Three Jeers: Jamaal Charles Usage Wasn’t Sunday’s Only Mishap
By Ben Nielsen
Aug 7, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) escapes the tackle of Cincinnati Bengals middle linebacker Rey Maualuga (58) and defensive end Wallace Gilberry (95) in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
JEER #1: Jamaal Charles’ 11 Touches
If I told you before Sunday’s game the Chiefs would attempt to give the ball to Jamaal Charles fewer times (11) than Donnie Avery (13), what would you have said?
Andy Reid made it a point to get the ball to Avery yesterday, and it resulted many times in negative things. All three of Alex Smith’s interceptions were on Donnie Avery targets. Only one of the four attempts Avery’s way beyond 20 yards resulted in a completion, and included two of the three interceptions.
Charles touched the ball on the first three plays of the game, totaling 23 yards in those three touches. He would touch the ball only eight more times for the rest of the game.
It is pretty simple: The Chiefs are not going to win football games if Jamaal Charles is only going to touch the ball 11 times in a game. How exactly one decides to shy away from one of the five best offensive players in the game and give the ball to Donnie Avery is beyond me. I literally cannot give you a reasonable explanation for why the Chiefs would target Donnie Avery 12 while giving Charles only seven carries and four passing targets.
One better hope Charles sees the ball more in Denver otherwise things could get far more ugly than they did Sunday afternoon.