Take
a Memo
Bartee
needs to be replaced as starter
Posted
8-11-03
by
CK Rairden
Landmark columnist
NFL cornerbacks must have short memories to be great NFL
corners. That’s why I still can’t understand
why William Bartee hasn’t achieved any success yet
as an NFL corner.
Entering his fourth year, Bartee still can’t remember
to turn and look for the ball as he trails receivers into
the endzone. During Saturday night’s pre-season game,
rookie Brandon Lloyd embarrassed Bartee.
Lloyd, as many receivers before him, torched Bartee on
his first NFL catch for a 39-yard TD. It’s time for
someone in the Chiefs organization to remember how poorly
Bartee plays, week after week.
He’s not a starting cornerback in this league, and
if he is the opening day starter, even with the obvious
improvements at nearly every other defensive position,
it will be as difficult for the rest of the defense to
cover for Bartee as it is for Bartee to cover inexperienced
rookies making their first NFL catch.
It’s time to take a long look at Dexter McCleon
at starting CB, and it’s time for the return of the
most popular feature of The Landmark’s Chiefs coverage
where observations are made in a quick paced bullet fashion.
Take A Memo.
****
—The defensive line is MUCH improved. Ryan Sims
is the key, and he is performing like a sixth overall
pick so far this pre-season.
—R-Kal Truluck must be active on the opening day
roster. His energy, his speed and his determination are
addictive and can only help this defense.
—Trent Green is one tough QB.
—And he will need to be if any starter on the O-Line
goes down. There is little competent depth.
—The O-Line is so shallow; the Chiefs may be forced
to look at the last cuts by other NFL teams to find a
veteran as an insurance policy.
—Great call on 4th and 1 to go for the TD. Poor
run by Jarmar Julien. He missed the hole, then failed
to run forcefully enough to get the TD.
—The Chiefs last TD—an NFL record 99-yard catch
by Marc Boerigter from QB Trent Green came in the third
quarter against San Diego during game 15 of the regular
season on December 22, 2002.
—For those keeping score, that’s 12 straight
quarters without a TD.
—So that’s what speed at the outside linebacker
position looks like.
—Good to see WR Johnnie Morton involved, and lay
out for a great catch early. Love him or hate him, this
offense needs him to perform.
—RB Priest Holmes looks healthy, is running hard,
and taking hits without any visible effects.
—And he’d better be, the depth at RB is dangerously
thin.
—Exactly the opposite is the FB position, where
Omar Easy has looked graceful out of the backfield on
catches, while 300-pound Joe Hall is effective and a mean,
nasty lead blocker.
—Injured FB Tony Richardson is the consummate pro;
he won’t miss a beat when he returns to action.
—With the exception of the lack of any TD’s,
(and that will change with Holmes taking nearly every
snap) the first team offense looks tremendous.
—It’s very early, but Larry Johnson looks to
be nothing more than a special teams player for his rookie
season.
—Depth is a huge problem in the defensive backfield,
at running back, and on the O-Line. It’s too late
to fill all of these voids with a stopgap player, but
the O-Line will have to be addressed.
****
Dexter McCleon needs to be with the starters against the
Vikings next Saturday. To make this point more clear take
this snapshot. It’s late in the fourth quarter and
the Chiefs lead San Diego 24-20 in week one. The Chargers
are on the Chiefs 39-yard line with little time left.
David Boston is lined up, on-on-one against William Bartee.
If Brandon Lloyd can embarrass Bartee, it will be even
uglier in week one against a real wide receiver like David
Boston.
(CK Rairden can be reached by email
at ckden@yahoo.com)
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