Saturday Morning Cup O’Mini-Camp

From the Truman Sports Complex

Five practices in three days – it’s a little June-time nirvana for a pro football fan when mini-camp rolls around. It’s as close to training camp as the off-season gets and that alone means the start of another season is growing closer.

Here’s a mixed bag of news, notes and quotes from the first day of the Chiefs 2010 mini-camp.

OPENING REMARKS

The mini-camp actually began on Thursday evening with the first full-team meeting of the season.

There were a lot of points that head coach Todd Haley had for his team in his remarks. One was to congratulate them on what for this franchise was the unprecedented participation in the off-season program, whether on the field or in the weight room.

The second was a word of warning.

“As I told them last night, having a great off-season, they aren’t going to spot us wins and that’s just the way it is,” Haley said on Friday. “That (off-season participation) will just give us a chance to improve and be better.”

THE VISIBLE ADDITION OF SPEED

During Friday afternoon’s practice the Chiefs wide receivers were working against the defensive backs in one-on-one situations. As the matchups rolled through the roster, it finally landed on rookie WR Dexter McCluster against third-year CB Maurice Leggett.

Over the last two seasons, Leggett was probably the fastest player on the Chiefs roster. Possibly only WR Terrance Copper and CB Brandon Flowers could match his speed on last year’s team.

McCluster leads the 2010 draft class when it comes to adding speed to the roster.

So here they go head to head and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis sends McCluster on a deep sideline pattern. McCluster got up to speed quickly and got a step on Leggett, but the defensive back was able to make up the space. That’s when McCluster shifted into another gear and separated again from Leggett and made the catch on what would have been a 40 to 50-yard gain, if he was tackled.

One guy who could challenge McCluster for “football speed” is fellow second-round choice CB Javier Arenas. He grabbed a tipped pass for an interception during a seven-on-seven passing drill. Arenas quickly headed down field and when he gets up to full speed, it’s like a cartoon, something like the Road Runner character. Arenas’ upper body appears normal as he runs, but his feet go so fast it’s a churning blur.

Are the Chiefs faster this year? Oh yes.

THE COMPETITION IS VISIBLE IN THE SECONDARY AND AT LINEBACKER

All through the two practices, the defensive coaching staff was mixing and matching players in the secondary and at linebacker. When the first defense went on the field, recent starters in Derrick Johnson and Jovan Belcher at inside linebacker and rookie Kendrick Lewis at one of the safety spots, were replaced by last year’s starters in Demorrio Williams, Corey Mays and Jon McGraw.

It’s just another reason why Haley says it would be wrong to put the focus on the depth chart right now.

At outside linebacker it’s hard to believe that Mike Vrabel and Tamba Hali won’t be the starters, but Andy Studebaker is making a push and needs to get more playing time with the No. 1 defense. Second-year man Pierre Walters is bigger, stronger and looks faster than he did as an undrafted rookie. There’s some talent in the third group with rookies Cameron Sheffield and Justin Cole.

“Every day is important; you can’t ever get complacent if you want to play in this group,” said Studebaker. “I’m just trying to get better every day.”

Inside, there’s a log jam that will be interesting to watch with Williams, Mays, Johnson and Belcher. And do not discount the possibility that Canadian rookie Cory Greenwood finds a spot on the roster. He’s shown good speed and good athletic ability and appears to be picking up the mental side very quickly. Plus, he can deep snap and that’s always going to be a help for any player trying to make the team.

“We go out and work hard every day and whatever the coaches decide, they decide,” said Williams. “All we can do is what we do individually.”

SOUTHPAW TYLER PALKO HAS A CHANCE TO STICK

In the last two weeks when No. 2 quarterback Brodie Croyle has been out of the action because of a right index finger injury, the guy who stepped into that role was not returning third QB Matt Gutierrez, but ‘10 free agent signee Tyler Palko.

And during the spring, the left-hander has done some things that give him a chance to stick with the Chiefs, something he couldn’t get done with the Saints, Cardinals and Steelers, the teams he spent time with since leaving the University of Pittsburgh.

That Pitt connection is helpful as well, because the head coach has plenty of connections to the Panthers – he grew up in a Pitt household given his father played and starred at the school in the late 1950s.

“With me having some Pitt roots, I always watched,” Haley said. “He actually came to Arizona a day or two days before, right about when I was leaving (to become the Chiefs head coach.)

“He comes from a football background (he played for his father at West Allegheny High School) and he has been around some really good quarterbacks; he had great exposure in New Orleans with Drew Brees and (head coach) Sean Payton who I know really well. He spent time in Arizona with Kurt (Warner) and Kenny (Whisenhunt). I am excited about some of the things he is doing. He is like all the others, he is working hard to compete and give himself a chance to make the team.”

One tidbit from his college career: in 2005, Pitt had a new coach in Dave Wannstedt and he picked Palko as his starting quarterback over another passer on his roster. That guy was Joe Flacco, who transferred to Delaware and eventually was a first-round draft choice of the Baltimore Ravens.

NFL PERSONNEL & NEWS FILE FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 11

• CHARGERS – signed WR Josh Reed to a 1-year contract – spent his whole 8-year career with the Bills where he posted fairly pedestrian numbers over the years: 311 catches in 115 games. He had just 27 catches in ‘09. With starting WR Vincent Jackson threatening a holdout, San Diego is looking for potential depth. Jackson also faces a potential NFL suspension or off-field behavior.
• COLTS – agreed to terms with S Antonie Bethea on a 4-year, $27 million contract. Reportedly he will see $18 million in 2010-11. Bethea was a restricted free agent who never signed his tender offer and did not take part in any of the team’s off-season activities.
• COWBOYS – RFA WR Miles Austin signed his tender offer, a 1-year, $3,168,000 contract – last year’s major breakthrough for Dallas – remember the game against the Chiefs – Austin is still looking for a long-term contract. He made $1.5 million last season when he caught 81 passes for 1,320 yards.
• DOLPHINS – RFA TE Anthony Fasano signed his tender offer, a 1-year, $1,759,000 contract – Miami’s starter at tight end who is coming off a disappointing ‘09 season where he caught 31 passes for 339 yards and 2 TDs.
• GIANTS – signed 3rd-round draft pick SS Chad Johnson to a 4-year, $2,600,000 contract – a top-notch athlete out of LSU who last year at this time was pitching for the Tigers in the College Baseball World Series; released K Sam Swank – this was his third shot in the NFL, failing previously with the Eagles and Bengals.
• PATRIOTS – signed RB Thomas Clayton – former K-State runner, he was drafted in ‘07 by the 49ers and spent two years on the practice squad and last season on the injured-reserve list with a torn ACL; released QB Mike Teel, P David King and WR Bryan Anderson – Teel was picked up three weeks ago on waivers after he was released by the Seahawks, while King signed out of Australian Rules football and Anderson was an undrafted rookie from Central Michigan.
• RAIDERS – signed DT John Henderson to a 1-year contract – 31-year old veteran was released earlier in the spring by the Jaguars and he showed some interest in the Chiefs, although it appears the Chiefs had little interest in him.
• RAMS – LT Jason Smith suffered a broken toe that will end his participation in the team’s OTAs. He should be ready for the start of training camp.
• REDSKINS – signed 6th-round TE Dennis Morris to a 4-year contract, terms undisclosed – out of Louisiana Tech, he’s an H-back type player at the position; signed 7th-round C Erik Cook to a 4-year contract, terms undisclosed – out of New Mexico where he was a three-year starter for the Lobos; signed 7th-round draft choice OT Selvish Capers to a 4-year, $1,840,000 contract – out of West Virginia, he’s light on his feet and could develop into the type of offensive lineman that Mike Shanahan loves.
• TEXANS – RFA TE Owen Daniels signed his tender offer, a 1-year, $3,168,000 contract – the veteran tight end is coming off a torn ACL; signed 4th-round draft choice LB Darryl Sharpton to a 4-year, $2,320,000 contract with a signing bonus of $535,000 – the Miami product could push for playing time as a rookie thanks to his athletic ability; released RB Ryan Moats – in his 4th season, Moats struggled to make a place for himself in the Houston offense; released DB Aaron Webster and WR Trey Stross – both were undrafted rookie free agents, Webster out of Cincinnati and Stross from Iowa.