Living On The Cornerback Island
From Arrowhead Stadium
In the post-game locker room Maurice Leggett could have taken a shower pill, thrown his clothes on and run out the backdoor before the front door was opened to allow media access. Certainly some of his teammates did just that, escaping from another losing locker room before they might have to answer questions about why the Chiefs are 0-5.
But as the media horde came over the wall, Leggett was right there. He answered all the questions thrown at him. He looked the questioners in the eye and never raised his voice.
He’s only in his second year, but Leggett already knows that games like what happened on Sunday against Dallas is all part of life on the corner.
“You just can’t allow it to drag you down,” Leggett said. “It’s what comes with playing on an island. When you don’t get the job done, everybody knows it.”
Leggett didn’t get the job done against the Cowboys.
 He did not start the game as the Chiefs nickel back, as that duty went to rookie Donald Washington. But when Washington was badly beaten by Dallas WR Miles Austin in the first half for what could have been a touchdown pass, Leggett replaced him and finished out the game.
But Austin came back and caused Leggett headaches and cost the Chiefs a chance for victory. Austin scored 59 and 60-yard touchdown passes. The first one gave Dallas a fourth-quarter lead, its first of the day. The second one gave the Cowboys the victory in overtime.
In both cases, Leggett was covering Austin and when he saw the ball in the air, he went for the ball. He didn’t secure the receiver by worrying about tackling him. He went for the ball. He missed both times, and Austin ran through his arms and those of SS Mike Brown and ran away from the defense.
“I thought I could get both passes,” said Leggett. “I went for it and missed it, both times.”
By going for the ball, Leggett was left in poor position to make a tackle, especially with a receiver like Austin who is 6-3, 214 pounds. Leggett is 5-11 and listed at 188 pounds, a total that is generous.
Leggett was trying to do what he’s heard his head coach talk about several times: he was trying to make a play to help win the game.
“That can’t happen,” said Leggett. “I’ve got to get those guys down on the ground. I’m sure I’ll hear about it, but I did what I thought was needed. I guess it was just bad vision.”
A player doesn’t forget those types of plays but a cornerback especially can’t dwell on the negative because it will affect every play that comes afterwards.
“You have to have a short memory at corner,” said Leggett. “You just have to come back and work at it, one day at a time, one practice at a time, one practice play at a time. You try to get two percent better each and every day.
“That’s what I’m going to do tomorrow.”
Washington outsizes Leggett by 25 lbs and 4 inches. We could use him to grow up fast, because he looked horrible in the first half. One of the first completion of the game was a short gain, but the receiver spun Washington completely around and he almost fell flat on his face. Our safeties have been poor all year long. Page has got to step up and start playing like he did last year- so far this year, I count 9 long plays- game changers- directly attributable to his lack of sound fundamentals. I’m ready to see Dejuan Morgan for Brown. He seems to have lost a couple of steps.
My question is why wasn’t Flowers guarding him. Dallas doesn’t have a number 1 receiver. What happen to the adjustment on defense by Pendergrast. I mean Champ Bailey was the reason they stop Dallas because Romo was looking for Austin in the endzone last week. IF Flowers is the best corner on the team then we need to put him on the opponent best wideout. Today that was Austin.
Pendergrast is an idiot!! He switched Flowers and Leggett as a so called adjustment….if u noticed Flowers blitzed more that game in the slot while Leggett was the cover guy, what a stupid mistake 2 have our best cover guy blitzing. I was never really high on Leggett, he made a couple plays last year but fundamentally as a true cover corner he has 2 many lapses. But u are right Ed, didnt understand the defensive plan by Pendergrast.
Leggett has all the tools to be a very good cornerback, and it’s more him taking chances than lapses. That’s where he is off. He just needs to concentrate more on covering and tackling, than stripping and intercepting. It’s great to cause turnovers, but not when it comes with giving up as many big plays as Leggett has this year so far.
Totally agree Flowers should have been covering; makes no sense not to have your best guy out there. Washington is the guy who should be blitzing; he’s big and fast. Plus, he’s still a ways off in coverage.
Well ill tell you one thing, im sure glad they brought in that Brown character because he is looking way better then Pollard did… It’s all about coaching where is the CB’s coach at? They (CB’s) need to be coached up a little more, like last year where they were looking like they would be one of the best secondaries in the league this year they aren’t looking good at all..