AM PRACTICE OBSERVATIONS
August 5th - 8:44 AM
Today marks five consecutive days of full padded practices.
9:39 AM - Pre-practice, walk-thrus and stretching are complete and we’re in the middle of position drills. Of note today is the return of LB Zach Thomas (a one practice hiatus) and the absense of LB Monty Beisel.
9:47 AM - One of the great things I’ve noticed about this camp, when comparing to past Chiefs camps, is that veteran players aren’t getting days off from practice. In many previous Chiefs camps (and other camps around the league for that matter), you’ll see veteran players not work two practices in a row during camp. That signals a lack of competition among position groups. We haven’t seen that here. All we’ve seen is rookies pushing veterans and veterans pushing rookies for roster spots. Also, if you’re not practicing, you’re on the sidelines which coach Cedric Smith…which may be more grueling than actually practicing.
10:09 AM - We just witnessed one of the more entertaining WR/DB one-on-one periods of camp, at least from a big-play perspective.
* CB Londen Fryar (son of former NFL WR Inving Fryar) made two excellent plays going up against WR Bobby Engram. The first was jumping in front of an out route for an INT and the second was running stride for stride with Engram down the sideline to record a PBU.
* WR Rodney Wright got loose for a big play today, getting behind the defender once again for a nice TD from 40-50 yards out. He celebrated by hi-fiving one of the fans behind the fence that borders the back of the end zone.
* WR Mark Bradley got loose on a deep passing route and CB Ricardo Colclough logged an INT.
10:12 AM - The offensive line turned in a nice performace against the defensive line during inside run. Hopefully this unit will start to gel with their group back at full strength.
10:29 AM - I’ve spent a lot of time this camp talking with “The Snapper,” Kendall Gammon. One thing that Gammon says is key for a long snapper is the ability to cover after the snap. It looks like teams coach Steve Hoffman was preaching the importance of coverage to the interior blockers during pass pro today.
10:31 AM - Reps, reps, reps. A bit different today as the receivers are getting multiple reps before taking a breather. WR Devard Darling used the reps to his advantage during 7-on-7 drills by logging three catches on consecutive plays.
10:45 AM - The offensive line has carried some momentum into the first few plays of 11-v-11. There is a lot of energy from this unit after springing RB Jackie Battle loose for a few runs.
10:54 AM - LB Corey Mays caps off things with a nice hit. Off to see what coach has to say. More later.
ANOTHER TWO-FOR-ONE
August 5th - 8:20 AM
The trend stays the same in River Falls today…two practices on the schedule at 8:50 AM and 4:30 PM.
CHIEFS FINDING WINNERS
August 5th - 7:33 AM
The Chiefs signed free agent WR Amani Toomer yesterday. The move bumps up the team’s wide receiving core from nine players to 10. The move increases the total amount of receptions represented on the Chiefs roster by 668. It increases the total receiving yardage by 9,497 and it increases the career TDs on the Chiefs roster by 54. The move also increases another number, from 12 to 13.
13. That’s how many times that players on the Chiefs roster have been part of a Super Bowl team. Amazingly, 10 of those 13 are represented by players signed during the Scott Pioli/Todd Haley era. Toomer, part of the N.Y. Giants Super Bowl XLII squad, is the latest addition.
“We’ll do anything to increase competition,” Haley said about the Toomer signing. “A guy of Amani’s caliber and what he’s done in the league fits that bill.”
Competition breeds success and success breeds more success. Many of the Chiefs roster moves have been about going out and finding proven winners, and letting those winners compete. Put enough winners in a locker room and you’ve got a good shot at generating a winning culture.
Part of building a winning culture isn’t just finding players who want to win. It’s about finding players who know how to win. This teams roster is under reconstruction and it will be for the foreseeable future. Toomer is a player whose background “fits the bill.” He’s another piece of the puzzle and how he is used is to be determined.
QB Matt Cassel (one Super Bowl), WR Bobby Engram (one Super Bowl), LB Monty Beisel (one Super Bowl), LB Mike Vrabel (four Super Bowls), S Mike Brown (one Super Bowl) and Toomer (two Super Bowls) are the players who represent the nine Super Bowls that Pioli has brought in since becoming the Chiefs general manager. Toomer is the 13th. Kind of fitting that the player representing the 13th Super Bowl wore jersey #13 on his first day of practice.