Mini-Camp Update 6/7 A.M.

From the Truman Sports Complex

The Chiefs wrapped up their three-day mini-camp on Sunday morning with practice No. 5 under sunny skies with a nice breeze blowing through the practice field.

It was a better practice for the offense than what they showed Saturday afternoon, but the defense was still the better of the two units over the three days.

“We made strides on both sides of the ball,” said head coach Todd Haley.  “I was encouraged defensively, especially since it’s a brand new scheme and new positions for guys and that those guys definitely in the last couple of days made strides and made marked improvement.”

The Chiefs worked on red zone offense and defense during the practice and overall the defense was better.

“It was clear to me that the effort was excellent, that each day we got a little bit better,” said Haley. “That’s what we’re looking for.”

There were 83 of the team’s 85 roster players taking part.  Missing was TE Tony Curtis, who got married last night and as noted before, fourth-round draft choice Donald Washington, who will return to Kansas City this coming week.  LB Monty Beisel returned to the workouts after attending his brother’s wedding on Saturday. 

ILB Derrick  Johnson was back running with the No. 1 defense.  CB Maurice Leggett remained with the first unit in place of Brandon Carr on the left side.

Some observations from the workout:

– On special teams, the Chiefs worked on kickoffs, both coverage and returns.  It’s apparent the field  is wide open on kickoff returns. There were five different guys handling kicks: Quentin Lawrence, Ricky Price, Jackie Bates, Rodney Wright and Londen Fryar.  Last year’s two best kick returners still on the roster are RBs Jamaal Charles and Dantrell Savage and they were working as coverage guys.

– In the one-on-one pass/coverage drill in the red zone, several plays stood out. WR Devard Darling made a nice move on Carr for a catch.  WR Terrance Copper had two nice moves, but dropped one of the throws.  He caught the second one on CB Ricardo Colclough, who earlier had nice coverage on WR Jeff Webb.  Rookie WR Taurus Johnson had a nice catch in the end zone against CB Brandon Flowers

– Working at the right cornerback position were Flowers, Colclough and rookie Jackie Battle Bates.  Working at the left corner were Leggett, Carr, Travis Daniels and Fryar.

– In the seven-on-seven team passing drill that worked  in the red zone, each quarterback got five snaps.  Each one completed just two of their five plays.  The only score came when Ingle Martin hit Lawrence in the end zone, against the No. 1 defense.

– In one-on-one pass protection/pass rush drills, No. 1 draft choice Tyson Jackson worked against RT Damion McIntosh.  Jackson beat the veteran on an inside  move on the first rep, but McIntosh handled him on the next two.  Third-round choice Alex Magee went against G Edwin Harrison and it was Harrison who won two of the three snaps.

– In that seven-on-seven drill, OLB Tamba Hali knocked down a pass at the goal line in a nice zone drop and Flowers knocked down another pass.

– In teamwork, RB Jackie Battle ran with the first offense and had a nice run to break things open. A draw play with Battle was sniffed out by LB Monty Beisel.  The only score of the red zone work came when QB Tyler Thigpen hit WR C.J. Jones in the end zone for a TD.