Chiefs: Player Focus and a Fresh 13

Chiefs: Player Focus and a Fresh 13 – First, some review. Yesterday, Ransom Hawthorne did a piece called, “Chiefs Roster Battles to Watch in Remaining Preseason Action” which you need to read as it highlights what is going on as players vie for a roster spot. Ransom points out that there are several roster spots still open and players competing for them which bodes well for the strength of the roster over all – especially depth and having players that can step in and step up.

On Friday Laddie Morse had a very interesting potpourri of views in his piece called, “Training Camp Glossary” of the Chiefs based on the alphabet (well, most of it). It gives some views that most of us may not have considered to this point, and it is an enjoyable, fun article. 

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Michael Travis Rose offered an excellent article on Andy Reid called, “In Andy We Trust.”

Paul Pully had a technical article that is a fine piece of work on, “Extending the Contract of Tyreek Hill.” 

Preseason Game Two

An article on a couple of things need to be covered today after the Chiefs played their 2nd preseason game last night and “WON OR LOST”. I don’t worry about the preseason W-L record. I’m looking to see whether… the Three C’s is present: Coordination of play, Consistency of effort & Cohesiveness. I want to see who is living up to their responsibilities and making sure that dumb mistakes are minimized. I want to see very effective play in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

Trenches Players on Both Sides: Strong Assets

I will focus on two players that I think have made the roster but, I want to speak to the roster in general. The team has a very strong presence on both the offense and defensive line. Both could conceivably field 10 players. Because of this strength, there will be opportunity to make trades for GM Brett Veach and he has been known to pull off deals in the August time frame.

For the Front 5 on Offense?

I see potentially keeping the normal 9 linemen who would likely be a very strong front. The problem is going to be managing roster spots because team needs will be the most glaring at CB and the Chiefs are sure to keep 5 safeties. On offense, I have the following 5 starters:

• • Eric Fisher- LOT
  • Andrew Wylie- LOG
  • Austin Reiter- OC
  • Laurent Duvernay-Tardif– ROG
  • Mitchell Schwartz– ROT

To these five I am going to add 4 more as roster players: it may only be 3… but I think 4.

• • Cam Erving- SWT & SWG
  • Nick Allegretti– OG
  • Jimmy Murray- OC
  • Kahlil McKenzie- OG

I think you can see the strength of this group of players. There are three more that I think you have to keep an eye on but especially Dino Boyd and Ryan Hunter, both OT’s.  A third OT is present but, I have no idea how the Chiefs feel about him and I personally have not seen him or researched him: Chidi Okeke.

The Front Four on Defense

• • Frank Clark- DE
  • Derrick Nnadi- DT
  • Chris Jones- DT
  • Alex Okafor- DE

The depth?

• • Emmanuel Ogbah- DE
  • Khalen Saunders- DT
  • Xavier Williams- DT
  • Breeland Speaks-DE/DT
  • Tanoh Kpassagnon- DE

That said, I have a couple of players to focus on the rest of the say as we get on toward cut back day in 13 days.

Player Focus: Herb Miller – Cornerback

The Cornerback room remains a high focus area that still needs to be strengthened despite the addition of Mo Claiborne. CB Herb Miller is my first player of note and he has made an impression on staff and observers alike. Keep in mind that he comes out of the Florida Atlantic program which is where Keith Reaser attended school. Reaser was my highlight newcomer until injury took him out for the season.

Miller is 6-2, 190 with big hands and great arm length. The metrics look good but he is not a speedster which makes him a pedestrian type 40 time but this is pro-day (he was not a combine entrant). His numbers:

• • 4.57 – 40
  • 13 reps on the bench press
  • Vertical 32.5
  • Broad 119 inches
  • 3 cone 7.25
  • 20 yard Shuttle – 4.24

Miller would be a fit for a taller corner covering tall WR’s or TE’s that he could match speed with inside or out. He would fulfill a role of Nickel or inside corner for that purpose and that is something that would fit with the needs of the Chiefs. He looks to have impressed coaches in both mini-camp and training camp so over the next two weeks it is important to see how he plays and how he matches up on the snaps he gets. It remains to be seen if his speed in pads becomes less of a detriment. I want to see him in back pedal and his hip twitch when covering a Wideout, so watch for that.

It remains an important composite need of the Chiefs secondary to strengthen the CB Room and though the Chiefs did sign Mo Claiborne, yet it remains so. As noted I can see Miller as a Nickel CB, he can do the blitz and run support very well. Keep in mind he will need development over all especially in coverage on the outside and in technique. Last night, Herb Miller punched the ball out of the hands of a Steelers WR, for a turnover:

Player Focus: Cody Thompson – Wide Receiver

Another player out of Ohio that has some outstanding stuff. Not drafted but I like this player a lot. He is not a speedster but gives you a different type of WR — I will state it here, an “Adam Thielen type of WR. Cody’s Combine numbers were:

• • 4.57-40
  • Bench – 19 reps
  • 6.87 3-cone
  • 4.03 – 20-yard shuttle

Outstanding 3-cone (Short Area Quickness drill). The thing I like beyond that is his ability to make catches in traffic, climb the ladder to get the ball, dig up the contested catch and especially, he figures a way to get separation. Now it’s true, the outside view gets favorite newcomers who are not drafted and I have had mine. Keith Reaser-CB is one this year as well as Gehrig Dieter but both are injured and won’t be making the roster, at least this year. On the other hand, Thompson appears to be on the cusp of grabbing a roster spot and taking on a role which has meaning… meaning he will contribute as a receiver but he also fits Special Teams (S/T’s) as a return man at the very least. Too valuable for the PS.

In an article before the draft, Thompson gives a perspective on his ability as a WR in an interview with Steel City Underground by Eric Herrmann where he replied to a query:

“My experience gives me the perspective of a quarterback as well and understanding what they’re looking for and how they’re reading defenses. Like sometimes I think I’m open but sometimes I’m not because the quarterbacks at a different angle and has a different read on it. I think it helps me a lot from a mental aspect.”

in an Interview with BJ Kissel a few days ago, Thompson said of himself:

“I’m trying to show that I can come out here, earn a spot and help this team come and win a Super Bowl…I’m just excited to be here and grateful for this opportunity. I’m ready to get going.”

He also observed for Kissel:

“(I’m) just a guy that’s versatile who can play inside and outside. I’ve been a guy my whole career that’s played a lot on special teams. I know how important that is at this level, and especially this organization… I’m a physical receiver, I’m able to come down with the 50/50 balls downfield. I think I’m a smart player. I might not be the fastest guy out there, but I understand defenses, concepts and how to get open, and I use that to my advantage.”

It would be my view that adding Thompson to the Speedster WR group would give you a different WR with different talents to get open different ways. I think He will make the Roster and certainly the PS but I think he would be snatched from that list quickly. From last nights game:

Also, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride tweeted out this late last night:

A Fresh 13

Today is the 18th of August with less than 2 weeks, 13 days, remaining for 2 more preseason games and the GM’s, their staff and the coaching staff are getting ready for August 31: D-day (decision day). Prior to 4:00 PM Eastern, NFL Clubs must reduce their roster in one sweep from 90 to 53 players. If you recall, this had previously been two cuts, the first being a cut to 75 players. Now it is only one cut, from 90 to 53.

Ten Players are placed on the Taxi Squad (Practice Squad).

There are other categories which include the Injured Reserve, Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness who then must be further delineated as to must select one of the following options: whether the player is Physically Unable to Perform or has a Reserve/Non-football Injury or Illness, whichever applies.

Other categories can be: request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List.

Sunday’s Finale

I am glad it is football season and grateful the regular season is about to roll us forward. I am on board, wearing my Chiefs cap at McDonalds in Rockport, Texas as I finish typing these remarks. Hopefully I get the internet working at home tonight or tomorrow. I received the modem FedEx today.

David Bell – ArrowheadOne – Rockport, TX

[Side note: I guess you can call this “Dave’s Last Adventure – Salt Water Flying fishing Laguna Madre-the great Mother lagoon.

Maybe some sailing the gulf when I can get the boat.

I am back on the beach after a 6 year hiatus. No, not Port Fierce, er, Fort Pierce, FL but this is still about 2000 miles from Benewah County, ID. Unfortunately the skiff is gone as is the 33 Foot Sailboat — Pearson 10m, Restless Rosie, Both lost at Key West in 2017’s Hurricane].

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