[BigRedChief]

Tuesday, July 29, 2008: Afternoon Practice
It was a scorcher of an afternoon at Chiefs practice today. The bright sunny sky and the 88 degree temperature seemed to make the 97 fans in attendance migrate to shaded areas. Other than the shaded areas, the 14 mile per hour wind coming out of the southwest was the only refreshingly cool thing out there for fans, players and staff. The humidity was at 30 percent.

Defense
As coaches and players filed into Ramer Field, Defensive Coordinator Gunther Cunningham told fans they better put on the sun block because it was going to be a warm one this afternoon.
Defensive ends Brian Johnston and Tamba Hali weren’t in pads during practice this afternoon, but they did participate in a few of the warm-up drills. Later, Head Coach Herm Edwards said Hali, who had stitches in a cut on his face, was held out to make sure nothing happened to make it worse.

Defensive Coordinator Gunther Cunningham seemed a little more critical and enthusiastic with his linebackers this afternoon. He was being especially vocal with them. He was ordering his players not perform leisurely. “Do it correctly! Climb up the line of scrimmage. You look for someone to hit! Sometimes you hit ‘em just for fun! That’s what linebackers do,” he hollered. Later, Cunningham was getting in linebacker Demorrio Williams’ face when he struggled to run a drill correctly. “You think you’re the only player to this? You wanna play in the NFL? Because right now it doesn’t look like it!” The emotions Cunningham brought to the field fired up his linebackers. After Cunningham’s outburst, the men huddled together while Cunningham marched across the field. Explicit words were tossed around as the players agreed to do whatever Cunningham told them. “We won’t let that (expletive) break us! He can’t break us!” they chanted.

The offense and defense came together and ran several scrimmage drills. During the first reps of 11-on-11, rookie defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey stopped veteran running back Larry Johnson for what would have been a six-yard-loss in a live-game situation. Not long after, the defensive line collectively made another big stop for a loss when rookie running back Jamaal Charles attempted a rush. After yet another impressive defensive showing, Head Coach Herm Edwards complimented rookie safety DaJuan Morgan on a stellar play. “Now that’s the way you put your face in there, 38.”

While some of the team split to run 6-on-7 (there were six members of the offense and seven members of the defense), the offensive and defensive lines moved to the north end of the field to work on some blocking drills. The offensive line was trying to stop the charge of the defensive line from reaching the quarterback. Rookie defensive tackle Maurice Murray blew by offensive tackle Travis Leffew using skills Defensive Line Coach Tim Krumrie had made them practice earlier today. After struggling with the drill, rookie defensive tackle Derek Lokey got some one-on-one advice from veteran defensive tackle Alfonso Boone. Boone was showing Lokey keys to where to put and move his hands.
On the south end of the field, Head Coach Herm Edwards was unhappy with the defense’s performance during 6-on-7 drills. He yelled several times over and over, “stay inside the tight end!” He was jumping up and down and flailing his arms all around while he shouted.

The team then ran some 11-on-11 drills and Defensive Coordinator Gunther Cunningham told his linebackers on several occasions, “football’s hard, so play hard!” After an impressive run by rookie running back Jamaal Charles, linebacker Demorrio Williams delivered a late hit. This resulted in some relatively subtle shoves. Head Coach Herm Edwards told the men to let it go and eventually they did.

Rookie defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey delivered another impressive stop on running back Larry Johnson. Had the play been a live-game scenario, the offense would have lost some significant yardage on the play.
Safety Jarrad Page almost picked off quarterback Tyler Thigpen’s pass. Page sprinted from the secondary to nearly make the interception.
The first and second-string teams each had time to run through a one-minute drill. The first string defense came out with the win, but it was the second string’s offense that prevailed when they ran the drill. Quarterback Tyler Thigpen delivered a beautiful pass to tight end Brad Cottam for a last-second touchdown.

Offense
After the morning was devoted to special teams, the Chiefs’ offensive unit picked up the intensity in the afternoon session.
Rookie wide receiver Will Franklin is continuing to work in the slot with the first, second and third-string offenses. Franklin made a couple of nice grabs in a 6-on-7 drill with the first-string and an 11-on-11 drill; and caught a pass from quarterback Tyler Thigpen during a two-minute drill.
The running backs split from the wide receivers, quarterbacks and tight ends to work on handoffs, the agility ropes and poles. Running backs coach Curtis Modkins huddled his players around him as the offense was coming back together and told his players: “Be freaking better everyday guys.”

While the running backs worked separately, the quarterbacks threw passes into the end zone from the 10-yard line to wide receivers. Quarterback Brodie Croyle lobbed a pass to the back pylon for wide receiver Devard Darling, who juggled it before gaining possession out of bounds; Darling looked at the media and shrugged saying: “oohh…no touchdown.”

The offense looked to get the better of the defense in the first round of an 11-on-11 walk through. After tight end Tony Gonzalez dropped a pass when he was open, running back Larry Johnson found a big hole and scampered through the defense into the secondary untouched.

The second-string, with quarterback Tyler Thigpen at the helm, fared well against the secondary defense as well. Thigpen completed a pass to Kevin McMahan for 10 yards right after rookie running back Jamaal Charles hit a huge hole bringing “oohs and aahhs” from the fans in attendance.
After the second-string took its turn, Head Coach Herm Edwards praised his team and yelled: “Practicing good right now men, keep the tempo up.”
Quarterback Brodie Croyle was 6-6 in the first-string’s second round in an 11-on-11 drill, including a 12-yard touchdown to wide receiver Devard Darling. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe made an acrobatic catch on a pass that was perfectly, and intentionally, thrown behind Bowe by Croyle.
The first-string failed to score once again in the 2-minute drill. Croyle did complete a 15-yard pass to Bowe to keep the drive alive on fourth and 10, but ran out of time three plays later when the final pass in the end zone was batted down.

The second-string did score a touchdown. Backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen scrambled for 20-yards after completing two of his first three passes. Two plays later, Thigpen completed a pass to rookie tight end Brad Cottam for a touchdown as time expired.
Extra Extra...
Cornerbacks Brandon Flowers, Tyron Brackenridge, Rashad Barksdale and safety Jon McGraw were out on a practice field before practice started. At 3:51 they began practicing with a Juggs machine. A blue cone was set out that symbolized a receiver. The object was for the defender to cut in front of the cone and intercept the pass that came from the Juggs machine.

An air horn sounded at 3:56. Players then gathered on Ramer Field to warm up with line drills and stretching. Another air horn blew at 4:07 that meant practice officially started. Players then split up to work on position-specific drills. The offensive players stayed on Ramer while the defensive players moved to the practice fields outside the stadium.
Defensive tackles Derek Lokey and T.J. Jackson were heard talking football on the sidelines before warm-ups and practice began.Vice President Denny Thum was present at practice. He remained on the sidelines and spent most of his time observing 6-on-7 drills.

Equipment Manager Mike Davidson and Assistant Equipment Manager Allen Wright were busy running between Ramer Field and the practice field throughout practice. During the 6-on-7 drills, they were keeping tabs on the team while talking to other coaches.
Prescott High School students Kaitlyn Jerrick and Emily Cobenais were observing the Chiefs practice from the sidelines. This was their first training camp. Both students are interested in journalism and were anxious to learn more. They were impressed with how close they were to the players. “The training camp is a great opportunity for students to learn about journalism,” said UWRF Sports Information Director, Jim Thies. “Having the Chiefs here enables us to have interested students come in and learn about journalism and other careers.”

At the end of practice, running back Larry Johnson joked with wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and tight end Tony Gonzalez. Johnson was wiping his face with a Gatorade towel and said he needed to ring it out after each practice because he sweats so much.
Immediately following practice, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, running back Larry Johnson, safety Jon McGraw and safety DaJuan Morgan signed autographs for their loyal fans.

Herm Edwards Press Conference

In his press conference after practice, Head Coach Herm Edwards said that he thinks the offense is practicing at a good tempo, but the team needs to be getting better every practice.
Edwards also said that quarterback Brodie Croyle’s confidence seems to be a lot different than it has been the last two years. Edwards said, “He’s just waiting on the chance to play.”

When asked about whether there was still a competition for the starting offensive line, Edwards responded: “Well yeah, but I think right now we want to go into the first preseason game with those guys that are there, to see how they perform.”

Edwards also said that the offensive line is getting better. “I think what we’re asking them to do fits what they can do,” Edwards said, “I think they’re starting to understand how we want to run the ball. We’re gonna run certain runs and we’re going to perfect them.”
When asked about running a man-to-man defense rather than the cover-2, Edwards said he enjoys playing man-to-man. With the team he has this season, he feels a man-to-man defense fits the Chiefs better.

The In-Zone
He’s a big guy, but he’s an even bigger giver. His hard work and dedication on the field has helped him to become one of the most choice players at his position. The combination of his commitment and compassion has helped him to touch the lives of thousands of people. That’s who offensive guard Brian Waters is: a giver. He gives to his team’s effort, to the needs of others less fortunate and to those who see his good works and desire to do the same.

In 2005, the three-time pro bowler established the Brian Waters 54 Foundation. The foundation provides opportunities for low-income, underprivileged youth and families from his hometown of Waxahachie, Texas. The foundation also has outreach programs based in Dallas and the Greater Kansas City area. Among the foundation’s philanthropic endeavors are a scholarship fund, free youth football and basketball camps and support for Waxahachie Pee Wee Football, Waxahachie Habitat for Humanity and Promise House, an organization that helps youths and families in crisis by providing sources of hope. Waters also supports many other societies as spokesman for the NFL’s United Way and What Moves U fitness campaigns. The community service major’s efforts were recognized when Waters received the JB Award in April; the award is voted on by the NFL Players Association and the players themselves. From breast cancer awareness to fundraising for down syndrome, his impressive list of charitable activities is reflective of Waters’s humble, passionate character.

He’s a big guy, but he’s an even bigger giver. His hard work and dedication on the field has helped him to become one of the most choice players at his position. The combination of his commitment and compassion has helped him to touch the lives of thousands of people. That’s who offensive guard Brian Waters is: a giver. He gives to his team’s effort, to the needs of others less fortunate and to those who see his good works and desire to do the same.

In 2005, the three-time pro bowler established the Brian Waters 54 Foundation. The foundation provides opportunities for low-income, underprivileged youth and families from his hometown of Waxahachie, Texas. The foundation also has outreach programs based in Dallas and the Greater Kansas City area. Among the foundation’s philanthropic endeavors are a scholarship fund, free youth football and basketball camps and support for Waxahachie Pee Wee Football, Waxahachie Habitat for Humanity and Promise House, an organization that helps youths and families in crisis by providing sources of hope. Waters also supports many other societies as spokesman for the NFL’s United Way and What Moves U fitness campaigns. The community service major’s efforts were recognized when Waters received the JB Award in April; the award is voted on by the NFL Players Association and the players themselves. From breast cancer awareness to fundraising for down syndrome, his impressive list of charitable activities is reflective of Waters’s humble, passionate character.

Waters brings these attributes to the field. The North Texas alumnus entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 1999, but was cut from the team. He spent the 2000 season playing center for the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europa before joining the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent later that year. Since then, Waters has helped multiple Kansas City standouts-such as running backs Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson-to extraordinary rushing performances and has played alongside distinguished offensive lineman Will Shields. Waters signed a seven-year contract extension with the franchise in 2005. This season he will unquestionably serve as a mentor and leader of a youthful Chiefs offensive line.

Waters’s Practice Today:
1. Waters warmed up alongside tight end Tony Gonzalez. Waters, with a smile on his face, small talked with Gonzalez while they stretched out before practice.
2. He worked on two one-on-one drills with the left side of the o-line. The first was a drill designed for blocking on the pass. Waters and two other linemen worked on their stances by keeping their feet on both sides of a foot-wide flat red rubber mat. Waters took on a few reps before he observed the rest of the drill from the south end zone of Ramer Field where the drills were being run. The second drill was to practice clearing gaps for ball carriers. Again, he took just a few reps.
3. At 4:25 Waters joined the rest of the offensive crew. They did an 11-on-11 walk through for 10 minutes. The drill started on the 17-yard line and Waters went out with the first-string.
4. An air horn blew at 4:33 that brought the offense and defense together on Ramer Field. The team then ran an 11-on-11 drill. Waters went out with the first crew for six reps. He didn’t as easily dominate defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey as he had in previous practices. Dorsey got by him once to cut off running back Larry Johnson as he headed to the right sideline on a short 8-yard run.
5. Offensive and defensive linemen worked on a blocking drill while the rest of the team participated in a 6-on-7 drill. One side of each line lined up on the 10-yard line. Each player took turns going one-on-one with their opponent from the line to the end zone. Waters took only one rep during the drill. He faced and defeated defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey.
6. Before a second round of 11-on-11 Waters took two minutes to have something cold to drink with offensive guards Herb Taylor and Tre Stallings.
7. During the 11-on-11 drill, Waters worked on the line with offensive tackle Branden Albert, center Rudy Niswanger, offensive guard Adrian Jones and offensive tackle Damion McIntosh.

After Practice Comments:
Waters took just a minute to discuss how he felt the defensive line had been doing. He said that the line keeps getting better and said that linebacker Napoleon Harris was playing well. “We haven’t been that good with the d-line in the past,” he said.

Fans
Just before Chava Duran had to head to work at Mariachi Loco, he and his son Julian watched the beginning of this afternoon’s practice. Chava commented on how he saw tight end Tony Gonzalez win a Latin award on a Spanish channel. As his two-year-old son crawled around the bleachers, Chava mentioned how the Chiefs like to stop in Mariachi for a late snack.
Making their way from Cameron, Mo., the Ott family, consisting of Mom Paula, Dad Mark and sons Court and Nick hunted for autographs. Also, making the journey with the Ott family was Jared and Josh Thompson. Since their arrival on Sunday they have come in contact with different players a few times. This morning Nick was tossed a Chiefs practice ball from Head Coach Herm Edwards as a gift; this has been a highlight of his camp so far. Then while the group was out for dinner at Copper Kettle they ran into quarterbacks Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle, tight end Tony Gonzalez and linebacker Donnie Edwards. All of the players signed autographs, and then after the players were finished with their meals, the Chiefs approached the family again for more conversation.

First timers at camp this afternoon were Scott and Sue Williams of River Falls, Wis. The five-year residents of River Falls said they had the day off from work and decided to walk to the practice field. Scott said they were Packer fans, and joked how he was scouting the competition. They both said they would be interested in coming back when the Vikings are here on Thursday.

With a black Canon camera in-hand, Kim White, a resident of Leewood, Kan., snapped action photos of the players. She is the sister of long time Topeka Capital-Journal Chiefs reporter Rick Dean who was taking notes from the black-top track that surrounds Ramer Field. White likes to catch Chiefs game when she can get her hands on a ticket; last year she saw the Chiefs play the St. Louis Rams. She went on to say, “If you think it’s hot here, you should feel how humid it is in Kansas City right now.”
Scott and son Jordan Stastny from Wichita, Kan., enjoyed themselves at their fourth consecutive Chiefs training camp. Jordan was impressive with his display of football knowledge. He was like a walking talking sports fact book. The Stastny’s made their ten- hour journey up to River Falls hoping to see an impressive rookie class and a positive change in the team’s offensive philosophy.

Charles City Iowa sent Mike McCarty and his son Sam to River Falls for their second consecutive Chiefs training camp. They plan on making the Chiefs training camp an annual father/son trip. Both thought it was pretty neat that they were only a three-hour car ride away from watching their favorite team practice. Their favorite player is tight end Tony Gonzalez, but both were pretty happy when they got defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey’s autograph.

Four big football fans from Rib Lake, Wis., attended practice. John Gerstberger and his wife Mary brought their two daughters, Patricia and Julie, to their fifteenth Chiefs training camp. They plan on staying all this week and then going home. They then plan on coming back for the last few days of camp to give the Chiefs a proper send off. Their favorite player is linebacker Donnie Edwards. They said they love to come to the River Falls area and are impressed with the practice facilities. While at camp, they plan on taking a lot of pictures and getting tight end Tony Gonzalez’s autograph. They wanted to send a special hello to Jim and Doris Horning of Strafford, Mo.

Zen and Tonya McCurry from Bend, Ore., drove two days to River Falls. After watching just fifteen minutes of practice, both said it was worth it. They go to a Chiefs game every year at Arrowhead Stadium, but this was their first time attending a Chiefs training camp practice. Both seemed to enjoy the beautiful weather.