Babb: New Chief McCluster shows strength to make up for lack of size

[Tribal Warfare]

New Chief McCluster shows strength to make up for lack of size
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

As much as the Chiefs might hope for one last growth spurt, or order Dexter McCluster to burn hours in the weight room, there’s a fact he has come to terms with.

“I can tell you one thing,” McCluster, a rookie slot receiver, said this weekend during Kansas City’s three-day rookie minicamp. “I’m 5-8 and 21 years old, so I don’t think I’m growing taller right now.”

The Chiefs drafted McCluster last weekend in the second round out of Mississippi. They like his speed and playmaking ability, and those skills remind observers of Philadelphia receiver DeSean Jackson and San Diego running back Darren Sproles. But like those players, it’s McCluster’s size that doesn’t seem a natural fit in the NFL.

McCluster is listed at 170 pounds, a weight that makes Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles — at 199 pounds — look like Hercules. Both Jackson and Sproles are each at least 10 pounds heavier than McCluster.

Now the Chiefs’ challenge is to try to add thickness to McCluster without sacrificing the speed and quickness that made him so enticing. Chiefs coach Todd Haley said that whatever happens next, McCluster already has proved that he possesses the mettle to hang in an NFL locker room.

“It takes special ability and character to make it at that size,” Haley said. “We feel he’s got the right combination of quickness, speed and strength, which is a key thing when you start talking about smaller receivers or backs.”

Haley compared McCluster to former New York Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet (5-10, 188 pounds) and former Chiefs and St. Louis kick returner Dante Hall (5-8, 187), players who overcame their diminutive statures with remarkable strength. Haley said he thought McCluster was a similar kind of player.

“Those are the things that you hear about him: He’s pound-for-pound the strongest guy at Mississippi,” Haley said.

McCluster admitted this weekend that this wasn’t the first time he’s been questioned about his size. It’s also not the first time he overcame those concerns and thrived. He played running back and receiver for the Rebels, catching 130 passes and rushing for 1,955 yards in four seasons. Haley said Friday that McCluster was one of the Chiefs’ highest-rated running backs and wide receivers on the team’s draft board when its turn came up early in the second round.

He was small for Southeastern Conference standards, too. Not that it affected his performance or confidence.

“There was never a time at Ole Miss that I doubted myself,” McCluster said. “All my life growing up, I’ve been a smaller guy and had to prove (myself) to people. It was pretty much the fuel to my success.”

Another thing that has fueled McCluster’s success is his willingness to work. He said he’d be up for extra work in the weight room or playing any position. He worked this weekend at running back, receiver and kick returner.

“We oriented him into multiple areas,” Haley said. “So it was important for us to see how he handled some of that: being in a different classroom, different meeting, different spots. We’re learning as much as they are, and it’s important.”

That’s not all.

“Hope he grows, too,” Haley said with a laugh.

Haley didn’t elaborate on the team’s plans to thicken McCluster before training camp, saying that the team will lean on first-year strength coach Mike Clark to design a program for McCluster.

Not that it matters, McCluster said.

“I want to make a name for myself,” he said. “Whatever they ask, you best believe I’m doing it.”

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

So when you're benching 225 20 times, you're saying that arm length has "nothing" to do with it?

You're both laying flat on the same bench, guy A is 5'7 and lifts the bar 29in up into the air and back down. Guy B is 6'4 and has 46in up into the air.

Why do you think it's easier for smaller guys to put on muscle mass than people who are tall and lanky?

It isn't. It just appears that they put on more mass at a faster rate because it is compressed into a smaller area.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Mecca

It has nothing to do with how much you can bench, your arm length does have something to do with the amount of reps you can do.

Basically a high rep number is really not a true indicator of strength, anyone who lifts for power doesn't do high reps, they do low reps of high weight. 225 is basically something you need to train yourself for stamina wise more than power wise, it's why you see some big guys have low numbers with it.

If a guy doesn't extensively train for it, he won't get that many reps in because he's not training that way even though he may be significantly stronger than a guy who does numerous more reps.

I agree w/ you for the most part. But guys who bench alot, usually can bench w/ alot of reps up to a degree. I'm sure there are some cases where a guy benched 25 reps, and was actually stronger than a guy that benched 20 reps. Once you start getting above 20 reps on something, it gets much more difficult to predict what your one rep max is. They should really increase the weight to something that they know everybody can lift. Like 275 or something. You can still take something away from it though.

[Mecca]

If they want true indicators the bench number and reps should be indicated by your position, not having everyone do the same.

Because for example a lineman would not lift the same as a DB or WR would.

[TheGuardian]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

Contrary to popular belief, being short or tall has little to do w/ how much one can bench press. If you look at powerlifting competitions and some of the data compiled, you will find there is not a strong correlation to height at all.

And where would you find this data? People don't get measured for height at powerlifting competitions you dope. It's rare for a long armed guy to bench press a lot. Usually guys with t-rex arms are your biggest bench pressers.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

There are only so many offensive playmakers in the NFL that can score every single time they touch the ball.

Linebackers are everywhere and odds are that you're not going to find anyone special at #36 or #50.

I agree. ILB? I can understand wanting a pass rusher who might be special. But ILB? You put a real good Nose Tackle and get better production out of your DEs, and ILB can be the easiest job on earth. We don't have that Nose Tackle yet, but that's also not a position that I think is impossible to find. We just don't have one today.

[Reerun_KC]

Dude is going to be explosive everytime he touches the ball.. I am stoked to see him on the field this fall

[keg in kc]

I usually use a rolled-up tube sock to make up for my lack of size.

Aw shit, I said that out loud didn't I.

Damn it.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

There are only so many offensive playmakers in the NFL that can score every single time they touch the ball.

Linebackers are everywhere and odds are that you're not going to find anyone special at #36 or #50.

True dat.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

It does when you have 29" arms.

Just to put it in perspective. The guy we should be comparing this guy to isn't Benn or Dez Bryant, who are totally different receivers. Compare him to a guy like Jordan Shiipley or Golden Tate.

McCluster's arms are 29 1/4". He put up 20 on the bench.
Golden Tate's arms are 30 1/2". He put up 17 on the bench
Jordan Shipley's arms are 30 1/2". He put up 16 on the bench.

A few years ago, Darren Sproles' arms were 28" and he put up 23 on the bench.

1" isn't going to give you that much of an advantage. Moral of the story? He puts up a competitive bench with Tate/Shipley (and probably better), who are both slot receivers. And he puts up a competitive bench (but probably lower) with Darren Sproles.

He's a very strong guy for his size. Ridiculous for anyone to suggest otherwise.

[LaChapelle]

This regime has no clue how to handle a secret weapon
No one knew shit about Kris Wilson for 2 years

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by LaChapelle

This regime has no clue how to handle a secret weapon
No one knew shit about Kris Wilson for 2 years

[lostcause]

Originally Posted by LaChapelle

This regime has no clue how to handle a secret weapon
No one knew shit about Kris Wilson for 2 years

he was super super top secret.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by TheGuardian

And where would you find this data? People don't get measured for height at powerlifting competitions you dope. It's rare for a long armed guy to bench press a lot. Usually guys with t-rex arms are your biggest bench pressers.

The World Powerlifting Organization world record holder in the bench press, Ryan Kennelly, is like 6-3.

What I am saying is tall people always try to give the excuse, oh I can't squat, or deadlift, or bench press very much because I'm tall. While there is some truth to the argument being shorter CAN have benefit, it is greatly overstated.

Actually, I'm sure people who have larger bone structures have the propensity to become stronger than ectomorphs and those w/ smaller bone structure. There are people w/ large bone structure who are tall, short and in between. The same can be said about people w/ small bone structure.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

The World Powerlifting Organization world record holder in the bench press, Ryan Kennelly, is like 6-3.

What I am saying is tall people always try to give the excuse, oh I can't squat, or deadlift, or bench press very much because I'm tall. While there is some truth to the argument being shorter CAN have benefit, it is greatly overstated.

Actually, I'm sure people who have larger bone structures have the propensity to become stronger than ectomorphs and those w/ smaller bone structure. There are people w/ large bone structure who are tall, short and in between. The same can be said about people w/ small bone structure.

Kennelly has short arms relative to his height. Arm length has a lot to do with it.

[TheGuardian]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

The World Powerlifting Organization world record holder in the bench press, Ryan Kennelly, is like 6-3.

First off, no he's not. He's actually like 6'1" or MAYBE 6'2". Second he has t-rex length arms for a guy his height and he's super thick through his torso. Very few long armed guys are good bench pressers. Brad Gillingham is one of the few exceptions I can think of. Generally bench specialists are bench specialists for a reason. They are leveraged to be good benchers, and to be a super bencher generally it means you have shitty leverages for say, deadlifting, which tends to like really long armed people.

What I am saying is tall people always try to give the excuse, oh I can't squat, or deadlift, or bench press very much because I'm tall. While there is some truth to the argument being shorter CAN have benefit, it is greatly overstated.

It has nothing to do with being tall or short. It's about lever length and nervous system activation. You don't know what you're talking about. You didn't even believe McCluster benched 225x20, which really isn't anything special even for 170.