Tribal Warfare
06-07-2010, 11:08 PM
Chiefs wide receiver Jerheme Urban trying to finally catch on (http://www.kansascity.com/2010/06/07/2000268/chiefs-wide-receiver-jerheme-urban.html)
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
Jerheme Urban was trying too hard, and it cost him.
It took two weeks of Chiefs offseason practices before he figured it out, but Urban corrected a mistake he’d been making for too long: Trying to be perfect.
Dropped passes and mental mistakes plagued Urban’s first two weeks. He said that was the quickest way to put a player’s future in jeopardy, particularly a player with a resumé like Urban’s: journeyman wide receiver, 29 years old, fourth team in seven-plus seasons. For years, he just passed through the seasons with this team or that team, never leaving much of an impression. He said it was time to change that.
“I’m not getting any younger,” said Urban, who caught 74 passes the last three seasons with Arizona. “I’m ready to make a step, careerwise.”
He has plenty to prove. Urban was undrafted out of Division III Trinity University in Texas when he signed in 2003 with Seattle, playing behind Jerry Rice and Bobby Engram. Then he joined Dallas in 2006, albeit confined to the practice squad. It was Urban’s pluck that caught the attention of then-Cowboys assistant Todd Haley, who would later help bring Urban to Arizona and now with the Chiefs.
“He’ll do anything asked of him,” Haley said after Monday’s practice. “I don’t think we’ve seen the top end of Jerheme.”
That’s what the Chiefs are counting on, and for now, they’re willing to wait out Urban’s miscues. Urban admitted Monday that fringe players couldn’t withstand many mistakes, and that’s why Memorial Day weekend was so important for him. He said the time off allowed him to leave town and calm his nerves.
One of the Chiefs’ most underwhelming positions is wide receiver; after Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers, the team has few reliable options for quarterback Matt Cassel. Speedy rookie Dexter McCluster is listed at wide receiver, but he also could occasionally play running back or even quarterback in the Wildcat formation.
Urban said it was during the holiday weekend that he realized his job was to be a calming influence on Cassel and the Chiefs’ coaches; perfection wasn’t necessary.
“I have one of those personalities where I come in and try to please and do everything right,” he said. “Early on, I think I was trying to do things too perfectly, and it was slowing me down a little bit. If I made a mistake, it might have compounded it a little bit.
“You want to be a dependable guy. You want the quarterbacks and coaches to say, ‘Hey, this guy knows what he’s doing. He’s going to be there for us; he’s going to catch the ball.’ Early on, I think I was trying to prove that too much. So I just let the game come to me last week.”
Haley said Urban offered the Chiefs’ offense an unusual package of size and speed. Urban is listed at 6 feet 3 and 207 pounds, but Haley said Urban was too fast to be considered a possession receiver. Haley said Urban could stretch the field and offer Cassel more downfield options. That’s something the Chiefs need if opposing defenses are to respect the team’s passing attack and also ease pressure on running backs Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.
The key for Urban is striking a balance between chasing perfection and not reaching too far to get it. He said that’s the only way he would not just make the Chiefs’ opening-day roster but also leave an impression on a team after so many years of just passing through.
“I’m scratching and clawing every single day out there because they’re always bringing in younger guys, always drafting guys to take your spot,” he said. “I never feel like I’m safe. I have to go out there every single day and make the most of it.”
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
Jerheme Urban was trying too hard, and it cost him.
It took two weeks of Chiefs offseason practices before he figured it out, but Urban corrected a mistake he’d been making for too long: Trying to be perfect.
Dropped passes and mental mistakes plagued Urban’s first two weeks. He said that was the quickest way to put a player’s future in jeopardy, particularly a player with a resumé like Urban’s: journeyman wide receiver, 29 years old, fourth team in seven-plus seasons. For years, he just passed through the seasons with this team or that team, never leaving much of an impression. He said it was time to change that.
“I’m not getting any younger,” said Urban, who caught 74 passes the last three seasons with Arizona. “I’m ready to make a step, careerwise.”
He has plenty to prove. Urban was undrafted out of Division III Trinity University in Texas when he signed in 2003 with Seattle, playing behind Jerry Rice and Bobby Engram. Then he joined Dallas in 2006, albeit confined to the practice squad. It was Urban’s pluck that caught the attention of then-Cowboys assistant Todd Haley, who would later help bring Urban to Arizona and now with the Chiefs.
“He’ll do anything asked of him,” Haley said after Monday’s practice. “I don’t think we’ve seen the top end of Jerheme.”
That’s what the Chiefs are counting on, and for now, they’re willing to wait out Urban’s miscues. Urban admitted Monday that fringe players couldn’t withstand many mistakes, and that’s why Memorial Day weekend was so important for him. He said the time off allowed him to leave town and calm his nerves.
One of the Chiefs’ most underwhelming positions is wide receiver; after Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers, the team has few reliable options for quarterback Matt Cassel. Speedy rookie Dexter McCluster is listed at wide receiver, but he also could occasionally play running back or even quarterback in the Wildcat formation.
Urban said it was during the holiday weekend that he realized his job was to be a calming influence on Cassel and the Chiefs’ coaches; perfection wasn’t necessary.
“I have one of those personalities where I come in and try to please and do everything right,” he said. “Early on, I think I was trying to do things too perfectly, and it was slowing me down a little bit. If I made a mistake, it might have compounded it a little bit.
“You want to be a dependable guy. You want the quarterbacks and coaches to say, ‘Hey, this guy knows what he’s doing. He’s going to be there for us; he’s going to catch the ball.’ Early on, I think I was trying to prove that too much. So I just let the game come to me last week.”
Haley said Urban offered the Chiefs’ offense an unusual package of size and speed. Urban is listed at 6 feet 3 and 207 pounds, but Haley said Urban was too fast to be considered a possession receiver. Haley said Urban could stretch the field and offer Cassel more downfield options. That’s something the Chiefs need if opposing defenses are to respect the team’s passing attack and also ease pressure on running backs Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.
The key for Urban is striking a balance between chasing perfection and not reaching too far to get it. He said that’s the only way he would not just make the Chiefs’ opening-day roster but also leave an impression on a team after so many years of just passing through.
“I’m scratching and clawing every single day out there because they’re always bringing in younger guys, always drafting guys to take your spot,” he said. “I never feel like I’m safe. I have to go out there every single day and make the most of it.”