Training Camp Monday PM Update

by Joel Thorman on Aug 5, 2008 7:18 AM CDT

Temperature: 84

Humidity: 55%

Attendance: 97

WPI ($$$)

UW-RF

Bob Gretz

Derrick Johnson Q&A

Derrick Johnson was asked how he thought Gunther Cunningham was doing with the linebackers:

"I didn’t know how we were going to do it at first. But it’s going quite well. You actually get into his mindset on how you play linebacker. I never knew that in three years that I’ve been here. I knew he was a hard coach and was going to get his work done, but at the same time I didn’t know how much he knew about linebackers. He knows a lot. My game is going to go to another level. I can’t wait."

Bob Gretz on the PM practice:

Herm Edwards team went out and had the best back-to-back practices of the pre-season. Offense and defense both looked good, both got things done, both made plays and the action was physical.

Gretz also reported that LJ and Charles took some direct snaps from the center (also noted in a FanShot by DJ).

The kickers apparently were feeling great as Nick Novak booted 2/3 including one from 50 and Connor Barth nailed all three including one from 50 yards out.

Call if what you want but I'm not that intrigued by the kicking battle. I would imagine Novak and Barth, if each given the opportunity, would perform similarly - without affecting the outcome of our season.

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Kickers

Call if what you want but I’m not that intrigued by the kicking battle. I would imagine Novak and Barth, if each given the opportunity, would perform similarly – without affecting the outcome of our season.

then shouldn’t we go with youth?

by PVChiefsfan on Aug 5, 2008 8:05 AM CDT reply actions

Good point

by Joel Thorman on Aug 5, 2008 8:24 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

Maybe it’s just me, but I think this is actually one of the more important position battles we have this preseason, and no it’s not just because of Medlock completely bombing last year either. I think with the kind of team we are, every point is going to have to count, so I want the guy who’s going to be more accurate, regardless of age (although in this case I believe Barth is more accurate from what I’ve read/heard). I don’t want someone who can’t hit the 40 yarder because he has plenty of leg, but just can’t get in to go through the uprights. Not only is it costing us points, but field position too, which with our offense is unacceptable.

Anytime we get inside our opponents 35 yd line we have to score points, if we don’t it’s going to be a long season for the players and the fans. So if the young guy gives us the better opportunity for this then great, but I want whoever gives us the best possible chance to win, regardless of age.

by Chiefs n Chopper on Aug 5, 2008 8:28 AM CDT up reply actions

All I'm saying

Is that the difference between even the elite kickers in the NFL and average kickers is minimal. I don’t think it makes much of a difference – certainly not enough to cause you much grief.

by Joel Thorman on Aug 5, 2008 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Whoa now

Anytime we get inside our opponents 35 yd line we have to score points

Don’t get me wrong, I’d love for our offense to do that, but that is a 52 yard FG, and I won’t get mad if a kicker misses those occasionally :)

by PVChiefsfan on Aug 5, 2008 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm Rooting For Barth

Because a) he’s younger and b) I believe his approach to his job will make him a better kicker in the long run. He was nothing short of outstanding his last two years in college (Medlock wasn’t) so if we’ve got to choose, I’d rather have the guy with more potential upside than the guy who’s been around for three years and who’s carrying a 65% career completion percentage (50% last year) with a career long field goal of 47 yards.

The biggest strike against Barth is that he’s an unknown quantity, but then what we know about Novak is that in 3 years he hasn’t shown many positive qualities as a kicker at all.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 5, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Also

Barth is five years younger than Novak. So if he’s hitting about as well as or slightly better than Novak in practice already, that’s probably a good indicator that his upside is a little better.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 5, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

If my last remaining brain cell remembers correctly

wasn’t Nick Lowery and unknown? I am liking the Barth kid myself partially because of his mental approach to the game.

by Lanier63 on Aug 5, 2008 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Lowery

He’d played one season with the Patriots where he was 7-7 on extra points with one field goal attempt (which he missed from 40+ yards out). After that he floated around for a couple of years until he ended up with the Chiefs in 1980. After he was with us he only ever had one really bad season (1984, 69% FG percentage) and never hit below 72% of his field goals in any other season with us.

I could see this kid being as good as Lowery was or even better.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 5, 2008 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe I didn't word that properly

I’m not saying I expect our kicker to make every field goal, especially those outside of 50 yards, I’m just saying the Chiefs don’t have an offense that can allow for us to not put points on the board when we get that close. If Barth or Novak is missing 52 yard field goals, I’m not gonna be mad so much at them as I am with our offense not being able to get the ball any closer to the goal line/ put it in the endzone.

by Chiefs n Chopper on Aug 5, 2008 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions

the last few reports

recently Barth has hit 100% of his kicks… usually 3/3, 4/4 or something like that.

Novak has been good, but usually 3/4, 2/3… and he’s missing from the mid 40’s, not the low 50’s.

We need someone that can hit consistently, and I think Barth is proving that he can do that.

This will all be wrapped up in the preseason… I can’t wait!

by Ochophosphate on Aug 5, 2008 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Ok, does anyone else remember...

You Can’t Do That on Television on Nickelodeon in the 80’s?

I can’t help but think of the cook/chef named Barth (played by Les Lye) every time I hear Connor Barth’s name. It always sounded like they were saying Barf when they said his name (intentionally I presume).

I watched the snot out of that show when I was a kid.

by Ochophosphate on Aug 5, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

Alanis Morrisette was on that show when she was a kid…

by PVChiefsfan on Aug 5, 2008 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Ah, Alanis...

I’d so hit that. :)

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 5, 2008 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

I don’t know if you live in KC, but she’ll be here on Oct. 28

You could also see her at these locations

by PVChiefsfan on Aug 5, 2008 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Crap!!!

October 28 is in the middle of the week. Sadly I live in Wichita right now, so it’s not feasible to attend, otherwise I’d be there.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Aug 5, 2008 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Kicking stats in camp

Going back through the River Falls Special teams reports, here’s how they’ve done in drills.

Date Novak Barth
7/26 pm 3/3 2/3
7/28 pm 3/3 3/3
7/30 pm 4/4 2/2
7/31 pm 3/3 2/3 Vikings practice
8/01 pm 2/3 3/3 to be fair, Novak was hurt by a bad snap
8/02 pm 3/4 4/4 Family night
8/04 pm 2/3 3/3

Novak: 20/23 for 87.0 %

Barth: 19/21 for 90.5%

by sunny D on Aug 5, 2008 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions

those look pretty good to me

Either way it looks like a considerable improvement from last year. I like this Barth kid though… if anything so I can say Barth for the next few years when we go to kick. BAAARRRTHHHFFF!!

I don’t know how I missed this the first time, but that quote from DJ is pretty inspiring. I’m ready for him to “go to another level”.

by Ochophosphate on Aug 5, 2008 10:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Only a "simulated rush"

They go inside if it rains. No snow games. I would say that nothing is riding on it - like the outcome of a game - but I imagine they’re both feeling a fair amount of pressure. Especially since they do about 3 or 4 a day that really get counted by the coaches, and not 20 or 30.

Against a wind the other day, Novak was hitting kick-offs about 5+ yards farther on average. I get the feeling that Barth can develop consistency over time, though, like he did in college.

by sunny D on Aug 6, 2008 12:17 AM CDT up reply actions