Chiefs RB Charles: 'I love getting in the end zone'
by Joel Thorman on Nov 22, 2009 7:00 PM CST
in 2009 Campaign
51 comments
You gotta love simple words like this from Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles. I don't think I could have said it any better.
"I wish I could get into the end zone every time I step on the field."
If you missed the beginning of the Chiefs 27-24 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, then you missed one of the highest points of the Chiefs season through 11 weeks.
Charles, on the opening kickoff facing unit that "wasn't all that good", took the return 97 yards for the fastest six points of the Chiefs season thus far.
"We talked all week about how special teams had to make a play and we tried to go out there on kickoff," Charles said after the game.
Now, I think these words are important because the Chiefs are seeing real results for their efforts during practice.
"We knew that their kickoff wasn’t all that good – people have been scoring on them – so coach was talking about how we needed to take one to the house this week."
Charles scored twice today, including a goal line shovel pass from Matt Cassel. Those two touchdowns matched his career total through one and a half seasons.
Six weeks ago against the New York Giants, Charles was an afterthought to Larry Johnson in the running game and he hadn't been able to show off his track speed in a special teams situation. To make matters worse, he fumbled the opening kickoff giving an early advantage to a team that clearly outmatched the Chiefs.
"You just have to put that stuff in the past and stay on with the future," he said today. "I’m going to make mistakes – everybody makes mistakes. It’s just how you come back and respond the next time you get a chance."
Todd Haley's demeanor when asked about Charles after the game suggested that he was well aware of Charles' toughness since taking over the Chiefs starting job.
"That run in overtime when he got hit, well, that was a hit now and he bounced off and came back. He’s making progress. He made a huge play for us to open the game."
Charles, by the way, hasn't fumbled since that October 4th game against the Giants.
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Hmmmm
“We knew that their kickoff wasn’t all that good – people have been scoring on them – so coach was talking about how we needed to take one to the house this week.”
Coach predicts something…and when it happens, they win…That is how you get the players to buy in. Hope it helps.
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by woodman212 on Nov 22, 2009 7:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
And I Love Watching Him Move The Ball Downfield
Considering how Pittsburgh shuts down RBs (even without Polamalu), I think Charles’ day looked pretty darned good.
I see him as a guy who is essentially equivalent to Leon Washington, with a higher potential upside. And Leon Washington is a good player to have.
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
He was still getting the 5-10 yard runs. He just got a couple negative runs where Pittsburg drove in on pitches. Not much you can do about that.
At least he wasn’t consistently running for 1 yard with occassional bouts of 3 and -3 like LJ.
by ChiefDJ on Nov 22, 2009 7:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Or Futilely Waiting For The O-Line To Open Holes Before He Did Anything
Charles is probably never going to be much of a power back, but he can create for himself on runs and starting RBs who do that can be a big asset for a team…especially a team with a line this bad.
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
One advantage for our line
is that they don’t have to hold blocks as long for Charles as they did LJ. A quick crease is all he needs.
I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...
by BinSC on Nov 22, 2009 7:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
That's What Speed Will Do For You
I’d be happy if Charles could turn into another version of Napoleon Kaufman or Charlie Garner (sorry for invoking Raider names…those are the two best comparables I could think of off the top of my head).
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd Say Gale Sayers
But I think that’s probably shooting a bit high. :)
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Eric Dickerson
I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...
by BinSC on Nov 22, 2009 7:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Still Too High
You’re talking about a guy who broke the 370 carry mark four times and never suffered a decline in performance from it. That guy was a freak to end all freaks. If Charles became that kind of back, I’d be ecstatic, but the only guy I’ve seen who’s comparable to Dickerson is probably Adrian Peterson.
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
No, not the same, but
the way Charles cuts to a hole and hits top end is just like I remember Dickerson. Charles actually is a little shiftier. Will take a few years to prove the same durability. I’m not sure we should compare Peterson to anyone. I think he will be the model to compare other backs to.
I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...
by BinSC on Nov 22, 2009 7:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Might Be Right There
But when I watch him play, I still see Dickerson. Peterson and Dickerson both had that high-stride style of running. I still think Dickerson could have been the greatest RB of all time if it hadn’t been for his constant salary disputes.
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
Nobody thought more of Dickerson….than Dickerson.
I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...
by BinSC on Nov 22, 2009 7:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
There Was An Old SI Article On Dickerson
Many years ago…interviewed Dickerson and he was amazingly candid about his life and why he was the way he was. He was raised by a mother who always taught him that all women were no good golddiggers and that you couldn’t trust anyone because everyone would steal from you. So he was obsessed with being financially stable and had a really screwed up personal life (especially in regards to women)…he was paranoid that everyone was out to get him (almost to the point of conspiracy theory-type stuff). Kind of made me understand all the holdouts and the attitude…I felt a lot more sympathy for the guy after reading that.
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
With less media back in the day,
I just remember his TV interviews where he always seemed so arrogant. Might have been just a facade.
I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...
by BinSC on Nov 22, 2009 7:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
The SI Article Was A Pretty Long One
More in-depth than a lot of stuff you’d read back then. Very candid stuff. I can’t imagine that it was a manufactured persona on Dickerson’s part because it definitely wasn’t flattering. I don’t think he realized how he came off when he was talking about that stuff. After that, I just saw the holdouts and all that as Dickerson’s way to shut the world out.
Sort of like Priest Holmes, I guess, just that Holmes was smarter about how he dealt with it.
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Basically
I didn’t see him as an egotist anymore. I saw him as a guy who was miserable, lonely and unhappy and couldn’t figure out how to change that.
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
See Mike Tyson.
Sounds similiar in their personal lives.
I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...
by BinSC on Nov 22, 2009 7:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Probably So
Tyson had a lot of people around him with their hands out. Dickerson didn’t smack women around, though, as far as I know.
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
For Comparables
Mercury Morris perhaps. He was a speed guy like Charles. That seems like the high end of Charles’ potential. And I’d be happy with a Morris clone (or a Kaufman or Garner clone for that matter).
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Don't really know Morris...
…but I’ve never followed anybody but KC, so they had to be a really serious name for me to know them really.
Personally, I’m hoping one day he’s a guy people are comparing to their up and coming backs. In a good way of course, as opposed to how we do the latter years of 2.7.
by Archyrr on Nov 22, 2009 7:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Morris Was A RB For Miami
Three time Pro Bowler, went to three Super Bowls. Knee injuries shortened his career. When healthy he was very good, though.
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I still like Chris Johnson light
Consistency is only a value if you are not a screw up.
by schraggyj on Nov 22, 2009 7:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Morris was always more of a 3rd down back though.
His best years were when Csonka was still kicking. He could never carry the load, although we have yet to see if Charles can.
I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...
by BinSC on Nov 22, 2009 7:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I've been quietly not mentioning Barry Sanders.
But like you just mentioned, probably shooting too high.
by Archyrr on Nov 22, 2009 7:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Barry Was Elusive And Fast
But he was also a power back. The dude had legs like tree trunks.
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
My favorite thing about Charles
is the deceptive speed. He runs away from people without looking like he’s at full speed. That shows great body control. The fastest guys never really look like they are moving. You are sitting there watching trying to figure out why the hell people can’t catch him.
Consistency is only a value if you are not a screw up.
by schraggyj on Nov 22, 2009 7:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of deceptive speed...
Studebaker?? Santonio Holmes couldn’t catch him???
I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...
by BinSC on Nov 22, 2009 7:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Looked like Brandon Flowers outraced Holmes to get in front of him for the block.
But angles can be deceptive in telephoto.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
by hmills110 on Nov 23, 2009 1:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
That one in OT was incredible.
Bodily spun around and his feet never stopped.
by Archyrr on Nov 22, 2009 7:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Great Balance On That Run
I was impressed. He should have been getting a lot of carries a long time ago.
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by UCrawford on Nov 22, 2009 7:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely.
…and I don’t agree with you often.
by Archyrr on Nov 22, 2009 7:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
He was pretty green, at least looked that way, before Haley came along.
He looks like he’s becoming a football player to match his measurables. VERY encouraging.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
by hmills110 on Nov 23, 2009 1:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with Haley.
That run in overtime for 10 yards was something. He took a wicked hit and just rolled off and kept going. LJ is down easy on that play.
I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...
by BinSC on Nov 22, 2009 7:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
LJ would run into his blocker on that play...like every other.
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by woodman212 on Nov 22, 2009 7:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Or give his blocker a hard shove from behind for the face-plant.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
by hmills110 on Nov 23, 2009 1:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Twitter title was different.
@ArrowheadPride Chiefs RB Charles: ‘I love getting in the end one’ http://sbnation.com/e/933545
Hehe, thats what she said.
-cw
Watching the 2009-2010 Chiefs 12 hours ahead of you (in Taipei, Taiwan).
Twittering my every move. Don't act like you're not even slightly interested.
by webby37 on Nov 22, 2009 7:09 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
I love it when he gets in the end zone too :)
That was an amazing win
by Ren on Nov 22, 2009 8:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I think we can all feel it
there’s something special in the air…
by bwelch37 on Nov 22, 2009 9:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I once heard a Patriots fan tell me
that in the “Snow Bowl” game of the 2001 season, when the Patriots kicked a field goal to win the game, there was just something special in the air. He was at the game and everyone could feel it. This team was going to go somewhere and do some special things. That’s how I feel today.
This is the kind of heart that the Giants used to beat the Patriots in 2007. The best team didn’t win. The team that showed up to play and did what needed to be done when duty called won. And that’s a great feeling.
by bwelch37 on Nov 22, 2009 9:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
2-0 without LJ
And the best part is the bengals are 0-1 with him. Oh yeah, he had 2 rushes for 5 yards. Sounds about right for 2.7. Oops I mean 2.5.
by 1stafcwest on Nov 22, 2009 9:57 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
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