Chiefs News Etc 8/17/12

[Ace Gunner]

Slow day so far. Heard Sean Salsbury on the radio talking about the QB situation in KC and ATL. Sean said Matt Ryan is on fire again and the Chiefs will have their hands full from the very first game this season.

Then, they put on a couple of Chiefs cheerleaders and interviewed them. The cheerleaders said they have to pass a "football test" and one of the questions was "align each team logo with it's proper division". Like I said, slow news day.


So, here's a piece written for the Chiefs' site;






Running back has factored into Kansas City’s offense this preseason





St. Joseph, Mo. – If things went as planned, Shaun Draughn would probably be in Redskins camp right now.

That’s where he was at this time last year, eyeing a spot on Washington’s 53-man roster.

But things weren’t meant to be in Washington. Draughn received limited opportunities – just 11 preseason carries – and his 1.7-yard rushing average didn’t do the undrafted rookie any favors.

Shaun Draughn was just another name looking for work by the time September rolled around.

“I came up the rough side of the mountain,” Draughn said. “I was cut last year and had to come to a new team as a member of the practice squad.”

Draughn remained unemployed until early October when Kansas City took a midseason flier on the former North Carolina Tarheel. Rookie offensive lineman Butch Lewis was traded out for Draughn on the Chiefs eight-man practice squad.

It was on Kansas City’s practice squad that Draughn’s NFL career began to turn in a new direction.

“Actually, it was probably a blessing in disguise to go the practice squad route,” Draughn said. “I feel like I got so much better just practicing against our defense and learning form guys like Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones. Thomas was a big mentor to me last year and was always encouraging me to keep pushing forward.”

He listened and kept working, running opponents’ offensive plays for the Chiefs scout team. It wasn’t long before Draughn started to get noticed.

Draughn’s practices became impressive enough that defensive line coach Anthony Pleasant sought out assistant head coach Maurice Carthon to make sure the former NFL running back wasn’t overlooking Draughn’s scout team production.

“Our defensive coaches were really impressed with his work on the scout team,” Carthon recalled. “Every other day Anthony Pleasant was saying, ‘hey, did you just see the move that kid made?’ So I started to take a closer look at him. He’s flashed throughout OTAs and here in training camp. Now I hope that he continues to grow.”

The Chiefs promoted Draughn to the active roster prior to last year’s regular season finale when Jackie Battle landed on injured reserve. Draughn would only play special teams against the Broncos, but it ensured him a spot on the Chiefs roster for at least the 2012 offseason program.

“It’s was a blessing,” Draughn said of the promotion. “I’m thankful for the organization giving me a chance. My approach has been to just keep doing what I’ve been doing. I’m focused on improving every day and trying to make this team.”

With Jamaal Charles, Peyton Hillis and sixth-round draft pick Cyrus Gray all competing for time in Kansas City’s backfield – not to mention a possible cameo from Dexter McCluster – Draughn slid under the radar for much of the offseason. But fans and media started to take notice during open training camp practices.

Draughn began stringing big plays together one after the other and scored a touchdown in last week’s preseason opener against Arizona.

“It was crazy when I scored,” Draughn said. “Even when I was in college I never heard the crowd. You kind of zone out when you score, but that time I kind of took it all in and took my time getting to the sideline. I wanted to stay out there as long as I could and celebrate with my teammates.”

Camp is closing and it’s been a successful three-week run for Draughn. He’s put himself in position to make a solid run at a roster spot over the final three preseason games. The Chiefs have given him looks running with the first-team offense and he’s already logged more carries than he did all of last preseason with the Redskins.

Saturday night represents another big test in St. Louis. Gray is sidelined with a hamstring injury, leaving Draughn with more opportunities to show his progression. He’ll also be running on multiple special teams units in addition to an expanded offensive role.

“I just feel like I’m doing what I’m coached to do and when I get my chance I try to shine as best I can,” Draughn said. “What people don’t notice is that I probably go harder in special teams than anything else. That’s how I’ll make this football team. It’s going to be a big role that I’ll have to play.”

Kansas City’s backfield now appears more crowded than it did entering training camp. Carthon says it’s the deepest group of backs he’s coached since joining the Chiefs four seasons ago.

“I wish I could keep them all, not just four,” Carthon said. “They are all great guys, good people and are working hard. That’s exactly what they are and it’s good as a coach. It’s like being a kid in a candy store. You go in the morning and those guys are there mentally, you don’t hear too much talk-back from any of them and they are always ready to focus on the task at hand.”


http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...b-c9c4e63e222b

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

KC got torched through the air last year by Fitzpatrick, Moore and Sanchez, yet KC fans are selling Ryan and the Falcons short?

KC also dominated Aaron Rodgers, so...

[O.city]

We are gonna have to play really well to beat the Falcons. Cassel is gonna have to not shit his pants and have a good game, er, good season.


The Falcons aren't the pushover some think they are.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by jd1020

KC also dominated Aaron Rodgers, so...

It was the best game KC played all year, but they were helped by the Packers receivers getting all Bowe/Baldwin with stone hands.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

It was the best game KC played all year, but they were helped by the Packers receivers getting all Bowe/Baldwin with stone hands.

Rodgers doesn't complete 48% of his passes because of the receivers. They may have dropped a couple easy ones but he still has by far his worst game last season against the Chiefs.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Micjones

I don't think he needs to be carried as a RB to be used as one.
In fact, that makes him all the more valuable to the offense.
His ability to be used in different ways.

why would you want to use McCluster at RB at all?

what does he do that another RB doesn't do better?

Charles - better RB, better 3rd down back,better receiving back, better blocker
Hillis - better RB,better power,better receiving back,better blocker
Draughn - looks better at everything too so far
Gray - looks better at everything too so far

hopefully DMC can find a home at WR and be productive, but i don't need to see him at RB ever again ... ever.

Don't need to see him at returner either.

Arenas/Wylie > McCluster

apparentl Cyrus Gray is a quality special teamer and returner as well and he is actually big enough to cover on kicks too.

[jd1020]

The only runs McCluster is going to get is on end arounds.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Laz

why would you want to use McCluster at RB at all?

Because it creates a mismatch defensively.
If he's a WR and you see him lined up in the backfield, it'll be tough for a defense to know what to expect from him.

I'm not arguing that he should be carried as a RB.
I'm not arguing that he's better than any of the RB's we expect the Chiefs to retain.

I'm arguing purely from a matchup/scheming standpoint.

To say he won't be used in the backfield at all this season is a stretch.

[O.city]

How exactly does that create a defensive mismatch? Teams know what he brings as a RB and it's probably not too frightening.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Micjones

Because it creates a mismatch defensively.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo


that's a dam myth

who would you rather have catch a pass out of the backfield?

(ranks them 1 thru 3)

Charles
Hillis
McCluster


if DMC isn't 3 then you're a liar

Charles better at making people miss (by a mile)
Hillis is better at running through tackles (by a mile)

both Charles/Hillis are legit threats to run the ball as well as catching a pass. DMC can't pass block and isn't much of a threat to run so teams know he's out there to catch a pass.

give it up to DMC though ... he's best at getting blown up and not dying. He's a tough little ****er.

[O.city]

Dex has looked better as a WR this offseason. Just leave him there, let him get his 2 or 3 touches per game and move on.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by O.city

How exactly does that create a defensive mismatch? Teams know what he brings as a RB and it's probably not too frightening.

I misspoke. Forget the word "mismatch".
It 'potentially' creates an offensive advantage. Better?

Or shall I just adopt the company line that he's a piece of shit who can't help this football team?

[O.city]

I don't think he's worthless, I think he can be somewhat dynamic as a WR.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Micjones

I misspoke. Forget the word "mismatch".
It 'potentially' creates an offensive advantage. Better?

Or shall I just adopt the company line that he's a piece of shit who can't help this football team?

sure he can help ..... AS A WR.

every chiefs fan needs to cross their fingers and hope that DMC can use his quickness to be our wes welker or Desean Jackson.

leave all the RB stuff to the good RB's

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Laz

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo


that's a dam myth

who would you rather have catch a pass out of the backfield?

(ranks them 1 thru 3)

Charles
Hillis
McCluster


if DMC isn't 3 then you're a liar

Charles better at making people miss (by a mile)
Hillis is better at running through tackles (by a mile)

both Charles/Hillis are legit threats to run the ball as well as catching a pass. DMC can't pass block and isn't much of a threat to run so teams know he's out there to catch a pass.

give it up to DMC though ... he's best at getting blown up and not dying. He's a tough little ****er.

Not like you couldn't have both he and Charles in the backfield.
But okay.

[Chiefnj2]

As a RB Dex offers very little.

As a slot receiver he ran some nice routes last week.