OTA #6 Practice Report

From the Truman Sports Complex

It’s the type of play that Todd Haley and Charlie Weis dreamed of when they were evaluating and then selecting RB/WR Dexter McCluster in the second round of last month’s NFL Draft.

Working in the two-minute offense at the end of Thursday’s OTA practice, QB Matt Cassel threw a short pass – less than 10 yards – to McCluster on a slant from the right side. The quick and speedy rookie then took off down the field and ran 60 yards for a touchdown.

Although it wasn’t ruled a touchdown by the game official, who just happened to be Haley and he got an earful from his starting quarterback for his ruling of a healthy gain, but no score.

“He’s an excitable guy,” Haley said of Cassel. “You like that about him. You love the enthusiasm. At the same time, he’s got to keep control. He was yelling at the official, and the official happened to be me. He thought I made a bad call.

“It was a very productive day as we got into some red zone stuff and had a couple sessions of the two minute. It was very competitive out there.”

Whether the game official for this practice credited Cassel and McCluster with a touchdown, it was the type of play that the Chiefs are looking for from the combination.

“No doubt,” said Haley. “All those young guys have been making steady progress.”

Cassel’s chance to run the two minute ended up with the offense turning the ball over on downs, after Haley didn’t throw the flag on an obvious pass interference call against a defensive back covering WR Dwayne Bowe.

QB Matt Gutierrez handled the second segment, and that possession ended up with a nice interception by ILB Demorrio Williams.

More of what happened on the field:

• The usual group of seven players did not practice, but was on the field: RB Jamaal Charles, CB Brandon Flowers, TE Brad Cottam, WR Quinten Lawrence, WR Lance Long, WR David Grimes and TE Tony Moeaki.
• CB Travis Daniels had a good day in the seven-on-seven drill when he intercepted back-to-back passes by QB Matt Gutierrez. Both throws were in the end zone.
• Here’s how the No. 2 defense lined up on Thursday: Alex Magee and Wallace Gilberry at DE, Derek Lokey at NT, Derrick Johnson and Jovan Belcher at ILB, Andy Studebaker and Pierre Walters at OLB, Jackie Bates and Mike Richardson at CBs and Reshard Langford and Donald Washington at safety.
• The No. 2 offensive line looked like this: LT Barry Richardson, LG Ikechuku Ndukwe, C Casey Wiegmann, RG Colin Brown and RT Jermail Porter. Richardson and Wiegmann got a few snaps with the No. 1 offensive line during practice, with Richardson stepping in for RT Ryan O’Callaghan.
• P Dustin Colquitt was working with special teams coach Steve Hoffman on rugby style punts, something that’s become more popular in the college game over recent seasons. Colquitt worked on the rugby style last year as well. On a rugby type boot, the punter kicks the ball on the run.
• K Ryan Succop did some FG kicking with no rush and was one of two from 52 yards. The one he missed hit the right upright.