Chiefs Mellinger article on Hill - Page 13

**jjchieffan** · 10-24-2016, 10:55 AM

DJ''s left nut, TTC, and Clay, you may want to avoid this thread. It may get your panties in a wad.

Five seconds on a perfect afternoon is all you need to see to know why. It's why the men in charge of the Chiefs put their own credibility on the line for an admitted domestic abuser. It's why they were willing to drag the franchise through another messy argument, at least temporarily turning much of what they say they stand for into laughable propaganda.

This is a column about football, not morals. But this is also a column about Tyreek Hill, which means the line is blurry. Tyreek Hill made the most exciting, most breathtaking play in the Chiefs' 27-21 win over the Saints on Sunday.

That sentence will make Chiefs fans feel, something. Maybe all you care about is the touchdown. Maybe you will never forgive Hill for his monstrous act two years ago, or the Chiefs for bringing him to Kansas City.

Maybe you're like me, and go sad and sick whenever you think about what he did, and are disappointed the franchise of Jovan Belcher drafted Hill, but think the blame should be less on a football team and more on a justice system shamefully light on sentencing for convicted abusers of women.

No matter where you are on that issue, this column is not intended to change your mind.

This is about why the Chiefs took that risk in the fifth round of the draft back in May, why they've made sure Hill attends his court-mandated counseling, and why they thought the muck would be worth it.

It’s because of these five seconds.

"He's still a rookie, but he's off to the right start," veteran receiver Jeremy Maclin said.

First and 10 at the Saints' 38, and this is a perfect time to throw deep. If it goes incomplete, you have two more downs, and you're already on the edge of field goal range. Coach Andy Reid and quarterback Alex Smith are famously reluctant to go downfield. You know that, they know that, the other team knows that.

So it's doubly important for them to take those shots, to at least show they can, because otherwise they're throwing tunnel screens against 11 men close to the line of scrimmage.

Hill is freakishly fast — 4.24 seconds in the 40 at his pro day — and could be the Chiefs' best deep threat since, what, J.J. Birden?

"He opens everything up for all of the rest of us," Maclin says.

So, about those five seconds. Smith sees the read he wants — single coverage on Hill, with no safety over the top. He takes a short drop back and makes a trust throw high and long, believing that his guy will win the play. When Smith throws, Saints cornerback Ken Crawley is three or four yards closer to the ball's landing spot than Hill.

"Alex just told me to run as fast as I can," Hill said.

At the 14, the ball still in the air, Crawley is still a yard or two ahead of Hill. From that moment to the goal line, Hill takes seven steps. He runs past Crawley around the 10. By the six, Hill is a step behind the corner. Crawley knows it, too. He starts tugging and shoving at Hill around the five.

Hill is small — 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, the third-smallest man on the roster — but he is also strong. Crawley's hands aren't effective. Receivers coach David Culley has talked about this moment all week, telling his guys they will have to fight downfield against a physical group of defensive backs.

Hill shakes off the coverage, plants his left foot at the 1, and leaps into the end zone. Smith's pass is perfectly placed, and in midair, Hill makes a one-handed basket catch with his left hand, rolling onto the ground with the touchdown.

There is nobody else on the roster who could've made this play. Nobody on any Chiefs roster in recent history could've made this play.

Maybe the Chiefs could've scored on this drive anyway. The Saints' defense stinks. But this was the Chiefs' one big play that was more about a singular talent than preparation or scheme, and the Chiefs won by six.

The front office did not take this kind of risk for a singles hitter.

"We're asking him to do a lot of different things," Reid said. "He's a sharp kid. So we've been able to give him maybe a little bit more than I thought as a rookie that you'd probably be able to do, but he's handled it."

Funny moment after the game. Someone asked Hill about Smith, and to be fair, Smith has played very well two games in a row — 36 for 46 for 438 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in two wins.

Tyreek Hill says extra work with Alex Smith paid off
Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill said extra work with quarterback Alex Smith paid off with a touchdown reception Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Blair Kerkhoff The Kansas City Star
But, then, well, Hill said something of Smith that no serious person has said about Smith since, well, ever.

"He could be a future Hall of Famer, who knows?"

Well, Smith knows. Smith's family knows. His coaches know. You know. I know. But that's not the point. This is where Hill is at the moment, and it's who he's been with the Chiefs. He is eager. He is earnest. He calls everyone sir. Compliments his coaches constantly. Talks more about his mistakes than his successes, and more about his weaknesses than strengths.

He spent training camp driving an enormous old clunker, literally getting around in what his coaches saw as a symbol of humility.

Hill still has much to clean up. He made a mistake with the Chiefs leading late in the fourth quarter, going out of bounds on an end-around, stopping the clock. His teammates say his route running is more advanced than he's shown in games, but so far he's been limited mostly to screens and go routes.

DEFENSE STEPS UP, CHIEFS HOLD ON FOR 27-21 WIN OVER SAINTS

The rest of it may or may not come, of course. He's still young. His ultimate success or failure will be digested by many fans and media as a statement of his character. That will be misguided. It will only be a statement of his ability to play in the NFL. We don't know how any of that will work out.

All we know now is that he's doing the right things, and showing enough to see why the Chiefs took on this significant risk in the first place.

"I feel pretty good," he said. "I'm laughing, each and every day. I'm having fun with these guys. The guys are starting to trust me, and I'm starting to trust them. Once you get that down, you're comfortable."

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...#storylink=cpy

underEJ · 10-25-2016, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

There are some things more important than the outcome of a football game.

And the the Hill issue is not solely about Hill, because the Chiefs aren't just a team in a vacuum. Jim Tyrer killed his wife. Jovan Belcher murdered the mother of his girlfriend less than four years ago. And the team with those stains on its history still saw it fit to draft someone that choked and beat his pregnant girlfriend.

I just don't want to hear the Chiefs say anything about domestic violence or promote awareness against it, because their actions demonstrate that they really don't care. I'd have more respect for the organization if someone would just say, "We don't care if you beat on women."

This is sort of a hindsight only argument. Tyrer was retired before he did that, and prior to the business failures he suffered, he didn't have a history of anything like that, so equating it with the football organization ethics is questionable. I remember that one well, because I knew two of his kids.

I don't remember if Belcher had a history, but it seemed like it was a surprise to his team mates. Maybe there is more here I don't know, though.

I think these arguments are better suited for discussing the impact football physicality and damage have on players than organizational ethics, but I am all for holding the Chiefs accountable for drafting Hill. For me, they are the ones on a zero-tolerance watch for me. I will not accept a single excuse or rationalization from them for any issues that arise with him.

**jjchieffan** · 10-25-2016, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonefishin53

Sometimes you have to let the justice system work. The victim and prosecutor in Hill's case believed it would be best for all concerned if Hill were allowed to pursue a career in a job he was well qualified to do. Chiefs management did their homework and trusted the judgment of the victim and prosecutor in the case. So will I.

Nope. Sorry. A bunch of self righteous fans who don't even know anyone involved know more than those involved. How dare we say otherwise. We all know that KCTattoo, TTC, Clay and the other dipshits hating on Hill are the moral authority of everything Chiefs. We only dream of being so enlightened.

Rasputin · 10-25-2016, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjchieffan

Nope. Sorry. A bunch of self righteous fans who don't even know anyone involved know more than those involved. How dare we say otherwise. We all know that KCTattoo, TTC, Clay and the other dipshits hating on Hill are the moral authority of everything Chiefs. We only dream of being so enlightened.

Look asshole I'm not trying be anymore righteous than anyone but I went through this with my daughter and it's a total nightmare to deal with so you can kindly kiss my ass. I don't agree with the draft pick and I don't have to like it. You can like a woman beater all you want he scores ****ing touchdowns. Good for him.

My biggest problem/issue is it sends a message to other adolescence that it's ok to beat on women you can still get an opportunity in pro sports if you are a stud athlete. People will cheer for you as long as you are good at sports. If #10 dropped that pass or hasn't done the plays he has made he would be getting ridiculed and judged by a lot more people.

I don't think we as fans have to like every player on the team and we shouldn't have to agree with every decision to be a freaking fan of a team we love.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 10-26-2016, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

Look asshole I'm not trying be anymore righteous than anyone but I went through this with my daughter and it's a total nightmare to deal with so you can kindly kiss my ass. I don't agree with the draft pick and I don't have to like it. You can like a woman beater all you want he scores ****ing touchdowns. Good for him.

My biggest problem/issue is it sends a message to other adolescence that it's ok to beat on women you can still get an opportunity in pro sports if you are a stud athlete. People will cheer for you as long as you are good at sports. If #10 dropped that pass or hasn't done the plays he has made he would be getting ridiculed and judged by a lot more people.

I don't think we as fans have to like every player on the team and we shouldn't have to agree with every decision to be a freaking fan of a team we love.

Dude, Lil' Chiefy just wants his ****ing touchdowns. It was predicted that the majority of the fans who were between hate and troubled by the signing would suddenly throw up the pom-pom's when the TD's started coming.

And so it is.

And, I am sorry for what you and your family have had to go through.

10-24-2016, 10:55 AM
jjchieffan Supporter Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Highlandville, MO Casino cash: $3262247	Mellinger article on Hill DJ''s left nut, TTC, and Clay, you may want to avoid this thread. It may get your panties in a wad. Five seconds on a perfect afternoon is all you need to see to know why. It's why the men in charge of the Chiefs put their own credibility on the line for an admitted domestic abuser. It's why they were willing to drag the franchise through another messy argument, at least temporarily turning much of what they say they stand for into laughable propaganda. This is a column about football, not morals. But this is also a column about Tyreek Hill, which means the line is blurry. Tyreek Hill made the most exciting, most breathtaking play in the Chiefs' 27-21 win over the Saints on Sunday. That sentence will make Chiefs fans feel, something. Maybe all you care about is the touchdown. Maybe you will never forgive Hill for his monstrous act two years ago, or the Chiefs for bringing him to Kansas City. Maybe you're like me, and go sad and sick whenever you think about what he did, and are disappointed the franchise of Jovan Belcher drafted Hill, but think the blame should be less on a football team and more on a justice system shamefully light on sentencing for convicted abusers of women. No matter where you are on that issue, this column is not intended to change your mind. This is about why the Chiefs took that risk in the fifth round of the draft back in May, why they've made sure Hill attends his court-mandated counseling, and why they thought the muck would be worth it. It’s because of these five seconds. "He's still a rookie, but he's off to the right start," veteran receiver Jeremy Maclin said. First and 10 at the Saints' 38, and this is a perfect time to throw deep. If it goes incomplete, you have two more downs, and you're already on the edge of field goal range. Coach Andy Reid and quarterback Alex Smith are famously reluctant to go downfield. You know that, they know that, the other team knows that. So it's doubly important for them to take those shots, to at least show they can, because otherwise they're throwing tunnel screens against 11 men close to the line of scrimmage. Hill is freakishly fast — 4.24 seconds in the 40 at his pro day — and could be the Chiefs' best deep threat since, what, J.J. Birden? "He opens everything up for all of the rest of us," Maclin says. So, about those five seconds. Smith sees the read he wants — single coverage on Hill, with no safety over the top. He takes a short drop back and makes a trust throw high and long, believing that his guy will win the play. When Smith throws, Saints cornerback Ken Crawley is three or four yards closer to the ball's landing spot than Hill. "Alex just told me to run as fast as I can," Hill said. At the 14, the ball still in the air, Crawley is still a yard or two ahead of Hill. From that moment to the goal line, Hill takes seven steps. He runs past Crawley around the 10. By the six, Hill is a step behind the corner. Crawley knows it, too. He starts tugging and shoving at Hill around the five. Hill is small — 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, the third-smallest man on the roster — but he is also strong. Crawley's hands aren't effective. Receivers coach David Culley has talked about this moment all week, telling his guys they will have to fight downfield against a physical group of defensive backs. Hill shakes off the coverage, plants his left foot at the 1, and leaps into the end zone. Smith's pass is perfectly placed, and in midair, Hill makes a one-handed basket catch with his left hand, rolling onto the ground with the touchdown. There is nobody else on the roster who could've made this play. Nobody on any Chiefs roster in recent history could've made this play. Maybe the Chiefs could've scored on this drive anyway. The Saints' defense stinks. But this was the Chiefs' one big play that was more about a singular talent than preparation or scheme, and the Chiefs won by six. The front office did not take this kind of risk for a singles hitter. "We're asking him to do a lot of different things," Reid said. "He's a sharp kid. So we've been able to give him maybe a little bit more than I thought as a rookie that you'd probably be able to do, but he's handled it." Funny moment after the game. Someone asked Hill about Smith, and to be fair, Smith has played very well two games in a row — 36 for 46 for 438 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in two wins. Tyreek Hill says extra work with Alex Smith paid off Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill said extra work with quarterback Alex Smith paid off with a touchdown reception Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. Blair Kerkhoff The Kansas City Star But, then, well, Hill said something of Smith that no serious person has said about Smith since, well, ever. "He could be a future Hall of Famer, who knows?" Well, Smith knows. Smith's family knows. His coaches know. You know. I know. But that's not the point. This is where Hill is at the moment, and it's who he's been with the Chiefs. He is eager. He is earnest. He calls everyone sir. Compliments his coaches constantly. Talks more about his mistakes than his successes, and more about his weaknesses than strengths. He spent training camp driving an enormous old clunker, literally getting around in what his coaches saw as a symbol of humility. Hill still has much to clean up. He made a mistake with the Chiefs leading late in the fourth quarter, going out of bounds on an end-around, stopping the clock. His teammates say his route running is more advanced than he's shown in games, but so far he's been limited mostly to screens and go routes. DEFENSE STEPS UP, CHIEFS HOLD ON FOR 27-21 WIN OVER SAINTS The rest of it may or may not come, of course. He's still young. His ultimate success or failure will be digested by many fans and media as a statement of his character. That will be misguided. It will only be a statement of his ability to play in the NFL. We don't know how any of that will work out. All we know now is that he's doing the right things, and showing enough to see why the Chiefs took on this significant risk in the first place. "I feel pretty good," he said. "I'm laughing, each and every day. I'm having fun with these guys. The guys are starting to trust me, and I'm starting to trust them. Once you get that down, you're comfortable." Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...#storylink=cpy
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