Chiefs camp report: Albert still the man at left tackle

[Tribal Warfare]

Chiefs camp report: Albert still the man at left tackle
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

ST. JOSEPH | Todd Haley had a word of caution for those who believe it’s inevitable the recently signed Jared Gaither will take over from Branden Albert as the starting left tackle.

“Branden’s our left tackle,” Haley said. “He’s earned that right through his play here last year and some of the things we did. He’s working hard and it appears he’s getting better.”

Which is not to say Gaither won’t eventually take over for Albert.

“(Gaither) brings competition, and the more the better,” Haley said. “It just makes everybody better. May the best man win.”

Gaither missed all of last season because of a back injury but said he’s whole now.

“I’m 100 percent,” he said. “I look good. They gave me a great opportunity.”

Gaither, who started at left tackle in 2008 and 2009 for Baltimore, has been working as Albert’s backup in practice this week. Haley indicated the Chiefs are initially looking at Gaither on the left side so they don’t have to ask right tackle Barry Richardson to make the move if Albert is injured.

Richardson did move for one game last year in Seattle when Albert was injured. Ryan O’Callaghan filled in at right tackle that day.

“We have (Gaither) over there to increase his comfort level as much as anything else,” Haley said. “He’s a guy that played both sides. We have a number of different options with those guys, and that’s a good thing as far as I’m concerned.

“Last year we played most of the year feeling like if something happened to Branden, Barry Richardson would go (to left tackle) and then we’d plug in who we thought had a chance to be the best right tackle, Ryan O’Callaghan much of the year. We weren’t as comfortable with Ryan going to left (tackle).

“The ideal situation is if something happens to either your starting right or left tackle that you just plug in a guy and you have fewer moving parts. We’re trying to sort that out to see exactly where we are.”

Still behind schedule

The Chiefs held a practice in pads from start to finish for the second straight day. The competition was particularly fierce toward the end, when the offense ran four plays from inside the 2.

But the Chiefs continue to work at a pace slower than usual for training camp, meaning they’re behind schedule.

“I don’t know if there’s a right or a wrong,” coach Todd Haley said. “You’ve got to believe in what you’re doing and just take it step by step. It may go into the season where we’re not where we want to be. I do know if we’re well-conditioned and strong and our guys know what to do, we’ll have a chance to compete.”

A coach in uniform

Recently signed wide receiver Keary Colbert spent last season as a graduate assistant coach at USC, where he played in college. Colbert helped coach the tight ends.

“I got to learn a lot more about football,” he said. “I had to learn a lot about the run game and the line play. It was a lot different just from being a wide receiver. It was just a great experience for me.”

Colbert was a second-round pick by Carolina in 2004 and had his best NFL season as a rookie for the Panthers, catching 47 passes for five touchdowns. He never came close to matching those numbers again as he bounced to Denver, Seattle and Detroit.

He hasn’t played in the NFL since 2008 but is trying to make a comeback and is getting a good look in Chiefs camp. Colbert could always go back to coaching if he doesn’t make it with the Chiefs.

“It’s an option that I’m going to consider,” he said. “Right now, my focus is on trying to make this roster and help this team. (Coaching) gave me a good understanding of where the future might lie for me, but I’ll make that decision when it comes and hopefully it won’t be for awhile.”

The offense
A set of four goal-line plays at the end of practice brought out some intense competition. Thomas Jones had the big play for the offense, diving over the pile for a touchdown from the 1. … Tyler Palko and Terrance Copper hooked up on a couple of touchdown passes in a seven-on-seven passing drill. On one play, Copper put a nice stop-and-go move on cornerback Brandon Flowers.

The defense
Linebacker Derrick Johnson came across the field and chased running back Jamaal Charles out of bounds just short of the end zone in the goal-line drill. … Linebacker Brandon Siler and safety Reshard Langford stuffed Dexter McCluster as he attempted to hurdle the pile in the goal-line drill. … Rookie cornerback Jalil Brown broke up a couple of passes but also interfered with Jeremy Horne on another play.

Injury report
Nose tackle Anthony Toribio and linebacker Eric Bakhtiari did not practice.

Daily battle
Veteran receiver Keary Colbert is getting a significant number of snaps in practice, and it’s to the point he’s not in camp just to fill out the roster. But it’s difficult to see him making the team. Dwayne Bowe, Jerheme Urban, Jonathan Baldwin and Steve Breaston are ahead of him. Copper probably will make the team because of his special-teams skills. Horne is fast and has too much promise for the Chiefs to let him go.

Today’s schedule
The Chiefs will practice at 3 p.m.

75 Monday’s high temperature in St. Joseph. Today’s expected high is 86 degrees.

2 Number of field goals combined for Chiefs and Ravens last weekend (both by Baltimore)

0 Number of touchdowns combined for Chiefs and Ravens last weekend

[noa]

McCluster trying to hurdle the goal line pile is laughable
Posted via Mobile Device

[Rooster]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

The dreaded vote of confidence.

Yikes...

[el borracho]

Originally Posted by noa

McCluster trying to hurdle the goal line pile is laughable
Posted via Mobile Device

Yep. If they insist on using McCluster in the backfield then they need to get him into space. Overall, I'm not too optimistic about McCluster doing anything other than returning kicks.

[Mr. Laz]

all this article does is tell me that teicher visits CPlanet every day for material for his articles.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by noa

McCluster trying to hurdle the goal line pile is laughable
Posted via Mobile Device

seeing that little smurf launching over the pile only to see a gigantic arm shoot up out of the pile and grab McCluster by the scruff and slamming him back down on the 1.