KC Star: Spiller is Optimistic

[Dante84]

C.J. Spiller is optimistic about revitalizing career with Chiefs

Chiefs running back C.J. Spiller can always count on his uncle, Gary Pierce, to shoot straight.

So this weekend, when Spiller caught up with Pierce — who the 29-year-old Spiller calls Uncle Pearl — and he told Spiller that physically he looks as healthy and spry as he has in years, it was a statement that Spiller, who has been dinged up with a myriad of injuries the last few years, could take to heart.

“He understands everything I’ve been through the last couple of years, and he’s going to always tell you the truth — he’s not going to sugarcoat anything with you, and that’s how I like it,” Spiller said. “I have a very small inner circle and he’s part of that. Be straight up with me and I’ll be straight up with you, and that’s what everybody in my circle does.”

If Pierce is right, and Spiller, a 5-foot-11, 200-pounder, can stay healthy, he has a chance to potentially help the Chiefs this season.

To be clear, Spencer Ware is set to return as the starter, Charcandrick West is a nice change-of-pace back and third-round rookie Kareem Hunt has already impressed with his short-area burst and balance.

But Spiller, who ran a blistering 4.37 40-yard dash at the 2010 NFL Combine, once possessed the kind of big-play ability and West Coast skill set that few backs can match.

Spiller’s home-run potential even extends to kick returns, where he has runbacks of 102 and 95 yards on his NFL resume. No wonder his skill set enticed the Bills so much that they selected him with the ninth overall pick out of Clemson seven years ago.

In five years with the Bills, he rushed 668 times for 3,321 yards — an average of 5 yards per carry — and 12 touchdowns. His best season as a pro came in 2012, when he rushed for a career-high 1,244 yards, caught 43 passes for 459 yards and made the Pro Bowl for the only time in his career.

It wasn’t too long after that that Spiller started having injury issues, however. After an injury-shortened 2014 season, he signed a four-year, $18 million contract with the New Orleans Saints but suffered a knee injury in training camp. He appeared in 13 games in 2015, starting two, and functioning primarily as a pass-catching back he rushed 36 times for 112 yards and caught 34 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns.

Spiller made the Saints out of training camp in 2016, but he did not appear in the season opener after a trio of younger, cheaper backs — Tim Hightower, Travaris Cadet and Daniel Lasco — took the backup spots behind starter Mark Ingram. That led to Spiller’s release shortly after the season opener against the Raiders, and he had short stints with the Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets.

Spiller, seeking another chance to set his career back on track, signed a one-year deal this offseason with the Chiefs, who released another track star-type running back in Jamaal Charles shortly thereafter, potentially opening up the door for a Spiller resurgence … provided his body cooperates.

“Me and my trainer, we really worked on a lot of hip mobility, a lot of explosion, just trying to get back to how I felt comfortable before some of these injuries that kind of started taking place,” said Spiller, who flashed quickness and burst during the Chiefs’ first offseason practice Tuesday. “It’s been a while since I felt like this, the cutting, the running, all that.”

Now, Spiller is counting on Chiefs running back coach Eric Bieniemy to help him rediscover his past magic in his latest bid to prove he still has plenty left in the tank.

“You’re always looking for a challenge, and Coach E.B. is a great coach, and he pushes you hard, and that’s what you want to try to help your game out,” Spiller said. “I take a lot of pride in my overall game, in my overall craft, and each day, I try to find something that I can get better at.”

[Dante84]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Spiller if you mean easier in that we can cut him with no dead money.

I mean, who is preferable to keep.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Dante84

I mean, who is preferable to keep.

West is on year 2 of his deal. His 2017 cap hit is $1.1 million. If we cut him we would have $666k in dead money and gain $485k in cap space.

Spiller is on a 1 year deal with a cap hit of $695k. We could cut him with no dead money and save his entire salary in cap space.

[Halfcan]

I like all the competition in the backfield this year. Should make everyone play better. Spiller was a stud before he caught the injury bug. Sounds like he is healthy and ready to prove it. If healthy, Spiller is better than West all day every day.

Ware, Hunt and Spiller gives us the best RB crew we have had in a few years. The running game was a big weakness last year and hurt us in the playoffs. Looks like Dorsey felt that way as well and flipped it to a strength.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

I like all the competition in the backfield this year. Should make everyone play better. Spiller was a stud before he caught the injury bug. Sounds like he is healthy and ready to prove it. If healthy, Spiller is better than West all day every day.

Ware, Hunt and Spiller gives us the best RB crew we have had in a few years. The running game was a big weakness last year and hurt us in the playoffs. Looks like Dorsey felt that way as well and flipped it to a strength.

I agree with most of your post here except that it wasn't our RBs that were weak it was our o-line run blocking that sucked. Remember we had a much easier schedule in 15 than in 16 and went up against much better run defenses in 16 and I feel our o-line run blocking got exposed big time IMHO. BTW, I realize that good backs have great balance after getting hit but it makes me wonder now the reason Dorsey selected Hunt was because Hunt not only had the best balance after contact but Dorsey knows he doesn't have a 2002-05 Chiefs o-line talent either thus knows he needs a back that not only can take hits but stay upright.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

I like all the competition in the backfield this year. Should make everyone play better. Spiller was a stud before he caught the injury bug. Sounds like he is healthy and ready to prove it. If healthy, Spiller is better than West all day every day.

Ware, Hunt and Spiller gives us the best RB crew we have had in a few years. The running game was a big weakness last year and hurt us in the playoffs. Looks like Dorsey felt that way as well and flipped it to a strength.

Spiller is garbage

[keg in kc]

Your​ line is going to struggle to open lanes when your quarterback refuses to throw more than ten yards down field. Defenses will cram everything they have in the intermediate zones and basically stop both the short passing and the run game all at once. They'll put 8 in the box and dare us to throw deep against single coverage. Which Alex Smith still won't do when anyone other than his primary read is wide the hell NFL open for any other qb in the league.

Jamaal Charles when healthy didn't need holes, he could make 5 yards on his own. Not many backs in league history could do that, much less guys like Ware and West. So when he was done, the running game was done. That's what happened last year, and it isn't ever going to change with #11 on the field.

Whether Mahomes helps elevate the unit's play only time will tell.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by Chiefshrink

I agree with most of your post here except that it wasn't our RBs that were weak it was our o-line run blocking that sucked. Remember we had a much easier schedule in 15 than in 16 and went up against much better run defenses in 16 and I feel our o-line run blocking got exposed big time IMHO. BTW, I realize that good backs have great balance after getting hit but it makes me wonder now the reason Dorsey selected Hunt was because Hunt not only had the best balance after contact but Dorsey knows he doesn't have a 2002-05 Chiefs o-line talent either thus knows he needs a back that not only can take hits but stay upright.

Excellent point! Hopefully, with Hunt, Ware and a healthy Stud in Spiller they will make some holes and be able to control the clock better this year when we get a lead.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Excellent point! Hopefully, with Hunt, Ware and a healthy Stud in Spiller they will make some holes and be able to control the clock better this year when we get a lead.

Clueless, butt****ing, moron, loser.

[Great Expectations]

Hill can force defenses to be honest.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Your​ line is going to struggle to open lanes when your quarterback refuses to throw more than ten yards down field. Defenses will cram everything they have in the intermediate zones and basically stop both the short passing and the run game all at once. They'll put 8 in the box and dare us to throw deep against single coverage. Which Alex Smith still won't do when anyone other than his primary read is wide the hell NFL open for any other qb in the league.

Jamaal Charles when healthy didn't need holes, he could make 5 yards on his own. Not many backs in league history could do that, much less guys like Ware and West. So when he was done, the running game was done. That's what happened last year, and it isn't ever going to change with #11 on the field.

Whether Mahomes helps elevate the unit's play only time will tell.

That was the whole reason they drafted him. 2PM will make them pay.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Clueless, butt****ing, moron, loser.

I think you just need to come on out of the closet and stop projecting your homosexual hate on me you worthless condescending prick.

You might want to ease up on the prescription meds too, it makes your paranoia and bipolar disorder a lot worse.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

I think you just need to come on out of the closet and stop projecting your homosexual hate on me you worthless condescending prick.

You might want to ease up on the prescription meds too, it makes your paranoia and bipolar disorder a lot worse.

You're even dumber than I imagined.

Keep on keeping on.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You're even dumber than I imagined.

Keep on keeping on.

Wow, that is some quality smack right there. It does not have the same impact without your delusional homophobic rage added with it though.

Better go sleep it off for the night and try again tomorrow.

[Simply Red]

Spiller won't do much and I doubt he'll run West out of town, JMO.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Wow, that is some quality smack right there. It does not have the same impact without your delusional homophobic rage added with it though.

Better go sleep it off for the night and try again tomorrow.

I made a YUGE mistake in defending your shitty soup business.

That certainly won't happen again, Loser.

Your so-called "writing" is even worse.

How embarrassing.