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Monday, August 17: Morning Practice

It was a good start to the last week of practice during Summer Training Camp. It was partly sunny and 67 degrees to begin practice and by the end of practice it was about 77 degrees. The dew point was at 60 and the humidity was 78 percent. A nice breeze was present throughout the entire practice at an average of five miles-per-hour towards the southwest.

There were nearly 110 people at the 19th Kansas City Chiefs Practice. This was also Seniors' Day, which made up for 77 people alone. The sun was perfectly hidden behind light clouds making people less eager to hide inside for the day.

Seniors' Day

Seniors Day took place at this morning’s practice at the Ramer Field Sports Complex at UW-River Falls during the Kansas City Chiefs Summer Training Camp’s 19th practice. There were 77 senior citizens in attendance, setting a record high for Seniors’ Day. Seniors came from all over including River Falls, Stillwater, Minn., Woodbury, Minn., and Ellsworth, Wis.

Seniors took over the majority of the bleachers on the east end of the practice fields. They were able to watch the morning practice while enjoying a Kansas City Chiefs Summer Training Camp seat cushion, a Camp Journal, coffee, cookies and candy!

Right before practice ended, there was a raffle drawing with Dairy Queen treat coupons from the River Falls Dairy Queen and movie passes to the Falls Theater in town. There were a total of 20 prizes raffled off.

Offense

Quarterback Tyler Thigpen was not in pads today for the first practice since the preseason opener on Saturday. Also unavailable were guard Tavares Washington and running back Kolby Smith. 

Wide receiver Ashley Lelie was signed by the team on Monday. He was in full pads and participated in some of the drills. Receiver Jeff Webb was released to make room on the roster for Lelie. Lelie was selected by the Denver Broncos in the 2002 NFL Draft with the 19th overall selection. Lelie attended the University of Hawaii.

Offensive Line Coach Bill Muir made sure the linemen realized the Minnesota Viking linebackers were going to be quick in Friday’s preseason game. “Oh those linebackers this week are quick. You gotta be quicker!” Muir said.

Quarterback Matt Cassel and Brodie Croyle worked on field 2 with the defensive backs while fellow quarterback Matt Gutierrez ran the team’s 7-on-7 run drill on field 1. 

Receiver Mark Bradley caught some grief from Head Coach Todd Haley after Bradley ran a route too far.  You can’t go 15 [yards], you can go 10 to 12 [yards!]” the head coach yelled.

Defense

Linebacker Zach Thomas sat out of practice, again, this morning. He was the only inactive defensive player during practice.

After defensive end Wallace Gilberry made a good stop during a drill, linebacker Mike Vrabel encouraged his teammate, saying, “Good job, Wallace. Good job, man.”

Linebacker Andy Studebaker had his entire right arm taped up this morning. Studebaker still practiced and was as intense as normal.

The team ran three separate drills at one time this morning. On field 2, most of the team worked on some situational plays. On field 1, the offensive and defensive linemen faced off, as is familiar. Also on field 1, the linebackers worked against an offensive linemen. The linebackers ran back and forth between the drills on field 1 and field 2. Some of the linemen that made the exchange were Tamba Hali, Andy Studebaker and Pierre Walters. During the linemen’s drill, defensive end Alfonso Boone jumped offsides and had to run to the south fence and back as is the familiar consequence.

During 11-on-11, defensive tackle Ron Edwards, defensive ends Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson, linebackers Mike Vrabel, Corey Mays, Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali, cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr and safeties Jarrad Page and Mike Brown saw time with the first-string. Spending time with the second-string were defensive tackle Tank Tyler, defensive ends Wallace Gilberry and Alex Magee, linebackers Turk McBride, Andy Studebaker, Monty Beisel and Jovan Belcher, cornerbacks Donald Washington and Ricardo Colclough and safeties Jon McGraw and DaJuan Morgan. Cornerback Maurice Leggett continued to see time as the team’s nickelback.

During the team’s 11-on-11 drill, Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast was pleased with a stop cornerback Brandon Carr put on the play. Carr was able to defend quarterback Matt Cassel’s pass to wide receiver Terrance Copper. “Way to go, Carr,” Pendergast hollered from the sidelines. Later, Carr recovered a ball that was loose on the ground. The play was “ruled” as down, and Carr wasn’t credited with the fumble recovery. Safety Jarrad Page looked at Head Coach Todd Haley and said, “Challenge it. Challenge it.”

Cornerback Ricardo Colclough picked off quarterback Brodie Croyle during the team’ 11-on-11 drill.

After practice, safety Jarrad Page told members of the media that he thinks practice will continue to be intense this week, even though it’s a short one. “I don’t expect him (Head Coach Todd Haley) to take it easy on us,” Page said. “If he does, we’ll all be surprised.” Page said the team is looking at the preseason game on Aug. 21 as “just another chance to face another team on the field.”

Linebacker Corey Mays talked to reporters for a few minuets after practice. Mays was asked if he was happy on how camp was going thus far. “We haven’t done anything yet.  We are still at ground zero!” Mays was then asked about his personal performance and said that everyday is competition and he just has to keep working.

Special Teams

Kicker Ryan Succop was 3-4 in today’s kicking drills. Succop hit from 39, 41, and 50-yards, before missing from 54-yards.

Head Coach Todd Haley had to jog out of the way of a punt from Dustin Colquitt.  Cloquitt’s punt was caught by wide receiver Quinten Lawrence.

Receiver Bobby Engram, running back Dantrell Savage and cornerback Maurice Leggett spent time returning punts. The three have not been seen spending time as part of the return game through training camp thus far. Head Coach Todd Haley said the team's preseason game versus the Houston Texans on Aug. 15 was an awakening to the fact that the team needs to improve their return game.

Extra, extra...

At 9:23 a.m., the team finished with stretches and warm-ups and began their intense morning practice.

As the clock turned to exactly 11:00 a.m., the team broke their final huddle, and practice was finished.

NFL.com’s Vic Carucci and Gil Brandt were present this morning for the practice.  Brandt was sporting the Cowboy’s Super Bowl Ring from Super Bowl XII. Brandt was a talent scout for the Cowboys, before joining NFL.com.

Todd Haley Press Conference

Head Coach Todd Haley held his usual post-practice press conference this morning, opening by saying he thought the morning’s practice was intense. Haley said that his team has a lot to do in a short week. “By Wednesday, I’d imagine we’ll be doing opponent work,” he said.

When asked about the preseason game on Aug. 15 against the Houston Texans, Haley said the defense shed a positive light on things. “On third down, our defense was excellent,” Haley commented. It was turnovers that had the head coach upset. “Turnovers had me down in the tank most on the plane ride back,” he said. As far as the offense is concerned, Haley said, “We’ve got to be better, got to be faster. We need to have fewer turnovers.”

The Chiefs recently signed wide receiver Ashley Lelie. Haley said that Lelie is different than anything else the Chiefs already have in the receiving position. “He’s a long, lean guy,” Haley said. “He’s got top-end speed.” Haley also said that Lelie is going to have to work “double duty” to get caught up with the rest of the team.

When asked about the special teams performance in the preseason game, Haley said, “Our return game’s got to improve.” Haley also said that he plans to change up the kickoff and punt returners this week during practice. He wouldn’t name names, however. Haley said that he felt the frontline blocking was OK, and the highlight of special teams for him was the fact that everyone seemed to understand what was going on during kickoffs.

When Haley was asked about wide receiver Dwayne Bowe’s progress through camp, he said, “I’m encouraged with him. It’s still a work in progress, but we’re going to get it right.” Haley also said that he noticed Bowe’s “good energy” at practice this morning.

2009 Staff

Students and staff covering the Chiefs this year.
Front, left to right: Amanda Kane (Fans, Seniors Day),
Renee Thony (Sidelines), Linda Abel (Fans, Kids' Days),
Jim Thies (Sports Information Director).
Back, left to right: Deb Toftness (Office Manager),
Kevin Harter (University Communications Director),
Steve Linzmeier (Sidelines), J. J. Mosher (Fans, Punt, Pass & Kick),
Jens Gunelson (Photographer). Not picture is
Brenda Bredahl (University Communications Writer/Editor).