D-3 Players in the Pros

[Ron Boerger]

+1, hazzben.   

Excerpts from Todd Haley's Tuesday Q&A:

Q: Is Jerheme Urban bringing you what you had hoped to see last year?

HALEY: "... He's a guy that each and every year, I've seen improvement from. I haven't seen the arrow flatten out or start down, which is a good sign. Last year was disappointing for him and for us, because he had worked so hard and had an injury that didn't allow him to continue. But he helped us coach out there and was actively involved. He's been chomping at the bit, he's worked really hard to be out there; put himself in a position to compete and have a chance to help us get better and that's what he's doing. I'm encouraged with him and the entire receiver group. I've seen good progress out of here as we've started through the first week and a half."

Q: What is his skill set that you like? Was his injury just bad timing?

HALEY: "... This year, you're asking about what he offers us, he's a big-strong guy that understands his role, whatever that is. Meaning if we're running the ball, he's going to be one of our better blockers. If we're throwing the ball, he gives us another vertical threat. He's somehow been labeled, it's probably our fault in Arizona, because we had him inside a bunch just by what we had there and how we had to organize the group, so he got labeled as more of a possession guy, but he's a vertical threat. He can run. He can run, and he's been excellent from a leadership standpoint in that room specifically. He's competing right now and that, in turn, is helping make everybody better and we have to see how it plays out."

[hazzben]

^ Excellent. That's some really high praise coming from a coach like Haley. He doesn't exactly dole it out.

[Mugsy]

Pete Ittersagen had 4 tackles and a sack for the Titans last night.  He started the 2nd half.

[Ryan Tipps]

Looks like Tyler Beiler has gotten picked up by the Jags for their practice squad.

News release

[Ron Boerger]

After being a starter all preseason, Jerheme Urban has been demoted behind Steve Breaston at the #2 WR spot.   

http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2011/9/6/2407808/kansas-city-chiefs-depth-chart

[Kohawk Krazy]

You gotta love Coe's Fred Jackson being the leading rusher in the NFL right now.

[bashbrother]

London Fletcher (John Carrol) is still a beast in the NFL..... I think he is as good today as he has ever been.   Just had a great tackle on MNF for the Redskins.

[frank uible]

London Fletcher is an NFL freak - ordinarily his being both much too short for an NFL LB and at the same time having a D3 background would have absolutely disqualified him from getting any chance coming out of college.

[K-Mack]

^ Excellent. That's some really high praise coming from a coach like Haley. He doesn't exactly dole it out.

Haley loves Urban. I think when I wrote about him and Trusnik a couple years ago it basically became clear that everywhere Haley's gone (Dallas, Arizona, KC) he brings Jehreme with him.

I think he likes having a humble worker type set the tone even for the guys with more talent. Haley can point to Jerheme running after practice and tell Second Round Pick X from BCS School "that's why you suck. If you worked as hard as him, you'd be good."

[Ron Boerger]

^ Excellent. That's some really high praise coming from a coach like Haley. He doesn't exactly dole it out.

Haley loves Urban. I think when I wrote about him and Trusnik a couple years ago it basically became clear that everywhere Haley's gone (Dallas, Arizona, KC) he brings Jehreme with him.

I think he likes having a humble worker type set the tone even for the guys with more talent. Haley can point to Jerheme running after practice and tell Second Round Pick X from BCS School "that's why you suck. If you worked as hard as him, you'd be good."

Unfortunately, after being demoted to second string behind Breaston before the start of the season and netting one catch in three weeks, Urban was on the inactive list Sunday in favor of some rookie recently promoted from the practice squad.  :-(

[BoBo]

A couple items from the Flem File from David Fleming on ESPN:

"HALFWAY TO MVP -- Aaron Rodgers, Calvin Johnson, Charles Woodson, Peyton Manning's neck, and my new all-time favorite back and D-III Coe College alum Fred Jackson, who has given new hope to every 5-foot-8, 185-pound second-stringer in high school.

and

"HALF THE RESPECT IT DESERVES -- RB Fred Jackson and LB London Fletcher are both products of D-III college programs, ..."

[Ron Boerger]

Jerheme Urban, buried on the inactive list nearly all year, gets a mention today for imitating Tim Tebow in KC's preparations for their next game against Denver.  I'm sure he's happy to have something to do for a change.     

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2011-11-09/kansas-city-chiefs-team-report-wideout-imitates-tebow-in-practice

[K-Mack]

Jerheme sighting on MNF just now.

I'm sure if I'd been watching I'd have seen Studebaker too.

[Ron Boerger]

Jerheme sighting on MNF just now.

I'm sure if I'd been watching I'd have seen Studebaker too.

Yep, saw Studebaker on a kickoff return a minute ago but a pretty quiet night so far. 

Urban's been in for two plays, wildcat QB both times, handing off both times.  Has to be a relief to be active, perhaps because he's now the emergency QB with Cassel out for the season. 

[Ron Boerger]

According to this article, the only healthy QB KC will have tonight is Palko (was that the the name of the QB in "The Replacements"?).  Orton is not going to suit up and Stanzi hurt his ankle this week in practice.

http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2011/11/27/2589964/kyle-orton-not-suiting-up-and-ricky-stanzis-injured-ankle-spells

Urban is the emergency QB and if something happens to Palko will get to play QB for real against the Steelers.  Shudder ....