Tribal Warfare
08-18-2010, 10:50 PM
Chiefs camp buzz: Haley gets testy (http://www.kansascity.com/2010/08/18/2160021/chiefs-camp-buzz-haley-gets-testy.html)
Haley gets testy
Maybe it’s the dog days of training camp, but Chiefs coach Todd Haley was in rare form Wednesday morning and went at his players pretty hard.
“Today was kind of a crappy … clear-cut guys feeling a little sorry for themselves,” Haley said. “They’re looking (ahead) to tonight (practicing at night) and tomorrow (breaking camp). We’re going to be driving home soon … there’s a game coming up … they’ve had a lot of padded practices under the belt.
“As to be expected, the practice was all over the place …”
During a simulation of going against a prevent defense, Haley lit into backup quarterback Tyler Palko, who threw to a receiver in the middle of the field and was unable to get out of bounds.
“We have no timeouts!” Haley screamed. “Why in the hell did you throw that ball, Tyler, unless you’re dumb? Knowing where you came from (both are from western Pennsylvania), that’s probably the case.”
And, this to cornerback Brandon Carr, who didn’t finish a tackle on veteran running back Thomas Jones: “He’s a 50-year-old running back, and he knows how to finish a play …”
Finally, Haley took second-year offensive tackle Colin Brown to task, saying, “You gave in. Don’t give in.”
But the ends justified the means as the practice improved in intensity and in competitiveness.
“Despite a less-than-perfect practice, everyone felt the energy level go up, and that was a sign we got a little bit better today,” Haley said. “This was a glass half-full day as far as I’m concerned. We made a step today. We turned the tide.”
Goal-line goodies
The offenses and defenses concluded Wednesday morning’s practice with a spirited goal-line drill.
After stopping the offense on consecutive plays from the 3, defensive tackle Shaun Smith bellowed, “Run that again, run that again.” And as the offense lined up for a third play, the defensive players not in the drill chanted, “DEE-FENSE, DEE-FENSE!”
When safety Eric Berry met running back Javarris Williams at the pylon at the end of a sweep to the left, the defensive players celebrated the stop, while the offensive players celebrated a touchdown.
“I ruled no (touchdown),” Haley said.
On the next attempt, Palko connected for a touchdown pass with fullback Tim Castille, who spiked the ball to the ground, prompting Smith to yell, “Who throws on the ball at the goal line? Run the ball in.”
So on the final play, Jamaal Charles did just that, making a nifty move on defensive end Bobby Greenwood, who overran the play.
What you need to know about …
THE OFFENSE
First the good for Matt Cassel. In the nickel offense during Wednesday night’s practice, he hit tight end Tony Moeaki on the skinny post for 70 yards and a touchdown and picked up first downs by connecting with backs Jamaal Charles on a nice sideline pass and Dexter McCluster on the seam route. Now, the bad. Cassel’s pass intended for Chris Chambers was picked off by Brandon Carr for a pick six, and Cassel paid for his mistake by having to run wind sprints across the field. … During the morning practice, Cassel and Thomas Jones fumbled a handoff exchange. … Rookie wide receiver Jeremy Horne made a one-handed catch, pinning the ball against his shoulder in beating Carr, who had tight coverage.
THE DEFENSE
In the time-honored tradition, rookie cornerback/return man Javier Arenas was taped to the goal post by the veterans, who showered him with Gatorade at the end of the evening practice. … Rookie linebacker Cameron Sheffield batted down a pass by Cassel. Cornerback Jackie Bates gambled and lost while going for an interception on a sideline pass completed to Terrance Copper, prompting defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel to tell Bates, “You can’t do that.”
INJURY REPORT
QB Brodie Croyle, running back Kestahn Moore, guard Darryl Harris and safety Jon McGraw did not practice. Safety Jarrad Page remains unsigned and is not in camp.
DAILY BATTLE
Horne of Massachusetts and nose tackle Garrett Brown of Maine are standing out among the undrafted rookies in the Chiefs’ camp. Horne has continually been open on pass routes and has made some nifty receptions. Horne, who played three seasons at Massachusetts after transferring from Syracuse, is listed with the fourth team, so he has some work to do. Brown is running behind veterans Ron Edwards and Derek Lokey.
Both will be prime candidates for the practice squad if they don’t make the 53-man roster and are not claimed by another club.
“Jeremy Horne has done some things to get noticed,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. “Those are the types of guys … Garrett Brown … who have been a pleasant surprise. What you’re hoping for is if you can find two or three that are somebody we want to work with, and however we end up getting them there, they would be good guys to fall into the developmental category for this year.”
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
The Chiefs’ final training camp practice is at 1:50 p.m.
Haley gets testy
Maybe it’s the dog days of training camp, but Chiefs coach Todd Haley was in rare form Wednesday morning and went at his players pretty hard.
“Today was kind of a crappy … clear-cut guys feeling a little sorry for themselves,” Haley said. “They’re looking (ahead) to tonight (practicing at night) and tomorrow (breaking camp). We’re going to be driving home soon … there’s a game coming up … they’ve had a lot of padded practices under the belt.
“As to be expected, the practice was all over the place …”
During a simulation of going against a prevent defense, Haley lit into backup quarterback Tyler Palko, who threw to a receiver in the middle of the field and was unable to get out of bounds.
“We have no timeouts!” Haley screamed. “Why in the hell did you throw that ball, Tyler, unless you’re dumb? Knowing where you came from (both are from western Pennsylvania), that’s probably the case.”
And, this to cornerback Brandon Carr, who didn’t finish a tackle on veteran running back Thomas Jones: “He’s a 50-year-old running back, and he knows how to finish a play …”
Finally, Haley took second-year offensive tackle Colin Brown to task, saying, “You gave in. Don’t give in.”
But the ends justified the means as the practice improved in intensity and in competitiveness.
“Despite a less-than-perfect practice, everyone felt the energy level go up, and that was a sign we got a little bit better today,” Haley said. “This was a glass half-full day as far as I’m concerned. We made a step today. We turned the tide.”
Goal-line goodies
The offenses and defenses concluded Wednesday morning’s practice with a spirited goal-line drill.
After stopping the offense on consecutive plays from the 3, defensive tackle Shaun Smith bellowed, “Run that again, run that again.” And as the offense lined up for a third play, the defensive players not in the drill chanted, “DEE-FENSE, DEE-FENSE!”
When safety Eric Berry met running back Javarris Williams at the pylon at the end of a sweep to the left, the defensive players celebrated the stop, while the offensive players celebrated a touchdown.
“I ruled no (touchdown),” Haley said.
On the next attempt, Palko connected for a touchdown pass with fullback Tim Castille, who spiked the ball to the ground, prompting Smith to yell, “Who throws on the ball at the goal line? Run the ball in.”
So on the final play, Jamaal Charles did just that, making a nifty move on defensive end Bobby Greenwood, who overran the play.
What you need to know about …
THE OFFENSE
First the good for Matt Cassel. In the nickel offense during Wednesday night’s practice, he hit tight end Tony Moeaki on the skinny post for 70 yards and a touchdown and picked up first downs by connecting with backs Jamaal Charles on a nice sideline pass and Dexter McCluster on the seam route. Now, the bad. Cassel’s pass intended for Chris Chambers was picked off by Brandon Carr for a pick six, and Cassel paid for his mistake by having to run wind sprints across the field. … During the morning practice, Cassel and Thomas Jones fumbled a handoff exchange. … Rookie wide receiver Jeremy Horne made a one-handed catch, pinning the ball against his shoulder in beating Carr, who had tight coverage.
THE DEFENSE
In the time-honored tradition, rookie cornerback/return man Javier Arenas was taped to the goal post by the veterans, who showered him with Gatorade at the end of the evening practice. … Rookie linebacker Cameron Sheffield batted down a pass by Cassel. Cornerback Jackie Bates gambled and lost while going for an interception on a sideline pass completed to Terrance Copper, prompting defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel to tell Bates, “You can’t do that.”
INJURY REPORT
QB Brodie Croyle, running back Kestahn Moore, guard Darryl Harris and safety Jon McGraw did not practice. Safety Jarrad Page remains unsigned and is not in camp.
DAILY BATTLE
Horne of Massachusetts and nose tackle Garrett Brown of Maine are standing out among the undrafted rookies in the Chiefs’ camp. Horne has continually been open on pass routes and has made some nifty receptions. Horne, who played three seasons at Massachusetts after transferring from Syracuse, is listed with the fourth team, so he has some work to do. Brown is running behind veterans Ron Edwards and Derek Lokey.
Both will be prime candidates for the practice squad if they don’t make the 53-man roster and are not claimed by another club.
“Jeremy Horne has done some things to get noticed,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. “Those are the types of guys … Garrett Brown … who have been a pleasant surprise. What you’re hoping for is if you can find two or three that are somebody we want to work with, and however we end up getting them there, they would be good guys to fall into the developmental category for this year.”
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
The Chiefs’ final training camp practice is at 1:50 p.m.