OTA Update 6/8
From the Truman Sports Complex
The Chiefs offensive struggles in throwing the ball during the weekend mini-camp definitely got the attention of head coach Todd Haley. As the team went through its OTA session on Monday morning, there was extra time given to the passing game.
During individual position drills, Haley spent the time right in the middle of the wide receivers. Remember Haley’s background as an assistant coach was working with the wide receivers. During the practice, he saved his sharpest retorts for the guys catching the ball, and especially those dropping the ball.
“We need work, we definitely need work, to improve our execution of just the basic pass game,” said Haley. “We are having a hard time in some simplier areas. We are making plays, it’s just that the execution has to pick up. ”
There were 81 of the 85 roster players on the field for the OTA. Missing were LB Brian Waters and OLB Mike Vrabel, thus keeping intact their string of not taking part in anything this off-season that hasn’t been mandatory. Also missing was the recently married TE Tony Curtis and rookie CB Donald Washington who is expected later this week once classes are over at Ohio State.
Here are some observations from the workout, which was held in very cool and windy conditions as the weather made a complete change from the hot, steamy weekend:
– The rehab crew remained the same as it has been for all these sessions: QB Brodie Croyle, RB Kolby Smith, DE Glenn Dorsey and DT Ron Edwards.
– Along the defensive line, the guy who is leading that group right now is veteran DE Alfonso Boone. During a team passing segment of practice he broke up a screen pass from QB Tyler Thigpen to RB Dantrell Savage in the backfield.
– Matt Cassel got the most work and he was 15 of 18 in the portions of practice where he threw against a defense. He did have one picked off as ILB Derrick Johnson jumped an inside route by TE Brad Cottam and made the interception for what would likely have been a pick six. It was hard to tell if it was a great play by D.J. or a bad route by Cottam.
– Thigpen was six of 11 in the work against a defense. He also threw an interception, as S Jon McGraw grabbed a pass that bounced off RB Jackie Battle.
– Ingle Martin was six of 11 and had one of the prettiest offensive plays of the day, when he hit a deep running Cottam in stride for a play that would have gone for 25 to 30 yards. Cottam beat CB Londen Fryar on the play and S Ricky Price didn’t get over in time to break up the throw.
– The Chiefs had their quarterbacks on the move in this workout, as both Cassel and Thigpen had multiple throws on short bootlegs to the left and right. Thigpen and WR Rodney Wright combined on a nice throw and catch
– OLB Tamba Hali read a running play in the teamwork portion of practice and almost grabbed the handoff from Cassel to Battle. It was one of the better defensive plays of the off-season.
– WR C.J. Jones was wide open and Martin threw a nice pass, that was juggled and then dropped. Jones can’t afford to drop those kind of passes.
– In teamwork, RB Larry Johnson had a nice run off right guard, hitting the hole quickly and accelerating to the second level of the defense.
– Defensively, McGraw, S DaJuan Morgan and rookie LB Jovan Belcher all knocked down passes in coverage.
“He did have one picked off…”
I do believe that’s at least three that have been mentioned recently…
as always, amazing updates.
One thing ive noticed, is Haley rarely calls out players in a good or bad way, but one guy he did mention was belcher was a special teams guy, nice to see him making plays.
Love that Haley is holding recievers accountable, This coach gets better every day, love his approach
…and read on “It was hard to tell if it was a great play by D.J. or a bad route by Cottam.” Obviosly BG didn’t find fault in Cassel’s pass which appears to be the objective of the comment.
“The Chiefs had their quarterbacks on the move in this workout…” With the O-Line that we currently have, this will probably be the norm again this season. If Waters gets back on board we are still weak at 2 of 5 positions (C and RT). Without Waters, we are really in trouble offensively.
I know it would probably make the team worse but i really would like to get rid of waters. He just seems to be somewhat of a cancer at this point. everyone is buying in and yet he is too good to try an approach that is different from the ways the chiefs have been trying it for a while. which, mind you, is a losing way.
I agree with you 101.
ONE person is not going to make or break this team. If he continues his negativity, Ship him out the door.
Like you sead, everyone else is buying in, I like it, dont let one man bring you down
In 30to40 sec’s into a game no one is going remember Waters missing ANYTHING !
I think Brad Cottam has an avantage over TG in that the team KC played, It got to be the standard for opposing deff’s to jump reff’s and point out that Tony get’s away with holding, whitch gave him a big repp and drew call’s that at times he didnt even touch the deffence. One was in the Inzone, three in the red zone. What made it bad was that he always caught the ball!
This kills you on first dn’s and TD’s with the penatly.
so should we get rid of Vrabel too he is not showing up either? and it will hurt if we loose Waters. As Gretz wrote in another artical rookie Megee was getting by Waters backup then when waters get in Waters shut him down.
The one in the Inzone DID cost KC the game.
TRUE, but if he dont want to be there Haley wont let him stay anyway.
ok, the vrabel waters argument is STUPId, Vrabel is not showing for one reason, hes a REP, hes using his rights just like all other reps
Waters on the other hand, skipped a charity function, dont give me that “i didnt get the list”, dont tell me those other 30 players who werent chairs of the board that did show just arent close to waters? and if so, then, that speaks volumes.
Vrabel doesnt show for union reasons, waters is overweight, and disgruntled.
further more, the argument that magee didnt do well vs waters doesnt dispel the concept that waters is out of shape, mentally out of a state that you want your OG in, and honestly, the guy flat out did not have a good season pro bowl or not, the tape speaks volumes.
oh and magee is at a new position, whereas waters is a 13 year vet, advantage waters at the first Manditory OTA
Advantage Waters at the second and third and fourth… Waters is the Chiefs player representative. You don’t think that Vrabel and Waters are in cahoots with the rest of the NFLPA on what they need to do?? I read somewhere also that said Vrabel has stated that he didn’t sign on to play in KC, he was traded and that there is a big difference between being a FA and being traded. Doesn’t sound like a leader that wants to be in KC!!!
alex k says:
ok, the vrabel waters argument is STUPId, Vrabel is not showing for one reason, hes a REP, hes using his rights just like all other reps
Vrabel isn’t a union rep anymore the Chiefs union rep is Waters. Vrabel was NE union rep he is not on that team anymore. So your argument is for Waters skipping not Verbel.
And also Alex on the Magee thing as you said Waters came in out of shape and he still took care of the rookie but that same rookie was able to get by the back-up for waters, that just tells you we need Waters. I think both Waters and Vrabel are wrong they should be here for the team. I don’t care if they are traded or have a problem with the coach they are paid a lot of money to help this team and skipping training when it’s a new system and new coach is not helping.
“Vrabel isn’t a union rep anymore”
True…technically. Vrabel is still on the NFLPA executive committee in addition to be being the former Pat’s player rep. He is a core part on the players union as a part of the Executive Team.
We need Waters, but if we can get a third round pick for him next year, lets do it… Hopefully Waters sheds some pounds and is in better shape for next Mandatory practices.
Veterans know the score, they will be cut the second they are no longer as useful as their contract indicates. I don’t care one bit if Vrabel or Waters doesn’t want to come to voluntary OTA’s.
Sounds to me like Vrabel and Waters just don’t want to be with the Chiefs. It’s one thing to be a veteran on a experienced team that’s been together for years like Vrabel was with the Pats. And like Waters was when Vermiel was here. Now that they are both learning a new system as well as Vrabel is with a new team, they should be putting in all the work they can with their team mates. That will be the only way that they will learn all the habits of the guy playing beside them. Their tendencies and and the way they block, pull on running plays, rush the passers, drop back in pass protection, etc. Seems like they just need to be spending time with their team mates as much as possible.
I could care less that Waters has a bad attitude. I am tired of paying for direct tv and watching my team lose. Waters, even if he is grouchy and bad for team chemistry, is the best we have. Keep him and let him earn his check.. He isn’t being obnoxioius about not wanting to be here, he is just not lying. I am not always happy in my job but I stay because I want to get paid. Waters needs to stay so we can finally WIN. It would be different if he was bashing the organization. I would probably want out to be with a winning team. Lets get some wins and his attitude will change
Yes, the best we HAD, on a 2 win team. Sorry, but if you watch his tape from last year, Waters dropped off in play, and team chemistry is VERY important, to no show the charity event, when EVERY other O-lineman showed, tells you many things…So Waters has no relationships with O-lineman on our team evidently since no one called him about the “list”, on top of that, chemistry on the line is huge, the rest of them are gelling, and waters isnt that much of an upgrade at this point in his career over wade smith
People need to realize his feelings are hurt from a situation where the chiefs were busy on the cassel deal, and waters is his own agent, that can create issues, they didnt want to talk at that time, get over it brian.
“…and waters isnt that much of an upgrade at this point in his career over wade smith.”
To quote Jim Carrey from Ace Ventura…”Reee-heee-heeee-heaallllly!” I’d like to see how many people agree with you on that assertion.
C’mon SG … you know darn well we’ve enough any 22s around here to get the job done & then some. Brian Waters? Hah! We don’t need no stinking All Pro offensive lineman!
Too, forget last years find Branden Albert: he’s also not any 22 enough to fit ‘check’s profile - no, we don’t need or want him either. He’s young and Brian is older but that’s no excuse: Branden too will grow old soon enough.
We have vets aplenty, guys named Goff, McIntosh, Smith, Ghiaciuc and Niswanger - the Washington Redskins had ‘The Hogs’ and Buffalo’s Bills had ‘The Electric Company’; and Kaycee? Why we have ‘Five Characters In Search of an Exit’.
As Rod Serling described them in that Twilight Zone episode’s opening narration:
Clown. Hobo. Ballet Dancer. Bagpiper. Army Major. A collection of question marks. Five improbable entities stuck together into a pit of darkness. No logic, no reason, no explanation … just a prolonged nightmare in which fear, loneliness & the unexplainable walk hand in hand through the shadows.
In a moment, we’ll start collecting clues as to the whys, the whats and the wheres. We will not end the nightmare we’ll only explain it because
(cue Rin Tin Tin) “this is the Chiefs offensive line.”
“Brian Waters? Hah! We don’t need no stinking All Pro offensive lineman!”
ROFL…much more entertaining stuff - up to the level we expect there Rin.