• Have something to say? Register Now! and be posting in minutes!

Chiefs camp stuff...

Black Adam

Cowards WILL BE cowards..
61,296
22,000
1,033
Joined
Apr 17, 2013
Location
The other side of the mirror
Hoopla Cash
$ 100.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
...off KCChiefs.com...


A very rainy day made for a long but very productive Chiefs practice during day three of training camp on Monday.

Once the team warm-ups were completed, followed by the position-group work, the ones, twos and threes on offense took reps and then 11-on-11 began. Like Sunday, Monday's practice was just as competitive, seeing great plays from both sides.

Chiefs QB Alex Smith gave the ball to Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles on several carries, to the left and right and utilized his FB Anthony Sherman, as well as other targets like TE Tony Moeaki and WR Jon Baldwin, among others.

Some of the bigger offensive plays came from new Chiefs WR Donnie Avery, who made multiple acrobatic catches during the rainy workout.

"Whenever you’re number is called, you have to step up and make plays," Avery said. "Whatever the weather or any condition, you still have to make plays."



I asked Avery about two questionable catches, wondering if he was in-bounds.

"I’ll let the ref be the judge of that," Avery said, adding "as long as it was a completion."

Also having productive days on offense were Chiefs RBs Knile Davis, Shaun Draughnand Cyrus Gray.

Davis ran strong and instead of his success on the ground, he wanted to talk about something else.

"I didn’t have any drops today," Davis said. "I came in and wanted to have zero drops and that was one thing I’ve been working on and I did that."

As for Gray and Draughn, both continue to show quickness laterally and good explosion. Draughn gave me one adjective to describe today's "Live" period, when tackling was allowed.

"Physical," Draughn said. "Physical."

Chiefs TE Kevin Brock had multiple big-plays during practice, coming from throws by Chiefs QB Chase Daniel.

"Coach Reid does a great job of giving us the details that we miss on every play," Brock said. "I just made sure I didn’t make the same mistake twice and the play came up again and it was my turn, I capitalized on it."

Meanwhile, later on in practice, the Chiefs defense turned things up and began forcing pressure up-front. One of the players embracing the responsibility of causing havoc at the line is new Chiefs DE Mike DeVito, who evaluated the play of his fellow linemen.

"I think guys are doing really well," DeVito stated. "We’re picking up the defense fast; this defense has a lot to it. I think guys are really learning it quick, which is good because the second you get it down, you can play at a high level. I think guys are learning and putting in the work, it’s been good."

Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton's secondary again made plays throughout the day, including DB Kendrick Lewis, who recorded an INT, as well as pass breakup during the rainy, morning practice.

"I was just communicating," Lewis said. "Doing what I could do to make it a better practice, make it a good day. It’s progress. I can’t give you a stamp of approval until we watch the film, but I can tell you that we’re taking steps at getting better every day. Every day we go out and work on something, compete and try to get better every day."



Also grabbing an INT was Chiefs rookie Otha Foster III, who took it back the other way for six, saying later about the Ricky Stanzi pass, "The QB threw it high and I was gone."

As practice continued and the rain later picked up, the crosswind that was blowing appeared to have enough strength to possibly alter some throws by the Chiefs QBs; Tyler Bray assured me, that wasn't the case.

"No," Bray said. "If you throw a spiral, which our guys do, it doesn’t affect it."

Bray also went on to describe the collective work all four QBs have been doing.

"Our QB group, we’re learning every day," Bray said. "Guys know a majority of the stuff, if not all of it and we’re just working to get better, on things like our footwork, planting and throwing. We’re just working on our fundamentals and trying to get better."

The practice ended with some special teams work, led by Chiefs special team's coordinator Dave Toub and assistant Kevin O'Dea. Toub addressed the media following practice and assessed the team's first few days of camp.

“It’s a beginning," Toub said. "This whole thing is a process, and we’re at the beginning stages of this and really evaluating a lot of the guys. This is the first time we’ve gotten into pads the last couple of days. We really have learned a lot about them these last couple of days. We still have a long way to go; it’s just the beginning.”

Speaking of special teams, Chiefs WR Dexter McCluster was back returning punts as the rain fell. Watching Dex take off and with the rain pouring down, I instantly thought back to 2010, when in his rookie season, he returned a 94-yard punt for a score against the Chargers. I know all Chiefs fans remember that electric moment on Monday Night Football.



He told me after practice that he thought about the same thing, when he saw the rain. McCluster said the punt-return score was like a dream that he awoke from as soon as he hit the end zone. I asked him if he has plans to entertain Chiefs fans with runs like that again in 2013;"You know it," McCluster replied.

McCluster has been all over the field in training camp, running, catching and fielding punts. Coach Toub was asked about any possible concern of asking McCluster to play on both offense and special teams.

“No," coach Toub said. "That’s one of the things I talked to Andy about when I first got here. I told him that I thought Dexter is our best punt returner, looking at them all right now, and he (Reid) feels that Dexter will be our punt returner, if he is our best guy. He’s going to be the guy. Dexter is really buying into it and he wants to be that guy. We want to take advantage of that.”

The team has meetings tonight and will continue with practice Tuesday morning, when the forecast calls for more rain, which again, won't deter the Chiefs.
 

MHSL82

Well-Known Member
16,739
888
113
Joined
Aug 6, 2011
Hoopla Cash
$ 500.92
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
Chiefs poised to surprise in 2013

Can pairing of Alex Smith, Andy Reid lead Kansas City back to postseason?

nfl_g_smith_d1_300.jpg


ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The case for the Kansas City Chiefs as this year's most improved team is pretty easy.

Owner Clark Hunt hired the best available coach on the market, Andy Reid. The former Philadelphia Eagles coach inherits a defense that features four Pro Bowlers and two more -- cornerback Brandon Flowers and Dontari Poe -- who could be next in line. General manager John Dorsey brokered a trade to acquire quarterback Alex Smith, who joins an offense that features one of the league's best runners (Jamaal Charles) and one of its better receiving threats (Dwayne Bowe).

Plus, the Chiefs play one of the league's easiest schedules, including a road slate with opponents whose 2012 records were a combined .406 win percentage.

Some experts touted the Chiefs as a potential playoff team a year ago, but they ended up 2-14 and picking first in the draft. Seeing Reid install a blue-collar work ethic on a team more talented than two wins means the Chiefs could be one of the league's top candidates to surprise in 2013.

Here are the five things I learned at Chiefs camp.

1. Training camp position battles:
The best battle is at tight end, where Anthony Fasano, Tony Moeaki and third-round pick Travis Kelce are fighting for playing time. Fasano is getting first-team reps, but Reid likes all three and will try to find ways to give them all playing time.

The only spot available on the offensive line is at left guard. Jeff Allen, a second-round pick last year, has a slight advantage over veteran Geoff Schwartz.

Bowe and Jon Baldwin are the starting wide receivers, but everything is open after that. Donnie Avery appears to be the No. 3, but Reid is intrigued by using Dexter McCluster out of the slot. Devon Wylie is also vying for time at the slot receiver spot.

Things are pretty set on defense, but a nice battle could emerge at inside linebacker between Akeem Jordan, also from the Eagles, and fourth-round choice Nico Johnson.

Although the Chiefs are solid at the starting spots, their roster isn't very deep. Injuries will be a problem if they happen, and the Chiefs could be looking for players on the waiver wire and possible trades as September approaches.

2. Alex Smith's great attitude:
Few quarterbacks have endured more tough times than Smith. The first pick in the 2005 draft, Smith annually went through coordinator changes and losing seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. Once, his toughness was called out by former 49ers coach Mike Nolan, although Smith has always been tough. He's been benched but kept coming back for more, even offering to return to the 49ers at a reasonable price during contract talks.

Then came Jim Harbaugh.

Under Harbaugh, Smith played his best, helping the 49ers go to the 2011 NFC Championship Game. But an injury last year opened the door for Colin Kaepernick to replace him in what turned out to be a Super Bowl run.

Talking to Smith now that he's been traded to Kansas City, it's easy to see his competitiveness and his desire to prove the 49ers wrong in letting him go. Yes, he's on a mission. On the field, he's working nonstop with his offense and coaching up the young receivers. His presence will determine whether the Chiefs can be successful this year.
Harbaugh designed plays that work to Smith's strengths and hid his weaknesses. Smith doesn't have the strongest arm, so Harbaugh didn't ask him to throw much downfield. He surrounded him with a strong running attack and a conservative game plan. Reid will have him work on timing routes and running the West Coast offense. Before getting hurt last year, Smith was completing more than 70 percent of his passes. His numbers won't come close to that in Kansas City, but he should be efficient enough to throw in the low 60 percent rate and move the offense more consistently than it has moved the past four years.

3. Press coverage by the cornerbacks:
The most pleasant surprise at Chiefs camp was seeing cornerbacks at the line of scrimmage pressing wide receivers in coverage. Reid mostly used a 4-3 scheme in his Philadelphia days, but the Chiefs are built with 3-4 personnel -- a defense that often calls for more zone coverage. Seeing cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and free-agent acquisition Sean Smith jam receivers at the line of scrimmage was a thrill.

By playing press-man coverage, the Chiefs can put together blitz packages to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Flowers is one of the top five corners in the AFC even though he's been a few votes shy of the Pro Bowl the past couple of years.

If you wonder whether Flowers is ready for this year, he ran two to three miles a night in the offseason before he went to sleep.

Smith is a pressing 6-foot-3 corner who matches up against tall receivers and can take them out of their routes. Dorsey signed former Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson to be the third corner, joining an impressive secondary that also features Eric Berry, a Pro Bowl-caliber safety.

4. The new Jamaal Charles:
Adrian Peterson challenged Eric Dickerson's career rushing record in 2012 coming off a knee reconstruction; Charles' comeback from the same injury was understated by comparison. He rushed for 1,509 yards on 285 carries and averaged a remarkable 5.3 yards a carry.

Reid's West Coast offense will add even more to Charles' plate. When it comes to a choice between calling a run or a pass, Reid prefers to pass. He considers a screen or short pass to a running back a "running-type play." Charles has never caught more than 45 passes in a season, but you'll see a lot of plays that resemble what Reid did with Brian Westbrook and so many of his old Philly backs. He'll try to get the ball in Charles' hands and watch him run. Charles has great speed, particularly to the outside.

The passing elements might prevent him from being one of few 300-carry backs in the league, but combine his rushes and passes out of the backfield and he'll be one of the busiest.

5. Eric Fisher is the perfect type of lineman for Reid:
As a Mike Holmgren student of the West Coast offense, Reid stresses protection and has always been aggressive in trying to build tough, talented offensive lines.

Fisher, the first pick in the draft, has already won him over, although Fisher occasionally struggles against experienced defenders in practice. He has athletic skills similar to Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns, but what pleases Reid is Fisher's toughness. In his first training camp practice, Fisher badly injured two fingers on his right hand. He stayed in practice and tried to go against defenders mostly left-handed. Within a few days, he did some damage to his left hand. Those injuries have caused him to be a little inconsistent blocking, but Reid isn't concerned. Fisher is smart, talented and dedicated. With Branden Albert doing well at left tackle, the offensive line is looking solid.
 

ChiefsNuggetsSox

New Member
27
0
0
Joined
Apr 27, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 1,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
Alright boys its been a busy summer, for me and our boys in KC, its time to talk football. I am transferring to West Virginia University, to finish my degree, so I can only go to two games this year. Im gonna be in Philadelphia for the Thursday showdown against the Eagles. I traditionally take my dad to a home game in December for a christmas, but Im just really excited. The offense is going to be fun again. Im pumped to start the season against the Jaguars, because I think we will start out slow and turn it on by the 3rd and 4th quarters. Im pumped guys!
 

Black Adam

Cowards WILL BE cowards..
61,296
22,000
1,033
Joined
Apr 17, 2013
Location
The other side of the mirror
Hoopla Cash
$ 100.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
Alright boys its been a busy summer, for me and our boys in KC, its time to talk football. I am transferring to West Virginia University, to finish my degree, so I can only go to two games this year. Im gonna be in Philadelphia for the Thursday showdown against the Eagles. I traditionally take my dad to a home game in December for a christmas, but Im just really excited. The offense is going to be fun again. Im pumped to start the season against the Jaguars, because I think we will start out slow and turn it on by the 3rd and 4th quarters. Im pumped guys!


LOL, welcome back, CNS. let's DO the damn thing...

and congrats on finishing up on your degree. go forth and kick ass...like i'm hoping the Chiefs will do this season...
 
Top