Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 8/16

via KC Star

Hello, AP. Sorry about missing yesterday. Seems I'm sick as a dog. Be careful about reciting "I don't want to go to work" on your last day of vacation.  Anyway, here's today's Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy!

In the 1960s, it was Nolan "Super Gnat" Smith; in the 1970s, it was Ed Podolak; in the ’80s it was J.T. Smith; in the ’90s, it was Tamarick Vanover. And during the first half of the 2000s, it was Hall, whose six kickoff and five punt returns with the Chiefs combined to rank third in NFL history.

Noland Smith (1968), Podolak (1970), J.T. Smith (1980) and Hall (2003) all led the league in punt returns once in their careers, and Vanover (1996) led the AFC in kickoff returns.

"A goal of a return man for Kansas City would be to be mentioned in the same sentences as those guys," Arenas said Sunday. "But first and foremost, you want to contribute, you want to do your job."

Javier Arenas could be the Chiefs' next great return man from KC Star

One play from Kansas City’s loss to Atlanta on Friday epitomized how head coach Todd Haley assessed the Chiefs’ first preseason game.

After giving up a field goal at the start of the fourth quarter, rookie defensive back/kick returner Javier Arenas caught the kickoff at his own 1 and ran 99 yards for an apparent touchdown. The touchdown, however, was nullified by a Kansas City holding penalty.

Haley said Sunday that the play illustrates that his team is making some positive strides but still must get better in a lot of different areas.

Chiefs get back to work from News-Press Now

Today: Areas of fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming south southeast between 4 and 7 mph.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind between 4 and 7 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Training Camp Forecast from The National Weather Service

News-Press Now Photo Gallery: Chiefs Training Camp

KC Star Photo Gallery: Chiefs resume camp in St. Joseph on Sunday

The Chiefs were down to 10 available offensive linemen when training camp resumed Sunday afternoon in St. Joseph. Three linemen — tackle Barry Richardson and guards Darryl Harris and rookie Jon Asamoah — spent the practice either walking around or on a stationary bike. Harris was injured last week, and Richardson and Asamoah were hurt Friday.

The situation at left guard has been rocky through much of camp, with Brian Waters missing part of the first two weeks because of an apparent leg injury.

Coach Todd Haley said Sunday that he wasn’t exactly inspired by the line’s performance Friday.

"Struggled at times," Haley said. "Across the board up front, there were some good things, but there are some things that we’ve got to be better."

Sunday in Chiefs camp | Offensive line has rough weekend; Lewis' goal is to start; Haley explains decision to defer from KC Star

Season Prediction: 3-13

Strengths: The Chiefs acquired strong safety Eric Berry in the first round of the most recent draft. Overall, helping to at least partially fill an area of consistent weakness that plagued the Chiefs throughout last season as they gave up a total of 424 points.
Another positive for Kansas City is that Terrell Owens did not want to join their team and instead signed with Cincinnati. As reports swirled in July that a possible deal was in the works between the two sides Owens was quoted as saying, "Me and Todd Haley, we don’t get along." Haley, Owens’ receiver’s coach in Dallas in 2006, is now the head coach of the Chiefs. And with the Chiefs already facing an uphill climb, Owens’ controversy was the last thing they needed.

NFL Preview: Kansas City Chiefs from Net Dugout

"I was very impressed that our offense was able to put together a 21-play drive.

"I thought that our ability to create turnovers was good.

"We won the field position battle. I think by 27 or 28 yards. Where our average start was and where their average start was. When you win the field position battle it really enhances your opportunity to win.

"I was not pleased with the two-minute defense. Both of their scores took place on the last drive of the half and the last drive of the game. Those are the things we know that we have to be very, very efficient in. You give up a score before the half in the last two minutes and statistically you usually lose the game. We’ve got to make sure that we tighten that up.

Coach Mike Smith’s film review of the 20-10 win from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It was interesting to see Kansas City Chiefs rookie receiver Dexter McCluster carry the football five times for 25 yards. It was previously thought he would work almost exclusively out of the slot, so this could be a sign of things to come.

NFL Preseason: Week 1 thoughts from KFFL

The running game for the Chiefs wasn't bad in 2009, Jamaal Charles had the best last four weeks of the season in the NFL, over 600 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns. If he is anywhere near those numbers with Thomas Jones sharing the load, this could be the best one-two running back punch in the NFL. The offensive line will have to hold, but things are in place for the offense to be pretty good.

The defense is still atrocious. Nobody has filled Jared Allen's shoes to be the sack king and they just cannot stop the run, allowing over 150 rushing yards per game, good for second-worst in the NFL.

I think the Chiefs will begin to get better in 2010, but it will take a few seasons of going in the right direction before they are a playoff team. They'll improve to 6-10.

NFL Preview: 2010 NFC & AFC West from Sports Central