Chiefs Training Camp Preview

Chiefs Training Camp Preview

by Laddie Morse

The Kansas City Chiefs first Preseason game is two weeks from this coming Thursday. That’s 18 days from now. 18 measly days away. I can almost smell the BBQ now. While preseason games partially satisfy our need for football, training camp and “camp battles” should be as explosive as they’ve been in more than 6 years. Here are my top three camp battles.

3) The Battle for Left Guard

Bryan Witzmann and Parker Ehinger and to a lesser degree Kahlil McKenzie, will each be going hard from the first whistle to make their mark and vie for first team reps. If you have a counter, keep track of who gets the most, and that will give you an early clue as to who will be this year’s LG. Last year is was Witzmann. The year before it was Ehinger. Now, the Chiefs have drafted the massive McKenzie who has little experience on the offensive side of the ball so his chances go down for that reason alone. But, don’t count this son of an NFL legend out, he may just surprise you. From the outside looking in it appears to be Ehinger or Witzmann — in that order — who have the best shot as camp gets under way.

2) The Battles for Starting CBs

The only CB we know will be a starter for certain is Kendall Fuller and he will likely be slotted for the slot. That leaves the two outside CB positions open plus the two CB positions behind them as well. You should expect David Amerson and Steven Nelson to get the first crack at the two starting roles and if they falter it opens the door to a multitude of talents: Keith Reaser, Will Redmond, Tremon Smith and Ashton Lampkin mainly. My pick would be Keith Reaser at this point but that’s what camp is for… sorting out the winners.

1) The Battle for ROLB

You might expect Dee Ford to simply take over and watch as DC Bob Sutton simply goes back to the man he’s had planned there for the past four seasons. However, the team drafted Breeland Speaks and Tanoh Kpassagnon early in each of the past two drafts to make sure they could get a push from that side opposite of Justin Houston. Speaks brings a bigger-man mentality to the OLB position — like Tamba Hali — and you can be sure Bob Sutton will be wanting to take his new car out for a drive. One of Ford’s weaknesses has been his inability to set the edge which has allowed other teams to “run-left” anytime they wanted with success. Both KPass and Speaks should help shut that business down… or at least limit it. I won’t be at all surprised to see Ford sitting on early-running downs with Speaks taking first team snaps by the time the regular season rolls around.

What do you think? Are there specific camp battles you believe are more critical to the Chiefs success in 2018? Here’s the Chiefs training camp schedule again if you didn’t get it previously. Go Chiefs.

Be sure and check out the video below of Reid talking about Berry… it’s worth a laugh.

The Kansas City Chiefs Camp Schedule:

Thursday, July 26 – 3:30 p.m.

Friday, July 27 – 8:15 a.m.

Saturday, July 28 – 8:15 a.m. AUTOGRAPH DAY

Sunday, July 29 – 8:15 a.m. AUTOGRAPH DAY – SEASON TCIKET HOLDERS

Monday, July 30 – 9:15 a.m.

Tuesday, July 31 – No Practice

Wednesday, Aug. 1 – 8:15 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 2 – 8:15 a.m.

Friday, Aug. 3 – No Practice

Saturday, Aug. 4 – 8:15 a.m. AUTOGRAPH DAY

Sunday, Aug. 5 – 8:15 a.m. AUTOGRAPH DAY – SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

Monday, Aug. 6 – 8:15 a.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 7 – 9:15 a.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 8 – No Practice

Thursday, Aug. 9 – GAME DAY

• North on I-435.
• Take I-29 North to S Riverside Rd in Saint Joseph.
• Exit onto 46A to ver onto US-36 E then go one mile.
• Exit and turn Left onto S. Riverside Rd.
• Turn Left on Mitchell Ave.
• Turn right into Missouri Western State University
• Turn left on Downs Dr. and follow the Chiefs Camp signs

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