Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/25

Tough Roster Decisions Coming For Chiefs from The Mothership

The art of building a successful football team means a lot of sleepless nights, countless hours of watching tape and a lot of tough decisions for everyone involved.

The NFL requires teams to have their rosters trimmed down to 75 players by Tuesday, which means 15 current Chiefs players will be released.

"This is a very emotional time for all of us because these guys are all part of this journey," Kansas City Chiefs director of player personnel Chris Ballard said. "Everything that happens between now and the Super Bowl (every team's goal), they were a part of it and they helped us get ready."

Chiefs vs Vikings: Game Takeaways from The Mothership

PLAYER OF THE GAME

It's tough to crown a player of the game after a disappointing performance overall, but cornerback Ron Parker, who has had a tough preseason, bounced back with a solid game against the Vikings.

Outside of the interception he made on a deep pass attempt from former Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel, Parker also had a nice pass breakup on another near-interception.

"I was just out there trying to find myself tonight," Parker said after the game. "Just trying to go out there and make plays and do what I'm capable of doing."

Postgame Facts And Stats from The Mothership

COLQUITT PUNTING: P Dustin Colquitt booted seven punts for 364 yards (52.0 gross, 40.6 net) in tonight's game. He put one punt inside the 20-yard line. Colquitt holds the franchise record with 285 career punts inside the 20-yard line. That mark ties him for 13th in NFL history. In the 2014 preseason, Colquitt has punted 14 times for 665 yards (47.5 gross, 41.4 net) with six inside the 20-yard line and a long of 71 yards.

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Spirit Day 2014

Kansas City Is Home To Rush Hour from KC Star via The Wichita Eagle

[T]here are not many franchises in the NFL whose identity is more entwined with defensive players, and specifically pass rushers. The Chiefs are like the Bears in this way, or maybe the Steelers. Ten men are in the Hall of Fame as Chiefs, and only one played on offense.

Name the best players in franchise history, and other than Len Dawson and Jan Stenerud, and now Jamaal Charles, you're going to be talking about a lot of guys who beat up quarterbacks - beyond the ones named earlier, Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan and Willie Lanier, among others.

No disrespect to 65 Toss Power Trap, but so many of the Chiefs' best moments have come with their defense on the field, not their offense.

Chiefs' Fisher Tries To Fit In Protecting QB's Back from KC Star via The Wichita Eagle

"If Fisher wasn't the first player picked in the draft, you'd be satisfied with him," said Gil Brandt, the longtime NFL personnel man who helps coordinate the draft. "It's like Jake Long was the first pick (in 2008 by Miami). He went to three Pro Bowls in his first three years in the league, and people thought he was a wasted pick and not that good.

"People get the perception if you're the No. 1 pick in the draft, you should take the league by storm. Even if you go to the Pro Bowl, people are not satisfied."

Ford Weathers Bumps In The Road To Reach His NFL Dream from KC Star via The Wichita Eagle

On Oct. 13, 2013, Dorsey settled on Auburn's road test at Texas A&M. The Aggies were led by a superstar in quarterback Johnny Manziel, but the longer Dorsey watched, the more he noticed No. 30 in white, who eventually sacked Manziel twice on a crucial final drive to seal a 45-41 Auburn win...

...So it was on that date that Dorsey filed away the name of the No. 30 in white - Dee Ford - for the future.

Seven months later, Dorsey stood next to Ford - who was holding up a red jersey with his name on the back while sporting a fresh, high-top fade befitting his status as the Chiefs' newest first-round draft pick - and touted him as a young pass-rusher with rare acceleration, bend and big-game chops.

Williams Catching On In Bid For Chiefs' Slot Spot from KC Star via The Wichita Eagle

One game. Four plays. No touches of the ball.

That encapsulated Chiefs wide receiver Kyle Williams' first year in Kansas City in 2013.

Williams, who was claimed on waivers from San Francisco last November, appeared briefly on special teams Nov. 17 at Denver before suffering a torn ACL in his left knee in practice a few days later. It was the exact injury he had in 2012 with the 49ers, forcing him to rehab the same knee all over again.

But now, Williams, 26, is fully recovered and battling for a spot as a slot receiver.

Chiefs' Roster Moves Could Kick Off Sunday from Chiefs Spin

The deadline for first roster cuts from 90 players to 75 players arrives at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

But the Chiefs could make some moves as early as Sunday.

"This is (general manager John) Dorsey's area," coach Andy Reid said during a Sunday afternoon media conference call. "I think he'll start relatively quick. He'll probably knock out a few today. We'll just see how many he gets done here. That was the initial plan."

Smith's Picks Most Alarming Part Of KC Loss from ESPN

Except for one glaring problem, you might be able to overlook the Kansas City Chiefs' continuing offensive woes. Except for that same glaring problem, you might be able to pass off Saturday night's 30-12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings as one of those preseason hiccups.

But the offensive struggles and the blowout loss have meaning for the same reason: Turnovers by quarterback Alex Smith.

Chiefs Still Seeking Stability As Season Nears from The Chicago Tribune

There's nothing unique in the Chiefs situation heading into September, but it's not at all the scenario that Reid expected to begin his second year in Kansas City. But injuries, suspensions and poor performances have left the Chiefs with more question marks before the regular-season opener than they carried going into training camp a month ago.

The offensive line, secondary, wide receiver, middle linebacker and kicker are all spots where decisions remain to be made to start the season. All of those question marks were visible in the Chiefs' 30-12 loss to Minnesota.

Chiefs ILB Joe Mays Undergoes Wrist Surgery To Repair Ligament Damage from Chiefs Spin

"I don't think it's a short period of time," coach Andy Reid said during a Sunday afternoon media conference call. "I don't know exactly how long it's going to be."

Reid, who categorized the recovery the same or "if not longer" as a broken bone, initially said during the conference call Mays underwent surgery to repair a torn tendon.

The procedure, however, was to repair ligament damage, a source informed ChiefsSpin.com.

Reid: Chiefs Not Far From Being Good Team from ESPN

Despite indications that their problems are widespread, coach Andy Reid said he didn't believe the Chiefs were far from being ready for that opener against the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium.

"It sure didn't seem this way last night but as you study the film you're not that far away from being where you need to be," Reid said.

"It's important we get some of guys back that are right on the edge of being able to practice ... because of injury. Then as many reps as we can get, whether it's in practice or in games, I think are important at some positions."

Play Breakdown: Chiefs Screen To Knile Davis Was Beautiful from Vikings Territory

The Chiefs ran a play-action, fake reverse screen to Knile Davis and moved three or four Vikings out of the play entirely, and created some awkward blocking angles to do it. At the same time, they still gave themselves options if the screen wasn't there for them or pressure arrived too early. At a glance, the play looks like this:

Denver Broncos: Why The Team's Best Alternate At Kicker Is In KC from Bleacher Report

The Kansas City Chiefs currently have competition at kicker between Ryan Succop and rookie Cairo Santos. It is doubtful the Chiefs would go into the regular season with two kickers as part of the 53-man roster. One of these kickers should be available soon.

Broncos Hopeful The Wes Welker Will Return But Must Plan For Otherwise from The Denver Post

Welker's injury raises concerns because of his history, but the calender provides a slight reprieve. He has 15 days to recover. There are no blueprints with concussions, and even Welker's last year featured different outcomes based on the severity. After Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry crashed into Welker on Nov. 17, the veteran receiver returned the following week against the New England Patriots, catching four passes for 31 yards. He was concussed for the second time in 22 days against Tennessee, a crunching hit by the Titans' Bernard Pollard knocking out Welker for the Broncos' final three regular-season games.

Packers' Josh Boyd Ready To Step Up At Nose Tackle In B.J. Raji's Absence from Acme Packing Company

"Every time I step on the field I try to go as hard as possible so, with this now it's just a little more of a different learning curve but, I feel like I'll still be able to step in and be productive."

Boyd will likely start opposite of Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback Alex Smith this Friday, but that hasn't changed the verbal approach his coaches took with him Sunday as he prepares for increase action.

NSU's Graduate N Club To Honor 7 Athletic Greats from The Town Talk

Former Demon football player Barry Rubin, who has become one of the nation's most prominent figures in strength and conditioning training and is in his 18th year in the NFL, is receiving the Graduate N Club's Distinguished Service Award recognizing outstanding accomplishments following his collegiate athletic career...

...Rubin, the Kansas City Chiefs' strength and conditioning coach, has 18 years of NFL experience, including head strength coaching roles with Green Bay and Philadelphia. A Demon tight end and punter from 1978-80, he was one of 14 inaugural inductees in the USA Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003.

How Kansas City Made An Old Stadium Work from The Buffalo News

Kansas City Chiefs fans have been filling the stands of Arrowhead Stadium and emptying their lungs at full volume for 42 years now, one year longer than Bills fans have been doing the same at what's now called Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.

But you don't hear NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell - who insists the Bills need a new stadium - clamoring for a new facility for the Chiefs.

Upon further review, after in-depth tours of both stadiums, the reasons are clear.