Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Any prospective fantasy owners with Jamaal Charles on their love list had to feel good coming out of Friday night’s preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints. The Kansas City Chiefs marched down the field on their first drive under Coach Andy Reid and quarterback Alex Smith, culminating with (gasp!) a goal-line carry and touchdown for Charles.
“We did a good job executing on all cylinders,” Charles said, via the team website. “That’s what it takes to go on the first drive to score like that; you have to do everything perfect and I think we did a good job. It was just great blocking; I think we did a good job, but we still have more football to play.”
One of the worries about Charles has always been the lack of goal-line carries. Then last year Charles also saw a severe drop in passing game usage. Now, word is the pass game work will return in earnest, mirroring the way Charlie Weis used Charles in 2010.
“Charlie kind of moved him around like we did with our guys (in Philly),” Reid said, via ESPN. “I did that just to see how (Charles) handled the quick passing game or the deep passing game from the wide receiver position. He handled it well. So that gives you another dimension.”
Charles caught three passes for 27 yards on the night. The opening 14-play, 80-yard drive ended with the Charles touchdown, but his rushing total came to a modest 5 carries for 13 yards in the preseason opener. Charles is averaging over 5 YPC for his career, so I’m not too worried there.
Thomas Emerick is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasEmerick, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
