Babb:Charles disappointed so far
 

Charles disappointed so far
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

Jamaal Charles ended the preseason without the signature long runs that have defined his last two seasons, and two fumbles Thursday further soured him on his own performance.

Charles’ longest run was a 10-yarder in a 20-19 loss at Green Bay. His only carry into the end zone during the preseason was nullified by a holding call. He fumbled twice against the Packers, both times inside the red zone.

“I feel like I played disgusting,” Charles said afterward.

This wasn’t the type of play Charles is known for. He is perhaps the Chiefs’ most explosive player, and other than seven fumbles over his two seasons as a starter — he racked up 2,587 yards in the process — he’s not known as a careless player. He has, in that time, fumbled once for every 60 carries; on Thursday, he fumbled once per 4 1/2 carries.

“I thought I was in practice,” he said. “I turned my body, and I thought I was going to get a hand tackle; next thing I know, somebody came up there and ripped it right out there.”

Coach Todd Haley said that seemed to be the problem, not some disconcerting worry about Charles’ ability to protect the ball. Haley said that because players underwent a training camp light with contact during practices, they weren’t prepared for the hits they’ll take in games. Haley said Charles and others — the Chiefs fumbled four times Thursday, losing three of them among their five turnovers — clearly hadn’t done enough work on preventing fumbles.

“It’s what we talk about as a staff,” Haley said, “that we need to catch up on the back end and make sure that we’re doing enough ball security. We obviously haven’t done enough.”

Haley reiterated something he has said often: That the Chiefs aren’t yet to the point where they can turn the ball over and expect to win. That was especially true Thursday, when Kansas City held a second-half lead and backup quarterback Tyler Palko threw an interception that was returned for the go-ahead touchdown.

“We can’t turn the football over, and we did it. We’ve done it too much here. We’ve done it in practice a few times. That’s troubling,” Haley said. “ … Your defense and special teams, you’ve got to create turnovers. You need to end up in the plus (in turnover differential), and we need to end up well in the plus to be a good team this year.”

The Chiefs finished minus-2 in turnover differential during the preseason, after being plus-9 during the 2010 regular season.

Charles said he was pleased that, if nothing else, he finished the preseason with no injuries. Still, Charles said he expects more of himself.

“I tried to break it every time I got in the backfield,” said Charles, whose dazzling runs last year helped him finish with 1,467 rushing yards, second in the NFL.

Charles said he would work particularly hard in practice and refocus on protecting the ball next week before the regular-season opener against Buffalo at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 11. Haley indicated that players might have no choice; coaches will hammer the point to the team now that the preseason has finished.

Charles said he’s not worried. In fact, he said that maybe Thursday’s fumbles and the disappointing preseason will be good for him. He said it was a reminder that he’s not perfect and that he’ll have to work at maintaining the lofty pace he set in his first two seasons as a starter.

“Get it out of my system and learn,” he said.

Kind of reassuring in a way. I like Charles attitude.

Good to hear him say that and glad it happened now and not later. He did have a few fumbles at the wrong time, the playoff game especially. That being said, I can list a guys I am looking closer at then Charles right now.

Whaa because he fumbles. Ass lickers. He is it.......

Yeah use him for the feature back.............

Ass kissers, chimp in.

LOL I do not care. Run free then..

He sucks and is weak. IMO There is a reason he is below 4th.

I was gonna weigh in here, but Smed's got this.

Just honest.

Never was a carry issue. Just fumbles, OK Johnson sucks because he play's 24/7 and fumbles less than Charles.

Wow JC is like that gay guy here. Oh Zach.... LOL

Spews but no info.

Need more carries. OMG

I would just as soon get all the turnovers out of the way in preseason. :D

I have no idea what the hell you are saying, but whatever it is, I have to agree, cause you say it with such flair.

Ok...so 'The Plan' was to do more meetings, movie nights and light practices because of the lockout and now 'The Plan' is to play catch up because the team is behind and not ready for contact? WTF? This is Herm Edwards kind of stuff...

Sadly, the truth.

I hope we blow the socks off of the Bills, but I just don't get the feeling that Haley has his team prepared. Not only for this game, but for the season. Actually it kind of seems like he doesn't know what the heck he's doing. It's disorganized.