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LT Branden Albert and OLB Tamba Hali probably had 10 snaps against each other and it was great viewing. Albert
actually may have had a slight edge in the face-to-face meeting. He
certainly did a good job with Hali’s never stopped motor. Over on
the other side, a couple of rookies in Allen Bailey and Justin Houston
spent a lot of time battling against Barry Richardson and Ryan
O’Callaghan. The edge went to the rookie, as both OTs had trouble dealing with Houston’s speed. Rookie LB Gabe Miller was again impressive and made some of the young tackles look bad.

– But the pass rush of the night belonged to DE Wallace Gilberry. He
came flying out of his three-point stance and ran right through rookie
OT Butch Lewis. I swear Gilberry went between the 7 and the 9 on the front of Lewis’ jersey and out the back. What power?

–In the 9-on-7 run offense/run defense drill, the No. 1 defense shut
down the No. 1 offense, but the No. 2 offense was able to hit a couple
of nice runs with Thomas Jones against the No. 2 defense.

– The wide receivers and defensive back continued to produce some
interesting battles. Dwayne Bowe and Brandon Flowers went against each
other a half-dozen times with some very good hand-to-hand combat. Bowe
had four catches, while Flowers knocked down a pair of throws.

– The star for the receivers against the secondary was Steve Breaston.
He made a pair of remarkable catches in the end zone, falling to the
ground and in the face of very good coverage from Travis Daniels and
Javier Arenas.

– Not only did rookie WR Jonathan Baldwin drop a very catchable pass, he
tipped the ball in the air and SS Eric Berry had it in his hands for an
interception. But Berry dropped it as well.

– Ryan Succop was six of six on his field goals, including a 51-yard FG
without blockers or rushers. His other five kicks came with 22 players
on the field and they were good from 39 yards and in.

– The punt team worked at length on punting from deep in their end zone.
Dustin Colquitt did a good job of getting the ball off despite the
pressure.

– Late in practice, Matt Cassel overthrew a wide open Dexter McCluster and the ball was picked off by rookie CB Jalil Brown.

– FB Tervaris Johnson (right knee), DE Glenn Dorsey (left knee), WR
Jonathan Baldwin (right hamstring) and TE Tony Moeaki (right knee) were
all part of the practice, all getting repetitions at different amounts.
The only player not working was FB Mike Cox, who had his left ankle
heavily taped.

– Working in the position drill with the wide receivers was the newly
signed Kerry Colbert. He was wearing No. 84. Colbert hasn’t played in
the NFL since 2008 and his most recent on-field action was in the UFL in
2009.

– Not on the field was K Todd Carter, who the Chiefs claimed on waivers
from the St. Louis Rams on Wednesday. Carter has one-game of NFL
experience, kicking last year for Carolina.

– In attendance was Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt.

– In the morning walkthrough, the Chiefs went through drills for handling onside kicks.

OutlawChief wrote:

Didn't feel like naming eveyone and I would take Cassell over Bradford. But thats my opinion. And who the hell is Matt Fitzpatric. Never heard of him. Cassell can win a superbowl. whether he does or not I have no idea. But I think he is a better QB than Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson who both have Superbowl rings. And rust is right The only thing thats hurt his career is he hasn't had enough practice, repetition, and games. But he is getting thier. Maybe late but he is. Btw way Chiefs09 do you even like the Kansas City Chiefs. I see you put them down more than talk them up. I mean fans put faith in there teams. Thats what they do. We may not all be right, but we give support because we are fans and love them. Not saying I am always right or even right half the time. But I have faith and give support.

Matt Fitzpatric is his funny play on words about Matt Cassel and Ryan Fitzpatrick. I can't figure out why he trying to pick on Fitz though. He came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He then started last year as a backup before throwing for 3000 yards and 23 TDs with the least talented team in the league, the Buffalo Bills.

Matt Cassel has started something like 47 games in the NFL and college combined. Which is nothing compared to goldenboys Manning, Brady, Brees, Roethlisberger, etc... Hell, that number is comparable to people like Clausen and Tebow for god's sake.

Raise your hand if you predicted Cassel breaking out like he did last year. All he needs now is time and experience with all his new weapons.

I cant wait to see Gilberry in action Friday, see what hes up to

Training Camp Practice Report – 8/14




August 14, 2011 - Bob Gretz |

No Comments



From St. Joseph, Missouri


The football season has officially started here at Missouri Western
State University. Todd Haley saw to that with Sunday afternoon’s
practice.

On a warm, sunny day it wasn’t Mother Nature who turned up the heat. It
was the Chiefs head coach who tinkered with the thermostat, as the team
went through its first practice of training camp wearing pads for the
entire session.

It was active, it was physical and Haley even called for a single play
of full contact football. The offense had the ball 4th-and-Goal at the
1-yard line and had to put it in the end zone. The pads were cracking as
RB Thomas Jones took the handoff from QB Matt Cassel and appeared to be
stopped short of the goal line. Jones’ second effort seemed to push him
across but special teams coach Steve Hoffman was the official and he
ruled no touchdown.

“That was fun out there,” said NT Kelly Gregg after practice. “Hey, it’s
Sunday, what else would you rather be doing that cracking the pads and
playing tackle football.”

Especially physical were the offensive linemen. As part of the hangover
for a dreadful performance in the pre-season opener, the line was
hitting everything Sunday – blocking sleds, bags, dummies, each other
and guys on the defense. There was no question the intensity level was
up for the big guys.

At the start of practice, all 88 players were dressed in full pads and
taking part. After about 60 minutes, that number fell by three as the
increased intensity led to several injuries. NT Anthony Toribio went
down in the individual position segment with what appeared to be a left
knee injury. DL Amon Gordon walked away from the practice and to the
rehab area with an unknown injury. OLB Eric Bakhtiari appeared to suffer
a head injury in the 9-on-7 running drill when he stood his ground and
took on a big block from TE Jake O’Connell. Bakhtiari left the field
with trainer Dave Price and was taken by cart to the locker room.

Here are some other observations from Sunday’s practice:

– Here is how the offensive line groups broke down for the practice, listed from left to right:
•First line – Branden Albert, Ryan Lilja, Casey Wiegmann, Jon Asamoah, Barry Richardson.
•Second line – Jared Gaither, Darryl Harris, Rodney Hudson, Bobby Greenwood, Ryan O’Callaghan.
•Third line – David Mims, Lucas Patterson, Mike Ingersoll, Chris Harr, Butch Lewis.

Later in practice, O’Callaghan was working at RG in place of Greenwood, with Lewis moving up to RT.

– Recently signed OT Jared Gaither took part in his first practice on
Sunday, working with the second-team offensive line at left tackle.
Gaither appeared in good shape, looking very lean while wearing No. 71.
He looked more like a basketball player than a football player. Gaither
showed good foot speed on several moments when he was in pass
protection.

– WR turned CB Quinten Lawrence continued his hot camp on Sunday when he
picked off a pass by QB Ricky Stanzi and took it back for a TD.
Lawrence has been a revelation at the position, showing more promise in
one practice than he did in two years at wide receiver.

– In another drill scheduled by Haley to increase the intensity level in
Sunday’s practice, the wide receivers worked on blocking for the
running game against the defensive backs. There was some good action as
the little guys got physical trying to throw each other around.

– Here’s how three units of linebackers broke down:
•First group – Andy Studebaker, Jovan Belcher, Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali.
•Second group – Cameron Sheffield, Demorrio Williams, Justin Cole, Pierre Walters.
•Third group – Justin Houston, Brandon Siler, Cory Greenwood, Eric Bakhtiari/Gabe Miller.

– The No. 1 sub-defense against the pass on Sunday had Allen Bailey and
Wallace Gilberry upfront, LBs Cameron Sheffield, Derrick Johnson and
Tamba Hali, CBs Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr and Javier Arenas and at
safety were Eric Berry, Kendrick Lewis and Jon McGraw.

– The No. 1 punt team in front of Dustin Colquitt had WR Verran Tucker
and DB Donald Washington as the outside flyers. CB Javier Arenas was the
personal protector calling the signals for LS Thomas Gafford. The
blocking group from left to right was RB Jackie Battle, OLB Andy
Studebaker, ILB Jovan Belcher, Gafford, ILB Demorrio Williams, TE Jake
O’Connell and S Reshard Langford.

Heartland Health Practice Report: 8/14/11
By Josh Looney

Posted 1 hour ago

a a Read Discuss Comments:
Jared Gaither makes his training camp debut, Succop and McCluster don't
see eye-to-eye on new kickoff rules, plus other notes from practice

ST. JOSEPH, MO – Jared Gaither made his Chiefs training camp debut
Sunday afternoon in front of a nice sized crowd on hand for final
weekend practice at MWSU. The 6-9, 340-pound tackle played exclusively
on the left side in his first outing, working with the second-team
offense.

“I would say we’ll probably start at left and then go from there,” Head
Coach Todd Haley said. “First and foremost is trying to get him into
baseline physical condition that we feel like gives him a chance to
succeed safely.”

Gaither’s physical conditioning was put to test from the get-go with
Haley holding a full-padded practice on the first session back from
Friday night’s preseason opener. It was the first time the Chiefs have
worn full pads for the entirety of practice this training camp.

Gaither’s addition was welcomed by former Ravens teammates Kelly Gregg and Le’Ron McClain.

“He’s a great addition,” said Gregg. “He sat out last year and he’s hungry. I’ve talked to him and he’s ready to be a Chief.”

Branden Albert, who is has been a friend of Gaither’s for a number of
years, continued to work with the first-team offense at left tackle.
Barry Richardson worked throughout practice on the right edge with Ryan
O’Callaghan backing him up.

“(Gaither) is a hard worker, I’ll tell you that much,” McClain said.
“I’ve been with him since my rookie year. He’s a guy that’s going to
come in and just physically maul people. He loves to play the game of
football.”

“I remember those long arms around my neck at practices,” Gregg added.

Gaither is the third member of the Ravens to join the Chiefs this
preseason. He and McClain signed as unrestricted free agents while Gregg
arrived as a free agent signee following release.

“I know he’s ready; I’m glad he’s out here with us,” said McClain.

Succop Likes New Kicking Rules; McCluster Doesn’t

Chiefs K Ryan Succop owns a 100% touchback percentage this preseason.
Granted, he’s only attempted one kickoff, but six of seven kickoffs from
Friday night’s preseason opener went for touchbacks.

All of the kicks landed at least five yards deep in the end zone.

“As a kicker, you like the rule,” Succop said.

Return man Dexter McCluster doesn’t share the same opinion.

“Honestly, I really don’t like it,” says McCluster. “I also know a lot
of returners around the league don’t like it because it stops us from
using what we use best – our dynamic (play-making) ability and
versatility. For us not to be able to catch the ball and run is going to
be pretty hard to adjust to.”

Friday’s sample size definitely points to touchbacks increasing far more
than the 5-15% that the NFL Competition Committee predicted when
proposing to move kickoffs up five yards to the 35-yard line. Owners
passed the new kicking rules this spring after making a few
modifications to the committee’s original proposal.

“Right now people are thinking that it’s going to be touchbacks every
single time you kick the ball, and early in the season you’ll see a lot
of that,” Succop predicted. “But as the weather turns and guys legs get
tired it won’t be a touchback every time come December.”

Excluding Dustin Colquitt’s kick after a safety, Chiefs specialists have yet to see any returnable kicks.

Quinten Lawrence logged the only true kickoff return Friday night for
either team, opting to take it out of the end zone five yards deep. He
was tackled at the eight-yard line after gaining 13 yards.

“I should have been smarter about that, but I wanted to make a play,”
Lawrence said. “It was about six yards into the end zone and I should
have kneeled it, but I was eager to make a play. It’s tempting being a
young guy trying to make this team to want to make a play, but at the
same time you have to be a little smarter.”

“It’s so tempting,” McCluster added. “I know we have to slow ourselves
down, but as a competitor and a returner we’ll be trying to get out of
there sometimes.”

The Chiefs claimed kickoff specialist Todd Carter off waivers late last
week, but Succop received a vote of confidence from Head Coach Todd
Haley prior to Sunday’s practice.

“As you saw, I think Ryan, from where we were kicking, we were asking
him to not to get it in the end zone a couple of times and it was still
five or six yards deep,” Haley said. “I wouldn’t look too much either
way other than we’re getting a chance to develop a guy and if he can
improve and give us any opportunity then that would be something we
would think about.”

Practice Observations

- After beginning Sunday’s practice with a full slate of players, three
Chiefs left practice early. Anthony Toribio, Amon Gordon and Eric
Bakhtiari all saw their practices cut short. There is no additional
information on any of the injuries.

- Quinten Lawrence continues to show promise at his new position. The
wide receiver turned cornerback led the Chiefs with seven tackles Friday
night and made several nice defensive plays Sunday including a pick-six
off Ricky Stanzi. He’s also recorded the biggest hit of camp, tackling
FB Shane Bannon behind the line of scrimmage during last week’s night
practice.

- Despite begin out of football for nearly two years, veteran WR Keary
Colbert isn’t showing much rust in the receiving game. Matt Cassel
looked his way this afternoon for a third-down conversion as Colbert
broke free in front of Brandon Carr.

- Derrick Johnson forced a fumble after Dexter McCluster came out of the
backfield to catch a short check-down pass in front of the linebackers.

- In competitive 11-v-11 work, Cassel found Tony Moeaki on third-down
crossing route that went for 20+ yards after the catch. The defense
later stalled the drive when Jon McGraw sniffed out a screen pass to
McCluster on a third-and-13 snap.

Overheard

“He’s a little undersized, but other than that he’s got tremendous potential.”

-NT Kelly Gregg’s sarcastic analysis of 6-9, 340-pound T Jared Gaither

8 minutes ago - by Bob Gretz - Haley likes Chiefs' progress

Coach Todd Haley called Sunday's practice "its most spirited to date"
and that more players are getting to the level of physical shape that he
wants. “We got good work done for everybody,” Haley said. Chiefs
RapidReports

SI_PeterKing Peter King
Chief Chat 2: Stanzi trails Palko for 2d QB ... TJones quicker, has lost
12 pounds ... Still job-split w/Jones, Jamaal. Sorry, Fantasians.

JoshLooney Josh Looney

Ryan O'Callaghan getting some reps at right guard today w/ the 2s. Butch Lewis repping right tackle in same group. #Chiefs
2 minutes ago

Jared Gaither declares himself 100% healthy and willing to play either tackle position for #Chiefs
Josh Looney Tweet

So much for Gaither being out of shape. I hope Gaither can stay healthy and then i hope that he will show those heathen raiders what they missed out on by mashing everybody he goes against!

Fuck the NFL to while I'm at it. We took 2 returners in the 2nd round last year and now this shit! Haley better tell DMC that he is go run every one of them out of the end zone.

Well, out of shape and healthy are two different things. But I'm sure he can still play.

BigRatt wrote:

Fuck the NFL to while I'm at it. We took 2 returners in the 2nd round last year and now this shit! Haley better tell DMC that he is go run every one of them out of the end zone.

Yeah, that rule pisses me off so much!

RustShack wrote:

BigRatt wrote:

Fuck the NFL to while I'm at it. We took 2 returners in the 2nd round last year and now this shit! Haley better tell DMC that he is go run every one of them out of the end zone.

Yeah, that rule pisses me off so much!

Kickoff returner position just became the next kicker position in the NFL. You can put anyone back there now to catch and kneel down or just let the damn thing go out of the end zone all together.

On the first snap, a 1st-and-goal situation from the 3-yard line, RB
Jamaal Charles ran wide right trying to reach the pylon at the goal
line. But LB Derrick Johnson showed his speed and ran Charles down and pushed him out of bounds at the 1-yard line.

The other play featured the No. 2 offense and defense. QB Tyler Palko
scrambled to his left under pass rush pressure from DE Allen Bailey. As
Bailey was chasing, FB Shane Bannon pealed back and caught the
defensive end with a blindside block that was perfectly legal and
created quite a collision. Palko ended up running out of bounds.

OPENING REMARKS: “So, staying inside this morning with the rain; little bit of thunder out there, still not sure what we’re going to do this afternoon; potentially out on the turf outside. Again, lightning will take precedence or take priority. I thought yesterday’s practice was probably our most spirited to- date. We’re getting more and more guys up to where we kind of feel like they need to be, or a little closer to where they need to be and I thought it was real good work for the entire team – much-needed work. Today, again, depending on where we are, that may determine a little bit of what we do, but this is another big practice for us. In addition, we’ll have a bunch of military people out there that we’re excited about. Again, hoping that the rain clears out of here and they’ll be able to enjoy practice, because obviously, everything that they do for all of us means a lot to everyone in this building, I know that. So, looking forward to that, and like I said, just trying to get a little better each day.”
Q: Does WR Keary Colbert have an opportunity to make this club?

HALEY: “Yeah, I think everybody at that receiver position; there’s good competition going on, and like I said, he was a guy that I knew a lot of, coming out I really was interested in him, had a couple of swings and misses here through the last few years, and got him out here. He looks to be in really good condition, well rested obviously. I think sometimes when you have a year or two like he did, you’ll definitely see the hunger to go out and play the game that he loves. He’s competing. He’s trying to learn the offense as fast as he can, so he knows what to do so he can go out there and compete, and I think yesterday you saw a couple of flashes of it. He’s right in the competition and I think that’s going on all over the field, which has me excited.”

Q: Are you trying to stock up on receivers based on what happened last year?

HALEY: “No, I just think we’re trying to get better. The more competition, the better, and the better the competition is, the better [for the team]. It appears to me though, a couple of potentially good players will have a hard time making it, and that’s a good thing for us. Generally, what we say to all the players is, if you can play, somebody will know. There are some rare cases where it takes a little longer, but that’s a good thing for us.”

Q: Is Keary Colbert a better player now than he was when he last played in the league?

HALEY: “I don’t know. Without getting into it too personally, I think he’s a guy that came out and came on like gangbusters; had a real good early part of his career, then really as you kind of analyze it and go through it and hear some of his side of it, there were some circumstances that made it a little tougher to maybe keep at that level. So all of a sudden then it’s like being too good too fast. You kind of lose your value so to speak. He’s an experienced player that appears to be in real good physical condition and he definitely had skill coming out, so I don’t know where he compares to the last few years, or four years, or three years, I just know that what I see right now looks like he can be in the mix.”

Q: Is his experience coaching at USC a good thing?

HALEY: “Yeah, I think it definitely is a good thing. He was coaching a position that he hadn’t played, so he had to learn some things that maybe he had not paid much attention to that really do help you. The more you understand defense, the better I think, and at receiver there are so many adjustments going on in a short amount of time, the quicker you can figure that out, the better. To me, it has to be a little bit of an advantage.”

Q: Can you tell us the length of T Jared Gaither’s contract?

HALEY: “Again, I’d prefer to stay out of that. I’m worried about coaching these guys and I’m excited to have him on the team. Again, I think that much like we were just talking about, he brings competition and the more the better. I think it just makes everybody better and may the best man win.”

Q: If (Gaither) is the man at left tackle, could T Branden Albertmove to right tackle?

HALEY: “Again, I wouldn’t pigeon-hole Jared Gaither to begin with. Branden’s our left tackle. He’s earned that right through his play here last year, and some of the things we did, and he’s come in this year and he’s working hard and it appears he’s getting better. Again, on the Jared deal, I think we have him over there to try to increase his comfort level as much as anything else. He’s a guy though that has played both sides. You have a number of different options with some of those guys and that’s a good thing as far as I’m concerned, because last year we played most of the year feeling like if something happened to Branden that Barry Richardsonwould go over there and then we’d plug in who we thought had the best chance to be the best right tackle – Ryan O’Callaghan much of the year. We weren’t as comfortable with Ryan going to left. The ideal situation if anything happens to either your starting right or left tackle, you just plug in a guy and then you have less moving parts at the spot that’s missing. Again, we’re trying to sort that out to see exactly where we are. Like I’ve said though, in the process, if somebody’s a standout player that we know can help us, then across the board, we’d find away to get them in there.”

Q: Is it just a coincidence that you guys have signed three players from Baltimore this offseason?

HALEY: “Yeah, I think it’s a coincidence. Now again, if you’re able to acquire players that you think can fit with what you’re doing and they’re coming from teams that are winning type teams, I think that’s a good thing, whether that had much influence or not, I wouldn’t put too much weight on it. Yeah, I think coincidence. I’m happy to have them all in here competing and just trying again to get everybody up to speed so they can show us everything they have.”

Q: There wasn’t any kind of mentality you were trying to bring from Baltimore here?

HALEY: “No. If they were a divisional opponent, I might think deeper into it.”

Q: What did you see out of LB Justin Houston Friday night?

HALEY: “I think for where he started, he’s progressed nicely. That doesn’t mean that he’s caught up by any means. I don’t think the game is necessarily a great judge of it. I thought he did some good things and he did some not so good things. The biggest thing to me was for a guy that hadn’t been around, that we hadn’t had our hands on much at all, he was able to go out there and play a bunch of snaps and hold up. That was a good sign and to me, that’s what I feel best about right now is, despite being a young guy on his own for the last two or three months or more really, he’s done a good job having himself physically in a position to have a chance to compete. It’s just getting better now. There’s a lot swimming through everybody’s head, his included and that’s the evaluation part that I’m talking about. We have to resist the urge to give these guys too much, too early, because we’ll miss an evaluation or two I’m sure. Just off strictly somebody being a little behind, trying to sort things out and then not playing at their ability. So, just trying to keep it fairly simple for all these guys and get a good, accurate reading on where they are.”

Q: How is Houston’s conditioning now?

HALEY: “That’s what I mean. I think that physically he’s done a pretty good job and it’s getting better pretty quickly and that’s a good sign. It means that he hasn’t let himself go.”

Q: What did you think about DL Jerrell Powe running down Josh Johnson Friday night?

HALEY: “He actually got out of position on that play, but you can make a wrong a right by coming back, and like we said, that quarterback felt that hit and the ball almost came out. Good things happen because he didn’t get caught up on, ‘oh, I did this wrong,’ and then you start worrying about it. He ran hard. There were a bunch of plays like that that were encouraging across the board for us.”

Q: Is Powe’s strength his athleticism and his weakness maybe needing to gain NFL strength?

HALEY: “This guy is strong. I think it’s more technique and it goes back again to those fundamentals. Being a two-gapping nose is no different than good tacking technique. If you do it right, if you do it the way you’re supposed to and the way you’re being coached to, you should have a chance to make most tackles and the same up front. Strength isn’t the issue. It’s technique and discipline and just trusting your technique; fighting the urge to chase the ball or movement, things like that. Those guys have a disciplined job. They have to hunker in and hold their ground and then still be able to get off blocks at the right time.”

Q: Was yesterday’s practice being spirited part of the plan, or was that the result of Friday night’s game?

HALEY: “No, that had nothing to do with Friday, but I can’t say it was the plan because I’ve stuck with and continue to stick with this one-day-at-a-time mentality. Again, we just have to take each day by day and not be afraid to adjust the schedule in any way, shape or form, or what we’re doing within the schedule. Again, coming off a day of rest, the way they worked in the morning, it wasn’t really decided until really we were into the afternoon what exactly we were going to do and how long we were going to stay in pads. Again, that’s not hap-hazard; it’s just trying to make sure we get it right each day. Like I said, we had a real good lift and work yesterday morning. The guys, you could tell that the day off had got them feeling good. We were outside, we were on the grass and we pushed it a little bit.”

Q: How did you come up with your plan?

HALEY: “Like I said, that’s where I’ m really grateful to have a bunch of really good coaches around me and we had some free time where normally maybe we didn’t. Like I said, we were even able to throw passes against each other, but a lot of discussion and talk of scenarios and different things and what we felt was important; past history and things that I’ve learned from certain coaches through the years. Again, it comes down to the bottom line, arguably one of the biggest contributors to our success last year has been the offseason and conditioning program the first two years. To me that was a variable that then was missing and I just don’t feel like that was something we could leave to chance, so we’ve put more of a focus early especially on trying to get this team to, you’re never going to make it up, but trying to now use the time that you have to get your baseline overall strength and conditioning level as high as you can get it. Again, it’s a long season and I know our team with some depth issues again, just like last year, we can’t afford to have certain things happen and be as competitive as we’d like, I don’t think. That’s our focus. That’s been our focus, it goes way back into the winter really and just trying to make sure we do what we think is best for our group.”

Q: Are your players at the physical level you would want them to be in now?

HALEY: “No, we’re behind like I said. I don’t know that there’s a right or wrong. I think you have to believe in what you’re doing and we’ve got to just kind of take it step by step and it may go into the season where we’re not to where we want to be. I do know that if we’re well-conditioned and strong and our guys know what do to, we’ll have a chance to compete.”

Q: How far behind are you compared to the rest of the league?

HALEY: “I’m just worried about us. I don’t know who’s right or wrong around the league. It sounds like a lot of people are doing a lot of different things. What I’m trying to stay focused on is what we’re doing and not really get caught up in anything that anybody else is doing because right now, that’s what we have. We have a number of days that we have to do everything we can to be ready to play on September 11.”

Q: Did your guys do enough on their own in the offseason?

HALEY: “Like I said, we have a good, conscientious group. I think it’s become pretty clear that the majority of the group was working. That being said, I do not believe you can replicate what you do with 60 or 70 guys in the offseason when you’re in there pushing each other. Even if you have a trainer, there’s no way to really replicate the work done especially with a true pro like coach (Mike) Clark and coach (Brent) Salazar. I think they do a tremendous job and you don’t just find them off the street either I don’t think.”

Q: Are you just cautioning the fans?

HALEY: “No, you asked the question, I’m just answering it the best I can. I think that we’re worried about us and what we’re doing and just trying to [get ready], knowing that there’s a date coming up here that counts. We have to be ready for it as best we can. There can be injuries, anything can happen. You have to adjust and you have to be able to find the solution. Like I say to the players all the time, ‘don’t complain, don’t explain, find solutions.’ We have a situation, we have to find solutions.”

Q: Is there anyone that you feel really good about?

HALEY: “I feel good about the whole team; I really do. I think we have a good group of guys that love football, that are passionate about what their job is and that makes it fun to coach. They’re coachable. I feel good about our entire team. We’re assimilating some new guys into it; young and older and to me that’s good stuff. That’s what I feel good about. I feel good about our team; we just have a lot of work to do.”

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...8-6318f693c79e

By Bill Williamson
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- It’s showtime at the Kansas City Chiefs’ camp.

Coach Todd Haley canceled the team’s planned meetings Tuesday morning
and sent the team to a local movie theatre. Haley informed the team that
he was giving it a bone Tuesday morning. Players then boarded busses
and off to the movies they went.

Haley treated his players to the movies toward the end of camp last
season as a reward. The Chiefs break camp after Wednesday’s practice.
They will resume practice in Kansas City after their preseason game at
Baltimore on Friday.

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post...ready#comments

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Five thoughts looking back at my day with the Chiefs:

1. Kansas City will try to keep veteran noseman Kelly Gregg, late of the
Ravens, healthy for 16 weeks by playing him only 40 to 45 percent of
the snaps. The Chiefs, a 3-4 team, morph into other fronts on all
non-running downs and play roughly 50 percent 3-4. If Gregg plays 25 or
30 downs per game, it will give him a good shot to stay upright down the
stretch.

2. Remember Keary Colbert? Former second-round pick of the Panthers.
Bounced around to two United Football League teams recently. Coached
tight ends for USC, his alma mater, last year. He's got a legit chance
to make the Chiefs. I wouldn't say 50-50, but close.

Todd Haley told me today that Colbert's agent sent the club a YouTube
video of Colbert working out recently, "and we thought it must have been
photoshopped, it looked so good. Then we worked him out, and he looked
terrific. Unless it's a mirage, he'll be in the thick of things for a
job here.''

But he'll be competing with the best stable of receivers the Chiefs have
had, by far, in Haley's three years. He may have to beat out current
nominal starter Jerheme Urban, a Haley favorite from Arizona, to make
it.

3. Jared Gaither is bright-eyed, pain-free and working on a one-year
contract, trying to prove (like so many other veterans disappointed at
the tightwad "open'' market this year) he deserves a long-term deal with
guaranteed money.

Gaither was hurt last year with Baltimore and had his desire questioned
by the Ravens; he reportedly flunked his physical with the Raiders last
week, leading to a minimum-salary, one-year deal with the Chiefs.

"Kansas City wanted me here, and I want to be here,'' he said after
practice Monday. "I feel 100 percent.'' He's listed number two on the
depth chart at left tackle behind Branden Albert, but he could challenge
Barry Richardson and Ryan O'Callaghan on the right side.

4. The player I was most impressed with: Tight end Tony Moeaki. I'll be
writing more about him in the coming days, but what interested me is the
Chiefs' aggressive use of him in passing formations -- as a slot
receiver, a blocker tight to the formation, and set out wide. He's their
Dallas Clark.

5. Finally, another example of how the USO partnership with this
training camp trip continues to be a terrific experience. Thanks to the
Chiefs for their hospitality to 14 Airmen from Whiteman Air Force Base
near Knob Noster, Mo. It's one of the places our men and women train for
roles in the flight and care of stealth aircraft.

At the start of practice Monday, coach Todd Haley had several of them
standing on the offensive line's long blocking sled, and the first,
second and third lines took turns blasting into the sled and driving
them downfield. Then he had four of them take portable pads and form the
gauntlet for the Gauntlet Drill, when running backs, tight ends and
wideouts charge into the line and get pounded by the men with pads.
Others caught the field goals blasted by the two kickers.

Afterward, Haley brought them into the team huddle, praised their will
and had one of them talk to the team. They got footballs signed, and
Matt Cassel spent some quality time with them. "I just want to thank you
guys for everything,'' Cassel told them. Then they walked into the team
cafeteria on the campus of Missouri Western State to eat dinner with
the team. That's above and beyond, Chiefs.

One of the Chiefs' fans in the house felt the love. "This is the
greatest day of my life,'' Airman James Clark of Warsaw, Mo., said. A
cool day for all involved.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1VD6GH7wx

JoshLooneyJosh Looney


Justin Houston getting some first team looks opposite Tamba Hali in 7-v-7

bobfescoeBob Fescoe

Haley screaming at the d for being stupid. Studabaker drilled palko #chiefs

RustShack wrote:

JoshLooneyJosh Looney


Justin Houston getting some first team looks opposite Tamba Hali in 7-v-7

I'm glad Haley is planning on having opponents in 3rd & 15 situations!

Tuesday afternoon’s practice ended with a scene that showed itself for the first time in this unusual training camp:

Todd Haley was foaming mad.

It was a session where the Chiefs defense simply dominated the
offense, and with each snap that went the way of the defenders, their
enthusiasm and banter grew bigger and louder. When OLB Andy Studebaker
broke the unwritten rule of hitting the quarterback as he came off the
edge on a screaming blitz in the two minute period, the defense
celebrated. And, the head coach erupted.

Much of what Haley said could not be heard all the way on the other end
of the field. However, there was one word that was loud and clear and
was used several times – stupid. In this practices, Haley wants his team
to go fast and hard, but to take care of their teammates. The constant
refrain from him is for his players to stay off the ground, because a
prone body tends to cause injuries to the player on the ground, and
other players who trip over him.

There’s no question it was the most intense practice of camp, and there
were actual two shoving matches, the closet times in three weeks at
Missouri Western State University that teammates came close to
exchanging blows.

The first incident involved several offensive and defensive linemen. The second had DE Wallace Gilberry and OTs Barry Richardson and Branden Albert going at each other and having to be separated by teammates.

“It’s hot, it’s physical, we’re tired and those type of things happen,”
said ILB Derrick Johnson who had another impressive practice session in
the middle of the Chiefs defense. “It’s not something that leaves the
field. It’s not a problem in the locker room. It’s just guys blowing off
steam.”

One noteworthy absence at Tuesday afternoon’s session was newly signed
OT Jared Gaither. He was on the field but did not take part in the
practice, instead spending his time in the rehab area. When practice was
over, he hoped a ride on the golf cart of offensive coordinator Bill
Muir. As he was walking on the field, there was a hitch in Gaither’s get
along, as it looked like he was favoring leg. As usual in the
pre-season, the Chiefs provide no information on injuries of any type.

According to Soren Petro, he will be stunned if
Jared Gaither gets on the playing field before week 8. Petro says Jared
is exahusted on the workout bike.

RustShack wrote:

According to Soren Petro, he will be stunned if
Jared Gaither gets on the playing field before week 8. Petro says Jared
is exahusted on the workout bike.

I had heard he physically wasn't in great shape. Sounds like hes in good physical shape but is in poor football shape.