Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles Wants the Starting Job
by Joel Thorman on Jul 23, 2009 9:47 AM CDT
in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Offseason
Email
Print
via Photo Source
Speaking with the Port Arthur News, Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles said he's ready to be the featured back. A role he's seeked since his breakout freshman season at the University of Texas. The man standing in his way is Larry Johnson, whose proven he can be 'the guy' on the NFL level.
"I like Larry," Jamaal said. "We are friends in the locker room. And I'm going to be a good teammate, but I plan to take it from him. I think my coaches realize they need me. They are going to have to give me that chance. I have fresher legs and our offense plays to my advantage. I think they are going to use me a lot like Marshall Faulk."
Charles is working out and trying to gain weight, which is interesting because the rest of the Chiefs have been busy losing 300+ pounds over the offseason. Sitting at 207 pounds, Charles is looking to go up. But not by much.
"They want me at 208 (pounds). So I've been busting my butt. They want 208, I'm going to give them 208. I don't want to be any bigger, though. I'm at 207 right now and I'm going to get to 208 and stay there."
Pasta, fish and rice is the secret Charles explains. That and working his tail off, something he wasn't sure he did enough of last year. "I was just happy to be there. I didn't work enough," Charles says. Not this year, he says. He'll be "busting his tail" to take the starting job from Larry Johnson.
Charles has coveted the starting role since his freshman season at Texas. He's never been the lone featured back with coaches Mack Brown at Texas and Herm Edwards in Kansas City pointing to his size and perceived fumbling issues as roadblocks. Coach Haley sees things differently.
According to Cody Pastorella of the News, Charles said Haley knows he can beat out Johnson for the starting job.
Will he finally get the opportunity to be 'the guy'?
27 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Glad he's hungry for more
Another guy working out harder than last year. Cool. This is how 2-14 teams jump to 11-5 teams in one year.
by sunny D on Jul 23, 2009 9:55 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Another guy working out harder than last year. Cool. This is how 2-14 teams jump to 11-5 teams in one year.
Yeah, there’s that…and having Charles turn into the next Marshall Faulk would help too =)
Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.
by PVChiefsfan on Jul 23, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
ha...while we're shooting the next transformers movie...
Is it too late for Derrick Johnson to become the next Derrick Thomas? That’d help, too. =D
At the time, the Charles draft pick was a puzzler to me. Glad to have him now, though.
I didn't think we'd draft a RB that high
but when I looked at his college performance, and where he was predicted to go in the draft, I understood why we drafted him in Round 3
Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.
by PVChiefsfan on Jul 23, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions
This was refreshing to read.
It’s good to know there will be some competition at RB and that both guys will be working hard this offseason.
by Vince D on Jul 23, 2009 10:03 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
awesome
This is awesome to hear not only does he want the job but he is gonna push as hard as he can to take the job which means lj better work even harder
by njchiefs on Jul 23, 2009 10:14 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
LOVE it
hells yeah, I like the attitude.
It would be a great “problem” for the Chiefs if Jamaal steps up to be the starter over LJ.
Maybe LJ is just the short yardage guy, kind of a reggie bush/deuce combo they used to use in New Orleans
by stagdsp on Jul 23, 2009 10:22 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I love how all the players interviewed so far this year
seem to have that drive and attitude they didn’t have last year. I know a lot of people say thats what players are supposed to say, but you can tell they players are getting behind Haley and they are working very hard and believe they game win games.
Herm is gone things are better with that one move!!
by bringbacktheglory on Jul 23, 2009 10:30 AM CDT reply actions
Well yeah, Jamaal
Step up and take it from him then.
Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur!
Cant get better
Both guys are working hard, and thats great. My boy Jamaal is from my team in God’s Country. Hook’em Horns!!!!
BUT, as all of us know, Larry just needs his money. He looks good now, but without pads. He needs to make the team to get paid, and thats exactly what hes doing. He shied (sp?) away from contact last year, and he has a long ways to go to proving that he is a physical running back ready for the rock full time. Sorry, that feels negative….
Chiefs FTW
One back systems are very rare nowadays
It would be nice to have our own “Smash and dash” or “Thunder and lightning” combo.
What would Charles and LJ be called?
Slit and spit?
Happiness is a long walk with a putter in your hand.
by craig in calgary on Jul 23, 2009 10:43 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
haha
slit and spit I love it
Great players dont win championships.....Great TEAMS win championships
by DT58forever on Jul 23, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Or...
Spit and split.
I could get more sacks with my sack
by ArrowSpread on Jul 23, 2009 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions
Yikes
Slit and spit?
That sounds a bit like a movie sexassassin would be helping shoot =)
Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.
by PVChiefsfan on Jul 23, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions
With Jamaal Charles pushing him Larry Johnson will just be
that much better. LJ had his best year after the Dick Vermeil “take off the diapers” statement. LJ was ticked and it showed in his running. With Jamaal Charles threatening to step up we could have a very nice problem. Who starts?
This just tells you
how lax a show Herm was running. What the hell was he doing letting rookies run around “just being happy to be here.”
I hope Coach Haley gets rewarded for his solid coaching because I REALLY liek this guy. There is no “being happy to be here.” Haley will be happy to show you the door. You better come to work and work hard and come to be a champion because if you don’t you can go to soem other team and suck them out of their money.
Just listening to the attitude coming out of our players right now makes me think we’ll win at least 7 games.
D-Bowe, Mark Bradley, Bobby Engram and Turtle. Four Chiefs WRers. 4 Pro Bowlers.
Even if only 50% of your signature comes true
we’ll win more than seven games =)
Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.
by PVChiefsfan on Jul 23, 2009 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions
Combo
He could be the Mercury for Larry’s Csonka or the Rocky to Franco’s Harris! Great attitude to hear! Let’s kick-off!
Running back by committee
Anyone remember when Marty was one of the first to do that, and everyone was down on him for it. They said you have to have a featured back, now everyone is doing it.
Herm is gone things are better with that one move!!
by bringbacktheglory on Jul 23, 2009 11:14 AM CDT reply actions
Free Market Postition...
…I love it. Competition brings out the best in people.
Proud resident of Kansas City MO
NFL Player
might be the only union job that competition still thrives
For justice we must go to Don Pioli
Love the Cockiness...
Maybe they will both be running angry this season. I expect big things out of LJ and Charles this year. Everyone says we will be a pass first team but I can assure you, this running attack will be potent.
Gotta Love it
He’s hungry, he’s working hard, he’s going to push LJ. I think he’ll be a serious threat as a receiver, and there have been lots of backs his size that have run for lots of yards in this league. Can’t wait to see what happens this year. Jamaal having a big year might ruin my signature line, but I’d be happy if that was what happened.
Chiefs go 9-7. LJ makes 1400 yards. DBowe makes 1200 yards. Defense #18.
He's as good or better than current slashing backs
If given the chance, Jamaal will be one of the top backs in the league. UT barely tapped into his wealth of abilities and he gave them six yards per carry and 10 yards per reception. He’s bigger and just as fast as Chris Johnson and Steve Slaton. In high school, playing with a rather average Port Arthur Memorial team, he busted off 300-plus yards in games against Odessa Permia (Friday Night Lights) and Midland Lee. In three seasons with Texas, he rushed for 3,328 yards and ranks fourth all-time for Longhorn backs.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Arrowhead Pride
Related FanShots on Arrowhead Pride
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
