C-Mac
10-06-2007, 06:49 AM
Change hasn’t been good for Chiefs’ Drummond
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Eddie Drummond’s kickoff return average of 21.5 yards is his career low. When he’s returning a kick, Eddie Drummond has a style all his own. He’ll make a quick move and then be quick to get up the field.
For the Chiefs, that’s a refreshing change from Dante Hall, who at the end of his Chiefs career danced and juked and seemingly feared to take the ball upfield because of the big hit that inevitably awaited.
Another refreshing change is this: Drummond isn’t pouting or quarreling with coaches or teammates. If he was ever going to do any of that, this would be a good time.
Drummond, a former Pro Bowler in his first season with the Chiefs, is in the biggest slump of his career. His kickoff return average of 21.5 yards is the worst of his six-year NFL career.
“It’s a gradual thing right now,” Drummond said. “I’m not getting on the guys hard, not getting frustrated or anything. I’m being patient with them. I’ve got to be. Blocking for kick returns is a difficult job, especially if you’re not used to doing it. Sooner or later, everything will come together.”
It doesn’t look to be sooner, at least not in time for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville at Arrowhead Stadium. The Jaguars have a strong coverage unit and haven’t allowed a return of more than 30 yards.
Injuries to Keyaron Fox, Dimitri Patterson and Benny Sapp have also robbed the Chiefs of some key special-teams players and forced them to go with rookies like Rashad Barksdale, Tyron Brackenridge and Nate Harris.
That means a turnaround for Drummond is probably a week or two away at best.
“More change,” Drummond said wistfully. “That’s how it is sometimes. I thought we were getting close to raising the bar a little bit, and then a lot of switches were made, and then we took a step backward, a big step backward.
“We haven’t had consistent personnel, and we’ve had a lot of young guys. It’s hard to get things consistent and rolling when you’ve got guys switching positions and coming in and going out. That makes it difficult.”
The Chiefs have suffered with lousy field position for much of the season, and their kickoff return team is a big reason. They are 27th in return average and 30th in average starting field position after receiving a kickoff.
Coach Herm Edwards called out the kickoff return team this week. Without naming names, he was pointing directly at Drummond and Mike Priefer, the special-teams coach.
“There is no magic wand that’s going to fix this to the point where we can say we’re going to be a great return team,” said Priefer, who kept the return team after practice a couple of days this week for some extra work. “It’s an ongoing process. We’ve got young players on the front line. Those guys have never done this before. They’re professional football players, and they need to adapt quickly. I’m a positive guy. I’m going to teach my guys positively, and they are going to improve. If they don’t improve, we’ll get other players in here.
“People forget we had a real nice return against Minnesota. We were one block away against Houston from a big return. But you can say you’re close a lot of weeks. We’re about ready to take that next step.”
Drummond is another big change. He was a Pro Bowler for Detroit in 2004 but had the worst statistical season of his kickoff return career last year, and the Lions released him at the end of training camp.
He played in only one preseason game after signing with the Chiefs, so they are adjusting to him as well.
“Some of the guys were here with Dante Hall,” he said. “I’m basically the total opposite returner from him. I’m going to take one jab step and I’m up the field. I’m fast, but I’m not as quick as him. I can’t lose ground to gain ground. I’m full speed the whole way, so it’s either going to be a big hit on me, or we’re going to break a big run.”
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Eddie Drummond’s kickoff return average of 21.5 yards is his career low. When he’s returning a kick, Eddie Drummond has a style all his own. He’ll make a quick move and then be quick to get up the field.
For the Chiefs, that’s a refreshing change from Dante Hall, who at the end of his Chiefs career danced and juked and seemingly feared to take the ball upfield because of the big hit that inevitably awaited.
Another refreshing change is this: Drummond isn’t pouting or quarreling with coaches or teammates. If he was ever going to do any of that, this would be a good time.
Drummond, a former Pro Bowler in his first season with the Chiefs, is in the biggest slump of his career. His kickoff return average of 21.5 yards is the worst of his six-year NFL career.
“It’s a gradual thing right now,” Drummond said. “I’m not getting on the guys hard, not getting frustrated or anything. I’m being patient with them. I’ve got to be. Blocking for kick returns is a difficult job, especially if you’re not used to doing it. Sooner or later, everything will come together.”
It doesn’t look to be sooner, at least not in time for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville at Arrowhead Stadium. The Jaguars have a strong coverage unit and haven’t allowed a return of more than 30 yards.
Injuries to Keyaron Fox, Dimitri Patterson and Benny Sapp have also robbed the Chiefs of some key special-teams players and forced them to go with rookies like Rashad Barksdale, Tyron Brackenridge and Nate Harris.
That means a turnaround for Drummond is probably a week or two away at best.
“More change,” Drummond said wistfully. “That’s how it is sometimes. I thought we were getting close to raising the bar a little bit, and then a lot of switches were made, and then we took a step backward, a big step backward.
“We haven’t had consistent personnel, and we’ve had a lot of young guys. It’s hard to get things consistent and rolling when you’ve got guys switching positions and coming in and going out. That makes it difficult.”
The Chiefs have suffered with lousy field position for much of the season, and their kickoff return team is a big reason. They are 27th in return average and 30th in average starting field position after receiving a kickoff.
Coach Herm Edwards called out the kickoff return team this week. Without naming names, he was pointing directly at Drummond and Mike Priefer, the special-teams coach.
“There is no magic wand that’s going to fix this to the point where we can say we’re going to be a great return team,” said Priefer, who kept the return team after practice a couple of days this week for some extra work. “It’s an ongoing process. We’ve got young players on the front line. Those guys have never done this before. They’re professional football players, and they need to adapt quickly. I’m a positive guy. I’m going to teach my guys positively, and they are going to improve. If they don’t improve, we’ll get other players in here.
“People forget we had a real nice return against Minnesota. We were one block away against Houston from a big return. But you can say you’re close a lot of weeks. We’re about ready to take that next step.”
Drummond is another big change. He was a Pro Bowler for Detroit in 2004 but had the worst statistical season of his kickoff return career last year, and the Lions released him at the end of training camp.
He played in only one preseason game after signing with the Chiefs, so they are adjusting to him as well.
“Some of the guys were here with Dante Hall,” he said. “I’m basically the total opposite returner from him. I’m going to take one jab step and I’m up the field. I’m fast, but I’m not as quick as him. I can’t lose ground to gain ground. I’m full speed the whole way, so it’s either going to be a big hit on me, or we’re going to break a big run.”