Chiefs Teicher: Chiefs rookie running back Knile Davis works on limiting fumbles

**Tribal Warfare** · 05-12-2013, 03:15 PM

Chiefs rookie running back Knile Davis works on limiting fumbles
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
The one constant at the Chiefs rookie camp that ended Sunday was the sight of running back Knile Davis carrying the ball high and close to his body.

He was a frequent fumbler in college at Arkansas and might have been drafted higher than the end of the third round, where he was selected by the Chiefs, had he not put the ball on the ground so often.

That’s where the emphasis was, and will continue to be, for Davis and the Chiefs.

“To me, it’s mental, just being aware, keeping it high and tight,’’ Davis said. “(Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy) had us running with the heavy ball and putting the emphasis on keeping it high and tight so when we got the light balls out it was just second nature.

“I feel like it’s something that can definitely be fixed. I’m working hard on that and I will fix it. I feel like it’s something that’s already behind me. It happened last year. I’m ready to prove I can hold on to that ball.’’

The Chiefs are ready to see it, too.

“I felt like with him, he just needs to play in order to work his way through that,’’ Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “I thought he needed to work his way through that and then you’d have a pretty good football player. I can’t tell you I’m big on fumbling. I don’t like it. I don’t have a lot of patience for it. I feel like with this kid, we’ll have an answer there for that.’’

Davis worked to correct his fumbling habit at Arkansas, too, without much success. He also missed the entire 2011 season with an ankle injury and then had hamstring problems last year.

But Davis had one great season for the Razorbacks, in 2010, when he rushed for 13 touchdowns and 1,322 yards. That, and not fumbles or injuries, is what the Chiefs see when they look at Davis.

“Knile Davis was tremendous for us,’’ said linebacker Tenarius Wright, an Arkansas teammate who participated in the rookie camp on a trial basis. “Knile Davis was one of the hardest working guys I’ve been around. He (would have) had an awesome career (if not for injuries). He was a Heisman (Trophy) candidate so you never know. He might have been walking across the stage with that trophy.’’

That, of course, overlooks his many fumbles last season. Wright said he thought they were a factor of Davis missing the entire 2011 season.

“Coming off the injury, you’ve got to shake the rust off,’’ he said. “He’s learned from that and I believe he’s taken it to heart and it won’t happen again.’’

Davis said it was a lot of things. “I was a little rusty,” he said. “I had been out for (one season). I’ve moved on from that and become better.’’

The Chiefs went into the draft looking for a bigger back who could serve as a complement to the speed and big-play ability of Jamaal Charles. They thought they had that back last year in Peyton Hillis, but that didn’t work out as planned.

Davis, at 227 pounds, is that bigger back but one who can also run fast.

“If you can find a big fast guy that can play, you’re sure trying to find that and we think we got that (in Davis),’’ Reid said. “He can play both games for you. He can give you the power game of a big back. He can also give you the finesse game with his quickness and speed and I think that’s welcome.’’

**Ming the Merciless** · 05-12-2013, 03:21 PM

so are they making him carry a football around like high school?

BlackHelicopters · 05-12-2013, 03:31 PM

We don't want our RB's to fumble. Earth shattering investigative journalism, Star. Wow.

**notorious** · 05-12-2013, 03:33 PM

"The rookies are practicing to become better players" /worthless fluff piece

**Munson** · 05-12-2013, 03:38 PM

Another in-depth piece by Teicher.

BlackHelicopters · 05-12-2013, 03:38 PM

Sun to rise in East on Monday. - KC Star.

OrtonsPiercedTaint · 05-12-2013, 04:27 PM

Runs live a river.

Pasta Little Brioni · 05-12-2013, 04:45 PM

But, is it a "Chief concern"?

OrtonsPiercedTaint · 05-12-2013, 04:49 PM

Some how I made it to 5/12/2013 before reading the name Barkevious Mingo. This is just so wrong.

Dayze · 05-12-2013, 08:02 PM

"Rookies Will Play Their First NFL Games This Year"

Jiu Jitsu Jon · 05-12-2013, 08:49 PM

It's always good to see an NFL player try to not drop the football.

crossbow · 05-12-2013, 08:55 PM

JC dropped it a few times in the beginning but I can't even remember him fumbling last year. My biggest concern is Niles durability. The fumbling can be coached but not the health.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 05-12-2013, 09:50 PM

Sweet God Almighty; Tiecher has to be the worst read in the history of sport.
Posted via Mobile Device

jd1020 · 05-12-2013, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossbow

JC dropped it a few times in the beginning but I can't even remember him fumbling last year.

He set his personal record for fumbles in a season last year.

RINGLEADER · 05-12-2013, 10:11 PM

I wonder sometimes if Teicher knows just how bad of a writer/reporter he has become.

05-12-2013, 03:15 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $792813	Teicher: Chiefs rookie running back Knile Davis works on limiting fumbles Chiefs rookie running back Knile Davis works on limiting fumbles By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star The one constant at the Chiefs rookie camp that ended Sunday was the sight of running back Knile Davis carrying the ball high and close to his body. He was a frequent fumbler in college at Arkansas and might have been drafted higher than the end of the third round, where he was selected by the Chiefs, had he not put the ball on the ground so often. That’s where the emphasis was, and will continue to be, for Davis and the Chiefs. “To me, it’s mental, just being aware, keeping it high and tight,’’ Davis said. “(Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy) had us running with the heavy ball and putting the emphasis on keeping it high and tight so when we got the light balls out it was just second nature. “I feel like it’s something that can definitely be fixed. I’m working hard on that and I will fix it. I feel like it’s something that’s already behind me. It happened last year. I’m ready to prove I can hold on to that ball.’’ The Chiefs are ready to see it, too. “I felt like with him, he just needs to play in order to work his way through that,’’ Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “I thought he needed to work his way through that and then you’d have a pretty good football player. I can’t tell you I’m big on fumbling. I don’t like it. I don’t have a lot of patience for it. I feel like with this kid, we’ll have an answer there for that.’’ Davis worked to correct his fumbling habit at Arkansas, too, without much success. He also missed the entire 2011 season with an ankle injury and then had hamstring problems last year. But Davis had one great season for the Razorbacks, in 2010, when he rushed for 13 touchdowns and 1,322 yards. That, and not fumbles or injuries, is what the Chiefs see when they look at Davis. “Knile Davis was tremendous for us,’’ said linebacker Tenarius Wright, an Arkansas teammate who participated in the rookie camp on a trial basis. “Knile Davis was one of the hardest working guys I’ve been around. He (would have) had an awesome career (if not for injuries). He was a Heisman (Trophy) candidate so you never know. He might have been walking across the stage with that trophy.’’ That, of course, overlooks his many fumbles last season. Wright said he thought they were a factor of Davis missing the entire 2011 season. “Coming off the injury, you’ve got to shake the rust off,’’ he said. “He’s learned from that and I believe he’s taken it to heart and it won’t happen again.’’ Davis said it was a lot of things. “I was a little rusty,” he said. “I had been out for (one season). I’ve moved on from that and become better.’’ The Chiefs went into the draft looking for a bigger back who could serve as a complement to the speed and big-play ability of Jamaal Charles. They thought they had that back last year in Peyton Hillis, but that didn’t work out as planned. Davis, at 227 pounds, is that bigger back but one who can also run fast. “If you can find a big fast guy that can play, you’re sure trying to find that and we think we got that (in Davis),’’ Reid said. “He can play both games for you. He can give you the power game of a big back. He can also give you the finesse game with his quickness and speed and I think that’s welcome.’’
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05-12-2013, 03:21 PM	#2
Ming the Merciless Emporer of Mongo Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Milky Way Casino cash: $2837556	so are they making him carry a football around like high school? __________________ ---- 2018 Adopt-A-Chief : Chris Conley 2017 Adopt-A-Chief : FRANK ZOMBO Click here-->*The Holy Chiefsplanet Lexicon **
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05-12-2013, 03:31 PM	#3
BlackHelicopters Spiraling down the Drain Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dante's Ninth Circle Casino cash: $2590588	We don't want our RB's to fumble. Earth shattering investigative journalism, Star. Wow. __________________ "We're both part of the same hypocrisy, Senator, but never think it applies to my family." "Fredo. You are my brother, and I love you. But never take sides against the Family again. Ever." 2019 Adopt a Chief - Travis Kelce #87
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05-12-2013, 03:33 PM	#4
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $2805884	"The rookies are practicing to become better players" /worthless fluff piece
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05-12-2013, 03:38 PM	#5
Munson Roy E. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Olathe, KS Casino cash: $11839646	Another in-depth piece by Teicher.
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05-12-2013, 04:27 PM	#7
OrtonsPiercedTaint MVP Join Date: Dec 2012 Casino cash: $10004980	Runs live a river.
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05-12-2013, 04:45 PM	#8
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $3858880	But, is it a "Chief concern"? __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
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05-12-2013, 04:49 PM	#9
OrtonsPiercedTaint MVP Join Date: Dec 2012 Casino cash: $10004980	Some how I made it to 5/12/2013 before reading the name Barkevious Mingo. This is just so wrong.
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05-12-2013, 08:02 PM	#10
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $5079358	"Rookies Will Play Their First NFL Games This Year" __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
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05-12-2013, 08:49 PM	#11
Jiu Jitsu Jon Level 40 Wizard Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Misery Casino cash: $10013080	It's always good to see an NFL player try to not drop the football. __________________ John Madden's three rules: 1. Be on time. 2. Pay attention. 3. Play like hell when I tell you to.
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05-12-2013, 08:55 PM	#12
crossbow King of Sarcasm Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: at home Casino cash: $10004900	JC dropped it a few times in the beginning but I can't even remember him fumbling last year. My biggest concern is Niles durability. The fumbling can be coached but not the health.
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05-12-2013, 09:50 PM	#13
Sweet Daddy Hate Unsparing Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	Sweet God Almighty; Tiecher has to be the worst read in the history of sport. Posted via Mobile Device
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05-12-2013, 10:11 PM	#15
RINGLEADER In Search of a Life Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Confusion, USA Casino cash: $8610503	I wonder sometimes if Teicher knows just how bad of a writer/reporter he has become.
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