Post by fsn32 on Nov 26, 2005 23:50:56 GMT -5
I have been away, so if someone has already posted this... sorry if I'm redundant.
By Chris Mortensen
ESPN Insider
Ken Karcher might still be head coach at Liberty University today if his plan had worked. Then again, Samkon Gado wouldn't be a curious success story with the Green Bay Packers.
"That's all true," Karcher said, "but things happen for a reason."
Samkon Gado has scored four TDs in the last two games for the Packers.Gado actually was supposed to be redshirted for his senior year at Liberty in 2004, because the Division I-AA school was unusually deep at the running back position, the result of Karcher hitting it big with a 2001 recruiting class that also landed Dre Barnes and Eugene Goodman.
Gado fell behind Barnes and Goodman during his freshman season because of injuries. Barnes went on to have 20 games in which he rushed for more than 100 yards while Goodman had six 100-yard games.
Gado had become a utility player, but Karcher thought he would always be something -- and somebody -- special. He asked Gado if he would agree to a redshirt for his senior year, which would have enabled the Nigerian-born runner to enjoy a full season this year and perhaps catch the eye of NFL scouts for the 2006 draft.
"Then we lost Barnes in the first game (of 2004) with an injury, and the next thing you know, Goodman was going down in the third game," said Karcher. "I called Sam in and told him we were going to have to take the redshirt off him. I hated to do it but it was the right thing at the time."
Gado gained 901 yards, even while splitting time with Barnes and Goodman, who both returned from their injuries. But he was still under the NFL radar, even while Karcher was pleading with teams to give him a serious look.
Karcher, who was fired by Liberty last Thursday, has a pretty good eye for NFL talent. He had a stint in the NFL as a quarterback, he was a very successful offensive coordinator for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe before he landed the Liberty job, and he figures to be a strong candidate for any offensive coordinator's job that comes open at the Division I level.
Here's what Karcher told any NFL team willing to listen: "Sam Gado has legitimate speed -- 4.45 in the 40 -- he's big (5-foot-10, 225 pounds), he's strong and he has great hands. He's got great work ethic, the highest character and he will change lives of those around him. Oh, and he's smart."
Gado was smart enough to be a pre-med major with hopes of being a doctor one day.
But Gado also dreamed of playing in the NFL. His family moved from Nigeria to Columbia, S.C., when he was 9 years old. He attached himself to American football because a fellow Nigerian, Christian Okoye, had gained notoriety playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. Gado made a name for himself at Ben Lippen High School, but he was mildly recruited. When he fell behind Barnes and Goodman at Liberty, he felt his NFL dream slipping away.
"I had become consumed with the NFL before, going into high school and going into college," said Gado. "But as I just sort of (matured), I got real with myself and said, 'You're a third-string running back at Liberty University. What are the odds. It's going to take an act of God.' "
That's what Karcher and Gado believe happened. Karcher thought the Patriots and Browns had shown enough interest that Gado would at least be signed as an undrafted free agent in April. But when those teams failed to call immediately after the draft, Karcher panicked for his player and called a friend -- Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders.
"I told Al that he would never regret signing Sam," said Karcher.
The Chiefs, the team that enjoyed Okoye's success, took the chance and were almost giddy about Gado in mini-camp and in offseason practices. But when training camp rolled around, Gado suffered a stinger, never got a carry in the preseason and eventually was cut and signed to the Chiefs' practice squad.
One month into the 2005 season, Gado was cut again by the Chiefs when they needed to address other positions, although they do wish they had kept him with Priest Holmes out for the year. Out of work and with nobody calling, Gado's dream was slipping away again.
But the Packers also were in desperate need, as injuries claimed Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport. They brought Gado in for a workout, and he got their attention when he ran the 40 in the 4.4's. The Packers decided to sign him to their practice squad, and Gado got some more words of advice from Karcher.
"I told Sam, 'Make sure you know the playbook. Wear them out asking questions, keep studying, watch film, be prepared,' " said Karcher.
Gado didn't take long to make a good first impression, according to Packers offensive coordinator Tom Rossley.
"The first day, the first 9-on-7 drills when he took some reps, he hit a cutback play and exploded through the hole and we all said, 'Who's that? Who's 35?' " Rossley told the media last week.
Gado's number came up when Travis Fisher suffered a rib injury, joining Green, Davenport and Walt Williams (torn hamstring) on the sidelines.
Gado is still raw. He got one carry against the Bengals for an eight-yard gain. He then jumped to 26 carries for 62 yards against the Steelers -- believe it or not, the most yards gained by a Green Bay back in a game up to that point.
When he ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns last week as the Packers beat the Falcons (earning NFC offensive player of the week and NFL rookie of the week honors), Gado probably missed about 30 to 40 yards more in rushing totals because he didn't make the right reads.
"You have to remember, Sam is in the very early stages of this thing," said Karcher. "If somebody just has the patience, they will have a jewel in Sam Gado."
ESPN's Chris Mortensen is a regular contributor to Insider. He chats every Wednesday in The Show.
By Chris MortensenESPN Insider
Ken Karcher might still be head coach at Liberty University today if his plan had worked. Then again, Samkon Gado wouldn't be a curious success story with the Green Bay Packers.
"That's all true," Karcher said, "but things happen for a reason."
Samkon Gado has scored four TDs in the last two games for the Packers.Gado actually was supposed to be redshirted for his senior year at Liberty in 2004, because the Division I-AA school was unusually deep at the running back position, the result of Karcher hitting it big with a 2001 recruiting class that also landed Dre Barnes and Eugene Goodman.
Gado fell behind Barnes and Goodman during his freshman season because of injuries. Barnes went on to have 20 games in which he rushed for more than 100 yards while Goodman had six 100-yard games.
Gado had become a utility player, but Karcher thought he would always be something -- and somebody -- special. He asked Gado if he would agree to a redshirt for his senior year, which would have enabled the Nigerian-born runner to enjoy a full season this year and perhaps catch the eye of NFL scouts for the 2006 draft.
"Then we lost Barnes in the first game (of 2004) with an injury, and the next thing you know, Goodman was going down in the third game," said Karcher. "I called Sam in and told him we were going to have to take the redshirt off him. I hated to do it but it was the right thing at the time."
Gado gained 901 yards, even while splitting time with Barnes and Goodman, who both returned from their injuries. But he was still under the NFL radar, even while Karcher was pleading with teams to give him a serious look.
Karcher, who was fired by Liberty last Thursday, has a pretty good eye for NFL talent. He had a stint in the NFL as a quarterback, he was a very successful offensive coordinator for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe before he landed the Liberty job, and he figures to be a strong candidate for any offensive coordinator's job that comes open at the Division I level.
Here's what Karcher told any NFL team willing to listen: "Sam Gado has legitimate speed -- 4.45 in the 40 -- he's big (5-foot-10, 225 pounds), he's strong and he has great hands. He's got great work ethic, the highest character and he will change lives of those around him. Oh, and he's smart."
Gado was smart enough to be a pre-med major with hopes of being a doctor one day.
But Gado also dreamed of playing in the NFL. His family moved from Nigeria to Columbia, S.C., when he was 9 years old. He attached himself to American football because a fellow Nigerian, Christian Okoye, had gained notoriety playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. Gado made a name for himself at Ben Lippen High School, but he was mildly recruited. When he fell behind Barnes and Goodman at Liberty, he felt his NFL dream slipping away.
"I had become consumed with the NFL before, going into high school and going into college," said Gado. "But as I just sort of (matured), I got real with myself and said, 'You're a third-string running back at Liberty University. What are the odds. It's going to take an act of God.' "
That's what Karcher and Gado believe happened. Karcher thought the Patriots and Browns had shown enough interest that Gado would at least be signed as an undrafted free agent in April. But when those teams failed to call immediately after the draft, Karcher panicked for his player and called a friend -- Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders.
"I told Al that he would never regret signing Sam," said Karcher.
The Chiefs, the team that enjoyed Okoye's success, took the chance and were almost giddy about Gado in mini-camp and in offseason practices. But when training camp rolled around, Gado suffered a stinger, never got a carry in the preseason and eventually was cut and signed to the Chiefs' practice squad.
One month into the 2005 season, Gado was cut again by the Chiefs when they needed to address other positions, although they do wish they had kept him with Priest Holmes out for the year. Out of work and with nobody calling, Gado's dream was slipping away again.
But the Packers also were in desperate need, as injuries claimed Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport. They brought Gado in for a workout, and he got their attention when he ran the 40 in the 4.4's. The Packers decided to sign him to their practice squad, and Gado got some more words of advice from Karcher.
"I told Sam, 'Make sure you know the playbook. Wear them out asking questions, keep studying, watch film, be prepared,' " said Karcher.
Gado didn't take long to make a good first impression, according to Packers offensive coordinator Tom Rossley.
"The first day, the first 9-on-7 drills when he took some reps, he hit a cutback play and exploded through the hole and we all said, 'Who's that? Who's 35?' " Rossley told the media last week.
Gado's number came up when Travis Fisher suffered a rib injury, joining Green, Davenport and Walt Williams (torn hamstring) on the sidelines.
Gado is still raw. He got one carry against the Bengals for an eight-yard gain. He then jumped to 26 carries for 62 yards against the Steelers -- believe it or not, the most yards gained by a Green Bay back in a game up to that point.
When he ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns last week as the Packers beat the Falcons (earning NFC offensive player of the week and NFL rookie of the week honors), Gado probably missed about 30 to 40 yards more in rushing totals because he didn't make the right reads.
"You have to remember, Sam is in the very early stages of this thing," said Karcher. "If somebody just has the patience, they will have a jewel in Sam Gado."
ESPN's Chris Mortensen is a regular contributor to Insider. He chats every Wednesday in The Show.
