Teicher: Starters will get more work at Chiefs training camp

[Tribal Warfare]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/717900.html


Starters will get more work at Chiefs training camp
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Expect to see more of the Chiefs starters if you’re headed to this year’s training camp.

Also look for them to play more if you watch any of their preseason games.

Mindful of their sluggish 0-2 beginning in each of the last two seasons, coach Herm Edwards made some changes aimed at getting the Chiefs off to a quicker start.

The biggest change will mean more work for Brodie Croyle and many of his offensive teammates.

“It’s critical that not only he’s practicing, but the offensive line is there and the receivers are there,” said Edwards, who opens his third camp with the Chiefs on Friday at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. “It’s all about timing and playing together. You can’t just say, ‘Well, we’ll get it.’ You won’t get it if you don’t practice together.

“It’s not just the practices. These guys are going to play a little bit more in the preseason. Brodie Croyle. The offensive line. How much more will be determined by how we’re doing. We’ve got a lot of young players, and they have to play. That’s good for them, so we’re going to play them.”

The changes are intended mostly for the offense. The Chiefs scored one touchdown in the season’s first two games in 2006 and again last season.

They eventually recovered to respectability two seasons ago, but their offense remained a mess all of last season. The Chiefs scored more than 20 points three times last year and only once during their season-ending nine-game losing streak.

“We’ve got to make sure the No. 1 offense is always practicing together,” Edwards said. “That hasn’t taken place for us a whole lot in training camp. Guys were hurt or we were trying to rest them after a few practices. We’ll have more control over that. That hurt us a whole bunch. Last year, we never had our five offensive linemen playing together.

“A lot of that had to do with availability of players. If you look at our team, all of a sudden there’s only nine guys out of the 80 that we have that we’re considering one-a-day guys.”

The Chiefs last year had a lengthy list of players limited to one training camp practice per day because of advancing age or injury concerns. Edwards said certain players still will be withheld from the occasional practice, including running back Larry Johnson and tight end Tony Gonzalez.

Those players come mostly from a diminished list of 30-and-over players, including cornerback Patrick Surtain, linebacker Donnie Edwards and offensive linemen Brian Waters and Damion McIntosh.

“It’s not 15 guys like it was last year,” Edwards said. “It’s a lot better than it was. And these guys, they won’t go once a day for the whole camp. When we give one guy a practice off, we’ll give a bunch of guys the practice off. That way, when our offensive group works, it works together.”

That includes Croyle, who last year at this time was battling with Damon Huard to be the starting quarterback. The two shared the starter’s snaps during camp.

All will go to Croyle this year.

“We’re giving him the ball,” Edwards said. “That’s another change from last year. That’s been a hodge-podge deal for us since I’ve been here. It’s nobody’s fault, but that’s the way it’s been. This year, when the first-team is out there, Brodie’s in the huddle and calling the plays.”

[BigRock]

There's a second page to it...

The Chiefs’ early-season problems were predictable last year after a disjointed preseason. They lost all four of their games and scored only three touchdowns, one of those on defense.

Edwards said the Chiefs would put more emphasis than normal on winning in August.

“We need to win some of those games,” he said. “These guys need some confidence. We won’t be playing the starters the whole game or anything like that, but we’ll open the game up a little bit and give them some things they need to be successful.”

The Chiefs, like all NFL teams, are limited to 80 players at camp this year. That forced them to make roster choices. After releasing David Greene last week, the Chiefs will carry only three quarterbacks, for instance.

Edwards said the limited roster won’t require the Chiefs to limit their contact.

“We can practice harder because we’ve got so many young guys,” he said. “We’ll practice as much as we can in pads. We want it to be physical. We’re going to be a physical football team, and the only way you can do that is by practicing that way.”

[Lonewolf Ed]

Let's see what Herm means by "opening it up a little" in the preseason. My guess is the offense will run an end around to the right side instead of the left. I so wish I could muster *some* enthusiasm for this upcoming season, but I just can't. I know it is major rebuild mode now, but Carl still reigns. I can be patient, but I just can't get excited about the season.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Just because you give a shit team more time to play doesn't mean they'll become anything more. Shit players are shit players...you can't get around that by playing them longer. A rat is a rat...you can dress it up all you want...it's still a rat.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Vanilla Thunder

Just because you give a shit team more time to play doesn't mean they'll become anything more. Shit players are shit players...you can't get around that by playing them longer. A rat is a rat...you can dress it up all you want...it's still a rat.

Last year we just had shit talent. This year, we got alot of younger guys with alot to prove. Have the guys from last year stepped it up as they are supposed to in year 2. We may not have a good record, but as long as they play hard and are in ballgames i can tolerate this year. Last year was completely ****ing unacceptable though. They were just ****ing lost.

[FAX]

Just what Mr. KC Fish was talking about in another thread. Great minds.

FAX

[Hammock Parties]

Good for you, Herm. He sees a weakness in his history and is trying to correct it. A lot of coaches might be too hard headed.

Really happy with this.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Claythan

Good for you, Herm. He sees a weakness in his history and is trying to correct it. A lot of coaches might be too hard headed.

Really happy with this.

He has no choice, he has to show serious signs of improvement or he may never coach again. Well HC.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by FAX

Just what Mr. KC Fish was talking about in another thread. Great minds.

FAX

Originally Posted by KC Fish

I could be wrong....

I usually am....

[DaneMcCloud]

The team that Bill Parcells inherited in NY was 1-15.

The following year, they went 4-0 during preseason and finished 9-7.

It's not unprecedented that preseason victories produce regular season confidence.

Then again, going 4-0 doesn't mean anything when you open against the Patriots in New England.

[Coogs]

Good article. I like the approach to both camp and the games. I really don't see us staying at the bottom of the NFL as long as some are thinking we might. I could see us actually staying in the playoff picture most of the season.... possibly even sneaking in to the tournament.