Babb: New Chief McCluster shows strength to make up for lack of size

[Tribal Warfare]

New Chief McCluster shows strength to make up for lack of size (http://www.kansascity.com/2010/05/02/1918902/new-chief-mccluster-has-shown.html)
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

As much as the Chiefs might hope for one last growth spurt, or order Dexter McCluster to burn hours in the weight room, there’s a fact he has come to terms with.

“I can tell you one thing,” McCluster, a rookie slot receiver, said this weekend during Kansas City’s three-day rookie minicamp. “I’m 5-8 and 21 years old, so I don’t think I’m growing taller right now.”

The Chiefs drafted McCluster last weekend in the second round out of Mississippi. They like his speed and playmaking ability, and those skills remind observers of Philadelphia receiver DeSean Jackson and San Diego running back Darren Sproles. But like those players, it’s McCluster’s size that doesn’t seem a natural fit in the NFL.

McCluster is listed at 170 pounds, a weight that makes Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles — at 199 pounds — look like Hercules. Both Jackson and Sproles are each at least 10 pounds heavier than McCluster.

Now the Chiefs’ challenge is to try to add thickness to McCluster without sacrificing the speed and quickness that made him so enticing. Chiefs coach Todd Haley said that whatever happens next, McCluster already has proved that he possesses the mettle to hang in an NFL locker room.

“It takes special ability and character to make it at that size,” Haley said. “We feel he’s got the right combination of quickness, speed and strength, which is a key thing when you start talking about smaller receivers or backs.”

Haley compared McCluster to former New York Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet (5-10, 188 pounds) and former Chiefs and St. Louis kick returner Dante Hall (5-8, 187), players who overcame their diminutive statures with remarkable strength. Haley said he thought McCluster was a similar kind of player.

“Those are the things that you hear about him: He’s pound-for-pound the strongest guy at Mississippi,” Haley said.

McCluster admitted this weekend that this wasn’t the first time he’s been questioned about his size. It’s also not the first time he overcame those concerns and thrived. He played running back and receiver for the Rebels, catching 130 passes and rushing for 1,955 yards in four seasons. Haley said Friday that McCluster was one of the Chiefs’ highest-rated running backs and wide receivers on the team’s draft board when its turn came up early in the second round.

He was small for Southeastern Conference standards, too. Not that it affected his performance or confidence.

“There was never a time at Ole Miss that I doubted myself,” McCluster said. “All my life growing up, I’ve been a smaller guy and had to prove (myself) to people. It was pretty much the fuel to my success.”

Another thing that has fueled McCluster’s success is his willingness to work. He said he’d be up for extra work in the weight room or playing any position. He worked this weekend at running back, receiver and kick returner.

“We oriented him into multiple areas,” Haley said. “So it was important for us to see how he handled some of that: being in a different classroom, different meeting, different spots. We’re learning as much as they are, and it’s important.”

That’s not all.

“Hope he grows, too,” Haley said with a laugh.

Haley didn’t elaborate on the team’s plans to thicken McCluster before training camp, saying that the team will lean on first-year strength coach Mike Clark to design a program for McCluster.

Not that it matters, McCluster said.

“I want to make a name for myself,” he said. “Whatever they ask, you best believe I’m doing it.”

[BWillie]

How many times did he bench 225 at the combine

[Hootie]

20

[BWillie]

20

I don't believe it

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Hope he lasts longer than Dante in the league.

[BWillie]

Wow. Hootie is right. This little bastard is one strong mofugger. Maybe that will put some of this injury concerns to bed a little. He was the STRONGEST wide receiver, lifted more than 245 lbs Lagarette Blount, and at least a handful of offensive freaking tackles. This guy is manly. I like it.

[salame]

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/8194/preditorweighin.jpg

[Fritz88]

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/8194/preditorweighin.jpg

ROFLROFL

[blazzin311]

Hope he lasts longer than Dante in the league.

My thoughts exactly!

[TheGuardian]

I don't believe it

http://www.nfl.com/combine/top-performers?tabIndex=1

20 reps.

[DumbHillbillies]

I don't believe it

5'8", Short arms not that suprising

[BWillie]

5'8", Short arms not that suprising

Contrary to popular belief, being short or tall has little to do w/ how much one can bench press. If you look at powerlifting competitions and some of the data compiled, you will find there is not a strong correlation to height at all.

[donkhater]

I'm really not concerned with McCluster's size. He'll be utilized mainly in open space situations. Most hits he'll endure will be open field collisions where he'll just bounce back up, not the pile ups where one defender stands you up and another takes a running whack at you.

If he was going to run through the tackles, then it'd be an issue. Punt returns, slot reciever duties, etc? Not so much IMO.

[Sure-Oz]

I bet he's just a slot reciever with the occasional carry or a few. I wouldn't use him on returns unless you had to for a game. I don't want the kid to be overused.

[salame]

I'm sure he will just be a wide-out and do some occasional trick plays and wildcat stuff.

[JohnnyV13]

I don't believe it

I'm 5'7 173, and I bench press 225 for 3 sets of 10 in my routine.


I can probably do 14 or 15 for a single set strength test. And, I'm over 30 and hardly a professional football player.


I can believe McCluster did 20 reps at the combine. I think short arms do help a bench presser. I've been a strong bench presser my whole life, probably more than any other routine.

[SPATCH]

20

strempth.... not strength. strempth.

[SPATCH]

I'm 5'7 173, and I bench press 225 for 3 sets of 10 in my routine.


I can probably do 14 or 15 for a single set strength test. And, I'm over 30 and hardly a professional football player.


I can believe McCluster did 20 reps at the combine. I think short arms do help a bench presser. I've been a strong bench presser my whole life, probably more than any other routine.

Yeah and I've got a 10 inch cock.





















just fuckin with you dude. I believe you.

[Mr. Laz]

gimme a call when he's strong enough to play ILB

[DaneMcCloud]

gimme a call when he's strong enough to play ILB

There are only so many offensive playmakers in the NFL that can score every single time they touch the ball.

Linebackers are everywhere and odds are that you're not going to find anyone special at #36 or #50.

[DumbHillbillies]

Contrary to popular belief, being short or tall has little to do w/ how much one can bench press. If you look at powerlifting competitions and some of the data compiled, you will find there is not a strong correlation to height at all.

I don't know, I've heard nfl analyst/coaches say that the don't too much emphasis on the bench press for 3-4 DEs with long arms. I'll find an article.

[KCrockaholic]

People make too much of a big deal about his size. I don't care how big he is. He is one of the few players in the NFL that can do basically everything in an NFL offense. Runningbacks turned WR's should be the new cliche for the next couple years. With the success of guys like Percy Harvin, we should only see a bigger splash of playmakers like McCluster in the NFL.

[Pants]

People make too much of a big deal about his size. I don't care how big he is. He is one of the few players in the NFL that can do basically everything in an NFL offense. Runningbacks turned WR's should be the new cliche for the next couple years. With the success of guys like Percy Harvin, we should only see a bigger splash of playmakers like McCluster in the NFL.

Yeah, but he was a WR turned RB turned WR again. It's not like he's played only RB his whole life.

[KCrockaholic]

Yeah, but he was a WR turned RB turned WR again. It's not like he's played only RB his whole life.

Players who have experience doing both gain a huge advantage over guys who have been stuck playing 1 position their whole career. Golden Tate should only continue to show what it can do for a career.

[ChiefMojo]

That is true, the two main slot receivers of interest that are mainly talked about in McCluster and Tate both have RB/WR playing time. What makes them special is what they do with the ball after the catch... they are just quick RB's out in space. Sproles is the same way, but he works out of the backfield as we all know.

[Mecca]

Contrary to popular belief, being short or tall has little to do w/ how much one can bench press. If you look at powerlifting competitions and some of the data compiled, you will find there is not a strong correlation to height at all.

It has nothing to do with how much you can bench, your arm length does have something to do with the amount of reps you can do.

Basically a high rep number is really not a true indicator of strength, anyone who lifts for power doesn't do high reps, they do low reps of high weight. 225 is basically something you need to train yourself for stamina wise more than power wise, it's why you see some big guys have low numbers with it.

If a guy doesn't extensively train for it, he won't get that many reps in because he's not training that way even though he may be significantly stronger than a guy who does numerous more reps.

[OleMissCub]

Yeah, but he was a WR turned RB turned WR again. It's not like he's played only RB his whole life.

but he played RB for 26 straight games in the SEC against the likes of Bama, Florida, & LSU. He definitely knows what he is doing if he is put back there.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Contrary to popular belief, being short or tall has little to do w/ how much one can bench press. If you look at powerlifting competitions and some of the data compiled, you will find there is not a strong correlation to height at all.

It does when you have 29" arms.

[CoMoChief]

So when you're benching 225 20 times, you're saying that arm length has "nothing" to do with it?

You're both laying flat on the same bench, guy A is 5'7 and lifts the bar 29in up into the air and back down. Guy B is 6'4 and has 46in up into the air.

Why do you think it's easier for smaller guys to put on muscle mass than people who are tall and lanky?

[chiefsnorth]

will be nice to have actual playmakers instead of the practice squad heroes Carl and Herm ran out there.
Posted via Mobile Device

[penguinz]

So when you're benching 225 20 times, you're saying that arm length has "nothing" to do with it?

You're both laying flat on the same bench, guy A is 5'7 and lifts the bar 29in up into the air and back down. Guy B is 6'4 and has 46in up into the air.

Why do you think it's easier for smaller guys to put on muscle mass than people who are tall and lanky?It isn't. It just appears that they put on more mass at a faster rate because it is compressed into a smaller area.

[BWillie]

It has nothing to do with how much you can bench, your arm length does have something to do with the amount of reps you can do.

Basically a high rep number is really not a true indicator of strength, anyone who lifts for power doesn't do high reps, they do low reps of high weight. 225 is basically something you need to train yourself for stamina wise more than power wise, it's why you see some big guys have low numbers with it.

If a guy doesn't extensively train for it, he won't get that many reps in because he's not training that way even though he may be significantly stronger than a guy who does numerous more reps.

I agree w/ you for the most part. But guys who bench alot, usually can bench w/ alot of reps up to a degree. I'm sure there are some cases where a guy benched 25 reps, and was actually stronger than a guy that benched 20 reps. Once you start getting above 20 reps on something, it gets much more difficult to predict what your one rep max is. They should really increase the weight to something that they know everybody can lift. Like 275 or something. You can still take something away from it though.

[Mecca]

If they want true indicators the bench number and reps should be indicated by your position, not having everyone do the same.

Because for example a lineman would not lift the same as a DB or WR would.

[TheGuardian]

Contrary to popular belief, being short or tall has little to do w/ how much one can bench press. If you look at powerlifting competitions and some of the data compiled, you will find there is not a strong correlation to height at all.

And where would you find this data? People don't get measured for height at powerlifting competitions you dope. It's rare for a long armed guy to bench press a lot. Usually guys with t-rex arms are your biggest bench pressers.

[chiefzilla1501]

There are only so many offensive playmakers in the NFL that can score every single time they touch the ball.

Linebackers are everywhere and odds are that you're not going to find anyone special at #36 or #50.

I agree. ILB? I can understand wanting a pass rusher who might be special. But ILB? You put a real good Nose Tackle and get better production out of your DEs, and ILB can be the easiest job on earth. We don't have that Nose Tackle yet, but that's also not a position that I think is impossible to find. We just don't have one today.

[Reerun_KC]

Dude is going to be explosive everytime he touches the ball.. I am stoked to see him on the field this fall

[keg in kc]

I usually use a rolled-up tube sock to make up for my lack of size.

Aw shit, I said that out loud didn't I.

Damn it.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

There are only so many offensive playmakers in the NFL that can score every single time they touch the ball.

Linebackers are everywhere and odds are that you're not going to find anyone special at #36 or #50.

True dat.

[chiefzilla1501]

It does when you have 29" arms.

Just to put it in perspective. The guy we should be comparing this guy to isn't Benn or Dez Bryant, who are totally different receivers. Compare him to a guy like Jordan Shiipley or Golden Tate.

McCluster's arms are 29 1/4". He put up 20 on the bench.
Golden Tate's arms are 30 1/2". He put up 17 on the bench
Jordan Shipley's arms are 30 1/2". He put up 16 on the bench.

A few years ago, Darren Sproles' arms were 28" and he put up 23 on the bench.

1" isn't going to give you that much of an advantage. Moral of the story? He puts up a competitive bench with Tate/Shipley (and probably better), who are both slot receivers. And he puts up a competitive bench (but probably lower) with Darren Sproles.

He's a very strong guy for his size. Ridiculous for anyone to suggest otherwise.

[LaChapelle]

This regime has no clue how to handle a secret weapon
No one knew shit about Kris Wilson for 2 years

[BossChief]

This regime has no clue how to handle a secret weapon
No one knew shit about Kris Wilson for 2 years

:facepalm:

[lostcause]

This regime has no clue how to handle a secret weapon
No one knew shit about Kris Wilson for 2 years

he was super super top secret.

[BWillie]

And where would you find this data? People don't get measured for height at powerlifting competitions you dope. It's rare for a long armed guy to bench press a lot. Usually guys with t-rex arms are your biggest bench pressers.

The World Powerlifting Organization world record holder in the bench press, Ryan Kennelly, is like 6-3.

What I am saying is tall people always try to give the excuse, oh I can't squat, or deadlift, or bench press very much because I'm tall. While there is some truth to the argument being shorter CAN have benefit, it is greatly overstated.

Actually, I'm sure people who have larger bone structures have the propensity to become stronger than ectomorphs and those w/ smaller bone structure. There are people w/ large bone structure who are tall, short and in between. The same can be said about people w/ small bone structure.

[Nightfyre]

The World Powerlifting Organization world record holder in the bench press, Ryan Kennelly, is like 6-3.

What I am saying is tall people always try to give the excuse, oh I can't squat, or deadlift, or bench press very much because I'm tall. While there is some truth to the argument being shorter CAN have benefit, it is greatly overstated.

Actually, I'm sure people who have larger bone structures have the propensity to become stronger than ectomorphs and those w/ smaller bone structure. There are people w/ large bone structure who are tall, short and in between. The same can be said about people w/ small bone structure.

Kennelly has short arms relative to his height. Arm length has a lot to do with it.

[TheGuardian]

The World Powerlifting Organization world record holder in the bench press, Ryan Kennelly, is like 6-3.


First off, no he's not. He's actually like 6'1" or MAYBE 6'2". Second he has t-rex length arms for a guy his height and he's super thick through his torso. Very few long armed guys are good bench pressers. Brad Gillingham is one of the few exceptions I can think of. Generally bench specialists are bench specialists for a reason. They are leveraged to be good benchers, and to be a super bencher generally it means you have shitty leverages for say, deadlifting, which tends to like really long armed people.


What I am saying is tall people always try to give the excuse, oh I can't squat, or deadlift, or bench press very much because I'm tall. While there is some truth to the argument being shorter CAN have benefit, it is greatly overstated.



It has nothing to do with being tall or short. It's about lever length and nervous system activation. You don't know what you're talking about. You didn't even believe McCluster benched 225x20, which really isn't anything special even for 170.

[boogblaster]

I just hope he can return the ball back to the 40 every time ...

[Mr. Laz]

I just hope he can return the ball back to the 40 every time ...i don't think they plan on him returning anything.

remember they drafted smurf #2 in the 2nd round as well to be the returner and nickleback ... oh yea and to be the 'best blitzer' in the league.


maybe they figure they need 2 smurfs ... 1 to return punts and 1 to return kickoffs because either one might get killed if they handle the ball too much.

[chiefzilla1501]

i don't think they plan on him returning anything.

remember they drafted smurf #2 in the 2nd round as well to be the returner and nickleback ... oh yea and to be the 'best blitzer' in the league.


maybe they figure they need 2 smurfs ... 1 to return punts and 1 to return kickoffs because they might get killed if they handle the ball too much.

Two totally different returners. I'd be shocked if either does both jobs. McCluster is better suited for kick returns because he's faster and has the ability to make moves in the open field. Arenas is better suited for punt returns because he seems to have terrific instincts and great vision to see the field as the ball falls into his hands. When you watch Arenas, he's not that fast nor does he have flashy moves. But he seems to beat everybody because he's always moving to the right spots as soon as he catches the ball.

[TheGuardian]

Ball players are ball players. I don't give a damn how tall or short they are if they kick ass on the field.

[HotRoute]

as long as this guy can make big plays out of nothing i will be happy, i think the fact that he can do just about everything from RB to WR to wildcat Qb is enough to strike fear into the opposing teams defense