Insider Blog: The Century Mark
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Insider Blog: The Century Mark
Dec 29, 2009, 6:03:11 AM
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ALL-AROUND IMPACT
December 29th � 3:03 PM
RB Jamaal Charles has certainly had an impact on the Chiefs running
game, churning out the second-most rushing yards in the league (709)
since RB Larry Johnson was released (November 9th). What goes largely
unnoticed, however, is Charles� all-around impact offensively.
Sure, Charles catches plenty of cathes in addition to his role as the
Chiefs featured runner. He ranks third on the team in receiving with 39
catches for 294 yards and a TD. Charles also owns the Chiefs best
kickoff return average by more than five yards per take-back.
But while Charles has shined during the second half of this season with
the football in his hands, he�s also been solid when the ball is
elsewhere. Charles was already the best back on the team as far as
blitz-pickup before Johnson�s release. As a result, Jamaal found himself
in the game on third downs for his ability to run the draw, screen,
flare or pick up a blitz.
Since Charles has become the Chiefs every-down back, Kansas City�s sack
total (which was the worst in the league for quite some time) has
dropped significantly. In the seven games since November 9th, the Chiefs
have been sacked 15 times (2.14 times per game). Before November 9th,
Kansas City had been sacked 30 times over eight games (3.75 times per game).
As a result, partially due to Charles� help, the Chiefs have climbed
their way out of the league cellar in sacks allowed and now rank 28th.
�I think it�s really offense in general and Jamaal has been a big part
of that,� head coach Todd Haley said when commenting about the decrease
in sacks. �But each guy on the offense has got more and more
comfortable. This has been a very difficult transition and they
understood that and it has not been easy in any way, shape or form. Add
in injury and change in personnel and as we continue to find players
it�s been difficult.
�The run game has come a long way and any time you can run the football
effectively that helps your play-action pass and your drop-back,� Haley
continued. �Again, it�s kind of the evolution and the growth of this
group. We�ve got a long way to go but I think there has been progress
and the guys feel that and they�re feeling better about themselves.�
CASTILLE�S CAN�T MISS PLAY
December 29th � 1:58 PM
Chiefs FB Tim Castille logged his first NFL touchdown of any kind on
Sunday at Cincinnati. His 20-yard diving catch between three closing
Bengals defenders completed a perfected throw by QB Matt Cassel. Even
after watching this play multiple times�how did he hang on?
Chiefs fans weren�t the only ones who thought Castille�s catch was
highlight reel material. CBS color commentator described Castille�s grab
as �throwing yourself under the wheels of a chariot.�
Castille�s touchdown catch has been selected as one of the top three
plays of the week for Sprint�s national Can�t-Miss Plays Promotion.
Similar to Jamaal Charles� selection following his 97-yard kickoff
return vs. Pittsburgh, fans can vote online for Castille�s play as the
national winner. Voting begins today at 2:00 PM CST and fans can vote at
the following address:
* http://blogs.nfl.com/category/sprint-cant-miss-plays/
DENVER PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
December 29th � 10:53 AM
The Chiefs have the opportunity this weekend to not only win the first
game in franchise history at INVESCO Field, but also to help ruin the
Broncos playoff chances. Much like last season, Denver got off to a hot
start only to fade down the stretch. Denver is 2-7 after starting the
season off 6-0.
A Kansas City win this Sunday would drop the Broncos out of the playoffs
with the exception of one playoff scenario. Below is Denver�s list of 10
complicated ways to get into the 2009-10 NFL tournament.
Denver clinches a playoff spot with:
1) DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + BAL loss or tie OR
2) DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + PIT loss or tie OR
3) DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + HOU win OR
4) DEN win + BAL loss or tie + PIT loss or tie OR
5) DEN win + BAL loss or tie + HOU win OR
6) PIT loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + JAC loss OR
7) PIT loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + NYJ loss OR
8) PIT loss + BAL loss + JAC loss + NYJ loss OR
9) PIT loss + HOU loss + JAC loss + NYJ loss OR
10) MIA loss or tie + NYJ loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + JAC loss or tie
How about playoff scenario number 10? That one is definitely reminiscent
of the Chiefs path into the 2006 playoffs (except Kansas City had to win).
THE CENTURY MARK
December 29th � 6:03 AM
The century mark is that gold-standard for NFL running backs on a
game-by-game basis. Get 100 yards and receive a pat on the back. Rushing
for 100 yards is always a job well done.
Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles has rushed for 100 or more yards in each of his
last three games. Every time he�s touched the football 20 or more times
in a game, Charles has gained 100 or more yards. Should he gain another
100 this Sunday in Denver it will be yet another job well done, but it
won�t be enough.
Simply gaining 100 yards in Denver won�t take care of a loftier goal.
Churning out 100 yards would leave Charles 39 yards short of a
1,000-yard season. The goal to get to 1,000 sounds individual, but it�s
not. Getting Jamaal to 1,000 is a rallying point for the chiefs offense
as a whole.
�It really hurt this week when my run got called back,� Charles chuckled.
Yes, Charles� task this Sunday would have been much lighter had his
42-yard burst off left tackle not been called back due to a holding
penalty (Charles made sure to voice his disagreement with the call in
the locker room on Monday).
�My fullbacks and offensive line are really trying to help me get
there,� Charles said of gaining 1,000 yards. �They�re with me, the
quarterback is in with me and the receivers are in with me. Everybody is
in it with me and wants me to get it. I think it could be really big to
build up my confidence.�
Confidence is a critical component of football, but even if Charles
doesn�t finish the season with a rushing total the spins four-digits, he
should still have plenty of confidence heading into 2010. The fact that
he even has an opportunity in the final week of the season for 1,000
yards is special in its own regard. At the beginning of November Charles
had carried the football just 23 times.
�I think that it will be real special and that I�ll come back with a lot
of confidence next year,� Charles said. �This season I was playing kind
of nervous because I wasn�t out there playing with those guys like I am
now. I had just gotten in, but I�m starting to feel more comfortable and
I�m starting to feel like I could really be a good back.�
Charles was finally implanted as the Chiefs starting running back on
November 9th when the club released Larry Johnson. Johnson made his own
history with the team and nearly left Kansas City as the franchise�s
all-time rushing leader, but at this stage in his career Charles has
produced at a much higher level. Since Johnson�s release, only one
player in the NFL has rushed for more yards than Jamaal Charles� total
of 703 (Tennessee�s Chris Johnson � 917 yards).
�I think it would be meaningful for this organization if I reached
(1,000 yards),� Charles said. �It�s not just for me, but for my
teammates and coaches. Everybody would come back and know that they have
a back who can make plays for our offense and put us into a situation
where we can win games.
�Everybody wants me to get it,� Charles continued. �Even my family wants
me to get it because it�s been a small amount of time that I�ve played
and it would be amazing to get that.�
It�s interesting how times can change so quickly. Back in July Charles�
short-term goals were to impress the new coaching staff, work on
securing the football and win the job as Johnson�s primary backup. The
longer-term goal was to eventually wind up as Johnson�s permanent successor.
Five months later, the short-term goal is a 1,000 yard season, but the
long-term goal remains the same. Even though he�s done more than impress
fans, coaches and teammates, Charles is still out to prove that he is
the Chiefs every-down running back right now and into the future.
�It�s something I�ve looked forward to and it�s my goal,� Charles said
of entrenching himself as Kansas City�s starter.
As Charles continues to approach his own personal goals, he�s gained
national attention in the process as well. His second-half surge this
season has not only made him the topic of countless fantasy football
articles, but also the subject of opposing defensive meetings.
�My friend (Bengals WR Quon Cosby) said that the Cincinnati coach told
them that I was the best back and the fastest back that they would play
all season,� Charles said. �That�s how I want to feel. I want to feel
like a threat to the defense and for them to feel like if they don�t
stop me, I can win the game. I want to be that back where I am on the
scouting report.�
Don�t worry Jamaal, there is absolutely no question that your name
appears highlighted on Denver�s scouting report for this weekend.
To get to 1,000 yards, Charles will likely need one of those trademark
breakaway runs into (and past) the second level this Sunday. Denver
ranks 19th in the NFL against the run, but the 139 yards that Charles
needs to reach 1,000 are still 23 yards more than the Donkey�s average
yield (116.1). Again, that 42-yarder on Sunday would have really helped
his cause.
Whether or not Charles hits the 1,000-yard mark this weekend doesn�t
mean his appreciation is any less for the men that helped put Charles on
the national map in 2009. To show his thanks, Charles is planning on
wining and dining the members of Kansas City�s offensive line.
�I�ll take them out to eat,� Charles said. �I just appreciate what they
do for me. I told them that I don�t really need a big crease, I just
need a small crease and I don�t really need them to hold on for long. It
just takes me one crease to gash somebody, so I don�t need that extra hold.
McCormick and Schmick�s or Plaza III Steakhouse seem to be the
front-runners to host Charles� dinner party.
�Those guys are big eaters,� Charles laughed.
I�m sure the tab will be well worth it.