Paylor:Chiefs draft pick Laurent Duvernay-Tardif getting up to speed

[Tribal Warfare]

Chiefs draft pick Laurent Duvernay-Tardif getting up to speed
By TEREZ A. PAYLOR
The Kansas City Star

Sixth-round pick Laurent Duvernay-Tardif knew his adjustment from Canadian football — he’s spent the last four years playing at McGill University in Montreal — to the NFL would be a steep one.

But through the first two days of the Chiefs’ three-day rookie minicamp this weekend, there were a handful of occasions where he saw just how wide the talent gap is. For instance, on the first day of camp, speedy outside linebacker Dee Ford, who happens to be the Chiefs’ first-round pick, lined up in a three-point stance, several yards outside of Duvernay-Tardif, who was playing right tackle, and proceeded to blow by him with a noticeable speed rush and accompanying swim move.

To his credit, Duvernay-Tardif is actively working to get use to combatting the speed of NFL-quality pass rushers like Ford.

“It’s different, but especially the alignment where I’m not used to having a rusher that far on the edge,” Duvernay-Tardif said. “So I think I just need to get used to guys that are more vertical, and I think I’m going to be able to catch that.”

In particular, Duvernay-Tardif said he’s working on improving his kick step, which is the first step a tackle takes in pass protection.

“Yeah, I think I need to work on that,” Duvernay-Tardif said. “Coach gave me a few coaching points yesterday and I’m going to work on it.”

Local players

On the 35 players invited for tryouts, only two — Pittsburg State linebacker Nate Dreiling and Kansas State long snapper Marcus Woodside-Heit — are from area schools.

Etc.

Defensive tackle Risean Broussard did not participate in Sunday’s practice. The Chiefs are expected to release an update on his status Monday.

Practice observations

• Fifth-round quarterback Aaron Murray threw only one interception Sunday (after throwing four Saturday), but his accuracy was still a little off. Still, that’s to be expected only six months after an ACL injury.

• Tennessee-Martin inside linebacker Ben Johnson made a nice play when he picked off Murray once on a rollout.

• Running-back coach Eric Bieniemy is going to ride fourth-rounder De’Anthony Thomas this camp. Biemiemy was constantly screaming at Thomas and others to finish each play.

• CFL transport Weston Dressler made a sliding catch. He’s shown good hands and some shiftiness, so it will be interesting to see how he fares when the whole team gets here.

• Former Florida wide receiver Frankie Hammond had a nice practice. Hammond, who spent the 2013 season on the practice squad, flashed some quickness and was on the receiving end of a number of passes.

• Basketball-player-turned tight end Demetrius Harris has dropped some passes the last few days. Some of that has to do with spotty quarterback play, but you’d still like to see more consistency.

[In58men]

I'm ready for preseason already. I'm intrigued to see what Thomas can bring to the table.

[OldSchool]

Man, Harris is letting me down. Was hoping we would see him step up. Guess it's all on Kelce now.

[Reerun_KC]

Who?

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Who?

Larry.

[MMXcalibur]

Fifth-round quarterback Aaron Murray threw only one interception Sunday (after throwing four Saturday), but his accuracy was still a little off. Still, that’s to be expected only six months after an ACL injury.

Bust.
Move on.

[In58men]

Originally Posted by KCtotheSB

Bust.
Move on.

Yeah, 5th round QBs rarely never pan out. Not sure why our orangization thinks otherwise.

[New World Order]

Originally Posted by Inmem58

I'm ready for preseason already. I'm intrigued to see what Thomas can bring to the table.

Same. A backfield with Charles and Thomas could be DYNAMIC.

[kcchiefsus]

Originally Posted by Inmem58

Yeah, 5th round QBs rarely never pan out. Not sure why our orangization thinks otherwise.

So if he was drafted in the 3rd round he would magically be more likely to pan out?

****ing dumbass

(And if you're too ****ing stupid to understand the situation, i'll spell it out. He very likely could have gone in the 3rd or higher if he hadn't of torn his ACL, or perhaps if he wasn't 6'0").

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by kcchiefsus

So if he was drafted in the 3rd round he would magically be more likely to pan out?

****ing dumbass

(And if you're too ****ing stupid to understand the situation, i'll spell it out. He very likely could have gone in the 3rd or higher if he hadn't of torn his ACL, or perhaps if he wasn't 6'0").

No, if he were drafted in the 3rd round that would mean that it's more likely that the team actually believes that he can become a starting QB. The fact that he was taken in the 5th points to his upside likely being a back-up at best.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by KCtotheSB

Bust.
Move on.

I don't know why people use the term "bust" when referring to a 5th round draft pick because if it doesn't pan out, its not "that" big of a deal. You do just move on...IMO, the term "BUST" is more appropriate when describing an early round pick that doesn't work out, because that's a much bigger deal.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by kcchiefsus

So if he was drafted in the 3rd round he would magically be more likely to pan out?

****ing dumbass

(And if you're too ****ing stupid to understand the situation, i'll spell it out. He very likely could have gone in the 3rd or higher if he hadn't of torn his ACL, or perhaps if he wasn't 6'0").

[htismaqe]

Another article on a guy that probably won't make the team?

Who gives a **** about this guy? Is it because he went to medical school?

[kcchiefsus]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Another article on a guy that probably won't make the team?

Who gives a **** about this guy? Is it because he went to medical school?

Since we have so much depth at tackle...

[Hoover]

I like this guy, and if the outside continues to bother him move him to guard.

I like these camp reports, can't wait for the pre-season to begin.