tk13
10-04-2005, 01:19 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/12810421.htm
Chiefs regroup, rethink
Halfback rotation could be changed
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
The Priest Holmes-Larry Johnson halfback rotation was all the rage when the Chiefs were undefeated, but it lost some of its attractiveness during their current two-game losing streak.
That’s why the Chiefs will take the break afforded by this weekend’s open date to determine whether they want to continue the current course of two series for Holmes and one for Johnson. The Chiefs don’t play until their Oct. 16 game against Washington at Arrowhead Stadium.
“We’ll be discussing that,” offensive coordinator Al Saunders said. “When you’re caught up in the week-to-week preparation, sometimes you do things a little bit differently than you’d do if you’re able to sit back and look at everything in depth. We’re able to do that this week.
“We’ve got four regular-season games against very good defensive teams to evaluate where we are right now and what direction we’re going to go. It could very well be a game-by-game decision.”
The Chiefs are still happy with the results from their running game. Holmes leads the Chiefs with 305 yards, Johnson has 198, and the club is averaging a robust 4.5 yards per carry.
But the rotation is making for awkwardness in play-calling. The Chiefs have struggled offensively after a hot start in two of their four games and are wondering whether the running-back-by-committee has something to do with that.
It’s clearly not a simple decision. The Chiefs like Johnson’s big-play ability, but Holmes is more dependable.
“We all know what Larry can do if you give him a little room, and he almost turned one loose (against Philadelphia),” coach Dick Vermeil said.
It’s unlikely the Chiefs would choose one back and stick with him exclusively. But they may decide to go with the hot runner as a game progresses.
In the first two games, that was Johnson. In the last two, it was Holmes.
“We’ve talked about doing that,” Vermeil said. “But the hot guy is always the guy with the ball in his hand on that particular play. If the other guy sitting on the bench had that same play, he might be the guy. Each guy has a little different attribute.”
Saunders said the Chiefs’ play-calling changes depending on which back is in the game.
“They’re both different kinds of runners,” he said. “There’s a style of play that we play with Priest and a different style with Larry because of the nature of their abilities.
“We spend more time on preparation making sure we’re doing the right things for those guys.”
The Chiefs have broken the rotation in recent games so they can get Holmes on the field in certain situations. Most notable was a play in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles.
The call was a reverse to wide receiver Eddie Kennison. It required the back to take the handoff from quarterback Trent Green and in turn give it to Kennison coming around the other way.
The Chiefs didn’t trust Johnson’s ball-handling skills to not only take it properly from Green but also transfer it to Kennison.
“Priest had more experience at that,” Vermeil said. “There are times in pass protection we’ll do that because Priest is so much more experienced. The Eagles are a very good blitz team.”
The Chiefs have bigger problems in the passing game. Their protection of Green was porous in losses to the Broncos and Eagles.
That should improve against Washington. Left tackle Willie Roaf will return after missing the last three games because of a sore hamstring.
The Chiefs will look for bigger things from their running game, too.
“When we started out with this at the beginning of the year, we were looking at the whole picture,” Saunders said. “We wanted to have Priest healthy for the whole season.
“We’ve accomplished a couple of things. We’ve gotten Larry some snaps and gotten him involved in the game. We’ve gotten Priest back in rhythm after missing half a season with a knee injury. They’re both involved, and we’ve been as productive in the run game as we were last year at this time.”
■ WARFIELD, WELBOURN RETURNING: Cornerback Eric Warfield and offensive lineman John Welbourn will return against Washington after serving their four-game suspensions. The Chiefs will make roster moves as soon as today to accommodate both players.
■ DOWN TIME: Vermeil gave the players the rest of the week off. Practice will resume Monday. Coaches are scheduled to work through Friday.
■ HEALTHY NEWS: Vermeil said the Chiefs suffered no significant injuries against Philadelphia.
Chiefs regroup, rethink
Halfback rotation could be changed
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
The Priest Holmes-Larry Johnson halfback rotation was all the rage when the Chiefs were undefeated, but it lost some of its attractiveness during their current two-game losing streak.
That’s why the Chiefs will take the break afforded by this weekend’s open date to determine whether they want to continue the current course of two series for Holmes and one for Johnson. The Chiefs don’t play until their Oct. 16 game against Washington at Arrowhead Stadium.
“We’ll be discussing that,” offensive coordinator Al Saunders said. “When you’re caught up in the week-to-week preparation, sometimes you do things a little bit differently than you’d do if you’re able to sit back and look at everything in depth. We’re able to do that this week.
“We’ve got four regular-season games against very good defensive teams to evaluate where we are right now and what direction we’re going to go. It could very well be a game-by-game decision.”
The Chiefs are still happy with the results from their running game. Holmes leads the Chiefs with 305 yards, Johnson has 198, and the club is averaging a robust 4.5 yards per carry.
But the rotation is making for awkwardness in play-calling. The Chiefs have struggled offensively after a hot start in two of their four games and are wondering whether the running-back-by-committee has something to do with that.
It’s clearly not a simple decision. The Chiefs like Johnson’s big-play ability, but Holmes is more dependable.
“We all know what Larry can do if you give him a little room, and he almost turned one loose (against Philadelphia),” coach Dick Vermeil said.
It’s unlikely the Chiefs would choose one back and stick with him exclusively. But they may decide to go with the hot runner as a game progresses.
In the first two games, that was Johnson. In the last two, it was Holmes.
“We’ve talked about doing that,” Vermeil said. “But the hot guy is always the guy with the ball in his hand on that particular play. If the other guy sitting on the bench had that same play, he might be the guy. Each guy has a little different attribute.”
Saunders said the Chiefs’ play-calling changes depending on which back is in the game.
“They’re both different kinds of runners,” he said. “There’s a style of play that we play with Priest and a different style with Larry because of the nature of their abilities.
“We spend more time on preparation making sure we’re doing the right things for those guys.”
The Chiefs have broken the rotation in recent games so they can get Holmes on the field in certain situations. Most notable was a play in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles.
The call was a reverse to wide receiver Eddie Kennison. It required the back to take the handoff from quarterback Trent Green and in turn give it to Kennison coming around the other way.
The Chiefs didn’t trust Johnson’s ball-handling skills to not only take it properly from Green but also transfer it to Kennison.
“Priest had more experience at that,” Vermeil said. “There are times in pass protection we’ll do that because Priest is so much more experienced. The Eagles are a very good blitz team.”
The Chiefs have bigger problems in the passing game. Their protection of Green was porous in losses to the Broncos and Eagles.
That should improve against Washington. Left tackle Willie Roaf will return after missing the last three games because of a sore hamstring.
The Chiefs will look for bigger things from their running game, too.
“When we started out with this at the beginning of the year, we were looking at the whole picture,” Saunders said. “We wanted to have Priest healthy for the whole season.
“We’ve accomplished a couple of things. We’ve gotten Larry some snaps and gotten him involved in the game. We’ve gotten Priest back in rhythm after missing half a season with a knee injury. They’re both involved, and we’ve been as productive in the run game as we were last year at this time.”
■ WARFIELD, WELBOURN RETURNING: Cornerback Eric Warfield and offensive lineman John Welbourn will return against Washington after serving their four-game suspensions. The Chiefs will make roster moves as soon as today to accommodate both players.
■ DOWN TIME: Vermeil gave the players the rest of the week off. Practice will resume Monday. Coaches are scheduled to work through Friday.
■ HEALTHY NEWS: Vermeil said the Chiefs suffered no significant injuries against Philadelphia.