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Tribal Warfare
11-05-2008, 03:12 AM
Injuries, suspensions have forced Chiefs backfield to take a different look almost weekly (http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/875870.html)

Coach Herm Edwards says the Chiefs are getting used to this game of plug and play. It’s becoming a trend at Arrowhead Stadium: Watch as another key offensive player is injured or ineligible, and scramble to find someone to replace him.

The Chiefs spent most of the first half of the season auditioning quarterbacks, hoping to find someone who could play before Tyler Thigpen finally accomplished what Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard could not — play and stay healthy. Now that that’s settled, the Chiefs are shopping for running backs after Kolby Smith suffered a season-ending knee injury Sunday in a loss against Tampa Bay.

“We’re kind of used to it now,” Edwards said Tuesday. “It’s not a big deal. It’s kind of how we’ve been going with it. It affects you some, no doubt about it.”

Edwards said Smith’s injury will require surgery, and the second-year running back was placed on injured reserve. Edwards said the Chiefs probably will sign another running back. However, unlike the quarterback derby that might have given a free agent a chance at playing time, a rusher would be slipped in at the bottom of the pile on the practice squad.

For now, the Chiefs will proceed with rookies Jamaal Charles and Dantrell Savage and former practice-squad back Jackie Battle as their game-day rushers. Edwards said the Chiefs have to get through this week’s game at San Diego and adjust again next week when Larry Johnson returns from his one-game suspension. Johnson will serve his punishment this week and will not be at practice or other team functions. In all, he will have missed four games after being benched the previous three.

“Once he comes back,” Edwards said, “he’s eligible to play. We’ll go from there. That’s a week from now, and we’ll see what happens.”

And Edwards knows how much can happen in a week. Because of injuries and Johnson’s issues, the Chiefs have started five quarterback-running back combos in eight games. The coach said it has given Kansas City an additional hurdle while trying to establish rhythm on offense, and it also has made it difficult for coaches to gauge their young players. Instead of the youngsters getting comfortable, they’re continually playing with new faces in key positions, and that’s not doing the 1-7 Chiefs any favors.

“Players have to play together,” Edwards said. “You get a feel for them. That’s what hurt us with the quarterback situation. We never had a consistent guy back there; it seemed like every week we were changing positions.”

The Chiefs will adjust this week to not having a reliable big back when Kansas City moves out of the spread. Coaches made an effort last week to install power rushing plays so that Tampa Bay couldn’t always attack the quarterback. The Chiefs’ strategy worked. Thigpen was sacked once, and the changes helped invigorate the offense, which rushed for 183 yards and took pressure off Thigpen long enough that he passed for 164.

The Chiefs won’t have that now, and Edwards said Sunday that the 199-pound Charles isn’t built to carry the team’s full load. Neither is Savage, who’s listed at 5 feet 8 and 182 pounds. That leaves Battle, who weighs nearly 240 pounds but spent nearly two months on Kansas City’s scout team before being promoted last week to strengthen a corps that during parts of this season had so much depth that tight end Tony Gonzalez called it a “luxury.”

Now, it’s at best a question and at worst a liability. The Chiefs entered this season hoping to use a two-running back system, the speedy Charles complementing the powerful Johnson and Smith. For at least one more week, another Kansas City plan will have to wait.

Charles rushed for 106 yards Sunday, which gives the Chiefs hope they can make it through this week, long enough for Johnson to be available. Edwards said Tuesday the Chiefs are making progress, but there remain some obstacles that Kansas City can’t seem to leave behind.

“When you lose Kolby,” Edwards said, “that’s a big blow. He was playing well. We ran the ball pretty good last week against a team that’s tough to run against.

“But that’s the way the league is. You’ve got to be able to adjust.”

■ ROSTER MOVES: The Chiefs shook up their roster Tuesday, and they might not be finished. Edwards said the team released tight end John Paul Foschi, cornerback Tyron Brackenridge and punter Steve Weatherford.

They moved a pair of rookies, wide receiver Kevin Robinson and tight end Michael Merritt, to the active roster after both had been on the physically unable to perform list. Punter Dustin Colquitt is expected to return this week from a groin injury.

The Chiefs will sign at least one cornerback this week to strengthen a unit weakened by injuries. They looked Tuesday at veterans Ricardo Colclough, who has spent time with three teams in a little more than a year, and David Macklin, who was cut by St. Louis during the preseason.

Chiefs cornerback Patrick Surtain has a quadriceps injury and won’t play Sunday, and rookie Brandon Flowers is expected to play despite a hamstring injury.

oaklandhater
11-05-2008, 03:16 AM
So herm is going to use injuries and suspensions to try and save his job for next year I take it ?

TEX
11-05-2008, 03:38 AM
Whatever, all this does is give Carl and Herm excuses to come back next year. :shake:

mikey23545
11-05-2008, 04:50 AM
So, you think these injuries didn't happen? Players are undergoing surgery just to save Herm's job? Injuries only weaken other teams, not the Chiefs?

What supremely retarded posts.

TommyHawk69
11-05-2008, 06:50 AM
Is it just me or has this been the year of the blown out knees all over the NFL?

philfree
11-05-2008, 07:54 AM
Ricardo Colclough? I remember this guy as having some good potential as a draft prospect. Anybody know what happened to make him a street FA?

PhilFree:arrow:

Jack Burton
11-05-2008, 08:24 AM
Why would you cut Brackenridge and Patterson and keep Leggett?

Hammock Parties
11-05-2008, 08:26 AM
Why would you cut Brackenridge and Patterson and keep Leggett?

Leggett gave up the game-tying score...we're trying to get the #1 pick, now. Hello?

Reerun_KC
11-05-2008, 08:59 AM
So herm is going to use injuries and suspensions to try and save his job for next year I take it ?

As sickening as it is, your probably right.... Another year of Herm and Carl, there might not be a fan left to even root for the team and players.

We are standing by, the moment Carl and Herm are gone, we are going to games...

whoman69
11-05-2008, 09:35 AM
So herm is going to use injuries and suspensions to try and save his job for next year I take it ?

Maybe he should have thought about putting a decent o-line out there so we wouldn't have all these injuries.

Reerun_KC
11-05-2008, 09:36 AM
Maybe he should have thought about putting a decent o-line out there so we wouldn't have all these injuries.

What? Herm is a great "keen eye" for talent...

His lines are a product of him....

HemiEd
11-05-2008, 09:47 AM
Surtain is hurt again? Who would have thought that?

Reerun_KC
11-05-2008, 09:47 AM
Time to bring Back LJ?