Tribal Warfare
08-19-2009, 11:53 PM
As Zach Thomas continues to recover from an injury, Corey Mays is making most of his chance (http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/1393782.html)
By KENT BABB | THE KANSAS CITY STAR
RIVER FALLS, Wis. | Another day passed, and two more practice sessions concluded without the linebacker elected two months ago as the de facto leader of the Chiefs defense.
As Kansas City went through its final two-a-day session of training camp, Zach Thomas spent another morning on a stationary bike. The Chiefs practiced indoors Wednesday afternoon to avoid severe weather, and reporters couldn’t attend. But Thomas, a seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker, spent another valuable practice day healing from an unspecified injury that has kept him out of drills since Aug. 4. He’s missed all but four days of training camp.
As the Chiefs continue getting comfortable in a new defense, their loudest offseason voice has been absent on the practice field.
“He’s played in so many systems, he knows this up and down,” said linebacker Derrick Johnson, who lined up next to Thomas during offseason practice. “Zach is very much needed on the team.
“Everybody looks to Zach on everything.”
The problem is that the only place Thomas can contribute is in meetings. Johnson said the 35-year-old Thomas attends all team functions, helping coaches explain players’ assignments and their roles in what Johnson described as a complicated defense.
Thomas didn’t speak to reporters after the morning session and didn’t appear at the cafeteria on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus.
Johnson said this spring that he was learning from Thomas as much as anyone. Now, Johnson said Wednesday, the Chiefs are trying to find not only a solid inside linebacker to replace Thomas, but also another leader on defense.
“We’re not struggling or anything,” Johnson said. “But we can’t wait for him to get back, I’ll tell you that.”
For now, the Chiefs are turning to fourth-year linebacker Corey Mays. He’s the stand-in, and the 25-year-old journeyman has a chance to steal the starring role from Thomas. Mays hasn’t missed a practice, and Chiefs coach Todd Haley said Wednesday that the former New England and Cincinnati player has “gotten a little bit better every day.”
“He’s clearly in the mix,” said Haley, who wouldn’t discuss Thomas’ injury or his status. “When somebody sees that opportunity out there and seizes it, and goes after it like they want it, that’s what we want as coaches. We need that happening across the board.
“When a guy is in that mode, I’m excited about him.”
Mays began training camp as a likely reserve or special-teams player, and now he has developed into a potential starting linebacker. Not only has he mastered the scheme — Mays says he played in a different variation of the 3-4 in New England, which signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2006 — he has begun commanding his teammates’ respect for running an organized huddle and making certain his teammates are lined up properly.
“I’ve gotten more opportunities,” Mays said, “but with that power comes great responsibility.
“People follow your leadership, in my eyes, through your actions. Whatever you do — if they see you working hard, I think they will respect you more, rather than just talking about it.”
Johnson said Mays is more mature than most players his age. Johnson thought Mays was a practiced veteran, certainly not a player still in his mid-20s.
“My age or one year older,” said Johnson, who is 26.
Mays said he has no delusions of unseating the experienced and vocal Thomas once the veteran is 100 percent. He has too much to offer, Mays said — too many years for coaches to ignore.
But Thomas’ age has been the one knock on him. He was motivated, eager and outspoken during offseason drills. But could he continue defying his age and ignoring how that number — he’ll turn 36 on Sept. 1 — clashes with the NFL’s demands? During organized team activities, Thomas was active and spry, and his teammates couldn’t stop talking about how the old guy was challenging the Chiefs’ youngsters to be better and faster and smarter.
“He’s a guy who everybody respects,” Johnson said Wednesday.
Now, the Chiefs are waiting for Thomas to return. Johnson said he doesn’t expect Thomas’ long absence to threaten his job security, saying that the veteran’s leadership is worth a roster spot even if his body can’t hold up to the regular-season grind.
Haley indicated that the team is looking toward the situation with optimism. Thomas’ injury was unfortunate, but Kansas City might not have discovered Mays if Thomas hadn’t been sidelined. They’re also discovering that maybe Thomas isn’t the only one with leadership potential.
“He’s always full of speed,” Johnson said of Mays. “It’s never like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to go fast this day.’ He’s always like: ‘Hey, I’m the guy. Zach’s not here right now. I’m the guy.’ ”
By KENT BABB | THE KANSAS CITY STAR
RIVER FALLS, Wis. | Another day passed, and two more practice sessions concluded without the linebacker elected two months ago as the de facto leader of the Chiefs defense.
As Kansas City went through its final two-a-day session of training camp, Zach Thomas spent another morning on a stationary bike. The Chiefs practiced indoors Wednesday afternoon to avoid severe weather, and reporters couldn’t attend. But Thomas, a seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker, spent another valuable practice day healing from an unspecified injury that has kept him out of drills since Aug. 4. He’s missed all but four days of training camp.
As the Chiefs continue getting comfortable in a new defense, their loudest offseason voice has been absent on the practice field.
“He’s played in so many systems, he knows this up and down,” said linebacker Derrick Johnson, who lined up next to Thomas during offseason practice. “Zach is very much needed on the team.
“Everybody looks to Zach on everything.”
The problem is that the only place Thomas can contribute is in meetings. Johnson said the 35-year-old Thomas attends all team functions, helping coaches explain players’ assignments and their roles in what Johnson described as a complicated defense.
Thomas didn’t speak to reporters after the morning session and didn’t appear at the cafeteria on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus.
Johnson said this spring that he was learning from Thomas as much as anyone. Now, Johnson said Wednesday, the Chiefs are trying to find not only a solid inside linebacker to replace Thomas, but also another leader on defense.
“We’re not struggling or anything,” Johnson said. “But we can’t wait for him to get back, I’ll tell you that.”
For now, the Chiefs are turning to fourth-year linebacker Corey Mays. He’s the stand-in, and the 25-year-old journeyman has a chance to steal the starring role from Thomas. Mays hasn’t missed a practice, and Chiefs coach Todd Haley said Wednesday that the former New England and Cincinnati player has “gotten a little bit better every day.”
“He’s clearly in the mix,” said Haley, who wouldn’t discuss Thomas’ injury or his status. “When somebody sees that opportunity out there and seizes it, and goes after it like they want it, that’s what we want as coaches. We need that happening across the board.
“When a guy is in that mode, I’m excited about him.”
Mays began training camp as a likely reserve or special-teams player, and now he has developed into a potential starting linebacker. Not only has he mastered the scheme — Mays says he played in a different variation of the 3-4 in New England, which signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2006 — he has begun commanding his teammates’ respect for running an organized huddle and making certain his teammates are lined up properly.
“I’ve gotten more opportunities,” Mays said, “but with that power comes great responsibility.
“People follow your leadership, in my eyes, through your actions. Whatever you do — if they see you working hard, I think they will respect you more, rather than just talking about it.”
Johnson said Mays is more mature than most players his age. Johnson thought Mays was a practiced veteran, certainly not a player still in his mid-20s.
“My age or one year older,” said Johnson, who is 26.
Mays said he has no delusions of unseating the experienced and vocal Thomas once the veteran is 100 percent. He has too much to offer, Mays said — too many years for coaches to ignore.
But Thomas’ age has been the one knock on him. He was motivated, eager and outspoken during offseason drills. But could he continue defying his age and ignoring how that number — he’ll turn 36 on Sept. 1 — clashes with the NFL’s demands? During organized team activities, Thomas was active and spry, and his teammates couldn’t stop talking about how the old guy was challenging the Chiefs’ youngsters to be better and faster and smarter.
“He’s a guy who everybody respects,” Johnson said Wednesday.
Now, the Chiefs are waiting for Thomas to return. Johnson said he doesn’t expect Thomas’ long absence to threaten his job security, saying that the veteran’s leadership is worth a roster spot even if his body can’t hold up to the regular-season grind.
Haley indicated that the team is looking toward the situation with optimism. Thomas’ injury was unfortunate, but Kansas City might not have discovered Mays if Thomas hadn’t been sidelined. They’re also discovering that maybe Thomas isn’t the only one with leadership potential.
“He’s always full of speed,” Johnson said of Mays. “It’s never like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to go fast this day.’ He’s always like: ‘Hey, I’m the guy. Zach’s not here right now. I’m the guy.’ ”