Chiefs FS McGraw Back to the First Team, Two LBs Still Banged Up

by Joel Thorman on Nov 12, 2009 12:09 PM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

The Kansas City Chiefs took the to the field this morning in preparation for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders. Yesterday, there were a high number of players on the injury report - six, which is nearing the most the '09 Chiefs have ever seen on the weekly report.

Today, things calmed down a little bit. These updates are coming from Josh Looney of KCChiefs.com.

McGraw back to the first team

FS Jon McGraw was back on the first team in the early portion of practice today and he's with the first team.

SS DaJuan Morgan had been filling in for McGraw during his absence.

Getting healthier

WR Chris Chambers didn't appear to be slowed by a foot injury that landed him on the injury report yesterday.

LB Jovan Belcher participated after being limited yesterday with a head injury suffered in last Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

OL Wade Smith was also back in full pads after being limited yesterday.

Still hurtin'

LB Mike Vrabel was in the rehab area yesterday joined by fellow linebacker David Herron. Vrabel is suffering from a hip injury and appears to be getting better. Herron is farther behind Vrabel overcoming a knee injury that kept him out of yesterday's practice.

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Comments

Hurrayy.....

our mediocre safety is back. :)

by Sea of RED on Nov 12, 2009 12:55 PM CST reply actions

lol

Yeah, let's just keep matriculatin' the ball down the field, boys! ...

Get your Arrowhead Pride Wolf Pack T-shirt now!

by oldchiefsfan on Nov 12, 2009 1:02 PM CST up reply actions

Now if we can just get rid of brown

It is a new Era at Arrowhead. I do not yet know if it is one of greatness or one of ineptitude. I am excited to see which way it goes, and will support my team until the end, bitter or sweet!

by KC4Life on Nov 12, 2009 1:07 PM CST up reply actions

I loves me some Sea of Red...that's funny!!

that’s exactly what I said when I read that…YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let’s hope we can get our other candy ass performers well before we lose again.

by krayfish on Nov 12, 2009 1:10 PM CST reply actions

lol

i dont want to get started….today was suppose to be a good day…lol

by Sea of RED on Nov 12, 2009 1:14 PM CST reply actions

morgan is the reason jones-drew got in on that 9 yard run

where it looked like he pushed the pile. Really, it was a complete blow tackle by morgan, who had him wrapped up but couldn’t bring him down.

gawdam

by Cassel is a west coast pretty boy on Nov 12, 2009 1:31 PM CST reply actions

If the worst you can say about Morgan's play against the Jaguars

was that he had trouble bringing down MJD on a goal line play, then I’d say he ought to be starting.

John

"Gentlemen! You can't fight in here. This is the War Room!"

by RDOGuy on Nov 12, 2009 3:11 PM CST up reply actions

9 yards out isn't exactly a goal-line play.

by JacinB on Nov 12, 2009 3:22 PM CST up reply actions

RDO is right

MJD is tough to bring down

Morgan played pretty well overall

I’d like to see him start at SS, w/ McGraw at FS

* "I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
* the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009
* The OL is NOT as bad as you think it is... give it time, and you'll see improvement this season

by stagdsp on Nov 12, 2009 4:23 PM CST up reply actions

Please...

That’s kind of a stretch, doncha think?

John

"Gentlemen! You can't fight in here. This is the War Room!"

by RDOGuy on Nov 12, 2009 6:24 PM CST up reply actions

No.

From 9 yards out, you’re just as likely to see a pass as you are to see them trying to punch it in with a running back. From 1-2 yards out, you’re going to see a Running Back get the ball and try to smash through the line 80-90% of the time. Because of that, you get a different defensive package — most of the unit stacked in the box to prevent the run — that is typically referred to as a “goal line stand.”

Seriously. Go Google “Goal Line Stand” and see what you get.

Here’s a hint: Stories about Alabama’s goal line stand that preserved a 14-7 victory in the ’79 Sugar Bowl (that was from the one-yard line), about LSU preventing an upset by the Mississippi State Bulldogs with a goal line stand, about the Cardinals perhaps having a turning point this season from a goal line stand that preserved a victory (when Houston had first and goal from the one-yard line), about the Packers having a goal line stand (at their own one-yard line) and then turning around and driving 99 yards for a touchdown, and Oregon State having an “unbelievable” goal line stand against Cal in 2007 are the top results.

And mixed in there among those is this definition:

Definition: Stopping the opposition at or near one’s goal-line on a series of plays.
Examples: A goal line stand usually refers to a team’s effort that keeps the opposition out of the end zone after they have started with a first down inside the five-yard line.

So, no, I don’t think that itt’s kind of a stretch to say that a play from 9-yards out wasn’t a goal-line play.

by JacinB on Nov 13, 2009 9:19 AM CST up reply actions

Holy smokes! My point has nothing to do with the definition of a goal line stand

(a term I did not use, BTW) the probability of a pass from the nine yard line, or anything that happened in the ’79 Sugar Bowl. Where the play began has nothing at all to do with my point.

The fact is that on the play in question, Morgan got MJD wrapped up within a few yards of the end zone, and was dragged in there with him. Along with a couple of other Chiefs. I wouldn’t bet against MJD getting into the end zone when he’s wrapped up inside the five by any safety in the league… regardless of where the play began, and regardless of how MJD got the ball.

And while we’re at it… allow me to point out that Morgan did wrap him up. That’s a lot more than you can say for a lot of guys who have played the position for the Chiefs in recent years.

I stand by my statement: if that’s the worst you can say about Morgan’s play against Jacksonville, he ought to be starting.

John

"Gentlemen! You can't fight in here. This is the War Room!"

by RDOGuy on Nov 13, 2009 2:44 PM CST up reply actions