Chiefs Add Running Back to a Bare Cupboard

by Chris on Nov 22, 2007 1:01 PM CST in Campaign 2007

Yesterday, the Kansas City Chiefs added running back Jackie Battle to the practice squad. In wake of the retirement of Priest Holmes, don't be surprised if Battle makes his way to the active roster at some point this year, as a running back or as a fullback. Here's a little info from back in May on the former University of Houston runner.

Undrafted Rookie Free Agent, signed by Cowboys: The Cowboys will sign a pair of players from the University of Houston, running back Jackie Battle and tight end Rodney Hannah. Battle, who some teams had projected more as a fullback, was the feature back for Houston and scored 15 touchdowns with 943 rushing yards. - Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com

Battle is 6'2" and 235 pounds. That has to make him one of the biggest running backs in the league right now.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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Big enough

is he agile,can he catch,can/will he pass block?Hopefully Kolby will be the complete runningback,and Gilbert will develop well enough to atleast lighten some of Kolby's load.Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

by Eric on Nov 22, 2007 5:10 PM CST 0 recs

Does everyone realize

that when you combine Herm Edwards' offensive philosophy and the fact that our only healthy running back is a rookie, that we may seriously punt on first down?

"Well, it's a defensive ballgame. This is not the Vermeil offense. We don't try and move the ball on first down with a rookie. We just don't do that. So we're going to punt on first down and take our chances with our defense, try and get field position."

And then my head explodes.

There's a reason the Chiefs play in MISSOURI.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 22, 2007 9:44 PM CST 0 recs

This could get ugly

and Oakland doesn't have a bad defense.

by primetime 07 on Nov 22, 2007 10:02 PM CST up 0 recs

Darn!

I'm gonna have to get my Brodie Bunch T-shirts reprinted now!

by sir eccles on Nov 22, 2007 10:06 PM CST 0 recs

If

Herm would just swallow his pride we might look good winning with the passing game.I just cannot accept the fact that Solari would run this offense like this when he knows how explosive it can be.I could be wrong I think Herm holds down the offense.

by Eric on Nov 22, 2007 10:28 PM CST 0 recs

A

The problem with Herm is I think he sometimes out-thinks himself.

The Indy game is a perfect example. It was such a defensive struggle, I really think he was playing for last possession of the game.

As long as they were tied, they were ultra conservative. When they got behind, they opened it up some. Thats something I've noticed in alot of the close games we've been in this year. When an opponent scores, the Chiefs often score immediately after.

Listen, Herm knows the O-line sucks hard. Honestly it has to be the worst in the league, and thats not just a fan getting down on his own team, they really are horrendous. But there is absolutely nothing he can do about it at this point. Nothing can be done to fix it until the draft and free agency come along.

So Herm is playing as conservatively as possible and praying his defense will keep us in it. And for the most part they have.

Right now, there are more important things to worry about than winning. Like not geting your new QBs legs broken doing 7-step drops every play trying to move the ball down the field because guys, our O-lne can't hold out that long. Or shattering your young QBs confidence by exposing him to 5 interceptions games where he feels its his fault they lost.

I'm not saying everything they do on offense should be built around Brodie Croyles confidence, but lets face it, this season is over with. No Offensive Line, no LJ who is 75% of the offense anyway.

The rest of the year is all about building Croyles confidence in the system, getting DBowe and Webb (probably the only receivers coming back next year) playing time with the new QB, and now, finding out what these young running backs have so we know where we are there.

All that and not getting anybody hurt foolishly trying to do something we simply aren't capable of doing.

by DJ on Nov 22, 2007 11:00 PM CST up 0 recs

Brodie

has the ability to make plays on the run move the pocket,bootleg.Peyton was thrown to the wolves and it made him strive to be better study more.He should be allowed to make mistakes to learn from them,cannot shelter him forever.You think TG will be gone next year also?

by Eric on Nov 22, 2007 11:11 PM CST up 0 recs

TG

I don't know about Gonzalez. Since he broke the Tight End record, he might just decide its too frustrating on this offense and offensive playcalling to continue on. You also have to consider that he's now the "old man" of the team with so many young guys coming in, and that can alienate him a bit too.

The one thing TG hasn't accomplished though, is a legitimate run at the Super Bowl in the playoffs. They've gone to the playoffs with Gonzales several times, but don't believe they've won one with him there.

If TG is optomistic about Croyle and the direction the offense takes by the end of the year, I think he'll stay as long as his body will allow it. If he thinks the team is going nowhere, he'll quit.

by DJ on Nov 23, 2007 8:38 AM CST up 0 recs

That

Is what makes this so frustrating on Sundays,you've got guys like Tony who give it their all with no reward and a coach holding them back.I would hate to see him go,but could you blame him.I would want that one thing that would absolutely top off my career.

by Eric on Nov 23, 2007 8:48 AM CST up 0 recs

Babying

Croyle will not advance him, it'll only make the learning curve that much steeper.

I don't think like Brodie will care if he throws picks.

And furthermore, I think we should probably point out that the only success we've had all season is when we've opened up. And we have been successful.

I don't think Edwards outthinks himself. I think that he's not willing to deviate from the plan, and often times the offense succeeds despite his restriction.

There's a reason the Chiefs play in MISSOURI.

by Ridiculous Matt on Nov 23, 2007 1:05 AM CST 0 recs

Croyle

Not saying baby him, but you don't want to be foolish with him and turn him into David Carr either.

Indy was just Croyles first start. Lets see how much they advance with his 2nd, 3rd and on starts. The whole reason they wanted Croyle over Damon was because he could make throws Damon couldn't, allowing them to use the whole playbook instead of just part of it. So lets just wait and see.

by DJ on Nov 23, 2007 8:40 AM CST up 0 recs