Chiefs Chiefs buzz: Ryan is catching on at tight end

**Tribal Warfare** · 10-04-2009, 10:22 PM

Chiefs buzz: Ryan is catching on at tight end

Ryan leads KC receivers

In his first five NFL seasons, tight end Sean Ryan had all of 12 catches and didn’t score a touchdown.

Four games into the 2009 season, he’s almost matched his career receptions while already topping his career touchdowns. Ryan caught five passes, including one for a touchdown, in Sunday’s 27-16 loss to the Giants.

That gives him 11 receptions and two touchdowns. Not bad for a guy who had been little more than a situational blocker until now.

“All the good things I did, I made just as many mistakes,” Ryan said. “A costly penalty put us back in first and 15, a missed block and not communicating right on the one there was some pressure.

“I also had a drop, so there’s plenty to work on.”

Ryan is the Chiefs’ leading receiver this season. He has one more catch than Mark Bradley, Dwayne Bowe and Bobby Wade. The two TDs tie him for the team lead with Wade and Bowe.

New York is a road Giant

The Giants played their third straight road game Sunday and won them all. According to New York coach Tom Coughlin, the Giants are the 107th team in NFL history to be dispatched on a three-game trip and emerge victorious in all three.

Long fall for Ndukwe

Ikechuku Ndukwe started the first three games at right tackle, but the Chiefs thought so little of his play that they didn’t even allow him to suit up for Sunday’s game. Ndukwe was among the inactive players. Ryan O’Callaghan made his first start at right tackle. Wade Smith and Andy Alleman were the available backup offensive linemen.

Two of the three players acquired by the Chiefs during the week suited up and played. Tight end Leonard Pope played as a reserve and caught one pass for 0 yards. David Herron, a linebacker by position, played on special teams.

The third new player, cornerback Mike Richardson, was inactive.

Back in training-camp mode

The Chiefs resumed their training-camp habit of assigning punishment during practices for players who commit penalties, an effort by coach Todd Haley to cut down on the 10 times Kansas City was whistled last week at Philadelphia.

Haley said this last week that he was reverting to the River Falls, Wis., custom of forcing players to run if they committed a penalty.

On Sunday, the Chiefs were flagged seven times for 55 yards.

Another persistent problem is that the Chiefs continue to struggle on third downs. Kansas City converted just two of their 15 chances on third downs, yet another area that troubled Haley.

“Awful,” Haley said.

Familiar face burns Chiefs

Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes didn’t take it easy on his former team, making two of three field goals.

Tynes was originally signed by the Chiefs in 2001 and was their kicker during 2004-06. The Chiefs traded Tynes after the 2006 season.

Tynes made kicks of 25 and 40 yards and missed from 38 yards.

Glad that’s over

Haley has consistently referred to the Chiefs’ opening stretch as the “first quarter” of a season of change, and things couldn’t have gone much worse in those first games.

Haley has yet to get a victory as the team’s head coach, going 0-7 in preseason and regular-season games. But Haley said he is concerned neither with the past nor what lies far in the Chiefs’ future. Instead, he’s focusing — and hoping his team focuses — on the immediate future.

“That’s behind us,” he said. “We’re starting the second quarter of the season. We obviously have to improve in a lot of areas.

“The second quarter of the season starts tomorrow. And we’ve got the Dallas Cowboys.”

This and that

•Outside linebacker Tamba Hali’s forced fumble in the first quarter gave him 13 in his four-year career, tying him with Kevin Ross and Jared Allen for third on the Chiefs’ all-time list. He trails only Derrick Thomas (45) and Neil Smith (29).

•Cornerback Brandon Flowers’ interception was his third in two seasons and his first in 2009.

•Running back Larry Johnson now has 1,315 career carries, the second most in Chiefs history. Only Priest Holmes, who had 1,321 carries during 2001-07, has more than Johnson.

10-04-2009, 10:22 PM	Topic Starter
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2977187	Chiefs buzz: Ryan is catching on at tight end Chiefs buzz: Ryan is catching on at tight end Ryan leads KC receivers In his first five NFL seasons, tight end Sean Ryan had all of 12 catches and didn’t score a touchdown. Four games into the 2009 season, he’s almost matched his career receptions while already topping his career touchdowns. Ryan caught five passes, including one for a touchdown, in Sunday’s 27-16 loss to the Giants. That gives him 11 receptions and two touchdowns. Not bad for a guy who had been little more than a situational blocker until now. “All the good things I did, I made just as many mistakes,” Ryan said. “A costly penalty put us back in first and 15, a missed block and not communicating right on the one there was some pressure. “I also had a drop, so there’s plenty to work on.” Ryan is the Chiefs’ leading receiver this season. He has one more catch than Mark Bradley, Dwayne Bowe and Bobby Wade. The two TDs tie him for the team lead with Wade and Bowe. New York is a road Giant The Giants played their third straight road game Sunday and won them all. According to New York coach Tom Coughlin, the Giants are the 107th team in NFL history to be dispatched on a three-game trip and emerge victorious in all three. Long fall for Ndukwe Ikechuku Ndukwe started the first three games at right tackle, but the Chiefs thought so little of his play that they didn’t even allow him to suit up for Sunday’s game. Ndukwe was among the inactive players. Ryan O’Callaghan made his first start at right tackle. Wade Smith and Andy Alleman were the available backup offensive linemen. Two of the three players acquired by the Chiefs during the week suited up and played. Tight end Leonard Pope played as a reserve and caught one pass for 0 yards. David Herron, a linebacker by position, played on special teams. The third new player, cornerback Mike Richardson, was inactive. Back in training-camp mode The Chiefs resumed their training-camp habit of assigning punishment during practices for players who commit penalties, an effort by coach Todd Haley to cut down on the 10 times Kansas City was whistled last week at Philadelphia. Haley said this last week that he was reverting to the River Falls, Wis., custom of forcing players to run if they committed a penalty. On Sunday, the Chiefs were flagged seven times for 55 yards. Another persistent problem is that the Chiefs continue to struggle on third downs. Kansas City converted just two of their 15 chances on third downs, yet another area that troubled Haley. “Awful,” Haley said. Familiar face burns Chiefs Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes didn’t take it easy on his former team, making two of three field goals. Tynes was originally signed by the Chiefs in 2001 and was their kicker during 2004-06. The Chiefs traded Tynes after the 2006 season. Tynes made kicks of 25 and 40 yards and missed from 38 yards. Glad that’s over Haley has consistently referred to the Chiefs’ opening stretch as the “first quarter” of a season of change, and things couldn’t have gone much worse in those first games. Haley has yet to get a victory as the team’s head coach, going 0-7 in preseason and regular-season games. But Haley said he is concerned neither with the past nor what lies far in the Chiefs’ future. Instead, he’s focusing — and hoping his team focuses — on the immediate future. “That’s behind us,” he said. “We’re starting the second quarter of the season. We obviously have to improve in a lot of areas. “The second quarter of the season starts tomorrow. And we’ve got the Dallas Cowboys.” This and that •Outside linebacker Tamba Hali’s forced fumble in the first quarter gave him 13 in his four-year career, tying him with Kevin Ross and Jared Allen for third on the Chiefs’ all-time list. He trails only Derrick Thomas (45) and Neil Smith (29). •Cornerback Brandon Flowers’ interception was his third in two seasons and his first in 2009. •Running back Larry Johnson now has 1,315 career carries, the second most in Chiefs history. Only Priest Holmes, who had 1,321 carries during 2001-07, has more than Johnson.
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