OTA #4 Report
From the Truman Sports Complex
Guess who the first player off the practice field was on Monday after the Chiefs had completed their fourth OTA session of the off-season?
Showing the same speed he normally reserves for trying to get past defensive backs, WR Dwayne Bowe came scampering down the steps from the team’s practice fields several moments ahead of any teammates.
About 20 minutes later when the media had finished listening to head coach Todd Haley and entered the locker room, Bowe was nowhere to be found. His locker held only workout clothing and went untouched during the time frame when the media was allowed to loiter in the room.
If Bowe can get away from defensive coverage this season as well as he cleared the media coverage, it could be a big season. That left others to speak to his words that appeared in ESPN the Magazine claiming that during a trip to San Diego in 2007 some of his teammates imported women to the team’s hotel for companionship.
But the others were saying very little. “No comment,” answered DE Tyson Jackson when asked about Bowe. “Nothing really needs to be said,” was how FB Mike Cox addressed the situation.
Todd Haley spoke of the matter in his meeting with the media, but as could have been predicted, he talked that the situation was being “handled internally.”
“It was discussed and handled internally and we are moving forward,” Haley said. “We are worrying about the progress we are making as a team as we go forward and that is really what’s important to me right now.”
From the football side of things, here’s what went down in the OTA session:
- Near perfect attendance as 85 of the team’s 86 players were on the field, just like last week. The only player missing was S Jarrad Page, a restricted free agent who has not signed his tender offer.
- There were seven players that did not work because of injury or rehab: RB Jamaal Charles, CB Brandon Flowers, TE Brad Cottam, WR Quinten Lawrence, WR Lance Long, WR David Grimes and TE Tony Moeaki.
- After working last week with the third-unit defense, first-round draft choice Eric Berry was working with the No. 1 defense, replacing Reshard Langford in the lineup. Again, it’s only May but it’s hard to believe that Berry will be moved out of that spot any time before the season opener against San Diego.
- It appears that last year’s fourth-round draft choice Donald Washington has moved from cornerback to safety; that’s where he’s worked exclusively in the last two practices. On Monday he was paired with DaJuan Morgan as the second-team safeties.
- When the Chiefs went to the No. 1 nickel defense first-year corner Jackie Bates joined Maurice Leggett and Brandon Carr.
- K Ryan Succop using a mechanical holder and facing no rush hit a 65-yard FG into a crossing wind. Succop earlier had nailed a 50-yarder with plenty of room to spare.
- In their special teams segment, the Chiefs worked hard on kick coverage. The No. 1 kick coverage team out there was Leggett, Morgan, Jovan Belcher, Jake O’Connell, Tim Castille, Terrance Copper, David Herron, Andy Studebaker, Michael Richardson and Jon McGraw.
- The offense was very active running the Wildcat formation in this practice. Most of the snaps went to rookie RB/WR Dexter McCluster, although RBs Thomas Jones and Kestahn Moore also took direct snaps. McCluster attempted several passes on his plays, including one during the team session that landed at the feet of his intended receiver. Haley said some of the work on the Wildcat was bluff and some was finding out just what his players are comfortable in doing.
- Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis was loud during this practice, firing off f-bombs at a pace that hasn’t been seen on these fields since the heyday of Gunther Cunningham. At one point when WR Dwayne Bowe and TE Leonard Pope couldn’t get lined up correctly, Weis blasted them with an expletive.
- QB Matt Cassel had a bad day throwing the ball, as several of his throws ran high. The Chiefs were outside and dealing with a steady wind. QB Brodie Croyle did not seem to have as many problems throwing the ball in this session.
- First-year NT Derek Lokey was moved into the second defensive line, replacing Shaun Smith. Again, it’s May.
- The Chiefs had extra help coaching the defensive line as Grandmaster Joe Kim took part in the practice session. Kim is a martial arts expert who has worked with six different NFL teams and several college programs (including Penn State) on use of hands on the pass rush.
- Former Indianapolis Colts offensive line coach Howard Mudd was an observer at practice. Mudd retired after the Super Bowl and is now enjoying retirement with his Missouri-born wife Shirley in Seattle and Arizona. Mudd spent four years as an assistant coach with the Chiefs (1989-92). One of his protégés, Ryan Lilja is now the starting right guard for the Chiefs.
- Haley wrapped up practice with the linemen on both sides of the ball catching punts from the ball machine. One thing was evident: Tyson Jackson will never be sent back to return punts. Never.
I’m cool with Weis and the F-bombs. If that what it takes to get thier attention, show your passion. This aint pee-wee ball.
Bowe just may be working his way out of KC. He just does not seem bright enough to figure it out.
Mad Chief, thanks for the TE info but I only wonder about Pioli’s fascination about all those bodies at that position. Right now my golf game is suffering so I cannot worry about the Chief’s roster, new clubs. I may actually be dangerous if I can start to swing the same way every time.
Cassell making several high throws in practice….Im not saying this could be a problem in the regular season…but I’m just sayn……..
I still like Croyle, if they ever get a good O-line in front of him, he has a cannon and a great catch-able ball.
People keep saying Bowe is out, but no way….we aren’t deep enough at WR yet.
And I can’t wait to see Berry and Flowers and the whole young fast secondary in action…that is if the D-line can put some pressure on opposing QB’s this year.
Not a good sign that Shaun Smith is getting demoted already…unless Lokey has really stepped it up. Weakest position on the team…and maybe the most important on the Defense.
Croyle is not without a lot of talent and if he would , or maybe is working on strength like Matt is , I think he is there to do OK , when needed . He has a good arm .
There’s a artical I heard about the Chief’s that has them rated first in the top 5 teams with the most improvement and do real good this year , Denver was on the other list , part of the bottem 5 , mainley because of Marshal and they lost someone else . No big improvement’s , at least compared to a lot of other teams .
They talked about speed , coaching , off. line , running backs , in general a team comming together early .
They don’t say they are going to be in the Elite group , more like a suprise darkhorse .
But if they start winning , they have a lot going for them in guidence .
I think Happy Day’s are here again , Thanks to the mild mannered Chief’s owner –>Clark Kent
Lokey is a hard worker and now is when to reward less talented hard workers.. it sets a good example.
I’m intrigued by the move of Washington to safety. He’s a tremendous athlete and may be a find if he can make the transition. El Cid, if you work on your game enough Tiger has some phone numbers he said you’re welcome to have now.
Would have loved to see Lineman try to catch punts. hilarious.
Why were the lineman catching punts? Were they also throwing passes out of the wildcat?
Thanks John but I have enough problems not to add some women with judgement problems. Besides my game is weak, very weak. Besides how could I add my insight to the Chiefs with spending that much time doing “other things”.
John, like TE how many Safeties do the Chiefs need or did Mr Pioli grab draft picks who do not fit the “plan” or is that the plan, 20 TEs and 10 Ss and let’s play some football?
As Haley has said, I wouldn’t read to much into this player moving up the depth chart or that one down the chart at this time of year. They do a lot of mixing and matching to see which combos are best and, as he said, maybe to reward a player for good work or vise versa. Kudos to those guys getting the bump up like Langford, Lokey and Bates.
Now, if you see a guy go up or down the chart and stay there, even at this time of year, that does mean something, I would think.
With the offense coming straight out of heavy lifting, it’s no wonder the QB’s are having trouble. As I’m sure you guys know, it takes a while to recover. Try doing a hard upper body work out and then swing a golf club immediately. HINT: Don’t do it indoors where stuff can break.
This too will pass.
Um I dont believe it has anything to do with Heavy lifting. I think Cassell is going to have the same type of year he had last year, inaccurate and holds on to the ball to long. Croyle should have a chance to become the starter at some point this year.
Linemen catching punts would be a hilarious thing to watch, they run this drill to get the linemen accustomed to catching and handling the ball, it helps linemen when the ball is dropped or there are those short flubbed passes that sometimes are picked off by linemen.
good, another guy to yell and get these guys in the right place, so they can finally get it together….also makes it so its not just haley screaming.
special teams unit was full of bubble players with a few guys that are 80 percent chance to make the team.
Your love for croyle over cassel continues…cassel will prove many wrong just like trent did, or as fans and some media called him year one…”trint”
[...] Yesterday I told you we would be bringing Bob Gretz’s version of the OTA practice but his report came in a little later than I expected. Here are some of the highlights. Be sure to check out he whole report at BobGretz.com [...]
Lokey might be the #1 reason they didn’t do more at NT in the draft.