cbssports.com,
Despite Jamaal Charles' amazing 2009 campaign, the Chiefs have listed him as a backup on their current depth chart according to the Kansas City Star. Thomas Jones, who was signed by the team this offseason, worked with the first-team offense during their early training camp practices. The paper surmises that this is a "mind game" played by head coach Todd Haley to motivate Charles to work hard this summer after missing offseason workouts recovering from shoulder surgery. "That's coaching," Haley said. "I'm not real interested in any of these guys being real comfortable."
Analysis: We suspect that Charles will eventually regain the first-team reps in Kansas City, but it's obvious that Jones is there to lighten the rushing workload. Still, Jones has met several benchmarks we look for in a running back's career that signal when a player starts to slow down, and we wouldn't be surprised to see him struggle this season. Moreover, expectations are that he'll get around 10 to 13 touches per game, limiting his statistics. Don't draft Jones expecting him to put up totals like he did last season; consider him more of a handcuff to Charles and a top-end reserve worth a mid-round
Despite Jamaal Charles' amazing 2009 campaign, the Chiefs have listed him as a backup on their current depth chart according to the Kansas City Star. Thomas Jones, who was signed by the team this offseason, worked with the first-team offense during their early training camp practices. The paper surmises that this is a "mind game" played by head coach Todd Haley to motivate Charles to work hard this summer after missing offseason workouts recovering from shoulder surgery. "That's coaching," Haley said. "I'm not real interested in any of these guys being real comfortable."
Analysis: We suspect that Charles will eventually regain the first-team reps in Kansas City, but it's obvious that Jones is there to lighten the rushing workload. Still, Jones has met several benchmarks we look for in a running back's career that signal when a player starts to slow down, and we wouldn't be surprised to see him struggle this season. Moreover, expectations are that he'll get around 10 to 13 touches per game, limiting his statistics. Don't draft Jones expecting him to put up totals like he did last season; consider him more of a handcuff to Charles and a top-end reserve worth a mid-round