Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp 2018: Monday observations

The Kansas City Chiefs held their first full-team 10-10-10 practice on Monday morning before a scheduled players day off on Tuesday.

I asked Chiefs head coach Andy Reid to clarify the benefits of the 10-10-10 format after the workout:

“It used to be way back when you had the two real practices a day, you did the pads in the morning and then the 10-10-10 in the afternoon,” Reid said. “It was great for situational football. Working in relative speed ... That’s really what it is. They’re still getting out, they’re still working, but you’re able to get specific with it on certain situations and get production out of those situations.

“When you’re going against each other, Bob (Sutton) is going to call a certain defense, I’m going to call a play on the offense and then it might not be a secondary that I really wanted to see that against, so that’s how it works. You’re able to get that done in 10-10-10.”

After two straight days of pads, the Chiefs were dressed in shorts and shells.

Here were my takeaways and observations from the workout:

• The Chiefs mostly ran the ones vs. the twos Monday. No video allowed at Monday’s practice due to it being an all-team-drill workout.
• Here is the injury report.
• Monday was probably the most action we have seen from running back Kareem Hunt. The Chiefs have said they have been taking it slow with Hunt due to his hamstring tightening up, but Monday, they let him rip. He looked good and showed little sign of being bothered by the injury. It’s worth paying attention to whether or not the Chiefs use Hunt the next time they are in pads.
• For what it’s worth and as I think of it, the Chiefs, even under Reid, hardly ever worried about RB Jamaal Charles taking many meaningful training camp and preseason reps. So until Hunt misses real time, probably not much to worry about.
• The primary starting offensive line the Chiefs went with Monday (left to right) was Eric Fisher, Cam Erving, Mitch Morse, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Mitch Schwartz. Erving actually moved along the line quite a bit Monday—I get the feeling he is filling in that new Zach Fulton role, with Fulton of course headed to the Houston Texans this offseason. Erving played at least one snap everywhere along the line except right guard.
• The backup offensive line we saw the most on Monday (from left to right) was Andrew Wylie, Parker Ehinger, Jordan Devey, Bryan Witzmann and Ryan Hunter.
• Mahomes had noticeable big gains to the big three—Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins—on Monday.
• With linebacker Reggie Ragland still sidelined due to a knee problem and his backup, Ukeme Eligwe, sidelined with a foot strain, Terrance Smith and rookie Ben Niemann (No. 56) were in the mix. Dave Toub on Niemann Sunday: “He was a starter [for Iowa]. He got a lot of reps. He played outside linebacker for them. In fact, one game when (Josey) Jewell got hurt, the linebacker that played inside. He played inside linebacker at one game for him. He started for him and had 15 tackles. He’s a player.”
• LBs Dorian O’ Daniel and Tahon Kpassagnon, as well as defensive lineman Derrick Nnadi also mixed in with the first-team defense on Monday.
• Steve Nelson had an outstanding read on an intended pass for Byron Pringle. Nelson saw the pass from Chad Henne the whole way and picked off a ball that would have went for six points in a game situation.
• Kendall Fuller also picked off Henne on a just awful throw.
• Chase Litton had a pass batted down by Allen Bailey, but Litton caught it out of mid-air. It instantly reminded everyone in the media tent of that play. Litton also wears No. 8 (*shudder*).
• Tyreek Hill is staying the team’s main punt returner, as Toub confirmed Sunday. Demarcus Robinson is getting the second look behind him.
• Punter Dustin Colquitt was dropping kick after kick within the 5-yard line Monday.
• Wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas looked good as a gunner and even would have scored two touchdowns off of would-be fumbles by the returner. Toub doubled down on last year’s Thomas comments Sunday by calling him “tough as nails.” Right now, I think he somehow, someway makes the roster again.
• Funny moment: WR Marcus Kemp was gunning with Hill returning. Kemp looked to have downed the ball on the 1-yard line, but he stepped in the end zone. Hill got right up in his face and gave an incomplete signal. Hill should have learned the touchback signal when the referees were here over the weekend.
• The backup cornerbacks Monday were Tremon Smith and Arrion Springs, with Springs being given the second-team Kendall Fuller-swing role. D’Montre Wade came in on the outside when Springs covered the slot.
• Kicker Harrison Butker is having a good camp. Perfect again Monday.