Do Receivers Really Need Extra Motivation to Catch The Ball?

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Yesterday, Dwayne Bowe was zero of six on catches where he would be immediately hit after the reception by coaches using pads. It is a sort of “gauntlet drill” like a receiver can expect when fielding an onside kick. Today, Bob Gretz indicated that “on special teams the Chiefs worked on the on-side kick. The No. 1 team for that situation is Bernard Pollard, Brandon Carr, Brandon Flowers, Jarrad Page, Terrance Copper, Derrick Johnson, Andy Studebaker, Turk McBride, Jackie Battle and Mark Bradley.” Did you notice that Dwayne Bowe is not on the list?

All of you will recall the game against San Diego where Dwayne Bowe dropped the on-side kick and allowed San Diego to come back and beat us. All he had to do was hold onto the ball and the Chiefs would have just run out the clock. Obviously, Todd Haley saw the game film and ran the drill to find who should be on our “hands team”. Unfortunately Bowe failed the drill. I know some of you think Bowes’ benching/number three (3) spot is a motivational technique by Haley to get a fire lit up under Bowe, but do receivers really need to be motivated to catch the ball? Should we be worried? Why is Bowe dropping so many balls and too many roster spots? Maybe he cannot handle the pressure.

Quazzimotto

Yeah it really does seem like an act of desperation. But what other choices are available? Reggie Williams? Jerry Porter? Marvin Harrison? None of those are viable options. I'm still "high" on hope that Matt Jones is a changed man and the Chiefs pick him up. He's a burner with size and hands, something we're a bit short on right now. He'd be cheap and stipulations on his contract, should he spiral back down, would make this a great pick up (IMO). If they sign Lelie over Jones then they must see something in him. Can't wait for tonight!!!

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Merlin

DD:

If you consider Lelie an upgrade, that doesn't speak well of our current receiving corp.

Double D

In one sense, picking up Lelie comes off as an act of desperation. In another sense, he has to be considered an upgrade over a lot of the guys currently on the roster.

toma

Bowe hasn't a guarantee on wr in the NFL. There are many high draft picks that never made it. So saying he will be in the line up may have been accurate in the Herm years but thank god not under Haley. If he can't hang on to the ball then he deserves to be on the bench.

Lelie has size at 6'3 and 200 lbs, but 3 teams in 3 years? In a 7 year career only 3921 yds and 15 touchdowns? I agree that right now we need more depth at WR and if they pick him up maybe Haley can work turn his potential into the right direction who knows? Like to see Matt Jones out here more than Lelie but I can't complain as long as they do their job and help this team get better.

Quaz, et al,

610 radio was reporting late yesterday afternoon that somebody who looked a lot like Ashley Lelie was working out for the Chiefs after practice. Say what you will about him, he's fast and he's still under 30.

bbq

IISaiNtII:

That was a typo, I meant to say he led the NFL in broken tackles (for receivers, that is).

Dr. Paine

A coach's job is to motivate grown men who get paid millions of dollars to use every shred of ability that they were blessed with to help a football team win. He said that every spot was open, and they would move guys around to experiment. I'm confident that he will put in the extra work necessary to earn his starting position back. After all, we know that Haley worked his way up to HC as a WR coach. He knows what he's doing. I'm wondering if Devard Darling can hold his spot. I'd like to see somebody step up and end the debate for #2 receiver.

Bowe's going to be in the starting line-up because who else do we have that has legs, isn't injury prone, or under 30 with NFL experience? Darling? Bradley? Haley said that Bowe has been making strides and is coming along well so theres hope (IMOP) that he's getting his stuff together and becoming the standout he could be.

Anyone notice Adam Teicher's latest Pollard bashing? And I quote: "They are hopeful this is the year. Page is already there, having given the Chiefs many such plays in his two seasons as a starter. The wait for Pollard has been longer and at times painful but could be over if his training-camp play is any indication." This guy's hard on for Page can be seen from space.

Guys, Bowe is on the 3rd team because he's not getting it done in practice. He needs to improve. A. Lot.

IISaiNtII

*Correction*

He's ranked 10th in the AFC... not the entire league.

If you bring the league into play he's now ranked 20th in YAC.

(Statistics courtesy of:
http://sports.iwon.com/nfl/stats/league/yardsaftercatchreceivers.html)

@bbq
"However, he was also first at yards after the catch."

First on the Chiefs I assume, because he was ranked 10th in the league in YAC. Wes Welker almost doubled Bowes YAC.

From a post of mine at Arrowheadpride:
"Wes Welker led the league for YAC, with Randy Moss coming in ranked 17th in the AFC. Bowe ranked 2nd in the league for dropped passes with 13 attributed to him. In YAC, Moss totaled 358 YAC, while Bowe racked up 396 YAC. A 38 yard difference. Welker's 758 YAC almost DOUBLES Bowe's YAC. Bowe was also tied for 4th in the league for passes not caught... tied with Terrel Owens."

dakotadave

I think this whole thing is being blown way out of proportion. Bowe is still our best wide out. I for one am exited that we finally have a coaching staff that will do whatever it takes to get the best performance possible out of each individual player.

Randy5k

I love D-Bowe I hope he is a Chief for years to come. That being said, Im not sure Bowe has ever felt he had to prove much. Great college career, gets drafted to one of the worst teams in the NFL. What has his motivation been to be his best when the Chiefs had no chance of winning almost his entire pro career?

eric007

EVERY PLAYER NEEDS MOTIVATION AT TIME TO PERFORM BETTER

Is this really a big surprise? We all know Dwayne Bowe doesn't have great hands. He was in the top 5 in the league for dropped passes last year. However, he was also first at yards after the catch.

Bowe is still a talented receiver and will see plenty of playing time. Honestly, though, do any of you REALLY see him being a #1 anywhere else besides maybe Baltimore or Chicago? He hasn't even really been the number 1 here in KC... we all know that. It was always Tony.

I'm not worried. Todd Haley is a good receivers coach. He'll play the receivers that give us the best chance to win, and coach the rest up.

It'll be OK.