Who's In - Who's Out
by ChiefDJ
on Aug 29, 2008 7:55 AM CDT
We'll keep this post by DJ up front because tomorrow is another cut day, this time down to 53 players. -Chris
You often hear about the final preseason game being a players last chance to earn a spot on the roster. The coaches though, usually pretty well have in mind who they want on the 53 man roster and as long as those players maintain the status quo they are in. So realistically, it is more accurate to say that the final preseason game is a players last chance to LOSE a spot on the roster.
I'm afraid fan favorite Dantrell Savage may be one of those guys that played himself out of a roster spot. Not just because of the fumble in tonights game. Not just because of stepping on the two yard line last week. Not just because of his inexperience in fielding punts. But more likely all of the above.
I have said before that B.J. Samms looks like the second coming of Eddie Drummond and I haven't seen anything to change my mind on that yet. But can we really afford to have a rookie with only WEEKS of experience fielding punts, one of the scariest jobs in the NFL back there when the game is on the line? Even this I would consider worth the risk considering the alternative, but Savage hasn't really had any impressive returns in either punt or kick off returns.
Sure he's spunky and has tons of heart and is exactly the kind of player you want on your team, but how much good is a spunky guy with lots of heart who is inexperienced in fielding returns, occasionally makes bonehead errors and typically has very average to below average returns; really going to do this team?
Don't get me wrong. I WANT Savage to make the team. I really am concerned about BJ Samms being Eddie Drummond all over again. But Herm may have a long sleepless night over this decision.
Who else do you think made or lost a roster spot tonight?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.
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Anyone else catch Carl saying
They would be releasing like 15 guys by tomorrow and then a few more at the last minute on Saturday (probably the guys they want to put on the PS)
by ChiefDJ on Aug 28, 2008 11:26 PM CDT 0 recs
Yep
And that he thought there were really only about 8 decisions left to be made. Carl also wondered if Battle could fill in at FB. But coaches have said no. I assume that would mean keeping all 5 RBs, with Battle backing up Cox and cutting Manderino. Suppose they’ll also announce the 15 guys tomorrow?
by sunny D on
Aug 28, 2008 11:36 PM CDT
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I can't believe they would carry two FBs
That doesn’t make much sense to me.
I also think Carl is in his own little world about Battle turning into a FB. What would be the point? The things he is doing good that they want him on the team for, he wouldn’t be doing as a FB and things that you want your FB to do, blocking and pass catching, he doesn’t do.
Battle is a marginal player at best in my eyes. We haven’t seen him run against the defenses starters in preseason like we have the top 3 guys. He certainly wasn’t very good last year.
by ChiefDJ on
Aug 28, 2008 11:40 PM CDT
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Remember Carl saying
4 + 2 for the running backs? With the 2 being fullbacks? That implied Manderino to me. Carl followed that by saying it’s Chan’s offense and Carl wants to give him the players he needs. I interpreted that to mean the FB is vital to Chan’s scheme and so he wants a backup on the team. Manderino is practice squad eligible according to Gretz. And I think he’d make it through waivers better than any of the other backs. Same is true of Battle, imo. I don’t think Savage would make it — someone else would take a shot at him.
by sunny D on
Aug 28, 2008 11:45 PM CDT
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Yeah I remember him saying it
I just can’t think of another team that carries two FBs.
by ChiefDJ on
Aug 28, 2008 11:58 PM CDT
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Webb and Sippio
Both contributed on special teams tonight. McMahan had one of those punt coverage plays you dream about where you tackle the guy a split second after the catch. But there’s no way he makes the team. McGraw (47) had a good night and is a special teams favorite.
Morgan’s interception showed great hands. And possibly acting — if the ref had checked the ball for grass stains (shoe polish in baseball terms) after the play, I’m not sure it would have been ruled an INT. And Herm was hot with Thigpen about not snapping the ball immediately. That was telling. Sorry to ramble.
by sunny D on Aug 28, 2008 11:50 PM CDT 0 recs
I think Webb has had a good preseason
He’s never going to be a big time WR, but if he can contribute on special teams and be a #4 or 5 guy, I think he’ll hang around a while longer.
Darling is still a complete mystery. Didn’t catch a single pass the entire preseason.
Sippio might make the team because of the injuries to the other players, but I think he would be one of the first ones cut when they come back. Anyone know how serious Price’s groin issue is?
by ChiefDJ on
Aug 29, 2008 12:00 AM CDT
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Didn’t catch a single pass the entire preseason.
Didn’t catch a single pass the entire preseason.
Didn’t catch a single pass the entire preseason.
Didn’t catch a single pass the entire preseason.
And he still makes the team over Sippio or Price? That would be the same thing as playing on the second or third team line and not blocking. I actually thought this might be a good situation for Darling but he didnt catch a pass in four games.
by Lanier63 on
Aug 29, 2008 8:09 AM CDT
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How did he do in every practice? I would bet he out performed both of them.
You’ve only been able to witness a very small sampling of all the reps he’s gotten.
by NJChiefsFan on
Aug 29, 2008 8:18 AM CDT
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We'll keep Price
over Sippio – I think we need the speedy receiver who can catch the ball (unlike Stonehands Parker) more than we need the slow WR who plays well on special teams
by PVChiefsfan on
Aug 29, 2008 8:45 AM CDT
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It's a tough call
Price has a TD as well, and I like his speed. Franklin is fast too, however, so you may be right about keeping Sippio. I am not sure Price will clear waivers though, so if we send him to the PS, we may lose him.
by PVChiefsfan on
Aug 29, 2008 9:17 AM CDT
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Means nothing
He was the only guy to get the ball thrown to him. Who’s to say any of the other WRs wouldnt have caught the same ball? Its just another catch.
by ChiefDJ on
Aug 29, 2008 2:21 PM CDT
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At the very least he's a veteran
Is Darling our most experienced receiver?
by primetime 07 on
Aug 29, 2008 9:06 AM CDT
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bring back kennison
and a time machine set to 4 years ago
by KCScuba on
Aug 29, 2008 9:18 AM CDT
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You can be outstanding in practice and suck in games
Look at the Wikepedia page on that subject and you’ll see Darlings profile.
Sippio preseason stats:
Rec Yards Yds/Rec Long TD
5 74 14.8 27 2
Darling has no stats when it matters.
by Lanier63 on
Aug 29, 2008 1:03 PM CDT
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If It Comes Down To Sams And Savage
The Chiefs should still pick Savage. Except for last night’s game, Sams has been underwhelming throughout the preseason, he’s never really looked like a great KR and he doesn’t play another position. Savage has had moments where he looked brilliant and moments where he looked not so good, but he’s a rookie and it’s to be expected…but it’s also an indication that he’s got some real potential. With Sams there is no potential, what you’ve seen is pretty much it. He’ll fair catch a lot, maybe run a few kicks back, probably commit fewer mistakes than Drummond but won’t do as much. Between Sams and Savage, Savage should be our guy and we should work through the growing pains.
Unfortunately keeping Savage would mean having five running backs on our roster, so what I suspect is going to happen is that someone else will be returning kicks besides Sams or Savage. If they keep Sams, I’ll definitely be calling for Priefer’s head quickly when Sams starts disappointing us.
Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.
by UCrawford on Aug 29, 2008 6:55 AM CDT 0 recs
Best Of All Possible Worlds
Keep Savage, cut Sams, put Battle on practice squad.
Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.
by UCrawford on
Aug 29, 2008 6:57 AM CDT
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Battle won’t make it to the PS, someone will pick him up, and be happy they did.
by KCFanatic on
Aug 29, 2008 10:51 AM CDT
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Practice Squad
There seems to be this continual misconception that players on the practice squad are somehow protected from getting plucked. Any team can pick up any player from our practice squad at any time.
So far Battle has performed decently against backups and done nothing to convince anyone he’s anything special. He doesn’t return punts, he’s apparently not capable of playing fullback, the argument is whether he’s the fourth or fifth-best running back on our roster…and RB4s or RB5s who don’t return kicks are pretty much disposable because there are a lot of them around. Given a choice between Savage and Battle, it’s a no-brainer.
Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.
by UCrawford on
Aug 29, 2008 12:21 PM CDT
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What is the whole point
of the waiver wire then, if they can take them at any time? Not challenging you, just confused.
by PVChiefsfan on
Aug 29, 2008 1:36 PM CDT
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I Think It Has To Do With Their Draft Rights
Which would mean a team that claims them on waivers owns their rights and (I believe) gets them at the contract they were signed to by the team that waived them). Once they’re on the practice squad they have free agent status and are free to sign with anyone without compensation to their team.
Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.
by UCrawford on
Aug 29, 2008 1:44 PM CDT
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Don't Take My Word On It, Though
I’m not entirely sure, my reasoning was speculative and my source was Wikipedia :) From what I saw, though, that seems to make the most sense and it’s kind of how things work in baseball with waivers.
Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.
by UCrawford on
Aug 29, 2008 3:07 PM CDT
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And correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it that
when you are claimed on waivers, you don’t really get to “choose” who you play for. Whoever claims you gets you for your previous contract.
But when you are on Team A’s PS, and Teams B, C and D all offer you contracts to the 53-man, you get to choose which one you accept, right? So, they are basically just like FAs, just that they get to practice with the team.
I might be wrong, though.
Another thing regarding PS players; when someone else attempts to sign them to the 53, are you offered a chance to sign them first?
by rockchalk on
Aug 29, 2008 3:17 PM CDT
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I Think So
Not entirely sure, but that’s the gist I got from the Wikipedia entry.
Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.
by UCrawford on
Aug 29, 2008 3:23 PM CDT
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I would rather have Savage as well
However, I don’t think you can realistically say that Sams “has no potential” considering he was a very good returner before his injury. Who can say whether he can be that guy again and whether he was being overly cautious not wanting to make a mistake or just taking him time to get back in the groove. I certainly haven’t been impressed with him thus far.
Best of all worlds is we go with Savage and reevaluate him when Robinson is due to come off the PUP list. If he is making mistakes and not getting decent returns, he can be replaced with K-Rob.
by ChiefDJ on
Aug 29, 2008 7:13 AM CDT
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Sams and Savage
definitely gave the coaches a tough decision last night…Savage fumbles and Sams actually does something that doesn’t make him look like Eddie Drummond the third. I still like Savage, though. I think he has more upside.
by PVChiefsfan on
Aug 29, 2008 7:24 AM CDT
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And
I think Savage would do better filling in at HB if LJ or Kolby get dinged than Sams would if Franklin or Webb were injured.
by PVChiefsfan on
Aug 29, 2008 7:26 AM CDT
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He Was Good...Four Years Ago
He led the NFL in punt return yardage his rookie year. The next year he finished behind Reno Mahe. The year after that he broke his leg. This year he’s fair-caught most of the time and looked worse than Savage, he’s 27, and we’ve seen pretty much what he’s capable of. The Eddie Drummond comparison is entirely apt, and frankly I had enough of watching Drummond last year.
Seriously, unless your punt returner is completely incapable of catching the ball (and Savage can catch the ball) why on earth would you want to have a guy on your roster who can’t do anything but return kicks unless he’s far and away the best in his conference at it? Sams isn’t Devin Hester, he’s unlikely to be the best returner in our conference, he’s not going to do anything but return kicks, so why would we want him over Savage?
Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.
by UCrawford on
Aug 29, 2008 9:06 AM CDT
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I would have liked to see more of Charles
returning kickoffs and someone else (Savage?) doing punt returns… but I’m afraid he would get himself hurt. Can’t deny that speed, though, for a kickoff return. I think he’s Devin Hester fast.
by KCScuba on
Aug 29, 2008 9:17 AM CDT
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He's A Burner
Most definitely. Even in Madden 09, where I ran him 46 yards for a TD last night :)
Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.
by UCrawford on
Aug 29, 2008 9:27 AM CDT
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Thats exactly the problem
You could make a case that, even if Savage was iffy returning punts, that his kickoff returning would be safer and it could kind of balance out. But we have Charles that can also do kickoff returns and might be even more dynamic. That means the only thing we HAVE to have is a punt returner and if Savage is iffy on punt returns, we’ve got a problem.
by ChiefDJ on
Aug 29, 2008 10:34 AM CDT
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"Iffy" Is Fine On A Rebuilding Team
This is a learning season…not a championship run. Having a vet out there who fair catches any time there’s a defender within 20 yards is not a good thing for our squad. Replacing a promising rookie with an unimpressive vet because you’re afraid that the rookie might make some mistakes is pointless on a rebuilding team because this is the year that rookies are supposed to make mistakes. In two years Savage might be a really great kick/punt returner, whereas in two years B.J. Sams will most likely be doing exactly what we’ve seen from him this preseason…close to nothing.
Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.
by UCrawford on
Aug 29, 2008 12:25 PM CDT
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+1.
Exactly. Even if Sams is better, which I highly doubt (and he certainly has yet to prove it), Savage is younger and will be improving (or at least stagnating) by the time when we will compete, where Sams will almost assuredly be declining. And that isn’t even getting into the fact that Savage could play RB if forced, Sams couldn’t play WR if forced.
It would make absolutley zero sense to keep Sams over Savage.
by rockchalk on
Aug 29, 2008 3:20 PM CDT
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