Mandatory mini-camp with the Kansas City Chiefs has seemed to generate a whirlwind of news and speculation since its commencement on Friday morning. Two practices on Friday, two yesterday and one today will close the books on the Chiefs first (and only) mandatory offseason camp.
Click here for the wrap up of day one. Below is what you need to know for day two.
Injured and not participating in practice
- QB Brodie Croyle
- DE Glenn Dorsey
- RB Kolby Smith
- DT Ron Edwards
Missing from Saturday's practice
- CB Donald Washington (Will not be available until June 13th when Ohio State graduates per NFL rules)
- LB Monty Beisel (Brother's wedding)
- TE Tony Curtis (Missed only the afternoon practice for his own wedding...really? Just the afternoon practice? "Umm, honey, I can marry you only after my morning practice with the Chiefs." That's one understanding bride! Congrats, Mr. Curtis!)
Ch-ch-changes with the first team
Demorrio Williams lined up at inside linebacker next to Zach Thomas while Derrick Johnson worked with the second team. Maurice Leggett lined up at cornerback opposite Brandon Flowers ahead of Brandon Carr.
As Leggett said after practice, don't read too much into the various personnel packages.
"There just looking at different combinations. It’s just something they tell us in meetings. I think they are just giving guys different looks."
That doesn't mean Leggett isn't going to make this decision hard for the Chiefs head coach. He picked off Cassel once in the morning pracitce which he would have taken to the house had it been a real game. He and Ricardo Colclough both had interceptions in the afternoon practice.
Tamba Hali in coverage
I noted yesterday that Hali in coverage concerns me a bit. I want to be fair and note some positives coming out of him, via Bob Gretz.
In the seven-on-seven drill, OLB Tamba Hali got a nice pass drop and shut off a short pass route that Cassel was looking for.
Punt returns
Quinten Lawrence and Rodney Wright continue to return punts. We don't know much about Wright, but we've covered Lawrence before. His speed was noted as a major asset but that doesn't really matter if you can't catch the ball, which he had a problem with according to Bob Gretz.
Whether Lawrence returns punts or lines up at receiver, let's not be too quick to judge him. Wide receiver is a position that historically takes quite some time to develop.
Both kickers are perfect
I said yesterday that Ryan Succop, who hasn't missed in offseason work, has to be considered the leader in the clubhouse for the team's placekicking duties. On Saturday, both he and Connor Barth connected on all four kicks from 32, 39, 43 and 45 yards.
For the weekend, that puts Succop at 11/11 and Barth at 9/10.
I hope to see more of this
RB Larry Johnson ran several very nice routes, including one where he badly beat S Jarrad Page.
Johnson's abilities catching the ball out of the backfield have been questioned along with his pass blocking ability/desire. The new Chiefs regime has shown a tendency to players who can do more than one thing well so it would be very beneficial to not only Johnson, but the Chiefs as a whole, if he could demonstrate an ability to catch the ball consistently out of the backfield.
LJ had 33 and 41 receptions in his big 2005 and 2006 seasons. If I recall correctly, prior to the 2007 season an emphasis was placed on his pass catching abilities. In just eight games in 2007, he had 31 receptions which is a nearly twice the average he had before if drawn out over 16 games..
Of course his yards per reception dipped from 10.4 and 10.0 in 2005 and 2006 to 6.2 in 2007.
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Here are a few links that help sum up day two of mandatory camp:
Bob Gretz - AM practice
Bob Gretz - PM practice
Kansas City Star - Cassel takes charge at quarterback
Mothership Video Q&A: Todd Haley
Mothership Video Q&A: Matt Cassel
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The Chiefs have one practice today. We'll have updates as soon as they come out.