Chiefs Blair Kerkhoff: Chiefs’ Charles plays give-and-take with returns

**Tribal Warfare** · 10-05-2009, 01:09 AM

Chiefs’ Charles plays give-and-take with returns
By BLAIR KERKHOFF
The Kansas City Star

Not the start the beleaguered Chiefs hoped to get.

Kansas City won the toss before Sunday’s kickoff against the Giants and elected to receive. Jamaal Charles gathered in Lawrence Tynes’ boot at the 6 and headed for his wall of blockers.

At the 20, the Giants’ C.C. Brown got an arm on Charles’ legs, knocking him off balance. As Charles fell, the ball popped loose and Brown recovered the fumble.

“It was my fault,” Charles said. “I came down on my arm, and it came out. I hurt the team.”

Five plays later — just 2:16 after they kicked off — the Giants had a 7-0 lead on their way to a 27-16 victory.

“At some point, we’ve got to stop doing the things to hurt us,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. “That’s a killer. You open the game like that, this is a morale-breaker.”

Charles battled fumbling problems at training camp and inexplicably lost the ball in the Chiefs’ preseason game at Minnesota with no other players close to him. It’s no secret that such mistakes are galling to Haley.

Charles entered the game leading the Chiefs in kickoff returns with an average of 23.3 yards. A former All-Big 12 running back and sprinter at Texas, he returned 15 last season as a rookie for a 21.4-yard average.

All Charles wanted was a chance to redeem himself. He’d get several opportunities — and nearly broke one.

After the Giants took a 27-3 lead early in the fourth quarter, Charles took the kickoff 1 yard deep in the end zone and headed right. He blew past most of the coverage, getting to the Chiefs 45, where Tynes made contact. Charles was down by somersault at the Giants 48.

It was Charles’ fifth return of the day, and the 53-yarder marked a career best. It was the longest kickoff return by a Chief since Dantrell Savage went 59 yards against the Titans last October.

Charles’ best effort on four returns entering Sunday was 25 yards. He returned one for 40 yards at Denver last season.

“I’d been trying find holes all day,” Charles said. “One finally opened up.”

Charles averaged 27.6 yards per return, and his 138 return yards were a career best.

But the one Charles lost set the game’s tone.

“Anytime you lose a possession like that, it’s going to hurt your chances,” Haley said. “Against a good team, it hurts you even more.”

10-05-2009, 01:09 AM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2997187	Blair Kerkhoff: Chiefs’ Charles plays give-and-take with returns Chiefs’ Charles plays give-and-take with returns By BLAIR KERKHOFF The Kansas City Star Not the start the beleaguered Chiefs hoped to get. Kansas City won the toss before Sunday’s kickoff against the Giants and elected to receive. Jamaal Charles gathered in Lawrence Tynes’ boot at the 6 and headed for his wall of blockers. At the 20, the Giants’ C.C. Brown got an arm on Charles’ legs, knocking him off balance. As Charles fell, the ball popped loose and Brown recovered the fumble. “It was my fault,” Charles said. “I came down on my arm, and it came out. I hurt the team.” Five plays later — just 2:16 after they kicked off — the Giants had a 7-0 lead on their way to a 27-16 victory. “At some point, we’ve got to stop doing the things to hurt us,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. “That’s a killer. You open the game like that, this is a morale-breaker.” Charles battled fumbling problems at training camp and inexplicably lost the ball in the Chiefs’ preseason game at Minnesota with no other players close to him. It’s no secret that such mistakes are galling to Haley. Charles entered the game leading the Chiefs in kickoff returns with an average of 23.3 yards. A former All-Big 12 running back and sprinter at Texas, he returned 15 last season as a rookie for a 21.4-yard average. All Charles wanted was a chance to redeem himself. He’d get several opportunities — and nearly broke one. After the Giants took a 27-3 lead early in the fourth quarter, Charles took the kickoff 1 yard deep in the end zone and headed right. He blew past most of the coverage, getting to the Chiefs 45, where Tynes made contact. Charles was down by somersault at the Giants 48. It was Charles’ fifth return of the day, and the 53-yarder marked a career best. It was the longest kickoff return by a Chief since Dantrell Savage went 59 yards against the Titans last October. Charles’ best effort on four returns entering Sunday was 25 yards. He returned one for 40 yards at Denver last season. “I’d been trying find holes all day,” Charles said. “One finally opened up.” Charles averaged 27.6 yards per return, and his 138 return yards were a career best. But the one Charles lost set the game’s tone. “Anytime you lose a possession like that, it’s going to hurt your chances,” Haley said. “Against a good team, it hurts you even more.”
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