Babb:Chiefs veteran McIntosh trying to hang on in a new position

[Tribal Warfare]

Chiefs veteran McIntosh trying to hang on in a new position
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star


Damion McIntosh knows he’s part of the past. He’s part of the old guard in a youth movement, and the Chiefs’ 31-year-old right tackle is just trying to prove he can still hang with these youngsters, the ones pushing him aside.

Days like last Sunday don’t help. Atlanta picked on the old tackle, one of the Chiefs’ two starting offensive linemen not in his 20s. Falcons defensive end John Abraham shifted to McIntosh’s side on the first play. Abraham spun past McIntosh, ran into the backfield and sacked Tyler Thigpen.

The Chiefs were in an early hole, and an old guy on a young team let it happen.

“It’s a growing process,” McIntosh said this week. “Maybe if I was 22 years old …”

But he’s not, and that’s why McIntosh is facing harsher scrutiny than someone who hasn’t been in the league nearly a decade.

He’s trying to grow into being comfortable on the right side, a spot he’d never played in his eight previous seasons. The Chiefs drafted Branden Albert in the first round, and coaches knew immediately Albert would be their left tackle. That pushed McIntosh out of a position he’d played since 2000.

McIntosh agreed to the move because, well, what else could he do? He’d seen other veterans be cut or shipped away, last year’s aging offensive line disbanded as part of Kansas City’s overhaul. McIntosh and left guard Brian Waters are the only starters the Chiefs retained.

“I just made it clear: I’ve never played right tackle,” McIntosh said this week. “I came in and groomed as a left tackle; that’s all I’ve played is left tackle. People assume I can make the change right away.”

Coach Herm Edwards said the Chiefs are trying to be patient with McIntosh as he learns his new position. But with every mistake — Abraham beat McIntosh again Sunday and forced a fumble — the team’s patience is tested.

The Chiefs have made it clear this season they’d rather experiment with a young player than watch an aging one struggle. As McIntosh tries to hold on to his starting job, second-year player Herb Taylor is preparing himself to take it.

“I’m ready to go in,” Taylor said. “I’m just as prepared as any of the guys who are starting right now.”

Edwards said the Chiefs aren’t ready to make a move. Not yet. They’re going to stick with McIntosh and hope he grasps the footwork and mentality the right side requires. Edwards admitted that McIntosh has made mistakes, but so far coaches are being patient because McIntosh is still learning and adjusting.

But McIntosh knows: The more time passes and the slower he settles in, the more likely Taylor slides into the starting lineup and McIntosh accepts a role he’s been trying to avoid since last offseason — part of Kansas City’s past instead of its future.

“He has to play to a certain standard,” Edwards said, “and I think he’s trying to get there.”

McIntosh has said for months the move hasn’t been easy. During training camp, he admitted he had little choice in the matter and would try to adapt. It is, after all, the less strenuous of the two tackle spots. But McIntosh said he’d grown familiar on the left side. Now, he’s trying to regain that familiarity in a spot that still seems foreign.

“I’ve been playing left tackle for nine years,” he said. “All I can do is try my best.”

McIntosh said he doesn’t think he deserves to be shifted out of the starting lineup. He said he’s making progress, and each week the right side feels more like home. Yes, he admits now it was the right move to put Albert at left tackle and move McIntosh to the other side.

But he still needs more time. He said days such as last Sunday might happen, but he wants coaches to have patience.

“They know that this isn’t something I’ve done before,” McIntosh said. “I go out there and compete. That’s the main thing. If I wasn’t competing, then, yeah, I deserve not to be playing.

“We’re trying to put the best players out there, and I feel I’m one of the best ones.”

[Katie]

what's wrong with Richardson?

[suds79]

Originally Posted by Katie

what's wrong with Richardson?

Yeah I don't get that.

Herm is so hellbent on paying young guys yet the one old guy who clearly can't play he keeps in there?? WTF?

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by suds79

Yeah I don't get that.

Herm is so hellbent on paying young guys yet the one old guy who clearly can't play he keeps in there?? WTF?

What does McIntosh's contract look like?? Anyone know?

Is it a money issue as to why hes in there over a young guy?

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

All offseason McIntosh said he wasn't really comfortable with the move and he struggled all offseason. It was a coaching error to keep him at RT. Once it was obvious he couldn't handle it they should have moved him to backup LT and started giving more reps to Taylor and Richardson at RT.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

[Uncle_Ted]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

What does McIntosh's contract look like?? Anyone know?

Is it a money issue as to why hes in there over a young guy?

That could explain why he's still on the team, but not why he's still starting.

[TrickyNicky]

One can only pray that if McIntosh doesn't improve, he will be benched for Taylor during the bye week. But that would, you know, make sense and we can't have that.

[Chief Faithful]

I cannot understand why Herm is trying to develop a 31 year old tackle when he has a better 24 year old tackle sitting on the bench ready to play.

Let McIntoad be the backup LT and start Taylor. McIntoad would make a very good backup LT, but he sucks as a starting RT.

[Iowanian]

Wasn't McIntosh a RT with Sandy Eggo for several seasons?

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Wasn't McIntosh a RT with Sandy Eggo for several seasons?

kcchiefs.com

"2003
San Diego (2000-03): Played in 41 games (37 starts) at left tackle. "

[Bob Dole]

I-77 speaks.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Chief Faithful

I cannot understand why Herm is trying to develop a 31 year old tackle when he has a better 24 year old tackle sitting on the bench ready to play. ...

There must be a reason, Mr. Chief Faithful. Maybe McInTrash inadvertently opened some of Herm's mail and found his subscription renewal to Glamor Magazine. Or, maybe while in college, McInTool engaged in a foursome with Herm, a midget horse, and a photographer. Or, maybe McInTubs forgot to knock and walked into Herm's office to discover him polishing his poll with one hand and caressing a picture of David Hasselhoff with the other. Whatever it is, it must be bad.

FAX