Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 8/14

Good morning! Welcome to Arrowheadlines. We have your Kansas City Chiefs news from across the internet. The Chiefs are back in St. Joe today and have a walk-through at 10:50am followed by a 3:30pm practice.

The Chiefs face an interesting problem entering the 2011 season: A year after leading the NFL in rushing, averaging 164.2 yards, they have more talent in their backfield — perhaps so much that a reliable running back or two might be denied carries. The Chiefs signed fullback Le’Ron McClain, and second-year player Dexter McCluster has taken plenty of snaps at running back during training camp.

How Will Charles Get His Carries With Another Running Back In The Chiefs' Mix? from KC Star

One of the glaring numbers that points to a disappointment is the camp’s "Family Fun Day." In its first year in St. Joseph, it set a Spratt Stadium record of 10,721 people. This year, attendance just topped 3,000.  

If the numbers do show a decline in attendance once everything is calculated, Dan Nicoson, Missouri Western State University’s interim director of athletics and vice president, said he still feels strongly about the camp’s second year.

Mixed Reviews On Camp's Impact from The St. Joseph News-Press

Chiefs fans did not get to see 6-9, 340-pound OT Jared Gaither on Friday night. Since Gaither had not had any real practice in this pre-season, they decided to wait until Sunday when the Chiefs return to the practice field in St. Joe to get him into the action.

Jones Ready to Go & Other Notes from Bob Gretz

Each week we focus on five pre-game areas. The next morning, we review those focal areas. This is the Take Five Rewind for Tampa Bay.

Tampa Take Five Rewind from The Mothership

The amount of cash that teams commit to players has no impact on their success.

Not some impact. Not a little impact. Zero impact.

That’s according to documents obtained by The Star through league sources, numbers that show that today’s NFL can be conquered equally by big spenders and small.

NFL's Salary Paradox from KC Star

Haley chose to hold out five defensive starters and two on offense for various reasons against the Buccaneers.  

With Tampa Bay utilizing its top players more, the Buccaneers dominated from start to finish, forcing two early turnovers to help build a 15-0 lead. Michael Bennett and Dekoda Watson sacked Chiefs second-string quarterback Tyler Palko in the end zone for a safety, beating a patchwork offensive line of reserves on the play.

A Tale of Two Tactics from The St. Joseph News-Press

The preseason games may have started, but N.F.L. coaches are in midseason form in reciting clichés. They hoped to see some specific generalities from their squads in the opening games...

...Kansas City Chiefs Coach Todd Haley took the Socratic approach to planning for his team’s preseason opener.

"How are they doing things?" he said. "Do they know what to do? Do they know the way we’re coaching them to do it? How well are they doing it?"

Heads I Win, Taile You Lose from The New York Times

The Ravens' offensive line will be tested again this week against the Kansas City Chiefs when they have to block All-Pro outside linebacker Tamba Hali, one of the most feared pass rushers in the game.

"I think the most improvement always comes between the first and second game, so it'll be fun to watch," Harbaugh said. "The Chiefs have a nice pass rusher in Tamba Hali. It's an odd front. It will be a big challenge. So, it'll be a good chance to evaluate how fast he's coming along between last week and this week."

Ravens Notebook: Cody, Yanda Held Out of Practice from The Carroll County Times

4. Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs: Even this diehard Raiders fan can't ignore Charles' emergence as a big-time back for Kansas City the past two seasons. Coming off a year in which he rushed for 1,467 yards (but only 5 TDs) and added another 468 yards on 45 receptions (including 3 TDs), Charles could be the best dual rushing-receiving threat in the NFL this side of Foster. And it's easy to see him doubling, maybe even tripling, last season's TD output.

Texans' Foster Has Right Moves from The Modesto Bee