Two-Day Chiefs Training Camp Report

by Chiefs

This post was written by AA reader and training camp corespondent Josh Michaels. Josh was kind enough to forward on his thoughts on the first two days of practices. We are looking for as many training camp corespondents as we can get so if you are going to St. Joe and want to contribute to AA’s fan coverage of training camp, please reach out to me at [email protected] 

A HUGE thanks to Josh for providing this writeup for us. Please give him props in the comments. -PA

I’ll start with the RB’s. McCluster has not been running receiver drills at all the last two days. I believe this is a really good move considering how deep we’ve become at the WR position. Plus I believe that McCluster can be a more effective player out of the back field (screens/reverses etc.)

Jamaal Charles looks as good as ever. He seems to have fresh legs and came into camp in great shape. Haley continues to ride Jamaal all practice with his famous lines of “push yourself jamaal” or “Keep fighting.”

The only thing that looks shaky in our backfield is Thomas Jones. Now dont get me wrong, I love what Tom brings to our team and I think he still has a little to offer as a play maker but, he looks so slow!! He could just be running at 3/4 speed but to me he looks like an aged back. That or his huge biceps are getting harder for him to run with.

I asked Pioli yesterday about the Possible signing of LeRon McClain while he was autographing my ball and he gave me the biggest cheese smile and said “Now don’t go believing rumors” followed by a laugh and “Like I’d tell you anyway!” I wasn’t sure how to read it other than it’s a possibility? I think the chefs could really use him if we can land him for the right price.

Now the WRs:

Jon Baldwin is a tall kid with exceptional speed for his size. The first day I watched him all practice and he didn’t drop one pass. However yesterday he showed his mortality and dropped a few in some drills. To me I think the kid looks like a stud. He looks like a basketball player when he goes up for passes. He seems to have really good ball skills and knows how to put his body in positions to either catch the ball or make sure it won’t become a turnover. Now granted he hasn’t been covered much in these drills but he has seemed to be coachable and Haley has stayed by his side a lot of the time the last two days.

Bowe looks fresh. He looks like he buffed up a little in the offseason and he’s been running clean routes. He’s dropped a few here and there but it’s hard to argue his hands on the first two days of camp and he had an eilte season last year.

Breaston hasn’t been in camp yet obviously because of the free agent rules, but Verran Tucker looks like a kid who could continue to make this team. He’s made a few nice plays in some drills so look for him and Copper to be our 4th and 5th WRs.

More after the jump.

The O-Line:

Asamoah is going to be one of the best guards in the league. Mark my words. I used to play O-Line in high school and college and what you look for in the positions is technique and footwork. This kid is ridiculous with both. I really do know now why they let Waters go. Asamoah has been moved to RG while Lilja goes back to left like he played in Indy. Asamoah is a big guy and he has had a convo with me the last two days during signings. He seems to be poised and ready to take the reigns for this team on the O-line. Albert looks good and so does richardson. I really don’t see either one of those guys taking any steps backwards. Hudson hasn’t been getting many reps with the ones and Casey Weigman isn’t there yet so they’ve been having a rotation at the center position.

Offense and Defense:

QB coach Jim Zorn already  looks like he’s gonna be huge for Matt Cassel and Ricky Stanzi’s development. Zorn has been doing some serious coaching with the QB group. It seems like he is breaking down every QB’s throwing motion to the tiniest bit and is trying to make the most out of every throw. Cassel looks sharp. With the exception of a sensational pick yesterday by Brandon Flowers, he has made nice throw after nice throw. It’s seems like everyone out there knows that Cassel is the clear cut leader of this offense and possibly team.

Ricky Stanzi is a huge fan favorite. The kid has a big frame and big arm. He seems like he can make all the throws on the field and he’s a much needed upgrade at backup QB. For him to become a starter in this league seems to be way far down the road but I believe he does have the potential.

On the defensive side, like a mentioned earlier, Flowers is making a ton of plays at corner. Look for him to be a Pro-Bowler with Nnamdi out of the AFC.

Berry is Berry. All over the field, loud and is becoming a leader.

The LB’s look fresh. DJ looks to be in good shape and Studebaker is playing as if that OLB position is his to lose.

D-Line is so thin at DT that Powe has been taking reps with the ones. However that first day Powe was doing some running because of a few missed assignments during a drill.

Long story short, I believe the Chiefs can win this division again this year. Our offense has a lot of talent and potential to be one of the best in the league. If we can get a few holes filled on the defense we can be making some serious Super Bowl runs soon.

I want to end with a funny note, I got Matt Cassel to autograph my jersey and on it he wrote “Come at me bro!!” like his line in the Kenny Powers CEO video. That jersey wound up on the front page of yesterday’s Star.

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COME AT ME BRO...good post bra i love it thank you, quick question. My friend and I want to go up to St. Joe and watch some practice, I heard it is a bit slow from 3:30-5:30 and then things pick up, is that true or does it really get underway at 3:30. Main reason I ask is that we would have to leave by about 5:45 at the latest on Monday if we went (damn work schedules) thanks man!

glad to hear my boy verran tucker has a chance of seeing some PT. loved his speed and hands last year. thats a sweeet Cassel jersey. wish i could get my B Flowers jersey signed!

Great report Josh! I noticed you said you were going to "go back down" - where are you coming from? I am in Des Moines and my son & I are going down Friday & Sat. Yes - Patrick I will make sure to send an update/pics. Should be great with the FA's reporting Thursday.



So if it must have been Butch Lewis #79?? Saw him in some of the camp pics but never heard of him?? With you on the DMC move to RB as we are actually deep at WR for a change. I'm not counting out Horne yet as he looked promising in camp last year. The Siler pick up is another strategic move by Pioli that will make us stronger at ILB, add that to the development of Dorsey & hopefully Jackson combined with the addition of Gregg/Powe and we are looking very solid, especially if we get Houston in camp and Sheffield has a chance to show why we drafted him last year.



I am so excited for the year to start! Our Chiefs just keep getting stronger! Did you all hear Haley talking about Zorn's impact - Cassel is looking sharp + Baldwin/Breaston + no doubles on Bowe = Insane passing game to go with our #1 rushing game with DMC frosting = Sweet! There isn't anyone on our schedule that we can't beat! CHIEFS WILL 2011!

Nicely done Josh. I love that Cassel signed your jersey that way. Nice to see him flash a little personality.



Thom Jones looks slow? I refuse to believe that. Haley said he was gonna be quicker this year, remember?

@LyleGraversen

yes my fault!! Barry Richardson is not in camp and for some reason i thought he was wearing a different number. so no you were not wrong! thanks for the correction and reading!

@Baldwinner

thanks man! im a KC kid born and raised and all ive ever wanted was a superbowl. im so tired of the heart-break and i really feel good about this regime.. should be a ton of fun for the next couple years! thanks for reading man

@merlin_AA

honestly i didnt spend much time watching the D-Line.. they were more off to the left of the hill so they were harder to see. Tyson Jackson looked slimmer and glenn dorsey looked like he came into camp ready this year. couldnt tell you much about powe except he messed up in a drill and had to run all the way to the other field. when i go back down this week ill pay more attention to the D-line

Hmm stole a Charger it sounds like - ILB Brandon Siler

Wow that was a great read Josh. Thanks for all the info it's great to hear things are going so great in camp right now. Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it to training camp this year but AA will be my go to source to catch up with everything. I really loved the finish to the article. That stuff is PRICELESS

great job Josh! How does the d;line look with all the turnover?

Great write-up, Josh! I'm loving everything you had to say. Keep it coming!

On a side note, doesn't it feel good to have true optimism for a legitimate playoff run this year? I feel like I can't remember the last time I got this great of a vibe from Chiefs Nation!

Has anyone heard of any other player's that we are trying to bring in?

@LennyNightwolf I think that's what he was saying.

That signed jersey is awesome. Quick note though, Nnamdi is now in the NFC, playing for the Eagles, which means Flowers and Revis should be the AFC pro-bowl corners.

Thanks for the write up man, it was great. It sounds like a blast. My only question is that you said Richardson looked good, but I didn't think he was in camp yet as a RFA. Do I have that wrong?

I am personally a bigger fan of the sign that he has that says "they will impregnate your muscles" but that is still awesome. Thanks for the update, this is great to see. Im looking forward to the season more than I ever have, and loved the part of Don Pioli doing his normal thing.

Awesomely awesome Bro!

I have been trying to find a way to make it to training camp and do a write up or two... but, you have made feel like I'm right there watching. Awesome. Really!

Thank you for the update Josh! I am excited for this season and cautiously optimistic that we will go Deep into the playoffs this year if our remaining holes we have left to fill are plugged with some more play makers. And the jersey signing.. lol thats hilarious, Wish I could be there.

JackSloan 6 pts

COME AT ME BRO...good post bra i love it thank you, quick question. My friend and I want to go up to St. Joe and watch some practice, I heard it is a bit slow from 3:30-5:30 and then things pick up, is that true or does it really get underway at 3:30. Main reason I ask is that we would have to leave by about 5:45 at the latest on Monday if we went (damn work schedules) thanks man!

UTLonghornsKC 13 pts

glad to hear my boy verran tucker has a chance of seeing some PT. loved his speed and hands last year. thats a sweeet Cassel jersey. wish i could get my B Flowers jersey signed!

KC MikeG 319 pts

Great report Josh! I noticed you said you were going to "go back down" - where are you coming from? I am in Des Moines and my son & I are going down Friday & Sat. Yes - Patrick I will make sure to send an update/pics. Should be great with the FA's reporting Thursday.

So if it must have been Butch Lewis #79?? Saw him in some of the camp pics but never heard of him?? With you on the DMC move to RB as we are actually deep at WR for a change. I'm not counting out Horne yet as he looked promising in camp last year. The Siler pick up is another strategic move by Pioli that will make us stronger at ILB, add that to the development of Dorsey & hopefully Jackson combined with the addition of Gregg/Powe and we are looking very solid, especially if we get Houston in camp and Sheffield has a chance to show why we drafted him last year.

I am so excited for the year to start! Our Chiefs just keep getting stronger! Did you all hear Haley talking about Zorn's impact - Cassel is looking sharp + Baldwin/Breaston + no doubles on Bowe = Insane passing game to go with our #1 rushing game with DMC frosting = Sweet! There isn't anyone on our schedule that we can't beat! CHIEFS WILL 2011!

Big Matt 199 pts

Nicely done Josh. I love that Cassel signed your jersey that way. Nice to see him flash a little personality.

Thom Jones looks slow? I refuse to believe that. Haley said he was gonna be quicker this year, remember?

Celtks 40 pts

Hmm stole a Charger it sounds like - ILB Brandon Siler

TheBigChief2011 5 pts

Wow that was a great read Josh. Thanks for all the info it's great to hear things are going so great in camp right now. Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it to training camp this year but AA will be my go to source to catch up with everything. I really loved the finish to the article. That stuff is PRICELESS

merlin_AA 191 pts

great job Josh! How does the d;line look with all the turnover?

KC-JISH52 12 pts

merlin_AA

honestly i didnt spend much time watching the D-Line.. they were more off to the left of the hill so they were harder to see. Tyson Jackson looked slimmer and glenn dorsey looked like he came into camp ready this year. couldnt tell you much about powe except he messed up in a drill and had to run all the way to the other field. when i go back down this week ill pay more attention to the D-line

Baldwinner 6 pts

Great write-up, Josh! I'm loving everything you had to say. Keep it coming!

On a side note, doesn't it feel good to have true optimism for a legitimate playoff run this year? I feel like I can't remember the last time I got this great of a vibe from Chiefs Nation!

KC-JISH52 12 pts

Baldwinner

thanks man! im a KC kid born and raised and all ive ever wanted was a superbowl. im so tired of the heart-break and i really feel good about this regime.. should be a ton of fun for the next couple years! thanks for reading man

bill 5 pts

Has anyone heard of any other player's that we are trying to bring in?

LennyNightwolf 70 pts

That signed jersey is awesome. Quick note though, Nnamdi is now in the NFC, playing for the Eagles, which means Flowers and Revis should be the AFC pro-bowl corners.

LyleGraversen 313 pts

LennyNightwolf I think that's what he was saying.

LyleGraversen 313 pts

Thanks for the write up man, it was great. It sounds like a blast. My only question is that you said Richardson looked good, but I didn't think he was in camp yet as a RFA. Do I have that wrong?

KC-JISH52 12 pts

LyleGraversen

yes my fault!! Barry Richardson is not in camp and for some reason i thought he was wearing a different number. so no you were not wrong! thanks for the correction and reading!

dbaty7 15 pts

I am personally a bigger fan of the sign that he has that says "they will impregnate your muscles" but that is still awesome. Thanks for the update, this is great to see. Im looking forward to the season more than I ever have, and loved the part of Don Pioli doing his normal thing.

laddiemorse 205 pts

Awesomely awesome Bro!

I have been trying to find a way to make it to training camp and do a write up or two... but, you have made feel like I'm right there watching. Awesome. Really!

chiefsjunkie1971 13 pts

Thank you for the update Josh! I am excited for this season and cautiously optimistic that we will go Deep into the playoffs this year if our remaining holes we have left to fill are plugged with some more play makers. And the jersey signing.. lol thats hilarious, Wish I could be there.