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Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007: Training Camp News

This morning's special teams practice within Ramer Field Stadium heated up to a temperature of 81 degrees. A moderate amount of moisture hung in the air with humidity at 50 percent. The dew point was 61, and there was a breeze from the southeast at 8 miles per hour. The seats of the stadium were filled with some 183 fans.

Special Teams

Practice began with the sound of a horn at exactly 10:29 a.m. and ended at 11:17 a.m.

Punter Dustin Colquitt, kicker Justin Medlock and long-snapper Jean-Philippe Darche were on Ramer Field early this morning warming up before the rest of the special teams crew. Medlock and Colquitt took some practice kicks and Darche gave out some snaps. Two toots of an air horn let the rest of the crew know that it was two minutes till warm up time. The players went through line drills (i.e. high knees and butt kicks) from the end zone to the 20-yard line and back before they stretched out their muscles.

This morning there were many different players attempting the gunner position. Some of the players that participated in the drill as a gunner are wide receivers Brent Little, Chris Hannon and cornerbacks Michael Bragg, Tyron Brackenridge and Dimitri Patterson. The gunner's responsiblity is to be the first player to get to the ball, or the punt returner if the returner is able to field the ball. This is not an easy job considering both of the gunners are covered by two players. The players that worked on the coverage unit whose jobs are to cover the gunners are cornerbacks Marcus Maxey, Tyron Brackenridge and wide receivers Brad Ekwerekwu and Jeff Webb. It is important that the gunners are extremely fast, can keep their balance and are good tacklers. The gunner has to at least be able to slow down the returner so the rest of his team can get there. If a team does not have skilled gunners, they will give up their field position points too easily.

Practice started with a punt-coverage drill. “Find the ball, find the returner,” coached Special Teams Coach Mike Priefer. Colquitt punted from the minus 25-yard line and the minus 35-yard line. Cornerback Justin Phinisee and wide receivers Ean Randolph and Samie Parker received the ball while the coverage unit practiced locating the ball carrier and timing the take-off. The drill ran at half-speed and there was no tackling or blocking.

After that, a kick-off drill simulated the return. Communication and wedging right to clear a path down field seemed to be the focuses of the drill. “Short, short, short,” called out members of the return unit on a 40-yard kick from kicker Justin Medlock. The kick lacked distance and hang time. Blockers made sure to hold hands as they wedged right to keep their spacing close enough together to prevent a defenseman from sneaking in for the tackle. Wide receivers Jeff Webb, Chris Hannon and Ean Randolph along with cornerback Benny Sapp rotated reps for the catch, but did not actually take the ball down field. Again, the drill was not full blown and there was no tackling allowed. Medlock kicked a few on-side kicks to end the drill. The return crew worked on recovering the ball and taking a down.

A punt-return drill and a kick-off coverage drill made up the next two sessions of practice. Wide receivers Samie Parker and Ean Randolph, and cornerback Justin Phinisee received punts that averaged 45-yards each as the defense rehearsed positioning and timing for the cover. Colquitt punted from the minus 30-yard line and the drill ran at half speed. From the 20-yard line, players went through the motions of getting around their opponents so that they could attack the ball and earn a down. Lane assignments were not a big concern during the drill.

“Get lower on that dip-and-rip,” shouted Special Teams Coach Mike Priefer to the unit during the closing drill. Two vertical lines were formed on the 35-yard line, ball carriers waited in the end zone and two players with blocking pads lined up on the 25 to prepare for the drill that stressed nailing down the head and shoulder fake. One player from each line ran up to one a player with pads and gave a head-and-shoulder fake before going toward the end zone to close in on the ball carrier. In the meantime, ball carriers tried to work their way down field within the boundaries of orange cones.

Fans

J.L. Williams of Kansas City, Mo., got the thrill of a lifetime at this morning's practice when Head Coach Herm Edwards allowed Williams to go on the field and run the ball to the endzone.  Before his life-altering run, Williams asked Edwards if he could rush a player, to which Edwards said, "That wouldn’t be a good idea; just run straight. You don't want to get hit. ” Breathless with excitement, Williams said, “I didn’t care about that. I would have dropped my shoulder and did it anyway.”  Williams also got a photo of Edwards signed by the coach, which he waved from the stands throughout practice.

Adam Tischer from Jefferson City, Mo., came to Chiefs camp for the first time today. Tischer said he is taking a week-long vacation from the real estate agency he works with. “I wish I could buy some real estate up here in River Falls,” said Tischer. “It sure is beautiful up here. You all have great weather.” Tischer cites his father, Michael, as the beginning of a lifelong obsession with the Chiefs. “My dad used to take me to games when I was a kid,” said Tischer. “He was a great man. I wish he could be here with me.” During practice, Tischer had his eye on rookie kicker Justin Medlock, and said he hoped to get his autograph before leaving camp.

Extra, Extra...

Head Coach Herm Edwards stopped at the gate to the Ramer Field stadium this morning to sign autographs for more than 15 minutes. Edwards exchanged pleasantries and took pictures with fans, and as he made his way onto the field, shouted, “You guys have a good day now. Thanks for coming out!” One fan responded jovially, “Coming to camp: $2,000. Making the coach smile, priceless!”

Several players stepped up to sign autographs after today’s practice. Cornerback Benny Sapp, tight end Michael Allan, safety Bernard Pollard, and running back Derrick Ross all inked items for fans. Fullback Boomer Grigsby also came over to fans as some of his teammates pretended to be adoring fans, yelling “Boomer! Over here, Boomer!”

In the middle of practice, Head Coach Herm Edwards stepped away from the field to sign a football and a pennant for one fan and her three pint-sized companions.

Fullback Gilbert Harris took the opportunity to jog around the practice fields several times after morning practice.

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).