Through some creative Internet sleuthing and Bob Gretz's blog, we've identified almost positively five of the six try out players from last weekend's rookie mini-camp at Arrowhead Stadium. They are QBs Drew Tate and Chase Patton, SS Glenn Williams, C Dominic Green, LB Bobby Abare and an unknown running back.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley said the team hoped to make a decision on some of these guys by last Monday. We haven't heard anything yet on whether or not any of the six made the team but then again, I don't think we would have heard any announcement by now anyway if a decision had been made. Such is the nature of the Pioli regime.
Let's check out these guys one at a time.
QB Drew Tate
One of the two quarterbacks the Chiefs invited to the rookie mini-camp, the 6 foot tall, 192 pound Tate started for three seasons at Iowa before being picked up by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2007. Before his college and brief pro career, Tate was a high school standout from Baytown, TX, (Seriously) whose high school numbers are on par with Graham Harrell and Colt McCoy. The three of them share quite a few Texas high school football passing records.
Tate fared quite well while at Iowa, gaining notoriety in the 2005 Capital One Bowl when he made a game wining TD pass with no time left to beat the LSU Tigers.
Skip ahead to the about the 4:50 mark to see that pass.
He only stuck around St. Louis for about three weeks before being let go. After his 2007 release, Tate has been spending time playing in the CFL for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
Tate's lack of size (6' tall, 192 pounds) is likely the major reason he did not get drafted in 2007.
"In my opinion if Drew were two inches taller he would have been a third or fourth round selection in last week's NFL draft," said Roughriders general manager Eric Tillman. "He has a strong arm; he's mobile, intelligent, tough and super competitive."
I highly doubt Tate makes the roster with four QBs already on it.
QB Chase Patton
For those not aware, Chase Patton is the Matt Cassel of the 2009 NFL Draft class. Patton rode the bench at Missouri for 99% of his career, backing up Heisman finalist Chase Daniel in the process.
Patton has great size for an NFL QB - 6'4", 220 pounds. That size and potential is what has scouts at least interested in him as an undrafted free agent.
"You simply have to take a hard look at a guy who has those types of measurables at a big school," says one. "Because there's no set way to find a quarterback."
Like with Drew Tate, I don't think there is room on the Chiefs' roster for Patton to break through as a #3 quarterback. It's likely he wouldn't remain on the practice squad long either.
LB Bobby Abare
We covered Yale LB Bobby Abare just recently when I jumped the gun and called him one of our officially signed undrafted free agents. He would be a good special teams addition for the Chiefs.
Click here to read more on Abare.
SS Glenn Wiliams
I have to admit that my knowledge of Glenn Williams was non-existent before he entered the Chiefs rookie mini-camp. Safeties from Duke don't exactly get a lot of national attention.
The 5'10", 185 pound safety doesn't have a lot of ink on him either. By far the most info on him comes from Duke's web site. Williams was a four year starter who moved from cornerback to safety before the 2008 season. From what I can find on Williams, he seems to be a reliable, smart safety who just doesn't have that "next level" athelticism and talent.
C Dominic Green
This 6'3", 295 pound offensive linemen has that versatility thing going on for him, just like Pioli and Haley like. Green has started games at center, tackle and guard during his career with the University of Nevada WolfPack. He earned a number of pre-season distinctions before the 2008 season but ended the season on a pretty terrible note - by getting a DUI on December 12th, 2008.
Green was arrested and charged with DUI and driving with expired tags. He lost his captain spot for the WolfPack's upcoming Bowl game and he lost his scholarship.
***
The odds are very long for any of these five players to make the Kansas City Chiefs squad at the beginining of the 2009 season. The nearly complete rookie mini-camp attendee list is after the jump.
Thoughts on the chances any of these guys make the team?
Kansas City Chiefs Rookie Mini-Camp Attendees
| Draft Picks | 1st Year Players | UDFAs | Try-outs |
| DE Tyson Jackson | WR Rodney Wright | DT Dion Gales | QB Drew Tate |
| DT Alex Magee | G Edwin Harrison | DE Bobby Greenwood | QB Chase Patton |
| CB Donald Washington | LB Darrell Robertson | DB/WR Londen Fryar | LB Bobby Abare |
| OT Colin Brown | TE Jed Collins | LB Pierre Walters | SS Glenn Williams |
| RB Javarris Williams | DT Derek Lokey | WR Taurus Johnson | C Dominic Green |
| TE Jake O'Connell | G Tavares Washington | LB Jovan Belcher | Unknown RB |
| K Ryan Succup | LS Tanner Purdum | OT Cameron Goldberg | |
| WR/KR Quinten Lawrence | *LS Thomas Gafford | S Ricky Price | |
| LB Corey Smith | |||
| CB Jackie Bates | |||
| TE Tom Crabtree | |||
| G Darryl Harris |