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Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 5/22

Good morning! Here is today's Kansas City Chiefs news (and an article on the failures of the Oakland Raiders). Enjoy!

USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs GM John Dorsey Likes What He's Seen Of The Team from KC Star

Dorsey, who spent the previous 13 years in the Green Bay Packers' personnel department, cited several pleasant surprises he's seen so far.

"I knew (safety) Eric Berry was a good player, but I didn't realize what a really good football player he is," Dorsey said of the two-time Pro Bowler. "I didn't realize (wide receiver) Dwayne Bowe could be as good as Dwayne Bowe wants to be. (Running back) Jamaal Charles, you have to utilize a guy like him. ... Our two outside linebackers (Tamba Hali and Justin Houston) are as good as advertised."

Dorsey's biggest offseason acquisition was trading a second-round pick in this year's draft and conditional second- or third-rounder in next year's draft to San Francisco for quarterback Alex Smith. He hasn't been disappointed with Smith.

Chiefs Kick Off A New Week Of OTAs from The Mothership

Like Houston, Jackson notices more movement in Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton's scheme.

"Yeah, it's pretty different because we're doing a whole lot more moving now," Jackson said. "So we just have to understand that we'll be flip-flopping from right side to left side and trying to understand what's our gap responsibility and what's being asked of us on each play."

Chiefs' Offense Picks Up The Pace During Offseason Practice from KC Star

Earlier offensive practices had been marked by the offensive players lining up in the wrong spots and botched snaps from center. Other than one missed exchange between backup center Eric Kush and Daniel, things were sharper on the offensive end.

Daniel gave credit to four days off from practice for that.

"All the jitters are out,'' he said. "The rookies know what it's like. They know what we expect. The offense is in. We're just putting guys in different spots and we're moving.

"It just really gives them a chance to get into the playbook. You can tell a lot of the guys did. There were no, ‘What?' calls in the huddle to us or "What does this mean?' You can tell our guys are studying.''

Helmet 2 Helmet: My First Road Trip Experience from The Mothership

The ride up to Fort Leavenworth gave me an opportunity to share with the players the importance of national sports to deployed service members. They were very humble in comparing football to being deployed to a combat zone, especially when they were told that men and women will stay up well into the early morning to watch their favorite teams. The reason for this is simple, and human. When we are far from our families in unfamiliar environments, sports connects us to those back home. We know that, even if only for a few moments, we are participating in the same event as our loved ones.

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: OTA's May 21st

Chiefs Building Offense from The Associated Press via KSN.com

The Kansas City Chiefs are putting together an offense that promises to be bold and dynamic, if not downright revolutionary, a blend of old and new under coach Andy Reid.

At least, that's what it looks like on paper.

Reid ran a version of the West Coast offense for years in Philadelphia, and the assumption is it will serve as the foundation for everything else in Kansas City. But already, the Chiefs are stacking plenty of wrinkles on top of it in what seems to be a more complex scheme.

Power Rankings: Loaded Broncos Are The Favorites, Like It Or Not from CBS Sports

24 It's all on Alex Smith. Can he take a team with some talent and turn it into a playoff contender? I don't think so.

Get This: Chiefs Offense Looks To Blitz The Defense from FS Kansas City

On the NFL calendar, spring is about tweakage. Much has been written and said about the Chiefs' defense going after the other kids' lunch money, but Reid is trying to impart a new offensive mantra, too, piece by piece.

To oversimplify things somewhat, whimpering and rolling into a fetal position is out; reaching for the jugular is in.

"I think the tempo wears down the defense," Daniel said. "Let us get our breath and then - SNAP! - back into our tempo phases. It really just gives us a way to blitz the defense."

Agent's Take: Examining What Went Wrong With The Oakland Raiders from CBS Sports

Mark Davis, who assumed ownership when his father passed away, has indicated he will be patient with McKenzie during the rebuilding process. Even though expectations are not high for the Raiders in 2013, McKenzie could find himself on the hot seat if there is regression from last year's 4-12 season. Staying patient may be easier said than done for Davis especially if the Kansas City Chiefs, a division rival, show significant improvement after a league-worst 2-14 record in 2012.

The Indianapolis Colts raised the bar on rebuilding by going from a 2-14 record in 2011 to the playoffs in 2012 after a roster purge similar to the Oakland's. Indianapolis had a league-high $38.79 million of dead money last season.

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