OTA #3 Practice Report/Wednesday

From the Truman Sports Complex

The Chiefs closed out their first week of OTAs on Wednesday morning by tip-toeing through the rain drops on the outdoor fields at their facility.

“Though we have an extremely long way to go, I think we had a very good week and definitely made progress in areas where we need to make progress,” said head coach Todd Haley.

After the first week of practices, Haley said the physical condition of the players compared to last year at this time is a night and day difference.

“It’s not even close,” said Haley. “There are guys that may be at similar weights as they were at this time last year, but they are in so much better condition. We’ve really had a good off-season to this point. The guys are excited and energized and it’s fun to be around them. There’s a great overall energy to the group. This is a good time.”

Roll call was similar to the first session on Monday that was open to the media. The Chiefs newest player LB Cory Greenwood was on the field working on the inside and wearing No. 93.

Among the 86 players on the roster, the only one missing was veteran S Jarrad Page. There were seven players out of the action and working on injuries. Joining the group that was out all week was WR David Grimes, who pulled a hamstring during Tuesday’s session.

Also watching were RB Jamaal Charles, CB Brandon Flowers, TE Brad Cottam, WR Quinten Lawrence, WR Lance Long and rookie TE Tony Moeaki.

Charles said after practice that the team has given him no idea when he’ll be allowed to practice. He’s recovering from shoulder surgery back in January. “I’m not worried about it right now,” Charles said. “I’m doing what I can to get myself into shape and ready for the season.

“What matters is that I’m ready to go for training camp. I guess they are going to be careful.”

Here’s some of what went down on the field in the third session: 

• Working with the No. 1 nickel defense was Wallace Gilberry and Glenn Dorsey on the line, Mike Vrabel and Tamba Hali on the edge, with Derrick Johnson and Jovan Belcher working inside. On the corners were Brandon Carr, Maurice Leggett and either Jackie Bates, Travis Daniels or Javier Arenas as the nickel, with Jon McGraw and Reshard Langford at safety. Several times, DaJuan Morgan replaced Langford at one of the safety spots.
• First-round draft choice Eric Berry moved up the depth chart on the nickel, working at safety with the No. 2 unit.
• Last year’s fourth-round pick Donald Washington took some plays at safety.
• Daniels had a good day, breaking up several passes in seven-on-seven drills.
• In the seven-on-seven and team work, the Chiefs offense ran out of a one-back alignment, with Thomas Jones, Dexter McCluster and Kolby Smith.
• McCluster went down the right sideline and made a nice adjustment on the run to a Brodie Croyle pass, but couldn’t pull the ball in to make the catch.
• WR Dwayne Bowe had a drop on a slant throw with Arenas in coverage behind him.
• In the passing game, the Chiefs threw a couple bombs but couldn’t connect, as Croyle and WR Jerheme Urban just missed down the left side and rookie WR Jeremy Horne had a chance to catch a Croyle throw deep but couldn’t pull it down.
• Claimed on waivers over the weekend, TE Leroy Banks showed some skill as a receiver, catching a deep ball and another medium throw. With Cottam and Moeaki not working, Banks is getting a chance to show his skills. Banks runs really well.
• On special teams, the Chiefs worked on punt coverage, as coach Steve Hoffman took them through the fundamentals of getting down field quickly, but with good fundamentals and control.
• The rookies will be working out in the strength and conditioning program on Thursday, but veterans won’t be back together until Monday.