Training Camp Practice #16 Report

From St. Joseph, Missouri

The outdoor oven that has been northwest Missouri for the last two weeks continued Wednesday morning. But luckily for the Chiefs, there was a nice breeze coming out of the south that provided a bit of relief as they when through their first of two practices today.

As practices go it was less than inspiring, especially in the early going as there seemed to be little enthusiasm for matters of football. Ultimately it seemed that everything got back on track towards the end of the session, that ended with a long talk from head coach Todd Haley to his team.

Another guy that has been talking to the team is veteran RB Thomas Jones. This is his 11th NFL training camp and he’s seen plenty during his career and according to Haley, Jones is willing to share that knowledge in constructive ways.

“I’m here to help win football games and the way you do that is to work hard, doing the extra little things – those are the kind of things I try to bring to the team,” Jones said. “It’s been a tough camp with the weather and the typical grind of training camp. Guys are really pushing, working hard and doing the things that we need to do to get better.”

Here are some observations from the morning practice:

– S Reshard Langford was not on the field for the morning practice. It’s the first time he’s been absent.

– Not taking part in the practice were TE Tony Moeaki (ankle) and G Darryl Harris (knee). Moeaki was treated for a right ankle injury during the scrimmage last Saturday. But on Wednesday he was also wearing a sleeve on his left knee. As always, there is no information from the Chiefs on the nature of his absence.

– Derrick Johnson and Jovan Belcher were working with the first team defense again Wednesday as the battle continues for the starting jobs there. Right now it appears to be on a rotating basis between Johnson-Belcher and Demorrio Williams and Corey Mays.

– In the Chiefs nine-on-seven drill for the run game, the Chiefs offense was able to produce positive plays on only six of the 13 snaps. Jamaal Charles was the most successful running back in that session, while Jones struggled.

– When the Chiefs went nine-on-seven for their defense it was a mixed bag as the offense had six of 13 snaps that produced positive plays. NT Derek Lokey had back-to-back stops on the inside for the defense and DE Alex Magee had a nice tackle.

– The offense added the element to the Wildcat that makes it dangerous: the pass. Jones threw a short TD pass to WR Dwayne Bowe from the Wildcat in a goal-line situation. The offense had not shown a pass with the direct snap to the running back before.

– Rookie G Jon Asamoah worked only on the right side early in camp, but in the last two practices he’s also worked at left guard. When the preseason opens Friday night, starting LG Brian Waters will see little if any playing time, so Asamoah may get to play there.

– Last year Chiefs receivers led the NFL in dropped passes and they had done a good job of limiting those plays in camp. Until Wednesday morning when TE Jake O’Connell, Bowe, WR Quinten Lawrence and FB Mike Cox all dropped balls in the span of 10 minutes.

– WR/RB Dexter McCluster had a nice catch in the seven-on-seven period, reaching up over his right shoulder as he was running to pull in a high throw. He never broke stride.

– For those keeping score at home, here are the three kickoff coverage units that will work with kicker Ryan Succop this Friday night in Atlanta:

• First – Jon McGraw, Quinten Lawrence, Jovan Belcher, Jake O’Connell, Jackie Battle, Terrance Copper, David Herron, Andy Studebaker, Mike Richardson and Eric Berry.
• Second – Kendrick Lewis, Jerheme Urban, Cory Greenwood, Pierre Walters, Tim Castille, Jarvarris Williams, Leroy Banks, Cameron Sheffield, Javier Arenas and DaJuan Morgan.
• Third – Ricky Price, Jeremy Horne, Walters, Verran Tucker, Kestahn Moore, Rich Gunnell, Cody Slate, John Russell, Donald Washington and Jackie Bates.