Camping at St Joe: Notes and Observations

Camping at St Joe: Notes and Observations

By David Bell

On day one, near the end of Practice, Leo Chenal had to leave the field, apparently with heat exhaustion. The next day? Leo snagged an interception-He said he was just doing his job according to the defense’s assignments. However, Chenal appeared not to have suffered any carry-over effects and appears to be in great physical condition.

I had heat stroke once in my life and it was an awful feeling. We had football practices (two-a-day) and then baseball practice Saturday Mornings. I collapsed for a while in the shade and felt a lot better after drinking some water and resting, but it affected me all day. I really like Leo and it is my view he will be an important ingredient to the defense right away.

Leo Chenal at the Chief’s Presser – Chiefs photo credit

Chenal was asked by KSHB reporter Haley Lewis what it was like going up against Mahomes and he replied: “It’s kind’a cool, the top of the top of the top. Iron sharpens iron but in reality it’s more like a diamond sharpening copper.” A fan remarked that this is a good nickname for him: “Copper Chenal.”

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Here’s a link to the Leo Chenal Presser on Facebook.

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Here’s the Drill

The drills are taking place with only 30 players in camp, which reduces their effectiveness in more advanced play-calling on both sides of the ball. There are only four Offensive Linemen available: Darian Kinnard, Michael Caliendo, Chris Glaser, and Vitaliy Gurman.

Patrick Mahomes had an interesting play in which he handed the ball off to a RB — Isiah Pacheco — received a second ball from a coach and made a behind-the-back pass. It was completed.

Isiah Pacheco at Chiefs Presser – Chiefs photo credit

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Pacheco said in his session that:

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“Nothing makes me different… just be the same guy, like I did before at Rutgers. And, you know, be a team player, whatever coach wants me to do, I’m gonn’a do it. And take advantage of any opportunities. Coming from an offensive coach at the running back position, coach Augie (Hoffmann) definitely prepared me for the next level, and I feel like I’m at a good size to where I could take on blocking.”

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Click this ling to read Ed Easton, Jr. (Chiefswire) who has a good article on Pacheco.

Darian Kinnard looks to be in great shape. In a short presser he noted that:

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“The more reps you get the more confident you feel.”

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The big man impresses me thus far so I have good hopes that he will have a very successful training camp.

Kinnard – post-training session – Chiefs photo credit

Another positive from Sunday’s session was Joshua Williams who also snagged an INT. The Chiefs may have found a gem for the secondary. In his short session Williams said: “Going from college to an NFL playbook is very different.”

Williams has a bit of Length – Chiefs presser session photo

Aaron Ladd reports that Jody Fortson looks sharp. He reported to camp due to suffering an Achilles Tendon injury in week seven of 2021. Here’s a video of Fortson at camp:

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In his presser session Jody explained that his support system would not let him give up. He also stated what he was trying to accomplish in this training camp: “I’m trying to do my job to the best of my ability.”

Jody at the Camp presser today – Chiefs Photo credit

I have exceedingly high hopes that Jody gets through to the season and makes the significant contribution to the offense, which I anticipate. He also observed that there were several great receivers on the Chiefs roster this year. For Jody, we saw it coming together for him last year and then he was injured and out for the season.

Monday, the Veterans report so the camp will be setting up for a full complement of players for Wednesday. By the end of the week, things will really be “heating up” at Western Mo State U. I don’t know when the pads will go on, but it won’t be until next week.

You get the impression from these young players, that they have their heads on their shoulders and arrived at St. Joe with the right attitude for success.

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David Bell — ArrowheadOne

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