Thursday Morning Cup O’Chiefs
From River Falls, Wisconsin
The Chiefs are wrapping things up here in the northwoods and for the most part, it’s been a very productive camp for the Chiefs.
Good things have happened, and some not so good things have happened, most of those tied to injuries. Today, we’ll look at the not so good things:
LT Branden Albert’s right foot injury severely cramped his NFL start, costing him valuable practice and playing time. Before the injury, he showed his top-notch athletic ability and he seemed to be adapting to the position with few problems. The Chiefs still think he’ll be ready for week No. 1 or 2 of the regular season, but he’ll have a lot of ground to make up.
LB Donnie Edwards hamstring injury put a dent in the defense growing and coming together. Edwards and the Chiefs have been very cautious with this injury because it occurred at the same spot on the hammy where Edwards suffered an injury last year. We are talking muscle, scar tissue and issues like that. The longer he rehabs, the healthier the hammy will be when he returns. Expect that to happen next week.
The Chiefs came to the Falls looking to fill two key roles in their kicking game: a returner and a kicker. They leave with none of the competitors having an edge at either spot. The competition here over the final three game will be very important for the Chiefs ‘08 season.
A look at the good things on Friday.
COUNTDOWN
The Chiefs have one more night here at UW-River Falls before breaking camp and returning to Kansas City for the rest of the pre-season. It’s 12 days from the NFL’s first mandatory cutdown of the roster. Teams must go from 80 to 75 on August 26. It’s 16 days from the NFL roster cutdown to the regular-season limit of 53 players.
It’s 24 days away from their regular-season opener against the Patriots in Foxboro and they are 31 days away from their home opener against the Raiders.
CHIEFS HISTORY
On August 14, 1960 the Dallas Texans won a pre-season game at Boston against the Patriots 24-14 at Harvard Stadium. The game was tied 14-14 before Jack Spikes kicked a 23-yard FG and then QB Cotton Davidson hit a 27-yard TD pass to RB Johnny Robinson. The field goal was set up by a drive where RB Abner Haynes carried the ball four times for 40 yards and caught a 9-yard pass. The defense picked off five Boston passes in the first half.
On August 14, 1970 the Chiefs dropped a pre-season game to the Baltimore Colts 17-3 in Kansas City. The Chiefs managed only a 26-yard Jan Stenerud FG. The Colts defense had 6 interceptions that night, including picking off three passes thrown by QB Len Dawson. RB Ed Podolak caught seven passes for 103 yards. Baltimore RB Tom Matte ran for 59 yards and a TD, while Colts QB Johnny Unitas was 6 of 12 passing for 94 yards.
OUTSIDE LOOK
CBS Sportsline’s Clark Judge was recently in River Falls and sat down with QB Brodie Croyle.
Judge also takes an overall look at the rebuilding program going on with the team.
FROM NORTH OF THE BORDER
NFL fans know all about how the U.S. Army went back on its decision to allow West Point grad Caleb Campbell to sign and go to camp with the Detroit Lions. Turns out, they’ve now done the same thing with an American blocker in the Canadian Football League.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
RB Steven Jackson still hasn’t arrived in the Rams camp. Here’s a look, with some comments from former Chiefs-Rams head coach Dick Vermeil.
Carolina CB Ken Lucas got punched out by teammate WR Steve Smith, but he says he holds no grudges and plans no payback.
Former Broncos safety and Herm buddy John Lynch was in Foxboro on Wednesday, visiting with the Patriots.
AROUND THE AFC WEST
The Cowboys are now in Denver practice against the Broncos and Pacman says B ain’t no TO. For a translation, click here.
Chargers coach Norv Turner gets love from CBS Sportsline.
The Raiders have injury problems on the corner as they break camp and return to the Bay Area.
Good stuff bob. This is officialy the best Chiefs site out there. Couple questions. Is this site gonna be year round or is it just for training camp? Is it gonna continue to be free?
I think the important thing to look at with the kicking game is that we have two kickers who look very good. I don’t remember the last time we had that problem. I’d rather have the “problem” of having to make a decision between to good things than pick the “lesser of two evils.” With the whole “getting younger” idea, I’d say that Connor Barth (22) should take the job… although Nick being 26 isn’t that bad…
A chance to answer while packing to blow out of River Falls.
Ben, thanks for your nice words. This web site will be up and producing Chiefs and NFL news as long as I’m breathing. We also could expand to some other avenues as well, but the Chiefs and pro football is what I know, so you will always get a healthy dose of those two. We’ve got more coming here once the regular season starts as well.
EyePod: kicker is one spot where Herm isn’t so much concerned with age as he is with consistency and reliability. With this team, he needs a guy who is going to hit 90 percent or better inside the 40-yard line. The guy who can do that, and get some power on kickoffs will be the man. He may not be with the Chiefs right now; more kickers will come available and the chiefs will investigate all of them.
Thanks for finding our site.
Bob G.
Nice site, Bob. We’ll be checking back often.
Go Chiefs!
Carol and Roger
Just checkin in for my daily Chiefs fix. I’m with Croyle. I couldn’t be more happy to see Chan Gailey running this offense. Thanks for doing all the leg work and finding the best Chiefs news and compiling it into one convenient daily offering. Been telling anyone who will listen that this is THE site for Chiefs. Thx again Bob!!!
Bob,
I guess it matters if we are really determined on winning this season or getting more experience. If we have a shot, then I agree that ability trumps possiblity (of a younger, less experienced kicker). But if we are willing to push through growing pains (meaning, we know this season isn’t going to be a playoff year, and that the game experience and learning is more important than the # of wins), I don’t think it’s such a bad idea to use the younger kickers, especially with their upside of having them for a long time.
I think that the kicking is one of those things you take for granted. It only becomes noticeable when you are having a problem with or are unsure of it. It’s kind of like our punting game. I love having a great punter, and I think he was our team MVP last season. I have a friend who’s a Cardinal’s fan and that’s a huge problem for them.
On that note, I pledge now that if we have a good (even solid at this point) kicker, I will not take him for granted and will give him the respect and acknowledgement that he deserves.
On one last note, why didn’t we just keep John Carney then? He was 100% within 40. He’ll be kicking for 40 more years…. And is accuracy within the 40 that important? Here’s a list of kickers last season who were less than 90%:
Nick Folk Dallas 89.5%
Jason Hanson Detroit 83.3%
Adam Vinateiri Indianapolis 88.5%
Neil Rackers Arizona 86.7%
Lawrence Tynes Giants 78.9%
Jeff Wilkins St. Louis 86.7%
Olindo Mare New Orleans 77.8%
Dave Rayner San Diego 76.9%
Justin Medlock Kansas City 50.0%
Matt Prater Denver 00.0%
This list includes the SB winners, one of the best NFC teams (Dallas) and one of the best AFC teams (Indy). Even though they’re close to that 90% mark, the reason these teams did well even though their on this list is because they could score! The kickers may not have been perfect, but they’re offense could easily make up for that. We didn’t have that luxury last season, and depended to heavily on a shaky kicker (in Medlock). This season, I don’t think (and I really really hope this is true) that our kickers will have that kind of pressure.
Hey Bob – Great site!
Kicker – It would be terrific to get a kicker who could put kickoffs to the goal-line.
I’m glad the Chiefs are being cautious with the injuries. I wouldn’t mind if Dorsey sits this weekend, even though I’m dying to see him play!
I wonder what Junior Siavii is doing today?
Bob,
I’ve been reading for about a week. just wanted to say, great site. I’m sure i’m in the majority when i say, thank you. Kendall will probably do a fine job on the radio but you will be sorely missed. Keep up the good work.
P.S. I’m looking forward to the next deep run into the play-offs wich should bring a sequille to “Hail to the chiefs”. I look forward to your nexy book.