Gretz: Observations of One-on-One Battles on the Chiefs Line of Scrimmage
 

http://www.chiefsdigest.com/observat...-of-scrimmage/

If you like the article, be sure to click through the link and dig around the site a little. It's a pretty good resource these days for those who haven't seen it, and I always feel bad for costing them ad revenue by posting entire articles.

Observations of one-on-one battles on Chiefs’ line of scrimmage
By Bob Gretz

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – A single practice on any given day during a football season is but a snapshot that in the end helps make up what becomes a feature film of a team’s season.

Making evaluations and assumptions from a single practice like the Chiefs training camp session on Friday morning at Missouri Western State University is foolhardy.

But within the camp practices, there are moments when the skills of individual players show themselves.

No drill makes that happen more than the one-on-one matchup between linemen in pass protection and the pass rush. Once full pads go on in camp, these mano a mano battles are every day affairs.

In Friday’s practice, the Chiefs had 50 snaps of pass pro-pass rush. Here’s a look at what went down in those competitions.

Offense

The offensive line must block a pass rusher without help from mates, which seldom happens during a game. But it’s during these plays where the blockers individual skills are visible.

The most proficient pass protectors Friday were left tackle Eric Fisher and left guard Ben Grubbs.

Both men won three of their four chances against the Chiefs defense. Against defensive end Mike Catapano, Fisher struggled on his first opportunity. From that point, he handled outside linebackers Frank Zombo and Josh Martin, along with defensive tackle Charles Tuaau.

Grubbs was dominating in his three victories, handling Tuaau and defensive ends Vaughn Martin and Mike DeVito. Only defensive tackle Jaye Howard got the better of Grubbs, beating him on his outside shoulder with a nice rip move.

Right guard Jeff Allen had a good practice as well in pass protection. Allen split two snaps against DeVito and made a good adjustment with his hands in stopping rookie defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches.

Going into camp, the question marks on the Chiefs offensive line were at center and right tackle. So far Donald Stephenson has been the No. 1 option at right tackle, but he struggled during Friday’s practice.

Against Allen Bailey, Stephenson got his hands on the defensive end but was not able to anchor himself and was driven back into the pocket. Linebacker Dezman Moses beat Stephenson to the inside, as did Vaughn Martin. Against Josh Martin, he lost the hand-to-hand battle. On his last snap in protection, Stephenson saw outside linebacker Justin Houston beat him to the outside.

At center, Eric Kush had six snaps and won half of those. Kush was beaten badly by Howard on his first chance, but came back later and handled the big defensive tackle. He had a pair of victories against defensive tackle Hebron Fangupo, but was beaten badly by Tuaau on a straight-up bull rush.

Among the backups, rookie Mitch Morse worked at right guard and center, winning twice. Right guard Zach Fulton won two of his snaps. Working at left guard, Paul Fanaika had two good snaps, followed by two not so good efforts.

Defense

Catapano and Howard were the best pass rushers on the field for the Chiefs defense in Friday’s work. The bigger and leaner Catapano came on the rush from end and inside at tackle. He beat Fisher to the outside, ran over tackle Jarrod Pughsley with a bull rush and beat Fanaika with an inside move.

Howard showed great quickness and technique when he beat Kush with a swim move, leaving the center grabbing at air. He used the same move to beat right guard Marcus Reed. Howard was the only rusher to dent Grubbs’ day, with a move on the left shoulder of the left guard that gave him a leverage advantage.

Vaughn Martin and Tuaau both had some nice snaps bringing pressure inside. Bailey had several victories, but also was stopped cold other times.

Undrafted rookie linebacker Sage Harold showed he has pass rush skills, with a quick first step and a powerful first contact with the blocker. He beat offensive tackle Tavon Rooks to the outside and got inside against Pughsley.

Overall, it was good work for both the offense and defense.

They’ll do it all again on Saturday and in just about every practice until January.

Howard, Howard.

Apparently this dude is a ****ing stud.

He's swinging a ten incher so far. This D is ridiculous.

This is a great example of the stuff that a has been missing here the last couple of seasons. Keep it coming face.

Just trying to set the example. I can't promise to keep it up, but if people would just post links to articles they think are interesting and relevant and tell people to "discuss," it would improve things around here immensely. Even 2-3 topics a day can make a huge difference in how interesting discussion is.

Unfortunately, I don't have much hope for good discussion around any article that involves Alex Smith, but there are many things to talk about other than him.

The camp video embedded the Big Cat! thread is interesting.

Catapano looks to be unblockable and Stephenson looks like a guy that will be cut soon.

It would be nice to see more video of the drills.

Damn, Fisher taking on All-Pros.

God you add so much to the board. I'm so impressed

Defense wins most of the time in camp.

We're gonna miss Poe come game day in the reg season.

Fisher weakness is still working against power guys
Apparently Stephenson just isn't as good without the juice

The Texans and Redskins are having a joint practice in Richmond, VA today. They've already had like three different fights break out..

Anyway, immediately before the first fight Vince Wilfork drove the Skins' center about 4 yards deep into the backfield.

Wilfork and Watt are going to fist our offense. It's going to be a bloodbath.

Hate him for being a douche - not for being right...

So would banning trolls but yanno....

Stephenson looks awful. He's a key component to the Chiefs having a successful offensive line.

Go back to hiding in the woods waiting for a phantom Hummer...