Post by lazarus on May 19, 2005 14:23:45 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/mld/kansa...ts/11681263.htm
Move to safety pleases Bartee
Chiefs notebook
By ADAM TEICHER
Kansas City Star
In the most spectacular play from Chiefs practice Wednesday, William Bartee hustled to the sideline from his new position at safety and leaped high over Samie Parker to make an interception.
Itfs early, but the Chiefsf decision to move Bartee from cornerback looks like a good one. Bartee played like it in practice Wednesday and said he felt like it afterward.
gIt takes a lot of stress off,h said Bartee, who struggled at corner since joining the Chiefs as their second-round draft pick in 2000. gYou can be a lot more relaxed at safety. I feel a lot more comfortable out there. This is the best move I could have made. I felt natural at corner, but I think my best position is safety.h
Bartee played a lot of safety in college and appears to have the skills to play the position in the pros. He covers a lot of ground, tackles well and will play facing the ball. His biggest problem at cornerback came when he turned to run with a receiver and lost track of the ball.
With Patrick Surtain, Eric Warfield, Dexter McCleon, Julian Battle, Benny Sapp and rookie Alphonso Hodge at cornerback, the Chiefs may be tempted to make the move with Bartee permanent.
gRight now wefre saying it is, if everything goes right at the corner position,h coach thingy Vermeil said.
Gary Stills also is playing a new position, shifting to outside linebacker from defensive end. The 250-pound Stills is undersized for an end and never found a home there.
The Chiefs have only seven healthy linebackers, so Stills has a better chance of helping the Chiefs at his new spot.
gI feel like I can do a lot more playing in space than confining myself to a small room with a bunch of big guys,h Stills said. gHopefully, this will prolong my career. I want to be an integral part of the defense.h
¡ HOLMES ARRIVES: Priest Holmes practiced for the first time, and the Chiefs wasted little time getting him back into the mix. On one of the first plays of the day, they threw a familiar screen pass to Holmes, and only a great play by Kendrell Bell prevented what would have been a big gain.
Vermeil then trotted down the field to welcome Holmes back.
gIt was his first day back, and he is big and strong,h Vermeil said. gHe has been weight training an awful lot. Now he is working on cardiovascular and getting into football shape, but it was real fun to have him back.h
¡ HALL TAKES A SPILL: Dante Hall took a hard fall after a collision with linebacker Keyaron Fox. Both players were going after the pass; neither apparently saw the other, and both went down. Fox got up immediately and continued practice.
Hall stayed on the ground for a few anxious moments before getting to his feet, but he did not return to practice. He later wore an ice pack on his left knee, but the Chiefs didnft believe the injury to be serious.
Move to safety pleases Bartee
Chiefs notebook
By ADAM TEICHER
Kansas City Star
In the most spectacular play from Chiefs practice Wednesday, William Bartee hustled to the sideline from his new position at safety and leaped high over Samie Parker to make an interception.
Itfs early, but the Chiefsf decision to move Bartee from cornerback looks like a good one. Bartee played like it in practice Wednesday and said he felt like it afterward.
gIt takes a lot of stress off,h said Bartee, who struggled at corner since joining the Chiefs as their second-round draft pick in 2000. gYou can be a lot more relaxed at safety. I feel a lot more comfortable out there. This is the best move I could have made. I felt natural at corner, but I think my best position is safety.h
Bartee played a lot of safety in college and appears to have the skills to play the position in the pros. He covers a lot of ground, tackles well and will play facing the ball. His biggest problem at cornerback came when he turned to run with a receiver and lost track of the ball.
With Patrick Surtain, Eric Warfield, Dexter McCleon, Julian Battle, Benny Sapp and rookie Alphonso Hodge at cornerback, the Chiefs may be tempted to make the move with Bartee permanent.
gRight now wefre saying it is, if everything goes right at the corner position,h coach thingy Vermeil said.
Gary Stills also is playing a new position, shifting to outside linebacker from defensive end. The 250-pound Stills is undersized for an end and never found a home there.
The Chiefs have only seven healthy linebackers, so Stills has a better chance of helping the Chiefs at his new spot.
gI feel like I can do a lot more playing in space than confining myself to a small room with a bunch of big guys,h Stills said. gHopefully, this will prolong my career. I want to be an integral part of the defense.h
¡ HOLMES ARRIVES: Priest Holmes practiced for the first time, and the Chiefs wasted little time getting him back into the mix. On one of the first plays of the day, they threw a familiar screen pass to Holmes, and only a great play by Kendrell Bell prevented what would have been a big gain.
Vermeil then trotted down the field to welcome Holmes back.
gIt was his first day back, and he is big and strong,h Vermeil said. gHe has been weight training an awful lot. Now he is working on cardiovascular and getting into football shape, but it was real fun to have him back.h
¡ HALL TAKES A SPILL: Dante Hall took a hard fall after a collision with linebacker Keyaron Fox. Both players were going after the pass; neither apparently saw the other, and both went down. Fox got up immediately and continued practice.
Hall stayed on the ground for a few anxious moments before getting to his feet, but he did not return to practice. He later wore an ice pack on his left knee, but the Chiefs didnft believe the injury to be serious.