The Morning Fix

D-Bowe doesn’t work here anymore. It’s just Dwayne now, without the alter ego that he sometimes called “The Show.” That guy no longer exists. You can just call him Dwayne.

This is the new Chiefs policy, official or otherwise, a carefully monitored way of handling their good-natured but too often knuckleheaded receiver: Nobody is to call him D-Bowe anymore. Not coaches, not teammates, and especially not Dwayne.

The intent is clear. Dwayne Bowe needs to concentrate more on being a professional receiver and less on the sideshow that caused one league source to famously call Bowe “the single biggest dumbass in the NFL.”

It’s a good idea. The problem is that old habits are tough to break. Grown men don’t change easily. And so — regardless of team rules — Dwayne’s inner D-Bowe makes occasional guest appearances during training camp here, most recently on Tuesday after making a jumping catch during a drill.

“Y’all like that, huh?” he says to a small group of fans. “I’ll put a show on today because y’all are my people.”

‘Show’ stopper: Bowe needs to concentrate on catching ball, not attention-KCStar.com

“As I’ve said before, you can’t get everything that you want or you may think you need,” said coach Todd Haley. “In the NFL, the way I know you can have continued success is to develop the young; the first, second and third-year players you have on your team. That is mandatory. If you’re not developing young players on your team, you probably have very little chance of success.”

And the Chiefs will have little chance of success without a big improvement on the defensive front. One reason for hope is that everybody is more familiar with the defense. A year ago, a new coaching staff took players who were acquired and trained in the 4-3 and switched them to the 3-4. Growing pains were obvious.

“A lot of it was technique,” said defensive end Tyson Jackson, the third overall selection in the 2009 draft.

While the players remained the same, that cannot be said of the coaches. Former Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel was brought in as defensive coordinator and Tim Krumrie was replaced as defensive line coach by Anthony Pleasant, a 15-year veteran. Crennel’s specialty is the defensive line and he’s been giving that element extra attention.

Chiefs have yet to address problems with front 7-SI.com

“He is in the early stages of an NFL career, playing a very difficult position against grown men,” Haley said. “I’m encouraged with where Tyson is right now.

“He’s a big, getting-stronger player that has good athletic ability. And that’s a pretty good combination. And I believe a pretty high-character guy, who’s prideful and wants to be good. I don’t know that there’s a lot missing from that equation.”

Only there’s not much evidence yet that suggests Jackson can be the worry-free foundation block they drafted him to be. He hasn’t looked overpowering even against blockers who are expected to be backups, and reserve running back Jackie Battle and backup offensive lineman Colin Brown had no trouble containing Jackson during Tuesday’s afternoon workout.

At least publicly, Jackson’s teammates are expressing support for their one of their most high-profile — and much-scrutinized colleagues.

“He knows what he has to do, like all of us,” defensive end Wallace Gilberry said. “He’s out here trying to get every day.

Chiefs still waiting for Jackson to fulfill potential-KCStar

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