Chiefs Will Have Their Hands Full With All-Everything Josh Cribbs

by Joel Thorman on Dec 16, 2009 4:33 PM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

You know you've got a good player on your hands when Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown has this to say about you:

"He is a spiritual force. What he does is so pure, it's running the ball, then going down to make a tackle. It's playing the game with the right attitude, giving himself all the way."

Yes, he's talking about do-everything receiver/runningback/wildcat/return man Josh Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns.

The Kansas City Chiefs will have their hands full with Cribbs who enters Sunday's contest coming off arguably his best game of the season. Listed as a receiver, Cribbs lined up in the wildcat formation on multiple occasions rushing the ball eight times for 87 yards.

Oh, and he also won the special teams player of the week as well via a 55 yard punt return, among other accomplishments, last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chiefs coach Todd Haley is well aware of what Cribbs brings to the table. Watching tape of the Browns confirmed a few things about Cribbs.

"I think this Joshua Cribbs is one of the better returners, runners, wildcat guys in the league," Haley said. "He can throw it, he can run it; he breaks more tackles than anybody in the league. You see that on tape."

The Chiefs defenders haven't been the surest of tacklers at times so keep an eye on that tackles broken stat.

"I think he’s a strong runner," Haley explained. "He uses the stiff arm very well which is an underrated weapon. It’s one we work real hard on and it’s a natural weapon. I think he just has very good balance, is a strong runner and keeps the ball in the proper hand which frees up that inside arm to help shed tackles."

Cribbs has some extra motivation this season as well. He's been grossly underpaid despite signing a long-term contract not too long ago. Prior to the switch to the Eric Mangini regime, Cribbs claims he was promised a new contract.

And he still hasn't gotten it.

So, his motivation includes a few (few?) million dollars.

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Comments

Maybe this gives us the chance that he just

flat out calls it a day and decides not to show up until he gets paid or is told he can leave? There is always a chance.

by readANDgold58 on Dec 16, 2009 4:41 PM CST reply actions

Oh and the bad thing is

If this game does get aired, then we get to watch how bad the Chiefs special teams are again, and how explosive Cribbs is in the return game.

I mean come on, right after we get done prasing our special teams, they go out and put the performance that they did last sunday! I mean damn is Long just that bad at returning? Or did nobody decide to block?

by readANDgold58 on Dec 16, 2009 4:44 PM CST up reply actions

the COVERAGE units have been VERY good this year

return units and blocking (other than on a couple big ones from Charles) not as good.

it’s the coverage guys that (obviously) have to worry about Cribbs, so I feel reasonably confident

* "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
* Stats are for losers

by stagdsp on Dec 16, 2009 5:53 PM CST up reply actions

Read my mind

I think we’re in the top ten of both punt and kick returns (or we were recently).

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Dec 16, 2009 6:09 PM CST up reply actions

I loved this quote:

You know you’ve got a good player on your hands when Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown has this to say about you:

“He is a spiritual force. What he does is so pure, it’s running the ball, then going down to make a tackle. It’s playing the game with the right attitude, giving himself all the way.”

Loved it because you knew he wasn’t talking about any Larry Johnson!

by BCRavenJHawkfan on Dec 16, 2009 5:03 PM CST reply actions 2 recs