Babb: Edwards says he needs to rethink Chiefs roster

[Tribal Warfare]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/764742.html


Edwards says he needs to rethink Chiefs roster
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star


The Chiefs shouldn’t expect a light week to end the preseason. Herm Edwards knows there are too many decisions to be made for a vacation.

NFL teams normally take it easy the final week of preseason, allowing projected regulars to rest during the short practice week and play little during the final game. The Chiefs’ only regular practice is today, but the team’s starters will play Thursday against St. Louis.

Teams have to trim rosters by five spots before Tuesday, and rosters must be cut to 53 active players by Saturday. Edwards said last week he knew whom the Chiefs would retain, but after Saturday’s 24-0 loss at Miami, some things changed — and Edwards wants one more week to decide some positions.

One of those is kicker, after Nick Novak missed his only field-goal attempt Saturday. Novak and rookie Connor Barth have each made two of three field goals, their only misses coming from 48 yards. Still, Novak entered with a clear lead because he has NFL experience. Novak has played for Arizona and Washington before spending last season in NFL Europe.

Edwards thought he had his kicker. But Novak’s miss narrowed the margin between him and Barth. It didn’t make Edwards’ decision easier.

“I thought Novak would’ve made that one,” Edwards said. “It would’ve been nice if he had made it.”

Novak still has a lead, but it’s not by much.

Novak said late Saturday that the original spot had the ball partly on turf and partly on the infield dirt at Dolphin Stadium, which the Florida Marlins baseball team shares with the Dolphins. Novak said he requested and was granted the ball be moved back a few inches so that it was on the grass. But Novak said the shortened distance hampered his kicking motion, causing him to push it to the right.

“I thought about calling a timeout,” he said. “I wish I did.”

The Chiefs also want closure to their deteriorating linebacker situation. Donnie Edwards, Napoleon Harris and Demorrio Williams are injured, which moved Weston Dacus, a rookie free agent, into Saturday’s starting lineup. Dacus missed an assignment when he charged into the wrong gap Saturday; Miami running back Ricky Williams hit the hole for a 21-yard gain that led to a field goal.

Kick returns also were a problem Saturday. The two players fighting for the returner’s spot made errors that, if the other player hadn’t done the same, might have cost him the job.

B.J. Sams fumbled during a punt return, though the mistake was erased because of an illegal formation penalty on the Dolphins. And Dantrell Savage stepped out of bounds at the Chiefs’ 2 on their opening kickoff.

“You definitely have to let (coaches) know to have a lot of confidence in you that things like that won’t happen,” Sams said.

With first cuts looming, most bubble players will have at least four more days to prove they belong. Novak said he’s not worried, but even one more mistake might be enough to end his time in Kansas City.

“I know what I did wrong; it just didn’t go through,” he said. “In my mind, I’m the Kansas City Chiefs’ kicker. I’m going to continue to prove that in practice and in the next game.”

He’ll have his chance, and he won’t be alone.

[chiefs1111]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/764742.html


Edwards says he needs to rethink Chiefs roster
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star


The Chiefs shouldn’t expect a light week to end the preseason. Herm Edwards knows there are too many decisions to be made for a vacation.

NFL teams normally take it easy the final week of preseason, allowing projected regulars to rest during the short practice week and play little during the final game. The Chiefs’ only regular practice is today, but the team’s starters will play Thursday against St. Louis.

Teams have to trim rosters by five spots before Tuesday, and rosters must be cut to 53 active players by Saturday. Edwards said last week he knew whom the Chiefs would retain, but after Saturday’s 24-0 loss at Miami, some things changed — and Edwards wants one more week to decide some positions.

One of those is kicker, after Nick Novak missed his only field-goal attempt Saturday. Novak and rookie Connor Barth have each made two of three field goals, their only misses coming from 48 yards. Still, Novak entered with a clear lead because he has NFL experience. Novak has played for Arizona and Washington before spending last season in NFL Europe.

Edwards thought he had his kicker. But Novak’s miss narrowed the margin between him and Barth. It didn’t make Edwards’ decision easier.

“I thought Novak would’ve made that one,” Edwards said. “It would’ve been nice if he had made it.”

Novak still has a lead, but it’s not by much.

Novak said late Saturday that the original spot had the ball partly on turf and partly on the infield dirt at Dolphin Stadium, which the Florida Marlins baseball team shares with the Dolphins. Novak said he requested and was granted the ball be moved back a few inches so that it was on the grass. But Novak said the shortened distance hampered his kicking motion, causing him to push it to the right.

“I thought about calling a timeout,” he said. “I wish I did.”

The Chiefs also want closure to their deteriorating linebacker situation. Donnie Edwards, Napoleon Harris and Demorrio Williams are injured, which moved Weston Dacus, a rookie free agent, into Saturday’s starting lineup. Dacus missed an assignment when he charged into the wrong gap Saturday; Miami running back Ricky Williams hit the hole for a 21-yard gain that led to a field goal.

Kick returns also were a problem Saturday. The two players fighting for the returner’s spot made errors that, if the other player hadn’t done the same, might have cost him the job.

B.J. Sams fumbled during a punt return, though the mistake was erased because of an illegal formation penalty on the Dolphins. And Dantrell Savage stepped out of bounds at the Chiefs’ 2 on their opening kickoff.

“You definitely have to let (coaches) know to have a lot of confidence in you that things like that won’t happen,” Sams said.

With first cuts looming, most bubble players will have at least four more days to prove they belong. Novak said he’s not worried, but even one more mistake might be enough to end his time in Kansas City.

“I know what I did wrong; it just didn’t go through,” he said. “In my mind, I’m the Kansas City Chiefs’ kicker. I’m going to continue to prove that in practice and in the next game.”

He’ll have his chance, and he won’t be alone.

I can't wait till this boob is gone

[KcMizzou]

Yeah, Sams has done absolutely nothing to earn a spot. Savage has been the better return guy, and looked good as a RB.

What happened to that guy we drafted to possibly return kicks? Robinson? Is he still injured?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

Yeah, Sams has done absolutely nothing to earn a spot. Savage has been the better return guy, and looked good as a RB.

What happened to that guy we drafted to possibly return kicks? Robinson? Is he still injured?

As far as we know. And even then, he was 7th(?) rounder? Expecting him to make an immediate impact is asking too much.

You wanted rebuilding, Chiefs fans?

You got it!

PS - I wanted it, big time

[chiefs1111]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

As far as we know. And even then, he was 7th(?) rounder? Expecting him to make an immediate impact is asking too much.

You wanted rebuilding, Chiefs fans?

You got it!

PS - I wanted it, big time

Yeah I wanted it to. I really wanted it when Herm first got here. It's gonna be rough,but hopefully in the long run it will be for the better

[FAX]

Dacus? We have a linebacker named Dacus?

I feel like I've been blindfolded, thrown in the trunk of a space transport, and got my ass hauled to Mars.

FAX

[DaneMcCloud]

I kinda wish Herm would rethink coaching

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by FAX

Dacus? We have a linebacker named Dacus?

I feel like I've been blindfolded, thrown in the trunk of a space transport, and got my ass hauled to Mars.

FAX

The ****ed up thing is that Dacus is a MLB that we've put at OLB when Williams went down.

Which literally means we do not have a single reserve OLB we are confident enough to start.

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by FAX

Dacus? We have a linebacker named Dacus?

I feel like I've been blindfolded, thrown in the trunk of a space transport, and got my ass hauled to Mars.

FAX

I told my buddy Saturday, "Two of our starting linebackers tonight... I'd never heard of before this season.".

[chiefs1111]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

The ****ed up thing is that Dacus is a MLB that we've put at OLB when Williams went down.

Which literally means we do not have a single reserve OLB we are confident enough to start.

i really hope we can get healthy before the New England game...

[FAX]

Wow. Hell, let's shuffle the oline some more while we're at it.

FAX

[JuicesFlowing]

Novak first makes an excuse for his miss, then whines about not calling a timeout. He failed.

[KCJohnny]

Rayner and Tynes are both kicking well and for competitive teams.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by FAX

Dacus? We have a linebacker named Dacus?

I feel like I've been blindfolded, thrown in the trunk of a space transport, and got my ass hauled to Mars.

FAX

Post of the day.
Ditto, FAX...

[boogblaster]

Rethinking .. Thats a heavy thought for the day, week, year ... Could this ever end ...