tk13
04-07-2005, 01:38 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/11328904.htm
In line to help O-line
Black gets chance at a starting role
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
There comes a time in every player's NFL career when he finally feels he belongs.
The magic moment for offensive lineman Jordan Black came in a December game against the Raiders. Black had played on a limited basis in his two seasons with the Chiefs, but there was some doubt about whether he would ever amount to much.
On that day at the Oakland Coliseum, Black was thrown into the lineup because of an injury to guard Will Shields. Black not only blocked Warren Sapp on a succession of plays, but he remained in one piece and helped clear Sapp from halfback Larry Johnson's path.
“I've been watching NFL players on TV my whole life,” Black said. “All of a sudden I was out there, and it is overwhelming at first. It does take a little while to get used to it all.
“After a couple of plays, it was like: I can do this. You just get rolling. You get in for a few plays, and you settle down.”
Later, after injuries knocked out John Welbourn and Chris Bober, the Chiefs moved Black to right tackle, where he started the season's last four games. He played well enough that the Chiefs felt comfortable moving Welbourn to guard and putting Black first in line to be the permanent starter at right tackle.
That list also includes Kevin Sampson, another young lineman who the Chiefs think will someday become a starter. Black will get first shot because of the way he played in December.
“That was a real confidence booster for us and for him,” coach Dick Vermeil said. “He did about as well as we could expect him to do. He's not there yet, but he's a real solid prospect.”
Black joined the Chiefs as their fifth-round draft pick in 2003 but didn't play as a rookie. At the time, his path to the lineup looked as if it might be blocked for years.
The Chiefs then had a solid starting line consisting of Shields, Willie Roaf, Casey Wiegmann, Brian Waters and John Tait. Tait left last year as a free agent, and the Chiefs acquired two veterans, Welbourn and Bober.
It was only after the injuries to Welbourn and Bober that the Chiefs were able to learn what they had in Black. Black learned much, too.
“It's a total blessing that I got those games in,” Black said. “Under normal circumstances — if I hadn't played, and they would be giving me this shot — I would have a whole lot more anxiety than I do now. There's nothing like playing in games against really good players. I won't say I'm completely confident or free of anxiety, but I feel prepared.
“There are certain moments when you go back and watch yourself on film and you see yourself do something good and you say to yourself: ‘That really is me out there.' It makes you feel good about what you're doing. I'm not going to say by any means it was all perfect, because it was far from that. But there were enough good things out there for me to build on.”
Black is what the Chiefs look for in an offensive lineman: a good athlete who can run and lead for the open-field plays that offensive coordinator Al Saunders prefers. Those qualities might someday make him the successor to Roaf at left tackle.
“He has the skills to play there,” Vermeil said. “He's enough of an athlete. He just has to be able to put it all together. I don't know if he can be Willie Roaf. It's hard to be an explosive, 320-pound guy when you're not (naturally) 320 pounds.”
In line to help O-line
Black gets chance at a starting role
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
There comes a time in every player's NFL career when he finally feels he belongs.
The magic moment for offensive lineman Jordan Black came in a December game against the Raiders. Black had played on a limited basis in his two seasons with the Chiefs, but there was some doubt about whether he would ever amount to much.
On that day at the Oakland Coliseum, Black was thrown into the lineup because of an injury to guard Will Shields. Black not only blocked Warren Sapp on a succession of plays, but he remained in one piece and helped clear Sapp from halfback Larry Johnson's path.
“I've been watching NFL players on TV my whole life,” Black said. “All of a sudden I was out there, and it is overwhelming at first. It does take a little while to get used to it all.
“After a couple of plays, it was like: I can do this. You just get rolling. You get in for a few plays, and you settle down.”
Later, after injuries knocked out John Welbourn and Chris Bober, the Chiefs moved Black to right tackle, where he started the season's last four games. He played well enough that the Chiefs felt comfortable moving Welbourn to guard and putting Black first in line to be the permanent starter at right tackle.
That list also includes Kevin Sampson, another young lineman who the Chiefs think will someday become a starter. Black will get first shot because of the way he played in December.
“That was a real confidence booster for us and for him,” coach Dick Vermeil said. “He did about as well as we could expect him to do. He's not there yet, but he's a real solid prospect.”
Black joined the Chiefs as their fifth-round draft pick in 2003 but didn't play as a rookie. At the time, his path to the lineup looked as if it might be blocked for years.
The Chiefs then had a solid starting line consisting of Shields, Willie Roaf, Casey Wiegmann, Brian Waters and John Tait. Tait left last year as a free agent, and the Chiefs acquired two veterans, Welbourn and Bober.
It was only after the injuries to Welbourn and Bober that the Chiefs were able to learn what they had in Black. Black learned much, too.
“It's a total blessing that I got those games in,” Black said. “Under normal circumstances — if I hadn't played, and they would be giving me this shot — I would have a whole lot more anxiety than I do now. There's nothing like playing in games against really good players. I won't say I'm completely confident or free of anxiety, but I feel prepared.
“There are certain moments when you go back and watch yourself on film and you see yourself do something good and you say to yourself: ‘That really is me out there.' It makes you feel good about what you're doing. I'm not going to say by any means it was all perfect, because it was far from that. But there were enough good things out there for me to build on.”
Black is what the Chiefs look for in an offensive lineman: a good athlete who can run and lead for the open-field plays that offensive coordinator Al Saunders prefers. Those qualities might someday make him the successor to Roaf at left tackle.
“He has the skills to play there,” Vermeil said. “He's enough of an athlete. He just has to be able to put it all together. I don't know if he can be Willie Roaf. It's hard to be an explosive, 320-pound guy when you're not (naturally) 320 pounds.”