Post by lazarus on Aug 20, 2005 11:55:55 GMT -5
KC uneasy at cornerback
BY ADAM TEICHER
Kansas City Star
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -
They say the best attribute for an NFL cornerback is a short memory. If you get beat or have a bad play, forget about it and move on.
Evidently, Dexter McCleon has that quality. That's a good thing for McCleon and the Chiefs after a disastrous 2004 season.
"That's over," McCleon said. "I'm putting it behind me and moving forward. I'm not dwelling on that anymore. It's a new season, a brand new year. I'm looking forward to good things happening."
If only the Chiefs were infected with that attitude. But after a rotten 2004 season and then a training camp in which only Patrick Surtain distinguished himself at cornerback, uneasy is probably the best way to describe their feelings toward the position.
Tonight's preseason game against Arizona at Arrowhead Stadium provides the Chiefs another chance to assess. They would not only like to see a big game from McCleon, but also that young Benny Sapp and veterans Ashley Ambrose and Dewayne Washington play better than in last week's loss to Minnesota.
"There's still a lot of competition," coach thingy Vermeil said, referring to the third, fourth and fifth cornerback spots. "It'll probably take two more preseason games to determine."
If training camp was any indication, the Chiefs were wise to send their No. 2 pick to Miami and give a sizable chunk of their bank account to Surtain. He almost single-handedly ended a two-minute drill at camp this week by deflecting two passes away from Eddie Kennison as the defense enjoyed a four-play victory.
Surtain gives the Chiefs peace of mind at cornerback like nobody since James Hasty.
Nobody emerged in camp to challenge McCleon as the other starter in the absence of Eric Warfield, who will miss the first four games because of NFL suspension.
Perhaps because they have no other alternative, the Chiefs are showing an extraordinary amount of faith in McCleon after his season last year. He was benched at one point, and after a particularly awful game in Jacksonville, the Jaguars admitted to going after McCleon because they believed he was a weak link.
"It was an injury thing, and we put too much pressure on him," Vermeil said. "The emphasis on press coverage and the safeties not getting there to help him... you gradually find out what certain people can do and handle. People would audible against our blitz looks and man looks and take a shot at him and he'd have his guy covered and the guy would be 2 or 3 inches taller and the safety wouldn't get there to help him. We've adjusted that a little bit to help the entire scheme, let alone Dexter."
In his defense, McCleon played much of last season with nagging injuries, including a bad shoulder that needed off-season surgery.
"The main thing is to get back healthy and get my shoulder back as close to 100 percent as possible so I can get back to doing the things I'm capable of doing, the things I was limited on last year," he said.
Ideally, the Chiefs would prefer to leave McCleon as their nickelback. He probably will move back to that role when Warfield returns, but for now, the Chiefs don't have that option.
He figures to see plenty of action in the first four games as opponents throw away from Surtain.
"People throw the ball a ton in the NFL, so you'd better expect that no matter who you are," McCleon said. "As a corner, you can't shy away from anybody. I've been in this situation before playing with Aeneas Williams and Todd Lyght (with St. Louis). It won't be any different for me.
"In this league, you've got so many great players. Guys are going to make their plays, and you're going to make some plays."
Sapp is the nickelback. The Chiefs also have Ambrose and Washington, and at least one probably will make the opening day roster.
Also in the mix are rookies Alphonso Hodge and Justin Perkins. Both have shown some promise.
Then there's Warfield, who missed some practice time this week because of a sore back and may not play tonight. The Chiefs walked the delicate line in camp between getting Warfield enough work to last him through the suspension -- he can't practice during that time --and getting ready for those first four games.
Warfield received little work early in camp and more as time went on until the back soreness.
"It's not going to be enough," Warfield said. "I just need to stay with it in the time I do have off. Right now, I don't know whether I'm going to Arizona or Colorado because (his agents) have workout programs out there for professional athletes.
"We'll make that decision when the time comes. Right now, I've just got to make the best of the preseason games and whatever practice time I get."
Warfield, a four-year starter, is used to getting matched up against big-time receivers like Randy Moss and Cris Carter when the Chiefs play the Vikings. Last week, he was sent out with the other backups to play against receivers he'd never seen or heard of.
"Going up against guys that are threes and fours (on the depth chart) doesn't give you a lot of motivation to go out and give your best," he said. "I can't say I did bad. But I'm not going to say it was my best. I have to take advantage of this time. I have to do better."
BY ADAM TEICHER
Kansas City Star
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -
They say the best attribute for an NFL cornerback is a short memory. If you get beat or have a bad play, forget about it and move on.
Evidently, Dexter McCleon has that quality. That's a good thing for McCleon and the Chiefs after a disastrous 2004 season.
"That's over," McCleon said. "I'm putting it behind me and moving forward. I'm not dwelling on that anymore. It's a new season, a brand new year. I'm looking forward to good things happening."
If only the Chiefs were infected with that attitude. But after a rotten 2004 season and then a training camp in which only Patrick Surtain distinguished himself at cornerback, uneasy is probably the best way to describe their feelings toward the position.
Tonight's preseason game against Arizona at Arrowhead Stadium provides the Chiefs another chance to assess. They would not only like to see a big game from McCleon, but also that young Benny Sapp and veterans Ashley Ambrose and Dewayne Washington play better than in last week's loss to Minnesota.
"There's still a lot of competition," coach thingy Vermeil said, referring to the third, fourth and fifth cornerback spots. "It'll probably take two more preseason games to determine."
If training camp was any indication, the Chiefs were wise to send their No. 2 pick to Miami and give a sizable chunk of their bank account to Surtain. He almost single-handedly ended a two-minute drill at camp this week by deflecting two passes away from Eddie Kennison as the defense enjoyed a four-play victory.
Surtain gives the Chiefs peace of mind at cornerback like nobody since James Hasty.
Nobody emerged in camp to challenge McCleon as the other starter in the absence of Eric Warfield, who will miss the first four games because of NFL suspension.
Perhaps because they have no other alternative, the Chiefs are showing an extraordinary amount of faith in McCleon after his season last year. He was benched at one point, and after a particularly awful game in Jacksonville, the Jaguars admitted to going after McCleon because they believed he was a weak link.
"It was an injury thing, and we put too much pressure on him," Vermeil said. "The emphasis on press coverage and the safeties not getting there to help him... you gradually find out what certain people can do and handle. People would audible against our blitz looks and man looks and take a shot at him and he'd have his guy covered and the guy would be 2 or 3 inches taller and the safety wouldn't get there to help him. We've adjusted that a little bit to help the entire scheme, let alone Dexter."
In his defense, McCleon played much of last season with nagging injuries, including a bad shoulder that needed off-season surgery.
"The main thing is to get back healthy and get my shoulder back as close to 100 percent as possible so I can get back to doing the things I'm capable of doing, the things I was limited on last year," he said.
Ideally, the Chiefs would prefer to leave McCleon as their nickelback. He probably will move back to that role when Warfield returns, but for now, the Chiefs don't have that option.
He figures to see plenty of action in the first four games as opponents throw away from Surtain.
"People throw the ball a ton in the NFL, so you'd better expect that no matter who you are," McCleon said. "As a corner, you can't shy away from anybody. I've been in this situation before playing with Aeneas Williams and Todd Lyght (with St. Louis). It won't be any different for me.
"In this league, you've got so many great players. Guys are going to make their plays, and you're going to make some plays."
Sapp is the nickelback. The Chiefs also have Ambrose and Washington, and at least one probably will make the opening day roster.
Also in the mix are rookies Alphonso Hodge and Justin Perkins. Both have shown some promise.
Then there's Warfield, who missed some practice time this week because of a sore back and may not play tonight. The Chiefs walked the delicate line in camp between getting Warfield enough work to last him through the suspension -- he can't practice during that time --and getting ready for those first four games.
Warfield received little work early in camp and more as time went on until the back soreness.
"It's not going to be enough," Warfield said. "I just need to stay with it in the time I do have off. Right now, I don't know whether I'm going to Arizona or Colorado because (his agents) have workout programs out there for professional athletes.
"We'll make that decision when the time comes. Right now, I've just got to make the best of the preseason games and whatever practice time I get."
Warfield, a four-year starter, is used to getting matched up against big-time receivers like Randy Moss and Cris Carter when the Chiefs play the Vikings. Last week, he was sent out with the other backups to play against receivers he'd never seen or heard of.
"Going up against guys that are threes and fours (on the depth chart) doesn't give you a lot of motivation to go out and give your best," he said. "I can't say I did bad. But I'm not going to say it was my best. I have to take advantage of this time. I have to do better."