Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/12

Chiefs Eric Fisher Has A Shoulder Issue As Well As Thumb Injury from KC Star

Fisher, the first overall pick in April's NFL Draft, has soreness in his right shoulder in addition to suffering an injury to his left thumb in Friday night's preseason game at New Orleans.

"It's a bruise in there," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of Fisher's right shoulder. "He didn't complain about it during the game, he didn't complain about it after the game. It showed up (Saturday). He can't quite get the motion that he needs.

"It's not structural, it's a muscle bruise. We'll get it settled down, It's day-by-day. I think he'll be all right."

Add 'Composed' To Eric Fisher's Reputation As A Strong, Silent Type from KC Star

In addition to the fierce instinct and sheer athleticism that led the Chiefs to draft him, Reid seems to appreciate his apparent equilibrium.

"He goes out and he plays, which is refreshing," he said. "He goes out, and he does his thing. He's not one to boast. He doesn't have the big ups and downs.

"So if he gets beat, he kind of goes back in there. And he didn't get beat in this game. In practice, if he gets beat he doesn't throw a tantrum. He gets back in and just works to get better. So you kind of appreciate his approach to it."

Chiefs Players Accountable To Self, Each Other from The Mothership

In the team's locker room, after the game, Chiefs QB Chase Daniel echoed coach Reid's evaluation.

"The ones on both sides of the ball looked great," Daniel said. "They moved the ball on offense, stuffed the ball on defense and that's what we want. Our twos, threes, and fours, we have to step it up. Guys are upset, but we'll get back to work and we'll finish out the last week of camp strong."

Chase's comments, to me, screamed accountability and he wasn't done.

Chiefs Work Hard For Big Returns On Special Teams from KC Star

For new special teams coach Dave Toub, things might have been easier if the Chiefs had allowed a couple of long kick returns in the opening preseason game last week. That way, things could only improve.

Instead, the Chiefs were the team with the two long returns. Expectations for the return game were already high after the hiring of the well-respected Toub, who joined the Chiefs after working with Devin Hester and the Bears.

Now they've been bumped even higher.

"That's what we hope for, what we strive for,'' Toub said. "But some weeks are going to be better than others.''

Chiefs Begin Final Week Of Training Camp from The Mothership

Roughly 48 hours after the Kansas City Chiefs finished their preseason opener in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, they returned to the practice fields at Missouri Western on a beautiful Sunday morning.

With Friday's game in the rearview mirror, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid directed his team's practice in a way that Chiefs OL Rokevious Watkins described in one word.

"Fast," Watkins said. "Extremely fast. I'm getting used to the system. I picked it up pretty fast, so I'm just trying to master the craft and hopefully make the team."

Defense Has Its Day At Chiefs Camp from KC Star

Smith completed seven of eight passes for 68 yards in the game-opening, 14-play touchdown drive at New Orleans, but he didn't try stretching the field by taking any shots at wide outs Dwayne Bowe or Jon Baldwin.

Everything was thrown short to running backs, tight ends and slot receiver Dexter McCluster.

"In that game, things happened that way because of the way (the Saints) were playing," said assistant coach David Culley, who coaches the wide receivers. "We didn't have to go downfield. We had some nice runs, Alex got some nice throws on the inside to our tight end and to Dexter.

Chiefs Show Pistol Formation In Practice from KC Star

The Chiefs showed a little Pistol formation in addition to their regular offenses, but all in all, they had a pretty dreary day trying to move the ball in any situation. The only touchdown of the day came during the blitz period when third-team receiver Rico Richardson got behind cornerback Neiko Thorpe and hauled in quarterback Tyler Bray's deep throw down the sidelines.

Chiefs Coaches Give Struggling Receiver Jon Baldwin A Clean Slate from KC Star

"It doesn't matter what's happened in the past," said assistant head coach/receivers David Culley. "What matters right now is now. Everything is being judged off what happens now.

"I told him, ‘All we want to do is see you do the right things, and if you do the right things, put yourself in position to do the right things, put yourself in position to make plays, you have to make plays.'"

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Sunday's Chiefs Camp In Photos

49er's Greg Roman: Alex Smith 'A Nameless, Faceless Opponent' from The San Jose Mercury News

Aldon Smith spent the past two years in practice knowing that touching Alex Smith was off-limits. What will happen on Friday?

"Alex gets touched," the 49ers linebacker said.

Will he touch him gently?

"Just make the play," Aldon Smith said with a smile.

A Little More Context On The Alex Smith Trade And Andy Reid from Niners Nation

According to the New York Times, Andy Reid confirmed that he had tried to acquire Alex Smith multiple times in the past. Arrowhead Pride broke down some of the details of the article. Trent Dilfer had previously discussed Reid's interest in Philadelphia, but this article has confirmation from Reid himself. I'd like to think the 49ers held Reid over the coals at least a little bit to make this kind of deal.

KC Back At Camp Without Fisher from The Associated Press via The Hutchinson News

While it's clear that Fisher has uncanny athleticism for a man his size, the 6-foot-7, 306-pound rookie has struggled to get acclimated to life in the NFL. He's been beaten often by pass rushers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston in one-on-one drills, and more than once quarterback Alex Smith has had to scramble during 11-on-11 sessions of practice.

Reid has acknowledged that Fisher is going through some growing pains, just like any first-year player, and that his progress in the preseason will be crucial to the offense's success.

Alex Smith And Andy Reid Love-fest Continues In Kansas City from Just Blog Baby

Still things will be tougher than many experts think for the Chiefs. Oakland looks much improved and isn't about to allow the Chiefs to just beat them to the rebuilding punch and San Diego has retooled as well over the offseason, Reid and Smith might look like a perfect match, but they have a lot of work to do before they stick it to anybody, let alone the entire NFL.

Chiefs Camp Notes: Flowers Learning from Warpaint Illustrated

This season under new defensive coordinator, Bob Sutton, Flowers and company appear to have a better flow on defense. And if the first quarter of Fridays first exhibition game was any indication of things to come, good things are just around the corner for Flowers and company.

"It's great," Flowers said of the chemistry building in camp. "We put in a lot of time and a lot of hours in the film room. Even when we leave the film room we are always talking about how we are going to play coverages. Every day we have to keep getting better and better and keep building."

Takeaways From NFL Teams After Preseason Game 1 AFC West Edition from The Las Vegas Guardian Express

Chiefs: Kansas City's starters were impressive despite ultimately losing the game in the Second Half. Particularly impressive was QB Alex Smith's first game with the Chiefs. Smith was 7 for 8 and led an impressive opening drive that was 14 plays long and resulted in a Touchdown. The Chiefs will need more than just improved QB play if they want to rebound from a franchise worst 2-14 season, but Smith can to a lot to stable the ship if he continues to play well.

BamaHammer Players Championship Divisional Semis: Derrick Thomas (1) vs. Cornelius Bennet (2) from BamaHammer

Our quest to crown the greatest Alabama Crimson Tide player of all time rounds third and heads for home this week. We begin this week with a good one, so get yours votes in now.