Post by lazarus on Jun 2, 2003 11:10:43 GMT -5
Trading Places
5/30/2003 8:39 AM
MAY 30 (morning)--How can the Chiefs offense be any better than it was last year? That’s a question head coach thingy Vermeil says he continues to ask himself.
The league’s top scoring offense will find it hard to do an encore this year, Vermeil says, because opponents will have had one year and an entire off-season to examine the many facets of the Chiefs offense in an effort to find ways to combat it.
If the team’s well-attended off-season program is any indication, the Chiefs have found a new home for wide receiver Johnnie Morton. Morton played the “Z” slot last year but has been moved to “X” – the split end position played by Eddie Kennison last year. Kennison has moved to Morton’s old position and can now play either position as well. The move was initiated by offensive coordinator Al Saunders.
Last year’s was Morton’s first with the Chiefs after spending all of his career with the Detroit Lions. He struggled with injuries late in the season and his numbers were down, some of it no doubt the result of the success of running back Priest Holmes.
But with one year under his belt and a familiarity with the team’s offensive system, Morton figures to be more of a factor in 2003. He has shown flashes of his old self in on-the-field practice sessions and appears more comfortable in his new spot.
“He just wasn’t used to doing things the way we do them,” Vermeil said of Morton last year, “full speed all the time, long on the practice field, and all that. He wore down. Plus, Al (Saunders) has gained a better understanding of what Johnnie does real well, too.”
5/30/2003 8:39 AM
MAY 30 (morning)--How can the Chiefs offense be any better than it was last year? That’s a question head coach thingy Vermeil says he continues to ask himself.
The league’s top scoring offense will find it hard to do an encore this year, Vermeil says, because opponents will have had one year and an entire off-season to examine the many facets of the Chiefs offense in an effort to find ways to combat it.
If the team’s well-attended off-season program is any indication, the Chiefs have found a new home for wide receiver Johnnie Morton. Morton played the “Z” slot last year but has been moved to “X” – the split end position played by Eddie Kennison last year. Kennison has moved to Morton’s old position and can now play either position as well. The move was initiated by offensive coordinator Al Saunders.
Last year’s was Morton’s first with the Chiefs after spending all of his career with the Detroit Lions. He struggled with injuries late in the season and his numbers were down, some of it no doubt the result of the success of running back Priest Holmes.
But with one year under his belt and a familiarity with the team’s offensive system, Morton figures to be more of a factor in 2003. He has shown flashes of his old self in on-the-field practice sessions and appears more comfortable in his new spot.
“He just wasn’t used to doing things the way we do them,” Vermeil said of Morton last year, “full speed all the time, long on the practice field, and all that. He wore down. Plus, Al (Saunders) has gained a better understanding of what Johnnie does real well, too.”
Lets hope this is what it is gonna take to make this guy come alive on the field.