Post by theultimatekcchiefsfan on Oct 7, 2005 2:23:47 GMT -5
Teicher: Wilson is not a weapon
www.kansascity.com/mld/kansa...ts/12828241.htm
Wilson is not a weapon
Impact on offense little for tight end
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
For a year and a half, the Chiefs schemed to get Kris Wilson involved in their offense. They drew diagrams of plays for him on thingytail napkins. They reviewed with a knowing grin practice video of Wilson shredding their own defense. They virtually promised he would take their offense to an even higher place.
It’s all been for this through the season’s first four games: one catch, 6 yards.
One of the most unexpected of developments for the Chiefs in an unusual season is that Wilson is having little if any effect on the passing game.
“His impact on our offense,” offensive coordinator Al Saunders said, “is not as extensive as we anticipated it being.”
The Chiefs blamed part of last season’s slow start on the loss of Wilson, who was injured and lost for most of the year with a broken fibula suffered in the final exhibition game.
They weren’t about to let that happen this year, so they shielded him during the preseason to protect him from injury and the prying eyes of future opponents. There was little doubt from the way he was used during training camp that the Chiefs intended Wilson to be a featured part of their passing game.
It hasn’t happened. Wilson has played about 40 snaps, or about 10 per game.
“When we put him in, we find people are going to nickel defenses,” coach thingy Vermeil said. “So is it better to have a wide receiver in there or him in there? Is it better to have Dante Hall in there or him in there? As we go along, you’ll see him in there in specific situations.”
The Chiefs anticipated that opponents might match up Wilson with a defensive back. Despite his size at 6 feet 2 and 251 pounds, Wilson is more advanced as a receiver than a blocker.
The Chiefs also anticipated that getting Wilson matched with a smaller defensive back might work to their advantage, at least when they ran the ball. If opponents tried matching Wilson with a linebacker, the Chiefs would benefit when they tried to throw.
The theories have yet to play out.
“With him and Tony (Gonzalez) in there as two tight ends, people were playing us with pass defenders rather than run defenders,” Vermeil said. “It will vary from game to game, and some teams may not play us that way.
“We thought it could happen. We’d just as soon it not. You can’t always control that.”
Wilson should benefit from the return of left tackle Willie Roaf when the Chiefs return from their open date a week from Sunday to play Washington at Arrowhead Stadium.
As with many others in the Chiefs offense, Roaf’s absence affected Wilson’s playing time. The Chiefs believed they needed more muscle in pass protection.
They opted to give Jason Dunn and Tony Richardson more playing time. Both are better pass blockers.
“We didn’t anticipate the protection issues,” Saunders said. “We’ve had to keep in extra people to protect the quarterback. That’s not his strength. His strongest suit is as a pass receiver.”
If the Chiefs have an offensive player capable of taking them to that higher place, it might be Wilson. His abilities are unlike those of any of their others.
The Chiefs list him as a tight end, but he also lines up in the slot or at wide receiver. They hoped he would be an integral part of their third-down offense because of the matchups and because he catches the ball so well.
Like the rest of it, the Chiefs are still waiting for that part of Wilson’s game to come around.
“He did a super job in his role the other day,” Vermeil said. “He was very instrumental in the success of some of our running plays. Very instrumental. He can be a wide receiver position, but he can block like a tight end. Now he’s an undersized tight end, but he’s a better blocker than people give him credit for.”
__________________
www.kansascity.com/mld/kansa...ts/12828241.htm
Wilson is not a weapon
Impact on offense little for tight end
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
For a year and a half, the Chiefs schemed to get Kris Wilson involved in their offense. They drew diagrams of plays for him on thingytail napkins. They reviewed with a knowing grin practice video of Wilson shredding their own defense. They virtually promised he would take their offense to an even higher place.
It’s all been for this through the season’s first four games: one catch, 6 yards.
One of the most unexpected of developments for the Chiefs in an unusual season is that Wilson is having little if any effect on the passing game.
“His impact on our offense,” offensive coordinator Al Saunders said, “is not as extensive as we anticipated it being.”
The Chiefs blamed part of last season’s slow start on the loss of Wilson, who was injured and lost for most of the year with a broken fibula suffered in the final exhibition game.
They weren’t about to let that happen this year, so they shielded him during the preseason to protect him from injury and the prying eyes of future opponents. There was little doubt from the way he was used during training camp that the Chiefs intended Wilson to be a featured part of their passing game.
It hasn’t happened. Wilson has played about 40 snaps, or about 10 per game.
“When we put him in, we find people are going to nickel defenses,” coach thingy Vermeil said. “So is it better to have a wide receiver in there or him in there? Is it better to have Dante Hall in there or him in there? As we go along, you’ll see him in there in specific situations.”
The Chiefs anticipated that opponents might match up Wilson with a defensive back. Despite his size at 6 feet 2 and 251 pounds, Wilson is more advanced as a receiver than a blocker.
The Chiefs also anticipated that getting Wilson matched with a smaller defensive back might work to their advantage, at least when they ran the ball. If opponents tried matching Wilson with a linebacker, the Chiefs would benefit when they tried to throw.
The theories have yet to play out.
“With him and Tony (Gonzalez) in there as two tight ends, people were playing us with pass defenders rather than run defenders,” Vermeil said. “It will vary from game to game, and some teams may not play us that way.
“We thought it could happen. We’d just as soon it not. You can’t always control that.”
Wilson should benefit from the return of left tackle Willie Roaf when the Chiefs return from their open date a week from Sunday to play Washington at Arrowhead Stadium.
As with many others in the Chiefs offense, Roaf’s absence affected Wilson’s playing time. The Chiefs believed they needed more muscle in pass protection.
They opted to give Jason Dunn and Tony Richardson more playing time. Both are better pass blockers.
“We didn’t anticipate the protection issues,” Saunders said. “We’ve had to keep in extra people to protect the quarterback. That’s not his strength. His strongest suit is as a pass receiver.”
If the Chiefs have an offensive player capable of taking them to that higher place, it might be Wilson. His abilities are unlike those of any of their others.
The Chiefs list him as a tight end, but he also lines up in the slot or at wide receiver. They hoped he would be an integral part of their third-down offense because of the matchups and because he catches the ball so well.
Like the rest of it, the Chiefs are still waiting for that part of Wilson’s game to come around.
“He did a super job in his role the other day,” Vermeil said. “He was very instrumental in the success of some of our running plays. Very instrumental. He can be a wide receiver position, but he can block like a tight end. Now he’s an undersized tight end, but he’s a better blocker than people give him credit for.”
__________________