Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/13

8/12 Camp Recap: Berry Leaves Early. LBs Work New Drill from The Mothership

Outside linebackers Josh Martin and Dee Ford rotated on one side while Tamba Hali and Justin Houston worked on the other.

The majority of pass-rushing drills to this point had just been 1-on-1 with the offensive and defensive line/linebackers.

This new drill was focused on spacing and angles on both sides of the ball.

Fresh Takes: 8/12 Training Camp Practice from The Mothership

Alex Smith

On what stood out to him after watching Cincinnati game video: "Hold onto the football. That was the biggest play for me in my little rack there. You look at two 3rd and shorts that we didn't convert-one on the run play [and] the last one there, the pass play. [There was] miscommunication there with the receivers and you just can't have it."

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from The Mothership

Recently, head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder was challenged to participate in the chilly antics by the Minnesota Vikings athletic training staff.

In response, Burkholder, his staff and general manager John Dorsey accepted the challenge, donated to the ALS Association and passed the challenge onto others.

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: 8/12 Training Camp

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Chiefs Take ALS Challenge

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Anthony Sherman

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Practice Report: 8/12

KCChiefs.com Video: Training Staff And GM All Take ALS Ice Challenge

KCChiefs.com Video: Training Camp Wired: Ron Parker

KCChiefs.com Video: Training Camp 8/12: Alex Smith

KCChiefs.com Video: Training Camp 8/12: Andy Reid

KCChiefs.com Video: Top 10 Plays Of Preseason Week 1

NFL.com Video: 'NFL Fantasy Live': Best Fantasy Handcuffs To Draft

Chiefs Safety Eric Berry Dealing With Tendonitis from Chiefs Spin

Catapano sick again

Defensive end Mike Catapano, who missed a week of practice and the preseason opener battling an illness, wasn't present on the field Tuesday.

"He's been battling this virus," Reid said. "He's still battling it. He wasn't feeling very good today, so we backed off from there."

Chiefs Camp Report: Day 20 from ESPN

Reid indicated the starting offense, including quarterback Alex Smith, would probably play the entire first half in Sunday night's game against Carolina in Charlotte. If the Cincinnati game is an indication, the starting offense needs the work.

Chiefs finally Building Up Depth At Wide Receiver from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

The past few years in Kansas City, it's been Dwayne Bowe and everyone else at wide receiver.

Anyone else, really.

In fact, the Chiefs have basically put out "HELP WANTED" signs for pass catchers going back four head coaches. And the call has been answered by a forgettable cast of characters: Terrance Copper, Devard Darling, Will Franklin, Chris Chambers and Steve Breaston, among many others.

But for the first time since the Dick Vermeil era of the Air Coryell offense, the Chiefs just might have enough talent at the wide receiver position so that quarterback Alex Smith doesn't fall into a deep state of depression when he steps up in the pocket and looks downfield.

Chiefs OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Grows With Hard Work from Chiefs Spin

The Chiefs currently list the native of Montreal, Quebec, third on the depth chart at left guard behind starter Jeff Allen and Jeff Linkenbach.

But Duvernay-Tardif has seen the majority of snaps at the position with the second-team offense in the four practices since the preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.

"He's improving every day," offensive coordinator Doug Pederson said. "He's a big, strong and physical kid, and another one that takes a lot of pride in his work. He comes out here and he's working hard. He's not perfect by any means, but he's not making the same mistake twice."

These Dogs Are Barking, But Will They Bite? from ESPN

This year's camp has also revealed the development of two younger linebackers, James-Michael Johnson and Josh Martin. The Chiefs have given both a long look in passing situations and have occasionally revealed defensive packages that feature all six of these linebackers.

"He's just using the pieces like it's chess," Hali said of defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. "He's putting all his best players out there, allowing them to do what they do best. We have about five guys, six guys that can rush the passer, so he puts us out there. We call it the dog front, a bunch of dogs going after (the quarterback) and barking, pretty much."

Schultz: Breaking Down The Competitive AFC West from TSN

The Chiefs beat the teams they were supposed to beat and lost to the teams they should lose too with good to great quarterbacks. Are the Chiefs better than Denver? No . Are the Chiefs better than San Diego? Maybe. Are the Chiefs better than Oakland? Yes. Therefore the Chiefs finish third in the competitive AFC West.

Chiefs' Charles Tries Beign Block Head from KC Star via The Wichita Eagle

The matchup was not fair.

Cushing has four inches and 54 pounds on the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Charles and it showed, as the star linebacker bull-rushed the Chiefs' star running back to collapse the pocket and force an incompletion by Alex Smith.

But Charles, being the competitor he is, takes pride in his pass blocking. And a quarter later, when charged with taking on the blitzing Cushing again, Charles was ready, as he evened the tally by executing a cut block on Cushing.

Worthy's Trade Reflects Poorly On 2012 Draft from ESPN

S Jerron McMillian (fourth round, No. 133 overall): Began the 2013 season as the starting strong safety but was released on Dec. 3 after being phased out of the defense because of poor play. He is in camp with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Redskins Interested In Bringing Another Team To Camp Again Next Year from The Washington Times

With Hall of Fame Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Lanier at practice - Lanier was born in central Virginia and went to high school in Richmond - Allen was unsympathetic to the plight of four preseason games.

"I was talking to Willie Lanier out there - we remember seven preseason games," Allen said. "Willie said that they played the starters for the Chiefs all the way into the fourth quarter in each one of them."

What Are The Biggest Concerns Facing Each AFC Team? from The Indianapolis Star

Kansas City Chiefs: The sense of security that Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz provided won't be easy to duplicate with all three gone. After sliding over to left tackle, Eric Fisher will earn the bulk of the blame if the offensive line doesn't live up to last year's standard. The Chiefs' early season schedule should reveal whether the group is up to the task.

Panthers, Browns Can Challenge Seahawks' Defensive Dominance from NFL.com

T-5) Kansas City Chiefs: Who is going to play corner? Sean Smith must step up. The Chiefs have the potential to be top five again, provided Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers don't throw for a gazillion yards on Andy Reid's secondary.

When Death Comes To Sports Arenas from Voices

5. Stone Johnson (Football)

On August 30, 1963, Stone Johnson, the rookie kick-returner of the Kansas City Chiefs, died of a neck-injury during a return kickoff in an exhibition game against the Houston Oilers. The 23-year-old Johnson died 19 days later.

Odell Beckham Jr. Says NY Giants Offense Will Be 'One Of The Best In The League' from NY Daily News

That might take time, as Geoff Schwartz, the free agent guard who came over from Kansas City, noted.

"I don't think you can say there's a certain time period for when it's going to jell. I went through a new offense last year (with Andy Reid) and we didn't really play well until Week 10," he said, sounding an alarming note. "But I know in the NFL, you don't have freedom of time to get used to things. We have to be ready to go the first game. Whatever it takes we've got to do it."

Schwartz, by the way, also pointed out that the Chiefs were 9-0 before they completed the jelling process - it's nice to have a great defense to ease the growing pains.

New Music Tuesday: How Hilary Got Her Groove Back from The Wire

Country music's next favorite son, 29-year-old Sam Hunt, took an interesting tour to breaking out. He was a quarterback at the University of Alabama, did a brief stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, and has written songs for artists like Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban.