Coogs
05-15-2007, 09:52 AM
Youth will be served
Coach Herm Edwards is committed to letting younger players get more action this season after a former player enjoyed a breakout year.
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
“We just didn’t play him enough. I’m not letting that happen again.”
| Herm Edwards on Jerricho Cotchery
Herm Edwards learned more than a few coaching lessons during his time with the Jets. One of the biggest didn’t fully reveal itself until last year, after he already had joined the Chiefs.
One of Edwards’ draft picks, a wide receiver named Jerricho Cotchery, blossomed into a solid player with 82 catches after wasting on the bench for most of his two seasons under Edwards.
Too late, of course, to do Edwards any good. But if you’re looking for the root of Edwards’ willingness to use younger players, look no more.
“The worst thing I did when I was in New York was draft Jerricho Cotchery and … he never got on the field for me,” Edwards said. “Only bits and pieces. Now he’s playing and playing very well and doing what he was doing in practice when I was there. We just didn’t play him enough.
“I’m not letting that happen again.”
The Chiefs on Monday concluded a three-day rookie camp that gave Edwards a glimpse of this year’s harvest. They begin full-squad practice next week.
The focus moves from young players to veterans, but not necessarily the emphasis. The Chiefs had three rookies last season play significant roles — defensive end Tamba Hali and safeties Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard.
Judging by weekend developments, the Chiefs should beat that number easily next season. The top three picks — wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and defensive linemen Turk McBride and Tank Tyler — should play significant amounts even if they’re not starting.
Justin Medlock, a fifth-round pick, will be their kicker is he has a strong training camp. Ean Randolph, an undrafted free agent, could win the punt returner’s job. Randolph was an accomplished punt returner as a senior at South Florida, averaging almost 15 yards.
Edwards appears more willing to err on the side of playing a rookie too soon as opposed to waiting too long.
“The quarterback is one position you don’t bring along too fast,” Edwards said. “You figure when he can go, he’ll go. Other positions, you can spot-play them. We can give them the ability to go into a game and have a little role and from there, if they have some success, build on that role.”
Maybe it’s because of what happened with Cotchery in New York or maybe it’s just coincidence, but the Chiefs next season could have as many as four wide receivers in their first or second year: Bowe, Randolph and two of last season’s rookies, Jeff Webb and Chris Hannon.
Edwards said one of his biggest regrets last season was not playing Webb more. He indicated the Chiefs have simplified their playbook to make it easier for young receivers.
“We’ve done some things differently offensively now to make sure these young guys have the ability to play,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we’re changing the offense. We’ve done some things to help some younger guys get in the lineup.”
Bowe left practice early Monday after being kicked in the leg, but the Chiefs weren’t concerned that the injury would keep him out for long.
Page came to the Chiefs last year as a lowly seventh-round pick. He wound up starting three games, including the playoff loss to Indianapolis. He made several big plays, including an end-zone interception that preserved a win over Oakland.
He could have been an afterthought. The Chiefs last year had veteran starting safeties in Sammy Knight and Greg Wesley and drafted Pollard in the second round.
Instead, Page probably will start this season and stands as evidence of the Chiefs’ commitment to younger players.
“Herm said when we got here last year he was going to give rookies the chance to play, but at that point I didn’t know him, so I really didn’t know if that was going to be the case,” Page said. “I didn’t know if he was serious or just trying to motivate you to practice harder.
“What I saw is that he’s just looking for the players he can trust the most. With him, it’s about how you play and not who you are. He sees everything out here. He sees who’s in the right place and making plays and not making mistakes and it doesn’t matter to him whether you’re a rookie or an older guy. You’re going to play.”
Coach Herm Edwards is committed to letting younger players get more action this season after a former player enjoyed a breakout year.
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
“We just didn’t play him enough. I’m not letting that happen again.”
| Herm Edwards on Jerricho Cotchery
Herm Edwards learned more than a few coaching lessons during his time with the Jets. One of the biggest didn’t fully reveal itself until last year, after he already had joined the Chiefs.
One of Edwards’ draft picks, a wide receiver named Jerricho Cotchery, blossomed into a solid player with 82 catches after wasting on the bench for most of his two seasons under Edwards.
Too late, of course, to do Edwards any good. But if you’re looking for the root of Edwards’ willingness to use younger players, look no more.
“The worst thing I did when I was in New York was draft Jerricho Cotchery and … he never got on the field for me,” Edwards said. “Only bits and pieces. Now he’s playing and playing very well and doing what he was doing in practice when I was there. We just didn’t play him enough.
“I’m not letting that happen again.”
The Chiefs on Monday concluded a three-day rookie camp that gave Edwards a glimpse of this year’s harvest. They begin full-squad practice next week.
The focus moves from young players to veterans, but not necessarily the emphasis. The Chiefs had three rookies last season play significant roles — defensive end Tamba Hali and safeties Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard.
Judging by weekend developments, the Chiefs should beat that number easily next season. The top three picks — wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and defensive linemen Turk McBride and Tank Tyler — should play significant amounts even if they’re not starting.
Justin Medlock, a fifth-round pick, will be their kicker is he has a strong training camp. Ean Randolph, an undrafted free agent, could win the punt returner’s job. Randolph was an accomplished punt returner as a senior at South Florida, averaging almost 15 yards.
Edwards appears more willing to err on the side of playing a rookie too soon as opposed to waiting too long.
“The quarterback is one position you don’t bring along too fast,” Edwards said. “You figure when he can go, he’ll go. Other positions, you can spot-play them. We can give them the ability to go into a game and have a little role and from there, if they have some success, build on that role.”
Maybe it’s because of what happened with Cotchery in New York or maybe it’s just coincidence, but the Chiefs next season could have as many as four wide receivers in their first or second year: Bowe, Randolph and two of last season’s rookies, Jeff Webb and Chris Hannon.
Edwards said one of his biggest regrets last season was not playing Webb more. He indicated the Chiefs have simplified their playbook to make it easier for young receivers.
“We’ve done some things differently offensively now to make sure these young guys have the ability to play,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we’re changing the offense. We’ve done some things to help some younger guys get in the lineup.”
Bowe left practice early Monday after being kicked in the leg, but the Chiefs weren’t concerned that the injury would keep him out for long.
Page came to the Chiefs last year as a lowly seventh-round pick. He wound up starting three games, including the playoff loss to Indianapolis. He made several big plays, including an end-zone interception that preserved a win over Oakland.
He could have been an afterthought. The Chiefs last year had veteran starting safeties in Sammy Knight and Greg Wesley and drafted Pollard in the second round.
Instead, Page probably will start this season and stands as evidence of the Chiefs’ commitment to younger players.
“Herm said when we got here last year he was going to give rookies the chance to play, but at that point I didn’t know him, so I really didn’t know if that was going to be the case,” Page said. “I didn’t know if he was serious or just trying to motivate you to practice harder.
“What I saw is that he’s just looking for the players he can trust the most. With him, it’s about how you play and not who you are. He sees everything out here. He sees who’s in the right place and making plays and not making mistakes and it doesn’t matter to him whether you’re a rookie or an older guy. You’re going to play.”