Dantrell Savage: The Case For The Macho Man
“Just watch him. He’s like a bowling ball with butcher knives on it. It’s hard to tackle the guy.” - Herm Edwards discussing the play of Dantrell Savage
That’s not only why I like Savage, but also why I’ve dubbed him the Macho Man. He does run like that. Meanwhile, B.J. Sams and Eddie Drummond, the Chiefs‘ other two most recent return men, return kicks like bowling balls equipped butcher knives are coming at them. Savage runs like the other Macho Man, Randy Savage, used to run out of the gate when anybody stepped to Miss Elizabeth. Dude runs with a fearlessness that’s an absolute joy to watch.
Savage may not be big. He may not have Usain Bolt’s speed. He may not have Devin Hester’s jukes. But he’s got something. Guts. He’s not like a bat flying out of hell when he returns kicks, he’s like the batmobile flying out of hell–armored and ready for a collision course with his foes. I don’t see him playing much, if any, running back for us. Nonetheless, his fearless style can even be seen when he’s given handoffs. We have to keep this guy as our return man, even if it results in bursting a promising receiver’s roster bubble.
Fearlessness is a trait a great return man must have. When returners go downhill, their downfall is typically a result of two things. First, other teams basically stop kicking to them and/or do what is basically prevent kick coverage. Second, the returner loses his fearlessness, his cojones. We’ve seen both of these things take place before in Kansas City. Teams started covering Dante Hall much more conservatively. Tamarick Vanover suddenly started running scared, and stopped running back the pigskin like he was running drugs across the border. Drummond was a timid shell of his former self last season, if even that.
Like Justin Phinisee last preseason, Savage is playing with a sense of urgency that we desperately need from our return guy. He’s hungry. When you have a guy back there who can break one, it rallies the crowd, gives the offense more momentum. It’s also nice to start drives past the 25-yard line every once in a while.
All things considered, we must keep the rookie sleeper out of Oklahoma State. I think Savage could be our Darren Sproles, and he’s more consistent with our rebuilding phase than that retread cripple Sams. If it costs Jackie Battle or Kevin McMahan or even–GULP!–Bobby Sippio a roster spot, so be it. This is a facet of the Chiefs’ attack that can no longer be ignored. I’m also done holding my breath for K-Throb, the one and only Kevin Robinson everyone is so adamant on keeping. Suit up or ship out.
The season is almost here–we’ve gotta move on. That means it’s time for the Macho Man. Feel the madness! Oh yeah!
Addicts, what’s your opinion on Savage? Should he make the team? Let us know what you think…
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Well, based on what I’ve seen and heard so far, he’s easily an upgrade over Sams and certainly worth keeping around at least until after next week’s cut. I definitely wanna see more of the same out of him.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:29 pmKevin Robinson had better college return numbers than Devin Hester, but then again he didn’t play against the kinds of teams Miami played against. Watching his highlights, he doesn’t seem incredibly elusive or particularly speedy. He does run north and south though.
I still like Dantrell Savage better. I really want him to be or next Dante Hall.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:52 pmWell, Elvis Grbac had better college numbers than Tom Brady and both went to Michigan. Stats do sometimes lie, I guess.
I just don’t want to see us give up on Savage because of K-Throb. It’s not Savage’s fault he’s hurt, and the season is about to start. It would be nice to have the same guy back there for the entire season.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:10 pmAnd I’m pulling for him to be the next Dante Hall as well. Hell, if he can just be a guy who can break one a season and get us to the 40 occasionally I will be stoked.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:12 pmSavage, Pollard, and Colquitt are about all we have to be ecited about on special teams so far. Did you see the coverage in the Arizona game? We were giving up huge returns to the other team. Yeah, I want Savage returning kicks, but now I’m getting concerned that we’re gonna have the opposite special teams problem from last season: that we’ll do fine returning kicks but won’t be able to contain the other team on kick coverage. Thank God that at least Dustin can hang the ball up there for an entire quarter on punts.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:53 pmWe need to do everything we can to start offensive posessions with as short a field as possible. I don’t see Sams helping out much in this regard. Savage is definitely the Macho Man!
If K-Throb is still hurt when we play St Louis he should be put on IR/PUP if possible. I don’t want to see the guy leave the team until we know if he can play or not but we’ve got to move on at some point and maybe IR\PUP is the answer, at least in the short term.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:54 pmIf/when K-Rob comes back, he’ll most likely be the second return man / lead blocker. Based on these first 2 games, it looks to me like Sams is out and Savage is in mainly because Savage has shown himself to be more the dual threat ie KR-PR/RB.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:00 pmSudden, from what I’ve seen, the problem has more to do with the kicking than the coverage. I’d bet just about anything we haven’t seen who our starting kicker will be yet.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:04 pmI also like that Savage can do more than one thing. These returners who can do nothing else aren’t as efficient roster space-wise.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:18 pmThe only thing that can hurt Savage now is if he muffs a punt or 2. He handled the 2 punts flawlessly the other night, but there are still 2 preseason games left. I don’t think they will keep him over Sams if they aren’t confident he can catch the punts.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:08 pmSams is worthless. Anyone can stand back there and fair catch it. He might as well, as few yards as he picks up.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:25 pmI definitely think Savage over Sams anyday…he is young and foolish and you can see it in his running with so much heart…
However I would be remiss if I failed to mention what a dork Adam is with his constant Pro-Wrestling references…Macho Man? really?
haha
August 20th, 2008 at 5:30 pmLol…You can never go to the well too many times with 80’s wrestling stars. It’s impossible. Wrestling sucks now, as does boxing. MMA is where it’s at now. But back in the day…I mean, I was raised on wrestling. Plus, it’s the Macho Man! And Dantrell’s last name is Savage!
I am a self-proclaimed dork, for sure. But a cool one
August 20th, 2008 at 6:27 pmYou know a guy is fast when you go “Wow! He’s fast.” and he’s not even fast. Does that make sense?
August 20th, 2008 at 7:22 pmI meant to say “You know a guy is SPECIAL…”
August 20th, 2008 at 7:27 pm“You know a guy is fast when you go “Wow! He’s fast.” and he’s not even fast. Does that make sense?”
Hahaha no.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:36 pmNot really, but maybe. So effortless it looks like he’s barely moving? Field speed? OK, maybe not. I’m lost, too.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:50 pmField speed is probably a good word for it. I just know that my very first thought when I saw him was “Damn, that boy is fast!” and since then all I’ve heard is how he’s not very fast. I promise I haven’t been boozing again, Adam. =(
August 20th, 2008 at 7:54 pmLol…I remember that!
Yeah, field speed is a funny thing. I played with a guy at Emporia State, named Leon (can’t find his name because stupid Leon Lett also played at ESU…screwing up the serach engine), a middle linebacker. He seriously ran about a 5.0 40, yet he covered the field amazingly well from sideline to sideline. He lost nothing speed-wise when he put on the pads. I think a lot of it is “want to,” but there’s more to it than that. Bobby Sippio is slow, but he has field speed. Turk McBride might be that way, too. Maybe that made some sense of it?
August 20th, 2008 at 8:24 pmYes I’d say that does it. You have to speak “idiot” to understand me sometimes. Probably why I’m still single at 26. Sigh….
August 20th, 2008 at 8:41 pmI’m still single and pushing 3-0. Not necessarily a bad thing. The ladies just mess up Sundays anyway. Roll stag. That way you can kick ‘em out of bed Sunday morning before the games start. I’m just kidding, ladies. Totally kidding
August 20th, 2008 at 8:48 pmWell if you’d stop watching so much wrestling…. I kid! Yeah, I’m ain’t scared. I got time. Ha.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:51 pm” Oh yeah bother, savage is our man ”
- Hulk Hogan
August 20th, 2008 at 10:38 pmAnd Lil Wayne recently dropped “Macho Man” Savage in a song. If it’s still on Weezy’s lips, it’s still “in.” D-Bowe would tell you that.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:56 pm