Chiefs Coach Says Charles Has Progressed the Most

by Joel Thorman on Dec 30, 2009 5:12 PM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

When you're the Kansas City Chiefs, and out of the playoffs in November, you measure individual progress. Obviously the wins aren't there but there are players that are making progress. Not as many as we'd like, but there is progress.

The one player that has demonstrated the most progress is running back Jamaal Charles according to Chiefs head coach Todd Haley.

Haley talked about the stat that's often pointed out around Arrowhead these days. Since Jamaal Charles took over the starting duties from Larry Johnson, only Chris Johnson has more rushing yards - and he's within striking distance of a 2,000 yard season.

Haley was quick to caution Charles' relatively short time of success.

"Now, we can’t put him in Canton yet," Haley said of Charles. "It’s only been a handful of games. Part of being a good player in this league is doing it consistently over a period of time. That’s just where Jamaal is at."

There are others that have made progress but none as much as Charles.

"That said," he explained, "there are a bunch of guys without going into detail that I feel like have made big strides. But if you pin me down I’d say Jamaal is the more obvious."

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Let's see what he does with a full season...

Hali, Johnson, Vrable, Mays, Williams, Studebaker, Belcher

-Come Get Some-

by Chiefsfan85 on Dec 30, 2009 5:20 PM CST reply actions

He has got "IT"!!!!

It would help if our recievers would catch the damn ball once in awhile. That would take some of the wear and tear off JC. If we can open game up it will make JC deadly.

by BBell78 on Dec 30, 2009 5:29 PM CST via mobile reply actions

He is really the only guy any opponent gives a damn about right now as well

Sure you can say “Hey we got Dwayne Bowe and Tamba Hali, they are both game changers”. Well what game have they changed? Sure a KC opponent may say, “Hey need a little safety help on Bowe” now and then but he hasn’t been what he was in the past.

Now Jamaal Charles is a beast. In just a few weeks he went from LJs replacement to one of the more dominant backs in the league. I wouldn’t take 1 single back including purple jesus over this guy and I’ll tell you why. Charles runs like Chris Johnson and MJD and he is only 23 years old! He has so much time to blossom into the beautiful dominant running red flower that I know he is deep down inside.

He’s a beast now, and if he stays on track he will be on of the best KC has had in a long time, and I know that list is pretty damn good. He has progressed? What an understatement.

by Lucasjr5 on Dec 30, 2009 5:33 PM CST reply actions

You got your 25 jersey yet :)

We Will kick at least 4 Teams Asses in 09. Almost there :)
And Succop will be the Key in two of them. Skins & Raiders! Pittsburgh Sweet!
" Think and talk positive football off the field." Hank Stram

by Steve_Chiefs on Dec 30, 2009 5:35 PM CST up reply actions

dominate running red flower...

lmmfao

by KCinAZ on Dec 30, 2009 5:39 PM CST up reply actions

I have been and always will be, a huge supporter of J charles,

and consider myself a part of the unofficial fan club…hes top 5 back material…people overlook him because of his size/speed combo, they believe hes just a scat back…his work on coverage units says otherwise, and his ability to take a 20-25 carry pounding…hes young…and hes a positive hard worker…

I hated that we drafted a RB at the time, but it was impossible to overlook his ability. Now we have one of the best in the league…if Forte could be considered that after just his rookie season, charles at the same age can be as well.(forte busted this season, which is why I used him as an example of all it takes is one season to go to elite status, ask matt ryan)

by SDChief on Dec 30, 2009 5:46 PM CST up reply actions

in reference to his draft pick

I thought it was a steal that he slipped to us in the 3rd round – I figured he’d have been taken sooner. I wonder if the league soured on Texas RB’s a bit after the whole Cedric Benson episode in Chicago.

In any case, I’m glad he’s a Chief.

by Ochophosphate on Dec 31, 2009 3:12 AM CST up reply actions

I want to know the others that have stepped up and how much.

Obviously Gilberry :)

We Will kick at least 4 Teams Asses in 09. Almost there :)
And Succop will be the Key in two of them. Skins & Raiders! Pittsburgh Sweet!
" Think and talk positive football off the field." Hank Stram

by Steve_Chiefs on Dec 30, 2009 5:34 PM CST reply actions

mmm Flowers stepped his game up to all pro level..

Of course he was good last year, but hes been great this year.

by SDChief on Dec 30, 2009 5:47 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

Flowers or Charles should be our unofficial Pro Bowlers. Maybe Hali
We got some talent here and just need to surround it with more talent IMO

We Will kick at least 4 Teams Asses in 09. Almost there :)
And Succop will be the Key in two of them. Skins & Raiders! Pittsburgh Sweet!
" Think and talk positive football off the field." Hank Stram

by Steve_Chiefs on Dec 30, 2009 6:24 PM CST up reply actions

Studebaker

Mays (I’ll take heat for that one), McGraw (knows the job, now, and isn’t the unsure player of previous seasons – a good backup), Jackson, Bowe (Better explosion out of the blocks and off the jam), …

Prediction for '09: Chiefs are looking like a .500 team, especially considering Denver's inattention to D-Line, Chokeland's disarray, and a San Diego team that looks like it's on the decline. With a weak schedule, Chiefs steal a few and win between 7 and 9 games, and if .500 or better, will contend for supremacy in a weak division.

by hmills110 on Dec 30, 2009 7:18 PM CST up reply actions

you could say mays has made progress just because he was nothing before

hes still nothing… just not quite as nothing as he was before this season….

he still is one of our worst linebackers because he misses tackles constantly…

it all sounds bad but i’ll take one linebacker out of the corp who can make big hits at big times as long as he starts learning to be a consistent tackler and the rest of them make up for it by making all of their tackles… I like his explosion. Hope he improves a lot in the offseason.

by Lucasjr5 on Dec 30, 2009 9:00 PM CST up reply actions

Have they started selling JC jerseys yet?

Last year, when he was hardly playing, I contacted an independent jersey maker who was going to make a JC for me fr around 200 bucks but I couldn’t afford it.

by SoCalChief17 on Dec 30, 2009 5:38 PM CST via mobile reply actions

If someone can throw up a fan shot, i can't do it from my iPhone...

According to pft, Brandon Marshall pulled a hamstring in today’s practice. The broncos closed the practice after that and it is unknown if he returned.

:) some good news for the day.

by SoCalChief17 on Dec 30, 2009 5:44 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Didn’t Haley say that Charles was a guy he really liked since training camp? Maybe this Haley guy knows what he’s looking for in players :)

by RamX21 on Dec 30, 2009 5:50 PM CST reply actions

Really, the only knock on Charles, that HAS held him back, were his fumbles.

Haley was tough on him, Charles reacted in a positive way and we’re all better for it today. This should be an example of how Haley’s ways will work with players that have the right attitude.

by jcox31mc on Dec 30, 2009 6:09 PM CST reply actions

Maybe Haley just wanted to use up Johnson and let JC practice

Why burn out quality if you don’t have to. Charles showed the faith and was rewarded now if we get a similar type back to spell him when that shoulder pops out occasionally we will keep the D’s on their heels all season in 2010.

We Will kick at least 4 Teams Asses in 09. Almost there :)
And Succop will be the Key in two of them. Skins & Raiders! Pittsburgh Sweet!
" Think and talk positive football off the field." Hank Stram

by Steve_Chiefs on Dec 30, 2009 6:28 PM CST up reply actions

A speedy back can also give you a false read on the blocking.

A few weeks with him starting and some are thinking the O-Line is all better, now. But this line would be ineffective opening holes for a power back.

by hmills110 on Dec 30, 2009 7:22 PM CST up reply actions

Charles was also unsure of himself in protections.

Still needs to work a smidge on the pick-and-roll stuff that makes for a great screen weapon. Get a good chip on somebody, but get off the block and look for the ball.

by hmills110 on Dec 30, 2009 7:20 PM CST up reply actions

he has improved on protections...

he was already the best pass blocking RB… and he’s getting better

but, yeah, the screen game SHOULD be a strength, but it needs work

* "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 30, 2009 7:56 PM CST up reply actions

part of it is him, but part of it is the o-line

sure they may be better on the simple run plays, and its not like its hard to block for draws, but the screen game is a little harder to perfect. If the pocket isn’t there because the o-line isn’t locking down their guys, there will never be any screens. AZ ran a lot of screen stuff and it pretty much replaced a lot of their run plays so I would expect it to be featured in KC more when the offensive line allows it.

by Lucasjr5 on Dec 30, 2009 9:03 PM CST up reply actions

I miss the days when we were one of the best "screen teams"

Priest Holmes was flat out dangerous running screens behind that line. Our line will have to improve a lot before we can run the screen like that again.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Dec 30, 2009 8:49 PM CST reply actions

No doubt Offensive lines are top priority

by 72chiefs on Dec 31, 2009 5:47 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Charles has indeed blossomed, as many of us thought he would ...

… mainly from increased playing time …

wish Croyle had the same opportunity … alas and alack and all that

hi, Mo!
5 minutes!!!

by upamtn on Dec 30, 2009 9:20 PM CST reply actions

Thank God LJ gone

If not, we would still sticking next year and we never know charles true potential. Or maybe, we would’ve seen charles doing great in other team

by 72chiefs on Dec 31, 2009 5:45 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Croyle

Croyle has had multiple opportunites. He just never took advantage of them…Croyle is a backup in these league and he doesn’t have near the heart of our starting backup QB. I was impressed with Cassel ability to play hurt last week and give us a chance to win the game. Do you think Croyle would have been able to do that? I wont sign off on Cassel being out QB of the future but at least the man will stand up and play football. Trent Green could throw up all the great numbers he wanted to but when it came down to it he could win in the 4th quarter. I believe Cassel has a special ability to lead his team for a game winning drive. He just needs a little more experience to get the rest of his game down…oh and some talent around him. I wouldn’t argue the fact that we might still be in search for a QB in a few years but I can promise you the QB is not Croyle

by groundedchevy on Dec 31, 2009 10:33 AM CST up reply actions