****The Official 2009 Training Camp Update Thread****

[DaWolf]

Figure we might as well have one?

http://www.bobgretz.com/
http://www.uwrf.edu/chiefs/prev_updates.php
http://www.kcchiefs.com/default.asp
http://chiefsblog.kansascity.com/
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/
http://twitter.com/kb_kcstar
http://twitter.com/brandoncarr
http://kan.scout.com/
http://www.arrowheadpride.com/
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/KC

[Sully]

Okay, my humble "report" to come, but I realized something after watching my first day of practices under the Haley regime....

Since the Schottenheimer years, this has been a team that, during their good years, won on emotion and heart as much as talent and execution. There were many years under Marty that the team was slated to finish out of first, and Marty used that as an affront to the team, and used it to piss them off every year/week/day. They had talent, obviously, but looking back, they probably didn't have nearly the talent that Marty squeezed out of them. I like Marty, and will look upon his years in KC fondly, but he was more of a mental manipulator than an Xs and Os guy.

Every coach since then, IMO, has followed down the same path. Obviously Gunther tried this method, Obviously Herm tried this method, and I'd say Vermeil did, as well (although he used the "play because you love each other" manipulation rather than the "pissed off at the world" one).

This regime couldn't be further from that. It's about business. Get your ass on the field, learn where to be and how to get there, and play football. It's far more about mentally being precise than it is about being angry. Sure, there's yelling (just as much as any other coach's camp). But it's more about players not using the techniques and plays correctly, than just trying to light a fire under their asses. I have heard Haley, in one day, coach more fundamental football than I ever did any of the previous coaches.

For instance, the QBs and pass catchers were doing a drill where the receiver or tight end would fake a post, cut it to a drag, then settle in between zones. The drill went on for several minutes, and as it was against air, it looked fine. WR was running across the field, stopping before the bag (intended to be a LB), settling down, catching the pass, and turning up field. Haley comes over, and he's not pissed, but obviously not happy with the way the drill was being run. And it was two basic things he was upset about. A) The QBs, in this situation, are to put the ball on the WR or TE's back shoulder, so they can reverse pivot to get upfield. The way they were throwing was getting the catch made, but was running them toward the LB. B) The WRs and TEs weren't settling their feet. It was all about details, and doing it exactly right, even if it was against air. I liked it.

Finally, as a complete departure from our previous coach, there was a short segment of practice dedicated to what to do for time management. The ball was on the opposing team's 45 yard-line. The team had 1 time out, and there were less than 20 seconds on the clock. He had each group go out, and against air run one play. But it wasn't about getting into the end zone or getting as many yards as possible. He wanted 12-16 yards...and that's it. So each group practiced several times running all the WRs deep, except one, who would settle short, grab the pass, and take a knee after several yards, as every player on the team looked for an official to call time out.

Details.



I was a fan of hiring Haley, but I like his plan even more than I thought I would.

[Hammock Parties]

I'm betting Haley can use that emotional edge to put them over the top when it really counts.

It's hard to sustain that over the course of a whole year.

Better to br a badass collection of 22 skull-****ing football robots.

[Pioli Zombie]

Someone post thr thread please
NFL NETWORK IS SHOWING THE FULL GAME DERRICK THOMAS 7 SACKS.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Sully]

As for what I saw today on the field from players...

I focused on very few guys, based off what I was personally interested in, and also what was on the field closest to my vantage point. In the morning practice, it was a lot of the front 7, and in the evening, more QB/WR/RB stuff. I'm no Nick "Assclown" Athan, but here's what I saw.

Tank Tyler- Absolutely a beast. Quick off the snap, keeping his gap, and creating a new line of scrimmage. I really liked what I saw from him, and would say he was the top defensive player, or at least top 2.

Brandon Flowers- Also in contention for best defensive player today. It's harder for DBs to flash and impress me, just based ont he nature of their position. But thinking back of standout plays by DBs, and he was involved in both of them. On a fade, he covered Bowe as if they were conjoined, and grabbed an INT this evening.

Jovan Belcher- I'm impressed with his ability. He's quick, tough, and absolutely killed Macintosh in a pass rushing drill. Who knows if he'll even make the team, but his effort is unimpeachable.

Dwayne Bowe- Something is wrong with him. He is dropping more passes than Sammy Parker with a blindfold and vaseline on his fingers. I'm not sure where his head is at...but it is getting ugly.

Mike Vrabel- Doesn't look old at all. Quick.

Colin Brown- I watched him because I want him to be good, and because he's a Mizzou guy. He's a practice squad player. He's so damn tall, he comes off every snap way too high. He needs to learn leverage.

Brandon Albert- Looks REALLY good. Like he's been there for years. Even spends time with Brown during nearly every down time trying to tutor him.

The "injured" guys- Are working harder than anyone in full pads. I'd think they'd want to either get healthy quick, or pass the damn conditioning test than keep doing what they are doing.

Larry Johnson- Looks in shape, still tip-toeing and not following his blockers. This drives me nuts.

Bernard Pollard- Wearing the "TO-style" black tights with no shorts. Why? This is a family place, put the mouse back in the house!

Alex Magee- Looks good, for a rookie. I'm not putting him in the Pro Bowl, yet, but I'm just saying he's getting after it, has good movement in the pass rush, and seems to "get it." But he's got a ways to go.

Guy in his 50s with long ponytail- While it's slightly humorous to see you "sprint" after a Len Dawson who was literally jogging to get away from you, it's downright creepy when he has to jump into a van to escape you, 10 minutes after he signed your autograph. He's not your buddy. He doesn't want to discuss the good ole days with you.

Guy wearing the Chiefs hoodie with no sleeves- Just because they make clothing, doesn't mean you have to wear it... It's not a good look.

[Hammock Parties]

Tank Tyler- Absolutely a beast. Quick off the snap, keeping his gap, and creating a new line of scrimmage. I really liked what I saw from him, and would say he was the top defensive player, or at least top 2.

This can't be. Everyone here says he sucks.

I guess this doesn't speak well for Niswanger.

[Sully]

Edited my update post to add more observations.

[Hammock Parties]

LOL @ Len Dawson's stalker.

[Pioli Zombie]

Since the other ****ing pricks won't do it.........if anyone would be interested..NFL Network is now showing the full broadcast of the Derrick Thomas 7 sack game RIGHT NOW
Posted via Mobile Device

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Pioli Zombie

Since the other ****ing pricks won't do it.........if anyone would be interested..NFL Network is now showing the full broadcast of the Derrick Thomas 7 sack game RIGHT NOW
Posted via Mobile Device

PIOLI Z0MBIE THERE IS A THREAD ABOUT IT.

[Tribal Warfare]

Camp Practice Update 8/3 P.M.
August 3, 2009 - Bob Gretz |

From River Falls, Wisconsin

Under sunny skies and warm temperatures with just a hint of a breeze blowing across the fields, the Chiefs got practice No. 5 in Monday afternoon.

Not surprisingly considering the five practices in three days the team also had its first fight. OT Herb Taylor tangled with an unidentified defensive lineman and ended up on his back with a pile ofplayers on top of him.

Todd Haley answered the fight by making the entire team run to the opposite end zone and back. “We are not going to beat ourselves,” Haley told his players.

There was plenty of extra running for jumpy defensive linemen who just can’t seem to understand they are going to be penalized now if they go offsides. During the practice, DE Alfonso Boone, DE Dion Gales and NT Derek Lokey all jumped and had a penalty run.

On the injury and participation front there were eight players not practicing. Rookie TE Jake O’Connell returned to work after missing the first four practices. Those not participating were: TE Brad Cottam (right ankle), TE Tony Curtis (left ankle), LB Derrick Johnson (right hamstring), RB Kolby Smith (right knee), DE Glenn Dorsey (left shin), LB Demorrio Williams (unknown leg injury), G Edwin Harrison (right knee) and S DaJuan Morgan (unknown injury).

Here are some observations and nuggets from the afternoon work:

- There was another session of RB pass protection against blitzing linebackers off the edge. The first time they did this drill, the offense struggled. Not so this time, as they put together a much better performance. Larry Johnson was especially good, as he battled Mike Vrabel to a standstill and later was able to direct Tamba Hali’s rush outside. FB Jed Collins picked up two victories as well, while Jackie Battle got a victory and two draws.

- There was a great deal of work on kick returns and kick coverage in the session. Special teams coach Steve Hoffman fielded this first kickoff coverage unit (from left to right): Bernard Pollard, Brandon Carr, Jovan Belcher, Jackie Battle, Ryan Succop, Terrance Copper, Mike Brown, Andy Studebaker, Brandon Flowers and Jarrad Page.

- During practice there were six players that took turns returning kickoffs: Taurus Johnson, Rodney Wright, Jackie Bates, Maurice Leggett, Londen Fryar and Ricky Price. Then after practice no less than 14 players were catching kicks off the ball machine: all the above and Copper, Quinten Lawrence, Donald Washington, Jamaal Charles, Jackie Battle Dantrell Savage, Ricardo Colclough and Javarris Williams.

- Succop drew the ire of Haley on his first kickoff when he sent a short scattershot down the middle of the field that was picked up at the 10-yard line. “Come on Ryan, that’s what you are here for (kickoffs),” yelled Haley. After that, Succop’s kicks landed at the goal line, the minus-2, the one-yard line and the goal line.

- In the team work portion of practice, QB Matt Cassel was two of three, missing on a deep ball to WR Devard Darling that was overthrown and should have been caught by Leggett for an interception. Tyler Thigpen went with the second offense and hit three of four. The incompletion should have been intercepted, as he threw the ball directly at Colclough. The receiver came back and broke up the INT. Brodie Croyle was two of three, with a nice bootleg right pass that O’Connell caught downfield.

- Former American Football League head coach and NFL defensive coordinator Joe Collier watched practice. His son Joel is the assistant general manager of the Chiefs.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/KC


August 3 6:04 ET

So nice we had to do it twice?

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

So nice we had to do it twice?

that's the way they set it up when I copied and pasted the thing.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

that's the way they set it up when I copied and pasted the thing.

Okay, I thought you were possibly catering to ADD contingent of of CP.

[Pioli Zombie]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

PIOLI Z0MBIE THERE IS A THREAD ABOUT IT.

Now there is. At the time all the thread title said was "get your DVRS ready....."
Posted via Mobile Device

[Hammock Parties]

Now Cassel is overthrowing Darling. If Darling could just get a REAL QB he would explode.

Darling = Randy Moss