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Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007: Training Camp News

Cool temperatures and a light breeze made for one of the most beautiful mornings at Chiefs camp today. There were sunny skies with a temperature of 80 degrees, and winds from the northwest at nine miles per hour. The dew point was 51, and the humidity was at 36 percent. 125 fans congregated in the bleachers and at the rails at UWRF’s Ramer Field practice area.

Offense

The offense used 11-on-11 drills for most of the practice while working on the short passing game. Quarterback Damon Huard led the first unit. Huard got 29 reps and was 9-17 in passing as his receivers had trouble hanging onto the ball and defenders made some good plays. Cornerback Patrick Surtain and defensive end Tamba Hali each got their hand on one of Huard's passes. On a 12-yard pass to the right side, linebacker William Kershaw deflected the ball in route to tight end Michael Allan.

Defense

This morning the team workout in shells, which means they were just wearing shoulder pads and helmets. The morning stretch broke at 9:12 a.m. and the players started their positional drills.

Linebackers Donnie Edwards and David Hicks weren't participating in practice this morning, but they were out with the team, and were used in formation drills as stationary offensive players. Defensive tackle Alfonso Boone also didn't practice because of a hand injury, but he participated in running and formation drills.

At 9:30 a.m. the team started its 11-on-11 practice. The team first worked on end of game situations, where coach Herm Edwards would say that there was a certain amount of time left, around 30 seconds, and put the ball at about the 50 yard line. The team was given one timeout and had to march down field to get kicker Justin Medlock in field goal range.

After the first round of 11-on-11 practices the team split up. The plastic garbage cans were brought out so the defense could work on reading offensive formations. Linebacker Kendrell Bell worked with the first team in place of Edwards with Napoleon Harris and Derrick Johnson also with the first group.

In replace of defensive tackle Alfonso Boone, rookie defensive tackle DeMarcus Tyler stood in at the right tackle spot. Tyler not only worked with the first team, but he also worked with the second team. As a rookie it is important for Tyler to get a lot of work in because the Chiefs lack depth at the defensive tackle position. Tyler has tremendous upper body strength, being able to push up and around offensive tackles. At the NFL combine Tyler posted a league high 42 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press. In his senior year in college at North Carolina State Tyler was named first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference.

The defense did a lot better job this morning at not jumping off sides. In previous practices they had a bit of trouble with the hard count, especially when quarterback Brodie Croyle is under center. The defense only jumped off sides once, but may have been draw off sides by the offensive line. There was a lot of finger pointing after the whistle.

This practice didn't have the amount of takeaways that the last practice had. The only fumble that the defense was able to cause was when defensive end Montez Murphy and other members of the defensive line stuffed running back Derrick Ross and forced the ball loose. Murphy spotted the ball on the ground and pounced on it. In celebration Murphy raised the ball in the air above his head.

The play that got the loudest reaction out of the crowd happened on a slant route to wide receiver Samie Parker. Parker cut in front of cornerback Ty Law beating safety Bernard Pollard to the ball, but the ball hit Parker in his hands and popped out. As Parker slapped his hands together in disgust, the crowd let him know he should have caught the ball. A fan yelled, "Nice hands [No.] 18."

The defense performed well in stopping the run on the goal line, in their jumbo set. When the ball was inside the 5-yard line the defense stopped the run three times in a row.

Special Teams

Special teams led the Chiefs' practice into its start. Kicker Justin Medlock practiced kicking on-side kicks while the first unit worked on lane positions and squeezing to the ball during coverage. "Make them think it's going to be a deep kick," said special teams Coach Mike Priefer. The first unit consisted of safeties Bernard Pollard and Jon McGraw, linebacker Keyaron Fox, fullback Boomer Grigsby, cornerbacks Michael Bragg and Dimitiri Patterso, wide receivers Chris Hannon and Jeff Webb, defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson and linebacker Rich Scanlo. After that specials teams transitioned to a punt return drill using a Juggs machine at the 20. Punter Dustin Colquitt ran through the motions of a punt with the timing of the ball as it was released from the Juggs. Wide receivers Samie Parker and Ean Randolph along with cornerback Justin Phinisee rotated receiving the punt. Out with the first unit was cornerback Benny Sapp, Grigsby, safeties Chad Williams, Pollard and McGraw, linebackers Scanlon and Nick Reid and defensive ends Wilkerson and Bragg.

Kicker Justin Medlock attempted four field goals during a special teams session. The attempts were from 38 up to 43-yards. He was 3-4, kicking one from the right hash short. Coach Herm Edwards later explained that it's easy for people to always blame the kicker, but that Medlock, holder Dustin Colquitt and snapper Jean-Phillippe Darche are all working to get the timing and the placement techniques worked out for the kick. "That's why we are practicing. We got to get it right," said Edwards who doesn't care so much about practice. "He missed a couple. Big deal. I like him to miss them all out here as long as he doesn't miss them during the game," shared Edwards when discussing Medlock's struggle earlier in the week.

Fans

Emily Lewis, 12, and her cousin Lauren, 11, took some time away from watching the Chiefs practice this morning to kick around a soccer ball in the grass behind the rails. Lauren and her family are from St. Joseph, Mo., and came to Chiefs camp as part of a visit to Emily’s family in Elk River, Minn. “I jammed my finger playing football,” said Lauren. “So we’re playing soccer instead.” Both girls are avid sports fans; Emily even plays with a youth soccer league, the Three River Soccer Association. Both families visited the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., last night, and plan on taking a trip to the St. Croix River tomorrow to engage in some waterskiing.

Dan Stone and his son Luke, 11, sat front and center in the bleachers this morning. The pair, from Blue Springs, Mo., made a stop at Chiefs camp for this morning only on their sports-filled summer vacation. Luke sported a Minnesota Twins baseball cap that was purchased at last night’s Twins vs. Royals game. After practice, the Stones will be headed to Milwaukee to experience a Brewers game. “We’re headed towards the Brewers,” said Dan. “We’re on the road again.”

Tricia Schwind, from Lansing, Kan., was at practice today for her fourth year at camp. With Schwind was Sharon Laughery, Mary Beth McCarty, and Linda Millhouse, all from Kansas City, Kan. Laughery, McCarty and Millhouse have been coming to River Falls for camp for the past nine years and enjoy being able to get away for a girls weekend. Schwind, who is a season ticket holder, said she was glad to see linebacker Donnie Edwards back. Some of her other favorite players include defensive end Tamba Hali and fullback Boomer Grigsby. Schwind, Laughery, McCarty, and Millhouse also would like to say, “Hey Mike and Missy, we wish you were here!”

This is the second year at training camp for Kevin McMillan from Overland Park, Kan. McMillan enjoys coming to camp each summer to see the Chiefs because he is able to watch the players in action. Some of McMillan’s favorite players are running back Priest Holmes, wide receiver Eddie Kennison and running back Larry Johnson. McMillan also mentioned that he would be in Mankato, Minn. for the Chiefs/Vikings practice because he has family that lives there.

Sascha Peterson, from River Falls, Wis., was enjoying her first Chiefs practice today. Peterson thought it would be a nice day to stop by because the weather was cooler. Peterson loves having the Chiefs come to River Falls each summer because she loves the fans and knows it is great for the community.

Josh Bergquist, 9 and younger brother Joseph, 6 of Stevens Point, Wis., were excited to be out watching NFL football players in action. The brothers were watching the Chiefs practice with their grandpa, Paul Knopps. Both Bergquist boys play football, baseball and basketball and after practice were planning on going fishing with their grandpa.

 Sunny Martinez, 10, of River Falls, Wis., rode his bike to practice today to get some pointers from some of the players for his own football experience next year. Martinez has been riding his bike up to the Chiefs practices for two years and after watching them play is finally ready to put on those pads and helmet  and play football for his school. “I really like to watch football, but I’ve never played it and I’m really excited to play next year.”

Kris Oechsle, of Eau Claire, Wis., has been in River Falls four times since the Chiefs arrival on July 27, practicing his photography skills. Oechsle’s favorite snapshots to get are “when the quarterback is stepping back from formation.”

Susie ‘Bling-Bling’ Boyer and friend Rich ‘Sneaky’ Edwards, Jr., attended Chiefs camp for the seventh year this morning. The pair of friends met at Chiefs camp several years ago, and have been coming to River Falls together ever since. Edwards, from Washington, Ill., is a freelance photographer for Three Wide Media and is also in the area to take picture at the USA Nationals race at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. Edwards refused to disclose the origins of his nickname, while Boyer’s was evident: among her many articles of flashy accessories were a pair of rhinestone-studded sunglasses. Both are missing the third member of their fan group, a gentleman from Prescott, Wis. Boyer and Edwards want to say, “Colby, we miss you!”

Extra, Extra...

The Hess family from Augusta, Kan., was one of the first to get their pictures taken with a cut-out photograph board next to the Information Gazebo this morning. The board was added to the field only today, and features UWRF’s mascot Freddy Falcon and the Chiefs’ mascot KC Wolf. The cut-out has space for up to three people to place their heads through the face masks of three Chiefs’ players. Carla chose the player bearing No. 99, while husband Rick chose No. 0, and their son Alec, stepped up to No. 10.

The sole player working the Juggs machine today was wide receiver Brad Ekwerekwu.

Tight ends Tony Gonzalez and Jason Dunn were seen working on some plays on the field after practice.

Enjoying a better view, 25 fans along with some of the crew of the HBO show ‘Hard Knocks’ caught practice from the stands of Ramer Stadium. 

Running back Priest Holmes, along with tight ends Tony Gonzalez, Alfonso Boone and Jason Dunn all pushed the wooden sled approximately 18 yards next to Field No. 1 while fans lined the fence to snap some quick photos. One fan commented on how neat it was to be so close to her favorite player, Tony Gonzalez.

A fan spotted running back Priest Holmes riding a stationary bike beneath the cover of a white tent as practiced started. The fan pointed it out to other fans and they leaned and twisted from their spots in the bleachers to get a look at Holmes. "Right over there, under the tent there on the bike," the fan said.

You could see fullback Boomer Grigsby's gray t-shirt was drenched with sweat, but that didn't hinder his light attitude while on the sideline during practice. He was all smiles and never without a comment.

Coach Herm Edwards started his press conference wishing the victims and their families of the I-35W bridge collapse in Minnesota yesterday thoughts and prayers from the Chiefs organization and himself personally. "I know kind of what those people are feeling. Unless you're in the city where it happened you can't understand," commented Edwards who was in New York at the time of 9-11.

Edwards then moved on to discuss the practices with the Minnesota Vikings on Friday and Saturday saying that it was "professional" between the two teams last year and that this year should be no different. He also went on to say that he would be especially watching wide receivers, quarterbacks and defensive linemen during those practices to see how they perform against another team. Edwards revealed that the rookies of both teams will be practicing against each other at the end of both days so that they can work on their fundamentals and receive more reps. The bottom line of the practices Edwards said is to, "[See] how we function now against another color jersey." When asked why he decided to travel to Minnesota he explained that he wants to see how the players handle the travel and if it affects their performances.

2007 Staff

Students and staff covering the Chiefs this year include in front row, left to right: Dave Urbaniak (Defense), Amie Eller (Fans, Punt, Pass & Kick), Jim Thies (Sports Information Director), Jennifer Pengra (Fans, Kids Days), Shawna Carpentier (Offense). Back, left to right: Mark Kinders (Public Affairs Director), Brenda Bredahl (Public Affairs Editor), Jens Gunelson (Photographer), Lisa Stratton (Fans, Web Site Editor), Deb Toftness (Office Manager). Not pictured is Zach Nagle (Student Photographer).