Sunday of Opportunity … Game-Day Cup O’Chiefs

From Jacksonville, Florida

For a football team with as many holes in its 53-man roster as the Chiefs, Sunday is a very important day.

When the Chiefs take the field against the Jaguars at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium they will have two new starters, one on offense, one on defense. What RB Jamaal Charles and FS DaJuan Morgan produce with the opportunity given them will go a long way to helping Pioli/Haley as they make plans for the 2010 off-season.

Running back and safety are two areas where the Chiefs need help looking to the future. Of course, they also need help on the offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, wide receiver and tight end. Possibly only cornerback, quarterback, kicker and punter would go to the bottom of the list.

If Charles and Morgan can be productive players, and show the Chiefs they can step into their roles on offense and defense and not be – as Todd Haley calls it – yo-yo players, then running back and safety can drop down on the list of needs, allowing the Chiefs to prioritize at other positions.

They share a lot more. Both were third-round picks last year. Both came out of college as juniors. Both struggled a bit with the transition to the NFL last year as rookies.

Here’s a look at both situations going into Sunday’s game. Kickoff is noon and the television coverage is on CBS, although the game will be blacked out in northern Florida. A crowd of around 40,000 is expected.

RUNNING BACK/JAMAAL CHARLES

Here are the highlights of what the Chiefs scouting reports said about Jamaal Charles going into the 2008 NFL Draft:

Explosive … versatile … ability to make people miss in space … ability to make big plays in the run game, passing game and on returns … has tendency to put the ball on the ground.

Rookie Production: 67 rushes for 357 yards, 5.3-yard average and a long run of 30 yards; 27 catches for 271 yards, 10.1-yard average, one touchdown and a long catch and run of 75 yards; 15 kickoff returns for 321 yards, 21.4-yard average, with a long return of 40 yards. He finished with 949 all-purpose yards

Haley likes to say the Chiefs have some depth at running back, but that’s not true when you take Larry Johnson out of the equation. No matter what is done with Johnson over the final eight games of the season, there’s little or no chance he will be with the Chiefs in 2010. Kolby Smith returns Sunday after spending the last year coming back from his patella tendon injury. Just what he has to give at this point, remains unknown. Second-year man Dantrell Savage runs as if his life depends on it, but he’s not the type or size of back that an NFL team can build a running attack around.

No, the Chiefs need Charles to come out against the Jaguars and establish the fact that he’s ready, willing and able to become the man.

“I’m ready,” Charles said this week. “It’s my dream.”

Charles needs to make sure it doesn’t turn into a nightmare, and that’s what happens if he gives up the football. The Chiefs have been remarkable this season in not losing fumbles, but Charles has one that he coughed up in the game against the New York Giants on the opening kickoff. It was a huge play in a game where the Chiefs could not make mistakes.

Fumbling is something that he brought with him from the University of Texas, where he was one of the best running backs in Longhorns history. How much he can handle at 5-11, 198 pounds, and how often he coughs up the ball remains unknown.

“I can handle anything,” Charles said. “I’ve been playing football for a long time, so it doesn’t matter about how many carries I get. I’ve had 25 at Texas before, so it doesn’t really matter how many.”

With the type of speed and moves that Charles has shown, Haley needs to find ways to get him in the open field. Charles has shown a willingness to run physically and he’s more than willing to pass block and deliver a blow. But the Chiefs offense needs to get him on the perimeter and let his speed show.

Haley has become a Charles fan, after sitting him down in week No. 2 as a healthy inactive because he felt the youngster wasn’t focused enough.

“I think he’s doing everything on his end to be ready to go,” Haley said. “He’s probably our best pass protector as a back as far as understanding who he’s supposed to block. He’s really improved at that and he’s listened to Coach Carthon who’s stayed on him pretty hard from the start. I think he’s getting better. We’ll see how it goes but it’s an opportunity for Jamaal.”

SAFETY/DAJUAN MORGAN

Here are the highlights of what the Chiefs scouting reports said about DaJuan Morgan going into the 2008 NFL Draft:

Physical, hard hitting safety … supports on run with speed and power … good tackler … inexperienced in coverage schemes … should be an immediate help on special teams.

Rookie Production: played in 12 games, with no starts. Had 19 total tackles on defense and 10 total tackles on special teams … suffered a thumb injury early in the season that hampered him throughout the season.

Just as with Charles, Morgan came out of North Carolina State as a junior, so last year’s coaching staff wanted to bring him along at a slow place, rather than throw him to the NFL wolves. Plus, the team had what appeared to be two solid young safeties in Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard.

But Pollard is gone and now that he’s on the injured-reserve list, Page has likely played his final game with the Chiefs. Jon McGraw and Mike Brown are both 30+ so suddenly there’s a need at safety, especially one with some speed

Haley says he has no fear putting Morgan on the back line of the Chiefs defense, pointing to his play in the pre-season and specifically the St. Louis game where he had an interception.

“He has a nose for the football,” Haley said. “He had a good week of practice along with the other guys. I wouldn’t say that I have any fear with him being back there. I think he’s ready to go. He’s got good speed, good ball skills, he’s a good tackler and I think he understands what we’re trying to do.”

Morgan is a hitter, and because of that desire and his inexperience, he’s susceptible to play-action and getting himself out of position in the coverage game because he’s flying to the line of scrimmage. In his few plays on defense he showed that last year. If he can corral that tendency, his chances of staying in the starting lineup are quite good.

He also has another factor and that’s handling the duties at safety; they are responsible in making sure everybody is lined up in the appropriate places. Having a veteran like Brown around helps in that area, but Morgan still must play with body and mind.

“I think that the hardest thing is to know what everyone has to do when you’re making audible calls and adjustments,” Morgan said. “You have to make sure that they hear you communicate. Just getting everybody lined up is the biggest role. It comes with time and experience, and most of all knowing what you’re doing.

“Mike Brown has been a learning tool for me and Jon McGraw has been very helpful. Just to make sure that I’m on the right track, I talk to both of those guys. I know the stuff, but talking to them makes me feel more comfortable.

“I know what I’m doing,” Morgan added. “I’m just going to go out there, read my keys and execute.”

Haley thinks Morgan is ready for the opportunity.

“I think a lot of it is experience and just relaxing and not getting too hyped up,” Haley said. “The time he’s been in games – and most of his play-time came in the pre-season – I think he showed very good progress and I think he’s excited about the opportunity.”

SIGNINGS, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE

• BRONCOS – signed CB Ty Law; released CB Jack Williams.
• CHIEFS – activated RB Kolby Smith from the PUP list; released WR Bobby Engram.
• COLTS – signed TE Tom Santi.
• DOLPHINS – promoted LB J.D. Folsom from the practice squad; released LB William Kershaw; NT Jason Ferguson and LB Channing Crowder have been declared out of Sunday’s game against the Patriots because of injuries.
• PACKERS – placed C Jason Spits on the injured-reserve list; promoted WR Biren Ealy from the practice squad.
• REDSKINS – signed P Sam Paulescu; released RB Quinton Ganther.
• SAINTS – placed DT Kendrick Clancy on the injured-reserve list; promoted DL DeMario Pressley from the practice squad.
• TITANS – released WR Chris Davis; promoted OL Fernando Velasco from the practice squad.

FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY

On November 8, 1963, the Chiefs fell to the Oakland Raiders 22-7 in a Friday night game at Municipal Stadium. The Chiefs were held to just 62 offensive yards by the Raiders and Oakland head coach Al Davis (left) explained the strategy. “Control Lenny Dawson and you control the Chiefs,” Davis said after the game. “He’s the key to the Kansas City football team and that is the principle we used on defense.” Dawson threw for just 49 yards, completing six of 25 passes with a pair of interceptions. He was sacked six times for 71 yards, so the Chiefs had net passing yardage of minus-22. KC’s only score was a four-yard run by RB Curtis McClinton in the third quarter. “We were pathetic offensively,” Hank Stram said afterwards. “We played the worst offense ever as a team over a four-year period. Our offense was flat and listless.”

On November 8, 1964, the Chiefs beat the Oakland Raiders 42-7 in front of a crowd of 21,023 at Municipal Stadium. QB Len Dawson threw four touchdown passes on the afternoon, hitting TE Fred Arbanas twice for 28 and 38-yard scores. Dawson also hit WR Frank Jackson for 20 yards and RB Mack Lee Hill for an 18-yard score. Hill also had a one-yard TD run and RB Curtis McClinton scored on a one-yard TD run. The KC defense held Oakland to 169 offensive yards, forcing four turnovers and getting seven sacks. CB Dave Grayson had an interception, while Bobby Bell, Jerry Mays, Al Reynolds and Walt Corey recovered Oakland fumbles. Buck Buchanan and Bell had two sacks, Mays had 1.5 sacks, Corey had one sack and Mel Branch shared a sack.

On November 8, 1970, the Chiefs beat the Houston Oilers 24-9 at Municipal Stadium. The Chiefs had just 221 yards of offense, but made it count with a pair of TD runs by RBs Ed Podolak (eight yards) and Wendell Hayes (right) (one-yard). LB Bobby Bell had one of three Kansas City interceptions and returned his 45 yards for a TD. Jan Stenerud added a 39-yard field goal. Besides Bell, S Johnny Robinson and CB Emmitt Thomas also had interceptions of Houston QB Charley Johnson. Hayes led all rushers with 82 yards on 14 carries.

On November 8, 1981, the Chiefs lost in overtime to the Chicago Bears 16-13 at Arrowhead Stadium. A crowd of 60,605 fans were in the stands to watch the Chicago defense stifle the Chiefs offense, forcing six turnovers and sacking QBs Steve Fuller and Bill Kenney four times. The KC passing offense generated just 84 net yards. The only Chiefs TD came with 44 seconds left on an 18-yard pass from Fuller to WR Henry Marshall in the fourth quarter. Nick Lowery’s PAT kick tied the score. In the overtime, Bears kicker John Roveto missed a 37-yard FG, but the Chiefs were penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct because Gary Green and Stan Rome of the Chiefs FG defense team were stepping on the backs and shoulders of linemen in an attempt to block the kick. A few plays later, Roveto kicked the game winning FG from 22 yards. The KC defense held RB Walter Payton to 70 yards on 21 carries.

On November 8, 1987, the Chiefs lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-16 at Arrowhead Stadium in front of a crowd of 45,249 fans. It was a 44-yard FG by Steelers K Gary Anderson with less than five minutes to play that proved to be the winning points. In losing their seventh game in a row, the Chiefs turned the ball over five times, including four interceptions by QB Bill Kenney. Defensively, KC had two sacks and two takeaways, but gave up 125 yards rushing to RB Earnest Jackson. The only Chiefs TD came from the defense, as DE Bill Maas recovered a fumble and returned it six yards for a score. K Nick Lowery had three FGs.

On November 8, 1992, the Chiefs beat the San Diego Chargers 16-14 at Arrowhead Stadium. A 36-yard Nick Lowery FG in the fourth quarter lifted the Chiefs to victory in what turned into a defensive struggle between these division rivals. KC had 211 offensive yards, including just 104 net passing yards. RB Christian Okoye had a two-yard TD run. The Chiefs had six sacks of Chargers QB Stan Humphries, with LB Derrick Thomas getting four of those sacks. CB Dale Carter (right) had an interception and the KC defense recovered three fumbles.

On November 8, 1993, the Chiefs beat the Green Bay Packers 23-16 in a Monday night game at Arrowhead Stadium. Down 9-3 at half-time, the Chiefs scored 20 points in the second half for the victory in front of 76,742 fans. The Kansas City defense allowed QB Brett Favre and the Packers offense just one fourth quarter TD, as they picked off three of Favre’s passes and sacked him four times. CB Kevin Ross and safeties Charles Mincy and Martin Bayless had the interceptions, with LB Derrick Thomas contributing two sacks. DT Dan Saleaumua scored on a 16-yard fumble return. RB Marcus Allen had the other KC score on a one-yard TD run.

On November 8, 1998, the Chiefs lost to the Seattle Seahawks 24-12 at the Kingdome. The Chiefs fell behind 24-6 in the first half and were not able to make up the ground in the second half, managing only a one-yard TD run by QB Rich Gannon. The KC defense held Seattle to just 202 net offensive yards, but they couldn’t’ stop RB Ricky Watters (left), who had a pair of one-yard TD runs and finished the game with 105 yards on 24 carries. Elvis Grbac started at QB for the Chiefs but was lifted in the second quarter after throwing two INTs, including one t hat was returned 26 yards for a TD by Seattle LB Darrin Smith.

SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …

Born on November 8, 1930 in Mandeville, Louisiana was DE Paul Miller. He was a member of the original Dallas Texans team in 1960 and 1961, appearing in 28 games those first two seasons. Miller was a starter at left defensive end. Coming out of LSU, he played three years in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams (1954-56), where he played offensive end. Miller finished his career with one season (19963) with the San Diego Chargers.

Born on November 8, 1955 in Dubuque, Iowa was S Ted Burgmeier
(right). He signed with the Chiefs in 1978, after playing at Notre Dame. Burgmeier played in eight games with two starts that season. He returned four punts for an average return of 14.8 yards. That ‘78 season was his only taste of professional football.

Born on November 8, 1961 in Van Vleck, Texas was WR Eric Martin. He joined the Chiefs in 1994 after spending nine seasons with the New Orleans Saints. Martin played 10 games that season, with 21 catches for 307 yards and one TD catch. That was his last season in the NFL.

Born on November 8, 1967 in San Diego was CB Jay Taylor. He joined the Chiefs in 1993 after playing three seasons with the Phoenix Cardinals. Taylor spent two seasons with the Chiefs (1993-94), appearing in 31 games, with five starts. He had a pair of interceptions and recovered a fumble.