Teicher: Moeaki looks good at tight end, while O’Connell struggles
 

Chiefs notebook: Moeaki looks good at tight end, while O’Connell struggles
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

The Chiefs selected a tight end in each of the last two drafts — and those players appear headed in different directions.

This year’s rookie, third-round pick Tony Moeaki, is having a solid offseason. He has shown good hands, is able to get downfield well and had another big day in the afternoon practice at Saturday’s minicamp.

The Chiefs thought enough last year of Jake O’Connell that they traded back into the seventh round to get him. He was even on the field last year for the last few plays when they were futilely trying to rally during an early-season loss to Oakland.

Judging by his play in offseason practices and again on Saturday, O’Connell may have a difficult time making the roster. He had dropped several passes, including two in Saturday afternoon’s practice.

The problem was so bad early last week that after one O’Connell drop, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis yelled, “That’s getting old, Jake.”

Croyle has hot hand

QB Brodie Croyle was still withheld from throwing during the full-squad workout because of his sore throwing hand.

But during a morning seven-on-seven passing drill when the Chiefs use no linemen on either side of the ball, Croyle was sharp.

On a set of plays from inside the 20, Croyle made three straight crisp throws that resulted in touchdowns, one going to Dwayne Bowe, another to Tim Castille and the last to rookie Jeremy Horne.

Mixing up the lineups

The Chiefs will occasionally shake up the starting lineup at many positions on both sides of the ball, even at positions where they is no true competition for the job. It hasn’t been unusual to see backups working with the first unit, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines.

“Sometimes when you just stay the same and nobody changes, you’re going against (the same player) every single snap,” coach Todd Haley said. “They get to know each other and they get to know each other’s little tricks and moves and steps.

“Just by moving guys in and out, now you create different matchups across the board. That’s really all we’re trying to do.”

What, they say?!? A 3rd-round pick looks pretty good, and a 7th-round pick doesn't?!? Wow, Adam Teicher! You get this month's "Captain ****ing Obvious" Award.

It's a 7th-round pick, fer crissake. How many 6ths and 7ths really work out? You can get a 6th or 7th draft pick by trading a team a box of jocks and some Gatorade. If and when they pan out (e.g. Tom Brady) it's more the exception than the norm.

sure hope he can catch a 10 yard pass ...

Which makes trading away a future pick to get back into the 7th round to pick him all the more stupid.

But we got the exec of the millenium, so it's all good.

So Croyle looked like Farve in a Wrangler commercial, shocking.

They are rushing Farve in the wrangler commercial. His O-Line is so good it makes Farve look like Croyle when he's throwing without one.

dam i just wish Brodie was more dependable.

Typical CP.

Story is about Moeaki looking good and the bitching is about last years wasted late round picks.

Typical Marcellus.

Bitch about a poster bitching.

Typical Milkman, defending his right to bitch.:cuss::)

Damn right.

Would you rate him better than Carl?

Are we comparing what each has done in their first 17 months on the job? If so, Carl wins easily.

At this point, I have no faith that he is anything more than equal to Carl, though he still has time to prove me wrong.

I wouldn't agree with that, except for their first draft choice.

Carl had far more to work with at the start of his tenure.

Jack Steadman, for all the hate he gets, actually did a damn good job in the drafts prior to being replaced by Carl.

He simply couldn't find the right HC.