Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 8/16

Good morning! Here is today's Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy!

Since the Chiefs traded Jared Allen in 2008, linebacker Tamba Hali has often felt all alone when it's time to rush the opposing quarterback. He doesn't necessarily feel that way this year.

"With all of the guys that we have acquired, we will be able to generate more pass rushing on the teams we are going to play this year,'' Hali said. "Not just from my standpoint, but from all over the defense, from the outside linebackers to the safeties, I think we are all getting ready for the pass rush, and that's a good thing."

Chiefs Expect Improvement In The Pass Rush from KC Star

Practice ended with a live goal line period giving the first, second and third units one snap to score form the two-yard line. It was the most spirited 11-on-11 competition of training camp with Matt Cassel hitting Steve Maneri in the end zone on the first snap and fullback Patrick DiMarco denied on the half-yard line after catching a flare pass for the second-team offense.

Everything came down to the third and final snap when running back Shaun Draughn concluded the practice by leaping over a pile defenders and rolling into the end zone.

Camp Notebook: Stanzi's Turn To Run The Twos from The Mothership

KC Star Photo Gallery: Chiefs Training Camp: Wednesday, Aug. 15

KCChiefs.com Video: From The Podium: Romeo Crennel 8-15-12

KCChiefs.com Video: Finding The 53: The Specialists

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Live! 8-15-12

KCChiefs.com Video: Tony DiPardo - 100th Birthday

FOX Sports Video: Schrager: Chiefs Preview

FOX Sports Video: Billick: Chiefs Preseason Report

Wide receiver Jon Baldwin threw a scare into the Chiefs when he went down in a heap while trying to make a leaping catch over cornerback Jailil Brown on the sideline. Baldwin, who has had an outstanding training camp in the absence of Dwayne Bowe, remained on the ground for nearly a minute and gingerly walked off the field.

He returned to practice a few minutes later, so clearly he wasn't seriously injured.

Chiefs' McCluster Catches Crennel's Eye from KC Star

Second-year man Ricky Stanzi will get the call at No. 2 quarterback on Saturday night when the Chiefs play at St. Louis in their second preseason game.

Brady Quinn, competing with Stanzi for the backup job behind Matt Cassel, could see some action, depending on the flow of the game, said Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel.

Chiefs To Give Stanzi Shot With No. 2 Unit On Saturday from KC Star

Peering through heavy rain, Dexter McCluster backpedaled to catch the punt, cut left and sprinted a Kansas City team-record 94 yards for a touchdown to spark a season-opening victory over San Diego in 2010 that led to the AFC West championship.

That's the last time the Chiefs returned a punt for a touchdown. Two years and counting. Even worse for the Chiefs, it's going on three years since anybody ran a kickoff all the way back to the end zone.

Chiefs Wanting More Happy Returns from The Associated Press via The San Antonio Express

Szymanski, an undrafted free agent from SMU, handled most of the extra points during Wednesday's practice. It's unlikely the Chiefs will use a precious roster spot for a kickoff specialist, and Ryan Succop, who has been a little erratic in training camp, has little to worry about. Succop, who made two short field goals against the Cardinals, sent his two kickoffs against Arizona for touchbacks as well.

Chiefs Day In Camp For Wednesday from KC Star

In celebration of Tony DiPardo's 100^th birthday, the Chiefs are launching the Tony DiPardo Fan of the Year Contest on kcchiefs50.com.

A different winner will be chosen for seven Chiefs regular season home games. Winners receive a commemorative plaque, four tickets to the game (including parking) and an opportunity to be on the sidelines during pregame warm-ups.

Chiefs Celebrate Tony DiPardo's 100th Birthday With Fan Of The Year Contest from The Mothership

Question: How's NFL camp? Is it what you thought it would be?

Answer: "It's definitely a step up from the college level. Guys are faster and stronger and bigger so it's been an adjustment but I think I'm picking it up pretty good.''

Chiefs Profile: Defensive Lineman Jerome Long from KC Star

It might be time to start worrying about Kansas City Chiefs CB Brandon Flowers, who has not practiced since July 31 when he bruised his heel.

Flowers met with doctors on Tuesday to evaluate the injury, which coach Romeo Crennel originally thought would only keep Flowers out of practice for a couple days. Crennel did not rule Flowers out for Friday's preaseason game in St. Louis. For Flowers to play, Crennel said, he would have to practice on Wednesday.

The big worry is starting to be that Flowers will not be prepared for the regular season opener on Sept. 9 against Atlanta, even if he does return before then.

Chiefs Notebook: Brandon Flowers Recovering Slowly From Heel Injury from CBS Sports

My immediate reaction the first time that I saw Jonathan Baldwin line up for the Chiefs (against Oakland in Week 7) was "who is that tight end split wide for the Chiefs?" Such was the sheer size and physical presence I didn't immediately reconcile that this was the Chiefs' first round rookie receiver out of Pittsburgh. Throughout his rookie season Baldwin flashed some freakish physical ability but never put an individual game together, let alone a string of games to suggest that he "got it". The closest he came to this was his Monday Night Football debut in Week 8, but even then he dropped three passes against the Chargers.

Second Season Watchlist from Pro Football Focus

"You can't base your career decision on other people's decision," Quinn said. "I liked Denver, but (Manning) was still considering a couple other teams and I did what I felt was best for me ... I'm glad I did. I'm really happy here."

Quinn has a comfort level in Kansas City. He has reunited with both head coach Romeo Crennel and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. He played for both coaches in Cleveland.

Quinn Chose Familiarity Over Manning from ESPN

Crennel, 65, has been around the NFL since 1981. He has five Super Bowl rings. He's seen it all. That's why he doesn't go too much overboard on things. He stays reserved.

Yet, that tone changes a bit when the subject is his new running back tandem of Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis. Crennel gets a gleam in his eye when he talks about that pair.

Crennel Likes Possibilities In Backfield from ESPN

It took the presence and wisdom of Berry's father to not only hold him together, but to elevate Berry.

"My Dad was with me the whole time through surgery," Berry said, "and while I was on my crutches, and I couldn't walk, he was down there helping me in Pensacola [Fla.]. That was truly a blessing to have him down there because we got to talk about a lot of stuff. He supported me so much and my brothers and Mom my teammates and coaches. But it was really good to have my Dad there to take some of that off of me."

Chiefs Eric Berry's Family Helps In His Knee Rehab from The Atlanta Black Star

Kendrick Lewis is glad to have fellow safety Eric Berry back, but he gained invaluable experience without him last season.

The two have been a combo deal since 2010 when the Kansas City took Berry with the No. 5 overall pick and took Lewis in the fifth round.

Kendrick Lewis Gets His Safety Net Back from ESPN

Berry first got his love for film and dialogue when his mother showed him the Stephen King 1980s classic "Stand By Me" as a child.

"I loved that movie," Berry said. "I really loved the story-telling aspect of it."

Berry said he is a natural storyteller and he has often entertained his family by making up stories and telling long, detailed tales on the spot. He said he never took any film writing courses and wrote the scripts at his own pace and in his own style.

Eric Berry Spends Injured Time Writing from ESPN

The New England Patriots made the multiple-tight-end set popular and it's no surprise the Chiefs are adopting the idea. Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli came from the Patriots organization, so it's no shock the Chiefs are going to use the double-tight-end set extensively.

Chiefs Are Doubly Pleased At Tight End from ESPN

Cassel's time in Kansas City has been a roller coaster. He started slow in 2009, performed well in 2010 and fell flat in 2011. With all these additions and the offensive help around him, Cassel has no choice but to perform well. If he doesn't become a leader and control this team, the Chiefs could go in another direction at quarterback.

Cassel's Time To Shine from The University Daily Kansan

With Brandon Carr having left in free agency to Dallas, Flowers' absence in the team's first preseason game and his expected absence in Saturday against the Rams has been duly noted.This is an issue for a K.C. defense that had significant difficulty getting to the quarterback last season.

The Chiefs are a team that need Flowers at his best - if you can't cover, the sacks don't come. The Chiefs finished tied for 27th in sacks in 2011, with 29.

AFC West Breakdown: Chargers Want Melvin Ingram To Be Their Von Miller from The Denver Post

The Chiefs have some good talent to work with, and while their clean bill of health also works in their favor, they haven't improved their roster on paper as much as the other teams in the division. They won't be a pushover, but Kansas City just isn't built outlast the other teams in the division over a full season.

NFL Projections: The AFC West from GCOBB.com