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Chiefs find safety nets in rookie duo
Pollard, Page could make immediate impact in KC
Tully Corcoran
The Capital-Journal
NFL Draft 101, Section 1, Rule B: Any time you're looking for defense in the draft and there's a guy known as "Bonecrusher" available, you make that pick.
The Kansas City Chiefs followed the rules this year, taking safety Bernard "Bonecrusher" Pollard in the second round.
They call him "Bonecrusher" because, of course, he likes to hit. And at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, he's good at it.
"When I go to tackle," he said, "I say 'Hey, I am here to crush bones.'"
He's been doing plenty of that throughout training camp. The 54th overall pick out of Purdue, Pollard is still learning the complexities of NFL coverages.
But the hitting comes naturally.
The Bonecrusher is polite and easy-spoken, and a bit of a computer nerd, claiming to spend hours at night reading software. Pollard is equal parts Steve Jobs and Steve Atwater.
Watching Pollard roam the secondary is like watching someone play Whack-A-Weasel, wide-eyed and ready to strike the first moving object in sight. You get the impression he would deck the Pope if he came over the middle, then smile and ask his blessing.
The Chiefs think Bonecrusher, and seventh-rounder Jarrad Page, a 6-0, 225-pound safety from UCLA, will be important players.
Not in the future. Now.
Both have spent ample time running with the second-team defense in practice. And both have caught coach Herm Edwards' attention.
"Oh, they're going to play," Edwards said prior to the Chiefs first preseason game. "That goes without question."
Page is the bigger surprise. Rarely does a seventh-round pick (228th overall) climb the depth chart as Page has. It's also rare that a player with his size and 4.59 speed enters the draft with such lukewarm stock.
Some scouts ripped him for inconsistent play, saying he doesn't tackle well. Some said his footwork is sloppy. Some said he lacks closing speed and could move to linebacker.
Some attributed his inconsistency to his baseball career, which got him drafted by three Major League teams.
Anyway, there is not much tackling in training camp, so the Chiefs still don't really know whether he's corrected that. They don't seem worried about his coverage skills.
Page has worked in cornerback drills during individual sessions. Though not rare for a safety, it shows how the Chiefs want to use him.
"We've got him in the nickel; we've got him in the dime," Edwards said. "So, he's going to play a lot of football for us. But we always try to get him some work because a lot of times he's going to in the nickel on the slot guy."
Pollard's role is clearer.
"I know it's hitting," he said of his strength. "I feel confident as far as going back there, if I have to cover a tight end or a running back or get back in thirds."
Pollard has the luxury of learning from a pair of veterans in Sammy Knight and Greg Wesley, a duo with 17 years combined experience. He wants to play, but understands the challenge.
"You're trying to take a position from somebody who's trying to feed his family or provide for his family," he said. "And these guys are really good."
The most likely scenario has Pollard and Page spotting the veterans, but earning their paychecks on special teams.
"That's one thing I know I'm gonna play," said Pollard, who blocked three punts and a school-record five kicks at Purdue. "I take pride in that -- punt returns, punts, field goal blocks."
Oh, and then there's that other thing.
"The best thing about it is," he said, "you catch somebody slipping, you can go ahead and tat 'em up a little bit."
http://cjonline.com/stories/081606/chi_pollard.shtml
Pollard, Page could make immediate impact in KC
Tully Corcoran
The Capital-Journal
NFL Draft 101, Section 1, Rule B: Any time you're looking for defense in the draft and there's a guy known as "Bonecrusher" available, you make that pick.
The Kansas City Chiefs followed the rules this year, taking safety Bernard "Bonecrusher" Pollard in the second round.
They call him "Bonecrusher" because, of course, he likes to hit. And at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, he's good at it.
"When I go to tackle," he said, "I say 'Hey, I am here to crush bones.'"
He's been doing plenty of that throughout training camp. The 54th overall pick out of Purdue, Pollard is still learning the complexities of NFL coverages.
But the hitting comes naturally.
The Bonecrusher is polite and easy-spoken, and a bit of a computer nerd, claiming to spend hours at night reading software. Pollard is equal parts Steve Jobs and Steve Atwater.
Watching Pollard roam the secondary is like watching someone play Whack-A-Weasel, wide-eyed and ready to strike the first moving object in sight. You get the impression he would deck the Pope if he came over the middle, then smile and ask his blessing.
The Chiefs think Bonecrusher, and seventh-rounder Jarrad Page, a 6-0, 225-pound safety from UCLA, will be important players.
Not in the future. Now.
Both have spent ample time running with the second-team defense in practice. And both have caught coach Herm Edwards' attention.
"Oh, they're going to play," Edwards said prior to the Chiefs first preseason game. "That goes without question."
Page is the bigger surprise. Rarely does a seventh-round pick (228th overall) climb the depth chart as Page has. It's also rare that a player with his size and 4.59 speed enters the draft with such lukewarm stock.
Some scouts ripped him for inconsistent play, saying he doesn't tackle well. Some said his footwork is sloppy. Some said he lacks closing speed and could move to linebacker.
Some attributed his inconsistency to his baseball career, which got him drafted by three Major League teams.
Anyway, there is not much tackling in training camp, so the Chiefs still don't really know whether he's corrected that. They don't seem worried about his coverage skills.
Page has worked in cornerback drills during individual sessions. Though not rare for a safety, it shows how the Chiefs want to use him.
"We've got him in the nickel; we've got him in the dime," Edwards said. "So, he's going to play a lot of football for us. But we always try to get him some work because a lot of times he's going to in the nickel on the slot guy."
Pollard's role is clearer.
"I know it's hitting," he said of his strength. "I feel confident as far as going back there, if I have to cover a tight end or a running back or get back in thirds."
Pollard has the luxury of learning from a pair of veterans in Sammy Knight and Greg Wesley, a duo with 17 years combined experience. He wants to play, but understands the challenge.
"You're trying to take a position from somebody who's trying to feed his family or provide for his family," he said. "And these guys are really good."
The most likely scenario has Pollard and Page spotting the veterans, but earning their paychecks on special teams.
"That's one thing I know I'm gonna play," said Pollard, who blocked three punts and a school-record five kicks at Purdue. "I take pride in that -- punt returns, punts, field goal blocks."
Oh, and then there's that other thing.
"The best thing about it is," he said, "you catch somebody slipping, you can go ahead and tat 'em up a little bit."
http://cjonline.com/stories/081606/chi_pollard.shtml