Chiefs: A’Camping We Will Go
Laddie Morse
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Today is the day so many of us have been waiting for: the first day of the Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp. Somehow this offseason has felt like the longest offseason ever, and that’s not just because I spent months in the hospital recuperating from a sepsis infection and left knee replacement surgery. To a great extent, it’s seemed longer because of the Orlando Brown Jr. contract saga and his eventual holdout.
Let’s get beyond the OBJr. narrative and focus on what’s a lot more pleasant –> that being, the rest of the team.
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With the arrival of the veterans on Monday and the absence of the flashy Anthony Sherman, it has not been business as usual. Of course, this is the second season without the Sherman-a-tor but with the roster improving overall, we fans will gladly accept the change. For those of you who are planning on making the journey up to the Chiefs Training Camp today, remember this day is for Chiefs season ticket holders only.
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Here’s a look at the schedule for the next week:
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Here’s Juan Thornhill with his own take on what time it is…
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For years, many Chiefs fans have been waiting and wanting K.C. to take a top CB in the first round. Well, that happened this year with the selection of Trent McDuffie, in fact, the Chiefs traded up to get him.
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The fact that K.C. took a first round CB with skills on the high upside, and his story has gotten buried under the weight of other significant tales to be told, is a testament to the avalanche of other stories and shows just how busy the Chiefs offseason has been. John Dillon at ChiefsWire points out the importance of McDuffie’s selection:
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“Perhaps the most crucial addition they made was the selection of cornerback Trent McDuffie with the 21st overall pick.”
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You have to love McDuffie’s attitude too. Plus, he fits right into DC Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme which has all Safeties and CBs playing both positions at any time, to help confuse the opposing QBs and WRs.
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“I’m all over the place. Inside, outside, wherever the coaches need me. I tell them wherever you need me to play I’m going to do my best to make sure I’m ready for my opportunity.”
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Greg Biggins at 247Sports.com had this to say about Trent McDuffie:
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“Carries 190 pounds with ease and is among the most athletic two-way players in the country. Has tremendous speed and is an explosive player with the ability to play on either side of the ball. As a cover corner, he can run with any receiver down the field. Is explosive getting out of his breaks, and has improved his toughness and physicality. Has the ability to play running back or receiver in college. Is a playmaker with the football in his hands. Projects best as a cover corner and has a very high upside.”
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The attitude of the Chiefs players may be an even bigger story this offseason. To a man… they are saying and doing the right things. Take Jody Fortson for example:
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Fortson has backed it up with his actions too:
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“I got a lot of reps during OTAs. But once they ended and I was able to go home [to] my trainers up at Top Shelf and [private WR coach] Steph [Brown] and work on my breaks and what-not, I felt like I was ready to go at that point.”
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Mahomes, Mahomes, Mahomes
Now that K.C. has the best QB in the biz behind center, Chiefs Kingdom has become numb to the idea that the organization is a Super Bowl contender each and every year. Patrick Mahomes is not only a standard bearer for the rest of the NFL, but he’s setting standards that even the best all-time QBs can’t keep up with.
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Full Circle on Orlando Brown Jr.
If Brown is showing up late for Training camp, which he is, then other options will be explored by Andy Reid on the field, and Brett Veach from atop his perch in the main office. Consequently, it look like Brown may have out smarted himself. Why? Because Andy Reid likes to pick a lineup and stick with those guys as a unit to give them a chance to bond. That may also be why Veach has signed two more Tackles in: David Steinmetz and Evin Ksiezarczyk. While none of them likely have the upside that Brown has, we do know Reid likes to put his five best linemen on the field and go with them. We also know the IOL is a strength of this team so moving a strong IOL to the outside may be Reid’s answer in the long run. Unless Brown shows up in the next week… which no one foresees happening… he may have just maneuvered himself out of a job in K.C. and I won’t be surprised if Veach and Reid decide to pull their tag offer if Brown is not in camp in a week (if that’s even a legal option).
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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