*** 2021 Chiefs Training Camp MEGATHREAD ***

[wazu]

Posting this as a repository for random training camp content. Glad to see Andy moving around today without the cane.

Andy Reid rocking the all white Air Force 1s with white tube socks.#Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/opdxFDbTsh

— Micaela Dea (@NPNowDea) July 24, 2021

[Dante84]

Nick Allegretti getting the second-team center work today. Austin Blythe at LG. #Chiefs

— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) August 10, 2021

[O.city]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I don't take this as a real good thing. I think we kind of know what Hardman is. I was hoping the Clemson kid would be the real deal.

Originally Posted by staylor26

That’s because you’re a ****ing dumbass.

Why the hell would this be a bad thing?

The rookie 5th round WR wasn't ever gonna "run away with" anything.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by staylor26

By all accounts, Hardman is having a great camp, and has matured a lot (hence “running away with”).

How is that “not a good thing”?

There is always a "camp" hero. Every year. I don't place much stock in anything that happens in camp. We really won't know anything until the lights come on. Hardman might have 750 yards this year because of the kind of deep threat he is, but I'd like him to improve his route running and how he improvises when the play breaks down. That is going to make or break how good this team can be if the Clemson kid & the Duke kid isn't ready to contribute.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I don't take this as a real good thing. I think we kind of know what Hardman is. I was hoping the Clemson kid would be the real deal.

That was a dumbass pipe dream of yours if you thought Powell had a reasonable chance at the #2 WR spot in training camp.

Tyreek Hill is one of the quickest-learning and most talented WRs Andy Reid has ever coached, and in his rookie year it took him the entire regular season to see touches on offense that weren't designed gimmick plays. He certainly wasn't seeing #2 WR reps in ****ing training camp. It's unreasonable to think Powell would have done any better as a guy who dropped in the draft because he was low on depth charts for much of his collegiate career.

[O.city]

Hardman is the #2 WR. That isn't the #2 in targets players.

If he goes for 800 yards and 6 Td's, the Chiefs might have one of hte best offenses in history.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by staylor26

It’s absolutely reeruned that people think a year 3 WR that was extremely raw coming out, and still learning the position, can’t get any better.

Unless your Davante Adams, most of the time you don't take the huge step from year 2 to year 3. You take it from year 1 to year 2.

I know alot of people point at targets and he hasn't had a ton the last two years. Usually that is fair, but Hardman's worst skill is route running. He had chances last year with Sammy out a bit and didn't capitalize. Obviously I hope he turns into a monster, I just don't see it happening. I expect an uptick on targets and yards, but only due to necessity. I hope he proves me wrong.

[Red Dawg]

Any Hardman judgement should wait until we play some games. We need him to be a guy that teams need to respect to take the pressure off Travis and Hill some. I am not a huge fan of his but he hasn't been in the 2 slot. Let's see what happens.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

That was a dumbass pipe dream of yours if you thought Powell had a reasonable chance at the #2 WR spot in training camp.

Tyreek Hill is one of the quickest-learning and most talented WRs Andy Reid has ever coached, and in his rookie year it took him the entire regular season to see touches on offense that weren't designed gimmick plays. He certainly wasn't seeing #2 WR reps in ****ing training camp. It's unreasonable to think Powell would have done any better as a guy who dropped in the draft because he was low on depth charts for much of his collegiate career.

I mean, I don't take training camp info too seriously. I'm certainly not counting the Clemson kid out. I'm just saying the better news would be for the Clemson kid to already be talked about as battling it out for #2 with Hardman. Not Hardman has solidified his #2 position.

I understand that if you don't say everything that Chiefs fan wants to hear, you will get chastised, but such is life and I am prepared to deal with the consequences that comes along with such takes. "reerun!!!" "DUMBASS" "KILL HIM WITH THE PITCHFORK!!"

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Unless your Davante Adams, most of the time you don't take the huge step from year 2 to year 3. You take it from year 1 to year 2.

I know alot of people point at targets and he hasn't had a ton the last two years. Usually that is fair, but Hardman's worst skill is route running. He had chances last year with Sammy out a bit and didn't capitalize. Obviously I hope he turns into a monster, I just don't see it happening. I expect an uptick on targets and yards, but only due to necessity. I hope he proves me wrong.

You have absolutely no clue what you’re talking about.

1. There are plenty of WR’s throughout history that have made a huge jump from year 2 to year 3.

2. We literally just witnessed that with Calvin Ridley last year for example.

3. Hardman is a unique situation considering how raw he was and how he had only been playing WR for a couple years.

4. That goes without even mentioning that Reid’s offense has a reputation of being hard to learn for WR’s.

[RaidersOftheCellar]

This is Hardman's second proper offseason/training camp and, by all accounts, he's doing well.

Seems like his only issue was not fully grasping the offense and playbook yet. Why wouldn't that improve?

[Hammock Parties]

Don't like taking Hardman off returns. He is too much of a weapon there.

[duncan_idaho]

It's pretty short-sighted to think that a WR who...

1) Was incredibly raw at WR coming out of college because he was a RB in high school and for his first year of college, and then spent 2 years at WR in an incredibly conservative, run-dominated offense

2) Flashed big-time potential as a rookie while balancing return duties

3) Didn't have a real offseason between his rookie season and second season, to continue smoothing out the raw edges


... is a finished product/we know what he is.

Many WRs take until season 3 before they really hit their stride, anyway. People are falling prey to recency bias in deciding Hardman is what he is.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Don't like taking Hardman off returns. He is too much of a weapon there.

If he's really taking off and playing well in the offensive scheme, thats more important.

[PHOG]

Hardman will be fine.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Unless your Davante Adams, most of the time you don't take the huge step from year 2 to year 3. You take it from year 1 to year 2.

I know alot of people point at targets and he hasn't had a ton the last two years. Usually that is fair, but Hardman's worst skill is route running. He had chances last year with Sammy out a bit and didn't capitalize. Obviously I hope he turns into a monster, I just don't see it happening. I expect an uptick on targets and yards, but only due to necessity. I hope he proves me wrong.

Even if this was true (it is not), you can't seriously say you think that Hardman's Year 1 to Year 2 opportunity for improvements compares favorably with a normal offseason.

Even for a guy who was NOT as raw coming into his NFL career, I wouldn't expect any year 2 players to have progressed normally (or rookies) last year because they literally didn't have a real training camp.