster all season. The Chiefs pulled Hannon up from the practice squad before the last regular season game to protect him from would-be pilferers in the offseason. The two plan to stay in Kansas City this offseason to workout with the quarterbacks and each other.

Of the two, only Webb got the opportunity to see the field this past season, but he made the most of his chances. He played quite a bit of special teams as a gunner, and got to return one kick - and what a return it was. On his first and only touch, Webb took the ball 50 yards, giving fans and the coaches a glimpse of his playmaking ability. If he’s able to be that sort of game breaker in the passing game, the Chiefs will have caught lightning in a bottle. He could add a spark to an ailing passing attack next season.

Hannon is more of an unknown commodity. The coaches are impressed with his size and speed, and apparently he’s an excellent route runner, something that many young wide receivers struggle with in their initial years. Of the pair, Hannon is the less polished, but got plenty of big game experience at the University of Tennessee.

Next season could be the breakout year for these two. Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards has already said there will be open competition for most positions next year, and wide receiver appears to be no different. There likely will be some changes in the receiver corps this offseason, so with a strong showing one or maybe even both could get the opportunity to be a starter.

For now, Webb and Hannon are both focused on developing themselves so that when they finally get the call from the coaching staff, they’ll be ready. Both receivers are on the roster. Both have a great receivers coach in Charlie Joiner, and both have the raw talent to make it in the NFL. It’s just a matter of getting the mental part down - learning the playbook, the reads and adjustments, the types of things really good wide receivers are fluent at.

“For me, it’s been a learning experience, learning the ins and outs of the NFL, learning the ins and outs of the playbook,” says Hannon. “I was on the practice squad, so I had to learn multiple receiver positions, and it’s been very challenging for me, but I conquered it. Man, I’m back on the roster.”

They have to learn how to be pros. It’s one thing to have ability, and it’s another to have drive. To be successful, they need to have both. Having role models on the team to teach them how to be pros also helps.

“The terminology, the playbooks, that’s been the difference between college and the pros,” says Webb. “The team chemistry is a lot different from college to pros. I’ve just been a sponge with everything people say and everything people do. I watch the way Eddie Kennison and Dante Hall carry themselves. I look at that and try to better myself as a player.”

Looking at the two players, it appears the Chiefs could have picked up both their future wide receivers in the same year. The coaching staff believes that and constantly reminds Webb and Hannon that they are the new generation of Chiefs receivers.

“The coaches will say stuff like that,” says Hannon. “They put us on the scout team to go against the number one defense, and we eat ‘em up.”

This article originally appeared in Warpaint Illustrated the Magazine. If you want more information about the only Magazine Dedicated to the Kansas City Chiefs, hit the banner below to learn how you can get 56 issues of Sports Illustrated when you order Warpaint Illustrated the magazine.

[Redrum_69]

uh oh


Gochiefs vs Phobia



Just a reminder...Gochiefs has copy/pasted link/bullshit from WPI far more times than crazycoffey has posted comments and twice as many times as hooties threads about threesomes with Damon and Trent

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Phobia

I don't care as much as you think but I pushed that idea in Aug of 05 - before either of us were on staff.

I fired your ass in a brilliant coup so I could take credit for the idea. Mwa hahahaha!

[Wile_E_Coyote]

"young guns" what does that mean? With Huard throwing I hope they're duck hunters

Originally Posted by Redrum_69

uh oh


Gochiefs vs Phobia



Just a reminder...Gochiefs has copy/pasted link/bullshit from WPI far more times than crazycoffey has posted comments and twice as many times as hooties threads about threesomes with Damon and Trent

Who cares? It's Chiefs related. I don't think links to premium crap should be posted because that's pretty blatant spam but anything else is fair game.

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

I fired your ass in a brilliant coup so I could take credit for the idea. Mwa hahahaha!

It's a great idea regardless. I can't believe we had to fight for it - and fight for them to be free. For what it's worth, sometimes people will praise your ideas to encourage you, which is what I did with you. It's a management style. When a team member comes up with an idea that has already been discussed, it does little good to say "oh, we've already discussed that idea". Might as well make people feel good about themselves instead. Plus, it was an opportunity to add support to the concept.

[Eric]

new offense.

[Mecca]

Chris Hannon strikes me as the type of guy that can make a career out of being a great special teams guy but doesn't play much WR an Alex Bannister type.

[Manila-Chief]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

Whoohoo pumping up players who didn't even break the starting lineup

Thank you for being a realistic fan ... kinda balances out the homers.

Reality ... Warpaint Illustrated is hyping stuff to sell subscriptions. Used to be journalism meant reporters giving facts. Now there is too much wishful think in the reporting.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Manila-Chief

Reality ... Warpaint Illustrated is hyping stuff to sell subscriptions. .

You couldn't be more wrong. We're just trying to cover the little guys.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by booger

That's why simplifiing the playbook is a big plus for these younger WR's and other New WR's we add whether it be FA or the draft.

the only WR's that had much sucess in this offense were Chris Horn and Boerigter who had pro experience in the AFL and CFL. Parker as well but it took him time to develop. Torry Holt starts off in STL as a rookie and hits the ground running, not missing a beat. I've always had problems in the past with DV and AS looking specifically for the quick twitch smaller recievers.

Another plus is working this offseason with the probable starter in Croyle. At least timing and being on the same page shouldn't be a problem.

Herm has been high on Webb ever since drafting him. Maybe he can be a good possesion WR. Both can help in the return and coverage teams as well.

IMO, just excited to have some bigger WR's .

Tory Holt starts off in StL as a rookie and hits the ground running becasue he's a hell of a talented receiver that also happens to be that quick twitch receiver that Dick and Al look for.

Hannon and Webb aren't in Tory Holt's class.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Wow, a late-round pick and an undrafted guy didn't break the starting lineup as rookies? They must suck. No chance they'll ever be good.

Not everybody hits the ground running, and receiver in particular is a position that takes time to learn. Most first day picks take 2 or 3 years to come into their own. Joe Horn was a 5th round pick here, didn't catch 1000 yards worth of passes in 4 years with us, then went on to catch more than 7500 yards worth with New Orleans in 7 years. Jimmy Smith, a 2nd round pick, toiled in obscurity on the Cowboys practice squad for 3 years before Jacksonville signed him. He only caught 22 passes his first year with the Jaguars. And then he caught 12K yards worth in a decade.

Is either Hannon or Webb going to be Jimmy Smith or Joe Horn?

Hell if I know. What I do know is that they'll never be anything if you don't give them a chance.

Best post of the thread.....

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Wow, a late-round pick and an undrafted guy didn't break the starting lineup as rookies? They must suck. No chance they'll ever be good.

Not everybody hits the ground running, and receiver in particular is a position that takes time to learn. Most first day picks take 2 or 3 years to come into their own. Joe Horn was a 5th round pick here, didn't catch 1000 yards worth of passes in 4 years with us, then went on to catch more than 7500 yards worth with New Orleans in 7 years. Jimmy Smith, a 2nd round pick, toiled in obscurity on the Cowboys practice squad for 3 years before Jacksonville signed him. He only caught 22 passes his first year with the Jaguars. And then he caught 12K yards worth in a decade.

Is either Hannon or Webb going to be Jimmy Smith or Joe Horn?

Hell if I know. What I do know is that they'll never be anything if you don't give them a chance.

And how many times have we heard the same regurgitated bullshit?? SSDP year after year with "unheralded" players going to have a break-out year.

[booger]

Originally Posted by milkman

Tory Holt starts off in StL as a rookie and hits the ground running becasue he's a hell of a talented receiver that also happens to be that quick twitch receiver that Dick and Al look for.

Hannon and Webb aren't in Tory Holt's class.

Obviously not. Holt was what, the Sixth overall pick?

Just stating I like the trimmed down playbook. Give's guys like Hannon and Webb plus any rookie WR or FA's to come in and compete and not have to learn both wideout spots and the slot position in Al saunders 1352 pg playbook.

[booger]

Originally Posted by H5N1

I could give a sh*t less about 40 times... seriously, people--jerry fucking rice never ran a sub 4.6 40... neither did steve largent

if he has good 'football' speed, he could run a 4.9 40 for all I care

Not disagreeing with you. That's why people thought we reached on Tamba last year. Herm agrees, the proof is on the game tape, not the workout numbers.

Just wanted to verify where WPI got that Hannon was the fastest guy on the team.

[BWillie]

Parker>Hannon. This guy was a nobody in college, and he's going to be a nobody now. What makes people think he's going to be good? Cuz he's fast? Big deal. He's never shown reason that he is going to be a good receiver. Sure he'll contribue special teams, but no way he's ever going to be our #2 guy. Write that down