Chiefs Training Camp Day 9: OPEN THREAD

Chiefs Training Camp Day 9:

OPEN THREAD

by Laddie Morse

Patty-Takes: the Thrill of the Hunt

The Kansas City Chiefs (part) owner Clark Hunt was at Training Camp on Saturday. He expressed his excitement to have Patrick Mahomes II under center for the Chiefs:

“It’s very exciting for the franchise from a long-term perspective. If you can develop your own quarterback who can play at the top of the league, you can create an opportunity over the course of a decade to win a championship, and that’s what we hope Patrick does for us.”

No expectations here, right?

In the meantime Andy Reid wants Mahomes to learn on the fly and avoid “checking down.” With the first preseason game coming up on Thursday evening, you can expect a couple of TD passes from Mahomes and maybe a couple of INTs as well. That seems to be his pattern in camp. I doubt he’ll play much into the 3rd quarter if at all. Reid will want to get as many “meaningful” snaps for Mahomes as possible but if the Texans send in their 3rd team in the 3rd quarter you have to question how meaningful those snaps might be.

We haven’t heard Travis Kelce’s name called very much in the past two practices so here’s a pretty little timing route over the middle that Kelce and Mahomes seem to have down pat.

Dandy Duel of the Day

Steven Nelson beats Sammy Watkins and not the other way around this time:

Injury Bugs in the House

Players who missed all or part of practice. There are too many to sort out at this point. I still beleive Andy Reid is using the Medical Tent a break time cantina:

• Cam Erving – knee
• Eric Fisher – shoulder
• Tanoh Kpassagnon – heel
• Keith Reaser – quad strain
• Leon McQuay – hamstring
• DL Derrick Nnadi – elbow
• LB Reggie Ragland – knee
• LB Anthony Hitchens – hamstring
• WR Marcus Kemp – ankle

I’m not saying some of these player’s injuries aren’t real. I do think that Reid is erring on the side of caution and the first sign of a twinge or strain… and off to the cantina for them.

The Depth of Brett Veach

I can’t recall a deeper squad. Let me say right up front that we don’t really know the quality of the depth of this team until the real bullets start flying in the regular season. However, it appears that there are more players to step up and do a goo job at a variety of positions than there’s ever been before. I’m not going to say I’d like to see ILBs Ben Niemann or Raymond Davison starting for the Chiefs but… they’ve both done an admirable job in the absence of Reggie Ragland and Anthony Hitchens. The same could be said for the wide receiver position. No, the backups will not provide the same top end as Hill or Watkins but there is enough depth to fill in for the 3rd, 4th, or 5th wideouts for sure. It also looks like the number of offensive linemen who can step in has grown as well. No, the Chiefs don’t own a top 8 offensive line, but when everyone is healthy it cna be very good… no great… but very good. GM Brett Veach has done one bang up job of gathering together talent… better than what I recall in any of John Dorsey’s years here.

Houston, We’ve Got a Prolific Pass Rusher

ILB Justin Houston is supposed to be fixed now. He’s two full years removed from his leg whip and consequential knee injury. Houston says he’s all healed and his speed is supposed to be back. BJ Kissel says it’s noticeable when he drops into coverage. Personally, I really want to see that “difference” when he’s rushing the quarterback because I could care less abut watching Houston chase Antonio Brown down the field. Ever.

The Rest of the Week

• Monday, Aug. 6 – 8:15 a.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 7 – 9:15 a.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 8 – No Practice
• Thursday, Aug. 9 – GAME DAY

Let the Chiefs Training Camp Day 9 begin and may the injury bug fly far, far away… forever. Go Chiefs!

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