Chiefs: Training Camp Impression

Chiefs: Training Camp Impressions – On Tuesday July 30, I made an impromptu visit to the Kansas City Chiefs training camp. I’ll be honest, I actually tried to talk myself out of going. As I was traveling and in the area (not really) and I had plans to visit my Father later in the day (Dad lives within 30 minutes of St. Joe), I only had to do 3 things to make it to camp. First, I had to throw a monkey wrench into my plans for later in the week. Second, I had to get up at 4:00 and last, I climbed into the driver’s seat of my car about a quarter past 5 and voila, I pulled into the Mo West parking lot at 7:50 AM… piece-o-cake.

I’m going to just jot down things that I noticed or that left an impression. There won’t be an order, just as things pop into my head while I’m typing.

Hardman on the Jugs

There were a few players already out when I walked up to the fields, but the only one working was Mecole Hardman, fielding “punts” off the jugs machine. Hardman tracked the ball very well, as the balls were traveling about 60-65 yards in the air and they were sweeping the jugs left to right about 20 yards, and Hardman had no problems settling underneath for the catch. He did juggle about 3 or 4 balls, but none of them hit the ground. I believe the Chiefs are planning on Hardman being the primary return man this season.

The MoWest Layout

For those of you that have never been to Missouri Western, there are two practice fields, side by side, with the end zones to the North and South, (actually, it’s more Northeast to Southwest), with a big hill (slope) at the South end of the West field that lets you look out over the fields.

There are fan bleachers set up at the South end of the East field and all along the East side.

I’ve been to camp several times and there just isn’t any one place to sit and see all that is happening. When the teams are split up into position groups, the offense will be on the west field and the defense on the east. Usually the DL is to the south end with the LBs toward the center and the DBs at the north end.

A drill that I had never seen before took place on the east field. The linebackers and DBs were in position and there were defensive coaches in receiver roles, running pick plays, with the defenders learning to work around the picks.

Touching Base…

If what I witnessed Tuesday was any indication, the Chiefs base defense is going to be a 4-2-5 nickel. I don’t remember seeing 3 linebackers on the field at any one time. First team LBs appeared to be Hitchens and Wilson, with Lee getting a lot of work, but again, that could have just been Tuesday’s plan, as the offense seemed to be running all 11 personnel.

Speaking of linebackers, Attaochu looked really good, I don’t know if he’ll make the team, but I thought he was good in almost every aspect.

Unlike years past, defensive players rotated in every single play in team drills. there was a constant stream of players on and off the field, with all types of player combinations. The defensive coaches will be spending plenty of time watching practice film to see what they have.

Tight ends… Ugh

Tight ends… ugh, well, we have the best in the league, but after that… Laddie won’t let me use the words I would like, to describe them. Hopefully one of them stands out in a good way over the next 30 days, but what I saw yesterday, I would rather keep an extra WR and only Kelce and one other TE, probably Yelder, but that could change. In blocking drills, the tight ends stunk.