Sutton: Chiefs D Is 'Coming Together As A Unit' from The Mothership
Among the many topics coach Sutton covered included the team's ability to work together as a unit, regardless of which players, starters or non-starters, were in the game.
"One of the things that's so important that you're trying to figure out is how are you going to play collectively as a unit," Sutton said. Eleven parts coming together as one. For example, the very first play of the San Francisco game, we've done a really good job, we've got them bottled up on the run and then all of the sudden (Frank) Gore breaks out the back end and 52 yards later, down there in the scoring zone; that's not the way you drew it up to start or wanted it to start, and it wasn't like you got gassed, the guy made a great football play. The thing that I was happy with defensively was they didn't lose their focus, didn't lose their concentration. We ended up getting three-and-out and held them to a field goal."
Special-Teams Coach Dave Toub Already Seeing Major Progress With Chiefs from KC Star
Chiefs special-teams coordinator Dave Toub is a master builder.
Toub, the son of a carpenter, built his own home in Columbia when he was an assistant coach at Missouri in the mid-1990s. He also remodeled houses and basements and built decks for fellow coaches.
But Toub's best renovation work may be what he's accomplished midway through his first preseason with the Chiefs. The Chiefs' special teams have been spectacular, especially in the return phase.
Chiefs Preparing To See Todd Haley Again from KC Star
Chiefs safety Eric Berry, the club's first-round draft pick in 2010, said he had a good relationship with the tempestuous Haley.
"He definitely held me to high expectations, and he's one of the guys who brought me in, so it's always going to be some type of feeling and some respect toward that relationship ....
"I've got a lot of respect for Todd, and I expect him to take his best shot, too," Berry added with a laugh.
Chiefs Welcome Visit By The Kansas City Royals from The Mothership
"It was great," coach Reid said. "We love their support and I know our guys support them. We're pulling for them; they're right there, making a push right now and we know they're going to get in the playoffs. We're wishing them the best of luck."
As excited as the Chiefs were to meet the Kansas City Royals, the playoff-contending Royals, including pitcher Aaron Crow had a blast on the Chiefs practice fields.
"When I was told about it yesterday, I was pumped," Crow said. "I went home, picked up my
Eric Berry jersey, made sure I had it to wear today. I'm just excited for the season to start and hopefully this year brings something new and a lot more excitement. The Royals are doing great this year, so hopefully it will be even better if the Chiefs can turn it around and start being competitive too."
Chiefs Cover Two: A Closer Look At The Players from The Mothership
Between the practices, team meetings, road travel and more, we will bring fans closer to the entire team, including the Chiefs rookies and free agents, who were signed in the offseason.
Today, we catch up with Chiefs rookie safeties,
Bradley McDougald andGreg Castillo , as each participated in OTAs, minicamp practices and continues with training camp, bringing them to today, where they're competing for spots on the 2013 Chiefs roster.
KCChiefs.com Video: Eric Berry: 'Coach Is Going To Put A Lot On Us'
PFT Video: PFT Live: Pioli On Recent Changes In KC
AFC West Preview: Kansas City Chiefs Set To Surprise? from NFL.com
Marc Sessler and I put Kansas City into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed. My case for the Chiefs:
1. Andy Reid is underrated as an offensive mind. He creates yardage, and getting out of Philadelphia should be liberating to one of the NFL's better coaches.
Chiefs Say Dark Days Are Past from USA Today via The Jackson Sun
Never get too high. And definitely never get too low, as the Chiefs were for so many reasons by the end of last season's 2-14 disaster. As Reid says, "Just keep pushing through, man" - which his defense did after Gore revived bad memories.
"(We) come out. They bust a 50-yard run on us. Like, dang, all right, that's BS. We can't have that," Chiefs safety Eric Berry told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday.
"But we end up stopping them and holding them to a field goal. That's how we're trying to get stuff corrected quickly and not just keep going downhill. Get it turned around."
Keeler: Chiefs Should Treat Charles Gingerly For Two More Weeks from FS Kansas City
Jamaal Charles is the best offensive player in a 300-mile radius. Knile Davis is a rookie. Ergo, until your fantasy league goes live, it's Knile left, Knile right, Knile in a box, Knile with a fox, Knile in a house, Knile with a mouse. You use every possible opportunity to see what you've got.
With Charles, the Kansas City Chiefs already know what they've got. They've got a superstar with a wonky right foot. And a backfield that won't look the same without him.
Collier: Steelers Offensive Line Must Exercise Some Control from The Pittsburgh Post Gazette
But there is real displeasure afoot, as Steelers fans have apparently been unable to let the Pirates' success calm their
football nerves, particularly concerning Roethlisberger's health in an offense that went 1 for 13 on third down the other night. Exacerbating the situation is the approaching Saturday date with theKansas City Chiefs , inventors of last fall's biggest culinary hit, the Roethlisberger sandwich.Still lurking there in the Nation's mental
refrigerator is the meeting of Chiefslinebackers Tamba Hali">Tamba Hali andJustin Houston is an American football outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the..." data-score="0.49" data-wiki-title="Justin Houston">Justin Houston at or nearBig Ben 's throwing shoulder, which at that moment became the intersection of a promising 6-3 season and five playoff-preventing losses in the next six games.
Phillies' Downward Spiral Highlights Cracks Of Riding Success from HardballTalk
For most of those incredible years, they featured SEVEN Hall of Famers: Quarterback Len Dawson, dominant defensive tackles Buck Buchanan and Curley Culp, brilliant linebackers Willie Lanier and Bobby Bell, cornerback Emmitt Thomas and kicker Jan Stenerud. I have long believed receiver Otis Taylor also should be in the Hall of Fame. Their coach, Hank Stram, is a Pro Football Hall of Famer. We are talking about an all-time team.
But as the 1970s progressed, the players got old. And the Chiefs just, well, they just watched the players get old.
Notes And Quotes: Wyoming's Final Fall Scrimmage from The Casper Star-Tribune
NFL scouts from the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions all attended Wyoming's scrimmage on Wednesday.
That brings the final tally of NFL visitors to: New York Jets (twice), Arizona Cardinals (twice), Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys.
49ers' Jim Harbaugh Decries Media Criticism Of A.J. Jenkins from The San Jose Mercury News
"I know a lot of people have been making some sport of A.J. and Jonathan and my comments and that type of thing," Harbaugh said in unsolicited fashion.
"I really feel the same as I did a year ago when I made those comments. That I don't think it's fair to bully or label a young player. Though I fully understand that people are entitled to their opinion and their perspective.
"However, I prefer that the criticism -- I would appreciate if the criticism is directed toward me. I'm responsible and I certainly accept that.
"Actually, I welcome it."
Win Or Lose, It's How You Sauce The Game from The Pitch
Even the absence of barbecue can be a winning formula. Dontari Poe, the Chiefs' first-round pick in 2012, has been looking unstoppable at practice, a result of dropping 20 pounds from giving up - you guessed it - barbecue.
Pioli: Relationship With Kaepernick Will Determine Baldwin's Fate from The Sacramento Bee
In the last two years, Matt Cassel, Tyler Palko, Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn all started games at quarterback. After winning just two games last season, the Chiefs traded for Alex Smith.
"He works really, really hard at his craft," Pioli said. "What I did a poor job in helping Jon's development was keeping continuity and consistency around him, and that's not Jon's fault. ... Again, I think part of what happens between quarterbacks and receivers is very much chemistry related and repetition related."
New Arizona Cardinal Javier Arenas Not Lacking Confidence from Arizona Sports
Javier Arenas had no interest in being a backup.
So, when the Kansas City Chiefs went and acquired new defensive backs in the offseason, the former second round pick said he told the organization he understood what they were doing, but wasn't planning on losing his starting job.
So they traded him to Arizona for fullback Anthony Sherman.