Chiefs Training Camp Quotes: Doug Pederson and Tamba Hali

Aug 9, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson on the sidelines in the second quarter of their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Q: Where is the run blocking at compared to last year?

PEDERSON: “He’s (Demetrius Harris) gotten stronger, the weight room’s helped him, he’ understanding the techniques and fundamentals Coach (Tom) Melvin is teaching him, and he’s doing a good job on the line of scrimmage.”

Q: This is the coaching staff’s second year in the AFC west, how do you feel going into your second year in the division?

PEDERSON: “Well, it’s no different than back in Philadelphia where you kind of understand your opponent a little bit and now having a second go-round – they know us, we know them. It’s going to be a great division, it’s a great conference and we’re looking forward to the challenges ahead, and we look forward to those matchups.”

Q: Which words come to mind when you’re asked about Jamaal Charles’ pass protection?

PEDERSON: “I’m going to tell you, he’s working his tail off; that’s the first thing I think of. Coach Bieniemy has done a great job with all of the backs, but Jamaal (Charles) has taken pride in that. That’s something he had to learn last year, and he’s done a nice job. Give credit to Jamaal because he’s taking pride in it and he’s doing a good job.”

Q: I know it’s an important role in any offense but does it take a heightened role in your offense?

PEDERSON: “As far as protection, I think it’s no different than any offense. One thing you have to do with guys like Jamaal (Charles), De’Anthony (Thomas) and even a Joe McKnight, guys that are fast receiver type running backs, they have to block. And we are going to ask them to block. And they are going to have to pick up linebackers and safeties. They’ve all done a good job.”

Q: (Laurent) Duvernay-Tardif seems to be getting a lot of reps with the second team, what are you seeing out of him?

PEDERSON: “He’s improving every day. He’s a big, strong and a physical kid, and again, another one that takes a lot of pride in his work. He comes out here and he’s working hard. He’s not perfect by any means, but he’s not making the same mistake twice.”

Q: What is he giving you that (Jeff) Linkenbach isn’t giving you? I noticed that Linkenbach is running with the threes.

PEDERSON: “It’s a matter of kind of mixing and matching. You want to see all your guys play and evaluate everybody. So there’s going to be a continual rotation at all those positions.”

AA: LDT is definitely a wild card when it comes to trying to predict the 53-man roster. I think the Chiefs see a lot of upside in him but he may not be ready to be able to step in and contribute immediately as a backup. Do the Chiefs think they can sneak him through waivers and get him on the practice squad? It would seem unlikely.

Q: What do you look for in week one and week two and three in the season? Do you look for units to improve or individuals?

PEDERSON: “A little of both. You want to start seeing the continuity with your first unit and then again you’re still in the evaluation process. So we’re in the process of doing both.”

Q: A guy like Ryan McKee going back and forth with the second unit between left tackle and right tackle, a guy that’s been out of the game. What brought him back? What kind of rust does he have to shake off? Tell me his story.

PEDERSON: “Well, he’s a guy that came to us, like you said. He worked hard again in the spring. He’s a guy that we had and wanted to bring him to camp to give him an opportunity. He’s making the most of that opportunity, and he’s worked himself into a good position, another smart guy up front. (He’s) a tough guy, physical guy. Hopefully, we see in these next couple games what he can do.”

Q: What’s helped him from being a practice player for three years to maybe making the 53 man roster?

PEDERSON: “Effort, hustle. I was that practice squad guy several years ago and the fact that heart and desire. The fact that he wants to, and it’s more of a personal battle with him and a challenge with him wanting to stay on the field.”

Q: You watch (Eric) Kush in one on ones and he can anchor guys like Dontari Poe. Where is he at physically compared to last year?

PEDERSON: “He’s another one that has increased his strength, and he’s done a better job with his fundamentals and technique. A lot of it with hand placement and feet, you preach about that all the time with offensive linemen. He’s done a nice job. But he came in here strong and he’s gotten stronger.”

Q: How much stronger is Rodney Hudson this year than he was last year?

PEDERSON: “Number one, he is stronger. The offseason was beneficial for him. Plus the other thing is, these guys know the system. They understand the calls and they know that they can anticipate situations. That’s the beauty of having Rodney and those guys that play center.”

AA: It seems like there was a directive to all the linemen – offense and defense – to get stronger. Hudson is stronger, Stephenson is stronger, Jeff Allen is stronger, Mike Catapano is stronger, and so on. It kind of makes you wonder what the Chiefs were trying to do before Andy Reid and John Dorsey got here.

Q: What qualities or characteristics does a receiver need to have to make your final cut?

PEDERSON: “Well first of all, they have to understand our offense, number one. We move them around so much. Dwayne is not always on the outside, he’s on the inside. Tight ends are not always inside, they are outside – same with running backs. So you look for the mental capacity and how much they can handle. Having the ability to defeat bump and run because in the National Football League, you have to defeat bump and run first and foremost. And then can they sustain down the field – meaning, blocks, routes, top routes, creating separation and understanding coverage. Those types of things create a receiver that we can use in this system.”

AA: This would seem to favor a guy like Junior Hemingway over a Weston Dressler in a situation where there could be a ‘tie.’ There’s still a lot of time left for Dressler and Mark Harrison to catch up though.