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Tuesday, August 15, 2006, Afternoon
K.C. Chiefs Training Camp Daily Updates

The 215 fans’ shades were on at today’s afternoon practice, as the sun was shining at its brightest. The temperature was 80 degrees and the humidity was 37 percent. With only a slight wind from the SW at 2 mph, it felt more like 90 degrees.

Offense

Today the offense worked primarily on team drills. There were three segments of 11-on-11s and two segments of 7-on-7s.

Quarterback Trent Green led the first short set of 11-on-11s, but only completed 3-8 passes and threw one interception. Running back Dee Brown, tight end Tony Gonzalez and fullback Ronnie Cruz each caught one pass. Green unsuccessfully tried to hit wide receiver Eddie Kennison on two attempts, Gonzalez on twice and wide receiver Samie Parker once. The offensive linemen included: left tackle Kyle Turley, left guard Chris Bober, center Casey Wiegmann, right guard Will Shields and right tackle Kevin Sampson.

In the first series of 7-on-7s, only the Chiefs worked on the running game. Running back Larry Johnson carried the ball three times and running back Dee Brown carried the ball twice under the quarterbacking of Trent Green. Quarterback Casey Printers handed off the ball to running back Derrick Ross four times, running back Quentin Griffin three times and running back McKenzi Smith twice.   When Printers took the reins, Green moved to the next field to work with the wide receivers on sideline patterns to the right.

In the second set of 11-on-11s, offensive coordinator Mike Solari was irritated by the team's play. At one point, he yelled, "Get in the huddle!" and proceeded to stand right in the middle of the huddle to do some teaching. Quarterback Trent Green was 1-3, only hitting fullback Ronnie Cruz on a short pass up the middle. He still couldn't connect with wide receivers Eddie Kennison and Samie Parker. Quarterback Casey Printers completed 3-6 passes, connecting with wide receivers Jeris McIntyre, Nate Curry and Jeff Webb. Quarterback Jeff Smoker took one snap, completing a pass to tight end Aaron Golliday.

In the final set of 7-on-7s, quarterback Trent Green still struggled. He connected with wide receiver Samie Parker and completed 3-5 passes to wide receiver Dante Hall, tight end Kris Wilson and tight end Tony Gonzalez. Quarterback Damon Huard completed 3-6 passes, one to wide receiver Eddie Kennison and two to wide receiver Nate Curry. One pass intended for tight end Robert Docherty in the end zone was knocked down by the defense. Quarterback Casey Printers worked with wide receivers Craphonso Thorpe and Kyle Brown during his tenure on the field. He completed two passes to Thorpe and one to Brown, but was also intercepted once.

In the Chiefs final 11-on-11 drill at River Falls, quarterback Trent Green was 1-4. He couldn't find wide receiver Dante Hall or tight end Tony Gonzalez, but did manage to complete a dump off to running back Larry Johnson. Only taking four snaps, quarterback Jeff Smoker completed 1-2 passes. He hit fullback J.R. Niklos on a short pass up the middle, but overthrew wide receiver Kyle Brown.

Quarterback Casey Printers did most of the quarterbacking in this drill. Printers completed 6-10 passes. Wide receiver Jeris McIntyre, wide reciver Chris Hannon, fullback J.R. Niklos, tight end Robert Docherty, tight end Kris Wilson and running back Quentin Griffin all registered receptions. The pass to Docherty went for a touchdown.

Defense

The defense was out on the field for the last time this season, as their summer training camp in River Falls came to a close. 

The energy level was nowhere near what it was at the beginning of camp, as players have been praying for the regular season to start. 

The defense came in to camp with a lot of hopes to improve; they seem to have made several strides for the better. Every position, minus the defensive line, looks to be locked up and ready to go for the season. The defensive line most likely will include ends Jared Allen and injured Tamba Hali, while Ryan Sims and Lional Dalton look to plug the middle. Sims and Dalton have been looking over their shoulders throughout camp and seeing James Reed and Ron Edwards. Reed, along with rookie safety Bernard Pollard, has looked solid throughout the training camp compared to most. The two of them will vie for a spot not only on the team, but for a starting roll in the future. 

Cornerback Patrick Surtain started at left cornerback throughout camp, rarely missing a practice to rest. Right cornerback Ty Law was granted one-a-days towards the end of camp, practicing a majority of the time only in the afternoon. Fans hope that getting Law was the transaction the Chiefs needed to make a run at the Super Bowl. Law and Surtain will give the Chiefs two lockdown corners to shut down opponents’ best two receivers. The question will be: who will cover which receiver.

A lot of optimism about the defense was carried through camp; the defense looks to be one of the best the Chiefs have seen. Fans will get their first taste when the Cincinnati Bengals come to Arrowhead on opening day.

Interview with Head Coach Herm Edwards

"Well, it was the last practice at River Falls today, so they should be excited. And for the most part we learned a lot about each other. They learned a lot about me as a head coach and I learned a lot about them as a football team. From this, I can take away that we have some players that really want to do what they are asked to do as players, and we have some good character players on this football team. I think character is the thing that always keeps you steady and gives you the ability to get through the hard times."

The last day of practice was very spirited Edwards said. "Just like the last day in school. To say the least they are probably excited about going home to see their families and loved ones. I know I'm excited to see my wife and my little girl. So we'll put this one in the bank."

The Chiefs will play their second preseason game against the Giants on Thursday. About going back to New York, Edwards said, "Sometimes you're on the home side and sometimes you're on the visitor's side. I've been on both sides, but now I'm in different color."

Fans

In the Information Gazebo there is a book where fans can write down their names and any short comments they might have about Chiefs camp. Here are some comments from fans:
*Brian Waters of Stewartville, Minn., wrote: “No matter what, there are always loyal [Chiefs] fans.”
*Rick and Adam McLane wrote: “This is the Super Bowl year! Go Chiefs!”
There were also a few odd comments:
*Monica of New Hartford, Iowa wrote: “I like potatoes.”

People have come from all over the world to see the Chiefs Summer Training Camp. There is a map in the Information Gazebo where fans can pinpoint their hometowns. Some of the places people have come from include Honolulu, Hawaii; Cantwell, Alaska; Santa Clara, Mexico; and Nova Scotia.

Martin Steede and Sam Collman traveled all the way from Liverpool and Bristol, England to be at Chiefs camp. During high school, Steede was a foreign exchange student in St. Paul. The pair came back to visit old friends, do some sight-seeing and watch the Chiefs. Steede is a huge football fan, with his favorite team being the New York Jets. Accordingly, the football fan was excited to see Coach Herm Edwards, former Jets head coach, in person. “I think he’ll motivate the team as a whole,” said Steede about Edwards.

Gerald Matteson of River Falls, brought his granddaughter Kinzy Mohs to camp for the day. Matteson used to be an agriculture education professor in town, at UW-River Falls. Although he only follows the Chiefs a little bit throughout the season, he enjoys watching football and lives just yards away from the Ramer Field Sports Complex practice fields. Matteson said he can see the practices from his deck. When asked what her favorite part of camp was, Mohs said she enjoys watching football and likes getting out of the house.

Logan Baker, from Oakdale, Minn., was present at her very first Chiefs practice this afternoon. Baker, who is a UW-River Falls alum, enjoys watching the team perform drills and practice right before the fans’ eyes. Some of Baker’s favorite players include running back Larry Johnson and tight end Tony Gonzalez. Baker was disappointed that it was the team’s last practice this summer, but is hoping to see the Chiefs practice in River Falls again next year.

Cory Zentner traveled from Hudson, Wis., to watch the Chiefs in their final practice today. Zentner was excited to see quarterback Trent Green and wide receiver Dante Hall at practice this afternoon, but was disappointed that running back Priest Holmes was not present at camp. Zentner liked meeting other Chiefs fans this summer. He is hoping for a great NFL season and that the team makes it to the playoffs.

Gary and Susan Meyer drove to River Falls from Eau Claire, Wis., with their five kids: Vanessa, 17, Carly, 16, Noah, 13, Johanna, 9 and Lily, 5. Also joining the family on their trip was family friend, Wesley Franson, 12, who is a diehard Green Bay Packers fan. The family has made it to Chiefs training camp just about every year since the team made River Falls their summer home 16 years ago. Gary likes the team’s newfound focus on defense, but feels it has sort of neglected the offense. “They still have to put the ball in the end zone,” said Gary. He feels that the great rushing seasons of the past, that running backs Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson have enjoyed, may be hard to come by this year, with the retirements of offensive linemen John Welbourn and Willie Roaf and fullback Tony Richardson. Gary is looking forward to watching the Chiefs play on national TV Thursday, as they battle the New York Giants on Fox: “I hope the Chiefs have a great year and win one before Tony Gonzalez leaves or retires.”

Jeff Nelson and his son Chase, 2, attended this afternoon’s practice. They drove from Eden Prairie, Minn., to see their favorite Chiefs player, kick returner Dante Hall. Jeff has been a huge fan of Hall since he set an NFL record by producing kick return scores in four consecutive games in 2003. Before becoming a Hall fan, Jeff had no idea that the Chiefs held their training camp so close to his home. “I would have been coming years ago if I’d known that,” said Nelson.

Extra...Extra

Five semi-trucks joined the existing two in the back of Ramer Field Sports Complex. The trucks are going to be carrying all of the Chiefs’ equipment back to Kansas City.

Present at practice today were a couple of eminent gentleman: Willie Lainer, a Hall of Fame middle linebacker for the Chiefs, and Clark Judge, a reporter with CBS Sportsline. Lainer was part of the team when the Chiefs won Super Bowl IV.

Just as fans were about to give up on their desperate attempts to lure players over to sign autographs, kick returner Dante Hall jogged to the fence and put smiles on their faces.

Tight end Tony Gonzalez was catching passes after practice today. Gonzalez practiced for several minutes with one of the coaches before retiring to Hunt Arena, concluding the 2006 Chiefs Summer Training Camp.

Students and staff covering the Chiefs this year include in front row, left to right: Sara Dehn (Senior Day), Amie Eller (Kids' Days), John Hepokoski (sidelines), Holly Sigler (photographs), Jude Harder (fans, Punt, Pass & Kick). Back, left to right: Mark Kinders (Public Affairs Director), Kat Krtnick (sidelines), Deb Toftness (Office Manager), Brenda Bredahl (Public Affairs Editor), Jim Thies (Sports Information Director), Jens Gunelson (University Photographer).

Chiefs fans! Make sure you tune in to the 2006 Daily Updates page on a regular basis. We will be posting sidelines and fans information after each practice while the Chiefs are in camp.