Earning Their Arrowheads
We continue our series on Kansas City Chiefs players I feel are earning their arrowheads. Friday’s contest against the Philadelphia Eagles was so full of exemplary individual performances that it led to the first decent looking Chiefs team performance in some time.
Here are 5 guys I think are earning their Arrowheads.
1. Andy Studebaker
I hate to say I told you so. But I told you so. Studebaker had a fantastic game racking up 5 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 QB hits in limited action. It appears Andy is using his raw talent to develop in to a complete player and that is good news for Chiefs fans.
2. Demorrio Williams
Demorrio Williams made a statement Friday night. The biggest knock on Williams was that though he was consistent, he never delivered the big play.
How’s 2 sacks, 5 tackles and a defended pass in limited time?
Williams mentioned this offseason that he had been playing injured in 2009 and that he felt that limited him somewhat. If Williams can continue this level of play early in the season he may well hang on to his starting job.
3. Dexter McCluster
Run DMC was electric Friday night. He was given a chance in the return game and he did not disappoint. He had kickoff returns for 111 yards as well as 8 handoffs for 47 yards. He has yet to make an impact in the passing game but expect that to change a the season wears on.
This kid is a serious weapon and he is going to make a big difference for the Chiefs offense.
4. Jamaal Charles
I usually reserve this list for emerging guys but let’s face it, Charles deserves to be on it. Despite his fumbled handoff, Charles again showed that the Chiefs offense is going to have to run through him. Charles had 6 carries for 40 yards as well as a 20 yard reception. He shouldn’t even see the field against the Packers. He is too valuable to the team’s regular season hopes. Jamaal is ready to go.
5. Jackie Battle
The Kansas City Chiefs are going o have the strongest running game in the NFL. Period. I don’t care who the other guys have, the Chiefs, at any given moment, can bombard a team with Jamaal Charles, Thomas Jones, Dexter McCluster or Jackie Battle.
Wait. What? Who?
Jackie Battle. Battle has grabbed his roster spot by the throat and he isn’t letting go. He had 10 carries for 49 yards and looked surprisingly nimble for a dude weighing in at 238 pounds. Yes, a lot of his work came against scrubs but Battle is showing a consistency that the Chiefs are going to need. Thomas Jones is not going to be around forever and the Chiefs are going to need a big, short yardage, pound the rock guy to keep Jamaal Charles fresh. It looks like they already have that guy in Battle.
Guys like Battle, Studebaker, Belcher and Gilberry are going to be the keys that unlock success for a team like the Chiefs. The more guys that come out of nowhere from the bottom of the roster, the more playmakers and impact guys the Chiefs will be able to draft next April. These guys are giving the Chiefs the depth they so desperately need.
Honorable Mention:
Jeremy Horne. While not making any plays in the passing game, Horne pretty much earned his roster spot Friday by showing up on the Special Teams unit with a couple of tackles. I would be shocked if Horne gets cut. He’ll have a chance to cement his status on Thursday night as he and the other reserves are likely to see significant playing time.