Updates on Chiefs Monday Practice

by Joel Thorman on Jun 8, 2009 2:10 PM CDT in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Offseason

The Kansas City Chiefs continued voluntary workouts today. This is the first of four workouts this week. Still to come are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Missing of course were both Brian Waters and Mike Vrabel.

The updates are coming from the always reliable Bob Gretz.

Rehabbing injuries

Missing practice

G Brian Waters
OLB Mike Vrabel
TE Tony Curtis (Got married over the weekend)
CB Donald Washington (Waiting for OSU to graduate per NFL rules)

Alphonso Boone "leading the way" on the defensive line

Per Bob Gretz, Boone broke up a Thigpen to Savage screen pass. Boone should be leading the way as he's the veteran defensive end. He's due base salaries of $1.65 million in 2009 and $2.05 million in 2010 so the Chiefs are obviously keeping him for a reason.

He's 33 years old and has some familiarity with Todd Haley when they were both in Chicago. At 6'4", 318 pounds, Boone should have the size to deliver a punch along the defensive line.

Cassel vs. Thigpen

Matt Cassel was 15/18 in work against the defense and threw an interception to Derrick Johnson. Thigpen was 6/11 and threw an interception to Jon McGraw.

Ingle Martin was also 6/11 and had a deep pass completed to Brad Cottam.

More good news for Tamba Hali

Following last Friday's practice, I questioned whether Hali had the necessary coverage skills to play linebacker. Since then, we've heard a few good reports on him batting down balls. Here comes another good one courtesy of Bob Gretz:

OLB Tamba Hali read a running play in the teamwork portion of practice and almost grabbed the handoff from Cassel to Battle. It was one of the better defensive plays of the off-season.

Uh-oh...

WR C.J. Jones was wide open and Martin threw a nice pass, that was juggled and then dropped. Jones can’t afford to drop those kind of passes.

As Gretz notes, fringe roster players like Jones can not miss open receptions like that, especially when your coach is a former wide receivers coach.

***

Haley is apparently putting his status as an "offensive guru" to the test. With the offense reportedly struggling over the weekend, the head coach spent a little extra time fine tuning the passing game.

"We need work, we definitely need work, to improve our execution of just the basic pass game," said Haley. "We are having a hard time in some simplier areas. We are making plays, it’s just that the execution has to pick up. "

When Haley was hired, we all looked at the passing game as the biggest benefit. It appears Haley is working on that this offseason.

H/T markc and vinced in the FanShots for the links

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Comments

Officially

WR is our weakest roster spot. Hey, at least we’re not the Bears

by KansasCityShuffle on Jun 8, 2009 2:18 PM CDT reply actions

it sure sounds like it...

Haley seems pretty candid about saying they need work.
Cassel didn’t seem to be jumping for joy about them, either.

Booker/Toomer soon to be signed?

by stagdsp on Jun 8, 2009 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't think they will go after any big name guys

because it appears that they will end up relying on some of the younger guys. Johnson and Lawrence are two names that have been popping up when I’ve been reading these training camp reports. Lawrence has been proving that he can be a deep threat while (Taurus) Johnson has made a couple of big plays against our top CBs. I think by training camp you’ll see those two slip into the lineup. I predict by sometime next season our starting WRs will look something like this:
1. Bowe
2. Johnson
Slot: Engram/Lawrence
Bradley, Darling and Webb will probably rotate in quite a bit if they run more of a WR spread. I really believe this Johnson kid is going to be a starter for us. He’s not very flashy but he looks about as solid and consistent as any reciever I’ve seen around Arrowhead.

by jonnyu on Jun 8, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions

hope so

It’d be great to see Taurus make the team and play a lot.

IF Taurus and Lawrence step up… I bet Darling and Webb are at risk of losing their jobs.

by stagdsp on Jun 8, 2009 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

It would just be nice

to have a receiver named Taurus Johnson making plays. It has a ring to it.

by Nelly on Jun 8, 2009 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions

by Official Arrowhead Pride Parade on Jun 8, 2009 10:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Same here

Johnson seem to me to be that #2 guy we are looking for
For this season anyways

Before you build yourself up, you must tear somebody else down.

by Zennedy on Jun 8, 2009 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions

You guys serious?

I wouldn’t be so quick to anoint an UDFA as a starter.

by KansasCityShuffle on Jun 8, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I heard Taurus Johnson's name tossed around here a lot pre-draft

I can’t remember why he fell to UDFA.

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on Jun 8, 2009 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions

The reason his name was tossed around a lot

was because he was brought in for a private workout early on. Since it made the news we brought it under microscope.

by KansasCityShuffle on Jun 8, 2009 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

I think its ridiculous

to expect contributions from Johnson & Lawrence. We don’t even know if they can play on this level yet. The only name in the receiving corp other than Bowe thats poised for a big year is Bradley. If he can’t stay healthy opportunities will abound for guys like Engram and other bums lower on the depth chart

by KansasCityShuffle on Jun 8, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions

I dont think its time to hit the panic button yet.

Its only June and theres alot of time to fix these “simple execution” things Haley speaks of. Reading Gretz report and listening to Haley it looks like theres some route running issues and obvious holding onto the ball things. Training these guys to be good receivers and holding onto the ball is Haleys forte and he has a couple of months to fix it. Guys like Harrison or Toomer are guys that we wont have to coach very much to get them ready so they can be added as late as training camp if it takes that long to figure out what we have.

by GenericBrand on Jun 8, 2009 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Eh.

It’s early to be worried about something that’s based so much on timing and players getting used to each other.

by JComp11 on Jun 8, 2009 2:22 PM CDT reply actions

Tamba might be at his best when he's let loose

If you think about it, all he’s been doing is matching up against tackles his entire career. He’s alwas been a good run defender in open space. Maybe LB is a better suit for him.

by jonnyu on Jun 8, 2009 2:23 PM CDT reply actions

I disagree

he has not been good in open space, was generally a few steps slower than RB’s and was a poor tackler. I’m hoping this gets covered up by the other 3 LB’s

by KansasCityShuffle on Jun 8, 2009 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions

I respect your opinion... but

We haven’t really seen him in “open space” as a DE.
All reports from OTAs seem to be mostly positive about him so far.

by stagdsp on Jun 8, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

We've seen plenty of Tamba Hali

These were all well noted weaknesses to his games. It’s naive to assume they’re gonna dissappear with a change in scheme.

by KansasCityShuffle on Jun 8, 2009 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions

It's also naive to assume that he'll be

“a few steps slower than RB’s” after he drops 25-30 pounds.

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on Jun 8, 2009 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions

No

it’s not. Tamba’s 40 yard was a 4.75 coming out of Penn State. What tailbacks do you know can’t outrun that?

by KansasCityShuffle on Jun 8, 2009 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

The only QB's he sacked last year

was Favre & Rivers. Not neccessarily your Michael Vick

by KansasCityShuffle on Jun 8, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

The scheme is not the only change

that was the point of that post.

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on Jun 8, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Aha

Point now taken

by KansasCityShuffle on Jun 8, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry that wasn't clear

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on Jun 8, 2009 8:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Point is

We can’t use the few examples we have of Hali dropping into coverage on a zone blitz, or how he played the run in space as good indicators of how he will handle this 3-4 OLB transition, because the change in weight is a HUGE change.

He has a small frame, and I always thought he looked awkward trying to carry 280 lbs. I want to see how quick he is at 255 lbs. before I make any evaluations.

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on Jun 8, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Just so you know

the 4.75 forty was ran at a 265 weight and when he was 3 years younger..

by KansasCityShuffle on Jun 8, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm not sure that is really that slow for a 3-4 OLB

Shaun Phillips 4.69
Larry English 4.88
Terrell Suggs 4.8

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on Jun 8, 2009 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Heard Tank Tyler on Sirius today

And said Tamba was dropping weight and wanted him to get to 250.

Along with that, he did confirm that Tamba is playing the predator. I would have posted a quick FanShot of that but I thought we had already fleshed this one out.

by Joel Thorman on Jun 8, 2009 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Very good to hear

thanks!

I thought that 250 might be too light, until I saw that James Harrison tips the scale at a whopping 242

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on Jun 8, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Potential.

Tamba has always been potential and now that a lot of things have changed about the way things are done, our main source of info comes from current performance.

I honestly don’t think as a DE we’ve seen enough of Hali in open space. He’s batting down balls and breaking through the line in camp so that’s a great sign.

I’m not confident enough to say he will be good/great, but so far he is promising. This is my last year with Hali though. If he can’t make the transition, I’m done going to bat for him.

"...Said he couldn't go on the American way"

by Jux on Jun 8, 2009 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Something tells me too

That if Hali(or McBride) is on the field and is asked to “cover” it wont be one on one with a RB or TE but be more used in zone d.

by GenericBrand on Jun 8, 2009 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions

What will be the metric to decide if Hali is progressing nicely as OLB?

Tackles/Sacks/Ints?

How many of each. What should we expect? What should be the goal? What would be acceptable?

I've been rapping for about seveteen years okay? I don't write my stuff anymore I just kick it from my head you know what I'm sayin? I can do that. No disrespect but that's how I am.

by soybon on Jun 9, 2009 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions

Last season

Harrison had 101, 16, 1

I’d be happy if Hali had 80, 10, 1
I don’t expect him to be in position for an INT very often – he’ll be primarily a pass rusher, like Merriman, Suggs, Harrison, et al.

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on Jun 9, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Harrison did have 7 forced fumbles, and Hali has been pretty good at that, so maybe he can cause some disruption that way, rather than INT’s.

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on Jun 9, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions

good news...

– OLB Tamba Hali read a running play in the teamwork portion of practice and almost grabbed the handoff from Cassel to Battle. It was one of the better defensive plays of the off-season.

– Defensively, McGraw, S DaJuan Morgan and rookie LB Jovan Belcher all knocked down passes in coverage.

Tamba may make the transition after all… and Belcher sounds like he’s on his way to making the roster! I also like hearing that McGraw and Morgan are making plays and holding down their roster spots (hopefully)

by stagdsp on Jun 8, 2009 2:25 PM CDT reply actions

You don't have to worry about John McGraw

He knows not to put the bread and the milk in the same bag. His fundamentals are sound.

Paddy

by Patrick Allen on Jun 8, 2009 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Thigpen

bit of a telling sign that he put up the same numbers as Martin. MC’s numbers looked much like what we are expecting from him. Let’s hope he keeps it up.

Paddy

by Patrick Allen on Jun 8, 2009 2:27 PM CDT reply actions

Based on the reports

sounds like we need to be careful about getting excited about any defensive plays or players. The offensive side of the ball seems to be struggling right now which is understandable. A big part of me hope that the defense is just that disruptive but I know that offense is harder to get going.

by Nelly on Jun 8, 2009 2:28 PM CDT reply actions

That's what I can't decide.

Is our defense doing so well that our offense is getting shut out? Or is our offense in so much trouble that they are having issues with a subpar defense.

"...Said he couldn't go on the American way"

by Jux on Jun 8, 2009 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions