DAY ONE AT CHIEFS' TRAINING CAMP, ELI GETS GASHED, CRUZ CRUISES & IS IT GREELEY OR FORT COLLINS?
Chiefs' training camp at Missouri Western University is.........well it's a lot of walking, that's what it is. I'm pooped, had Chinese food delivered to our hotel room tonight so we could watch the Giants-Jets game. There were a lot of Chiefs' fans there for a Monday afternoon & a lot to see. If you've never been to an NFL training camp, everything is scripted & timed, the blast from an air horn tells the players to move onto the next drill or exercise. Twin scissor lifts put cameramen 40' above the field to video everything that happens during practice. Here's what I saw today:
Charlie Weis conducts much of the offenses' practice from a scooter, his damaged left knee wrapped & braced. When he has to teach, he grabs his cane & gets in the huddle.
Todd Haley stood between the fields talking to Scott Pioli for much of the 2-hour practice. But when the offense started running the 2-minute drill, he called the plays & stood right behind the offense. When plays didn't develop properly, he let 'em have it. I was over 89-yards away from Haley & could hear nearly every word.
Thomas Jones looks so fit, so trim, so strong, the way he cut up inside the tackles, it's hard to believe he is just 3-days shy of his 32nd birthday.
If you think Jamaal Charles looks quick & fast, you need to see him in person, he has rare speed.
Brody Croyle has sustained some sort of arm injury. He rode a stationary bike for most of the practice, a brace on his right arm from mid-forearm up, it appears to his elbow. This left Haley with only two quarterbacks, Matt Cassel & Tyle Palko.
Watching the two QB's throw fade routes , trying to hit the top of a 6' blocking dummy was even better from the far endzone. Taking the snap, taking a 2-step drop & lofting the ball to a spot in the corner of the endzone is soooooo difficult. I got a whole new respect watching the drill from 100-yards downfield. Cassel was streaky, Palko only hit it twice in about 25 tries.
Dwayne Bowe caught everything I saw thrown in his direction. He made two great sliding catches on the goal line. Chris Chambers made Brandon Carr's day miserable. He got open, he caught everything Matt Cassel tossed at him & Carr could do nothing to stop him.
Just as in Friday's game, every time Cassel threw to Leonard Pope, the ball sailed on him & went over the 6' 8" tight end's reach.
I don't think Brian Waters is quite right physically. In some drills he moved very well & in others, he didn't. He took a knee every chance he got. His right calf, which he tweaked last week, is still very much an issue. The situation at guard isn't good. Rudy Niswanger ran with the 1's at right guard while Casey Weigmann played center. Ryan Lilja rode a bike along with fellow O-linemen Barry Richardson, Darryl Harris & Jon Asamoah. There is no depth at guard right now, none, you have a hobbled Brian Waters & a center, Rudy Niswanger running in the guard spots.
I like safety Kendrick Lewis, the rookie 5th round draft choice has great anticipation & is in position to make plays, just what you want n a free safety. Eric Berry closed quickly on an underneath route for Leonard Pope in time to knock it away. For the 3rd time in 15 years it looks as tho the Chiefs will start a pair of rookies in the defensive centerfield. First it was Jerome Woods & Reggie Tongue in '96, followed by Bernard Pollard & Jarrad Page in 2006. I like these two, they'll make some mistakes but they look like playmakers, something this defense needs so desperately.
Andy Studbaker continued running with the 1's on defense, Mike Vrabel playing in passing situations. The rest of the group minus Tamba Hali, show me very little. Romeo Crennel or no Romeo Crennel, this front-7 is so lacking talent-wise & that's something he can't cure.
As I watch 2nd year right tackle Colin Brown, I see a guy who is the road grader-type you want at this position, but his footwork is below average & he's working against pass rushers who aren't the best, they're Chiefs after all. He has slimmed down & he is impressive on running plays, Brown can even get to the 2nd level to engage linebackers seemingly with ease, but his pass blocking footwork may never allow him to play at this level. Because Ryan O'Callaghan was slowed by a leg injury during the practice, Brown ran with both the 1's & the 2's for a while.
Ryan Succop kicked right into us, so we had an excellent view of his workout. He was perfect from both hashmarks from 37 & 42 yards. He hit the right upright from 47-yards, but made the 2nd try. Made one & missed one from 52-yards.
Near the end of practice Missouri Governor Jay Nixon showed up on the field with a small entourage & some very serious security personnel. They were standing there facing all these little kids & old folks watching like someone at the practice was there to do harm to the gov. I'm not a fan, so I guess it annoyed me more than it should.
Tomorrow's practice is scheduled for 1:50 PM but the weather forecast calls for an 80% chance of thunderstorms with winds of 20-30 MPH, so I imagine they'll go inside & we'll go to the movies. But there are 2 practices on Wednesday including a scrimmage in Spratt Stadium(about a 1/4 mile closer to the parking lot), so we will see more of them before we leave for Kansas City.
If you missed tonight's Giants-Jets game from the new Meadowlands Stadium, you missed a great performance & an ugly injury. Eli Manning received a 3" gash in his forehead after being bounced around like a pinball between his running back Brandon Jacobs, a Jet pass rusher & after his helmet was knocked off, he fell against the facemask of Jet safety Jim Leonard. It was like "Saw 2", there was blood everywhere. It took 11 stitches to close the wound & I doubt he'll play this weekend. Backup QB's Jim Sorgi & Brett Bomar along with undrafted free agent wide receiver Victor Cruz tore the Jets a new one. The trio combined for 6 completions good for 146 yards & 3 scores. Cruz made a one-handed catch & run for the first score. He looked like a seasoned veteran, not an undrafted rookie. This is how an undrafted player from UMass makes it in the NFL, make something happen when you get an opportunity.
Brian Westbrook signed a 1-year deal today with the San Francisco 49ers. The deal is worth $1.25 million guaranteed with another million in incentives. Westbrook was sidelined with 2 concussions & a bad ankle last season before being released by the Eagles. I don't know how much he has left in the tank.
The NFLPA told league sponsors today when the current collective bargaining agreement expires right after the Super Bowl, so do players endorsements. Advertisers can no longer use a player's name or likeness in any of their print, voice or video advertising. This is to include all the annoying spots ESPN runs for Sportscenter, which is O.K. with me.
Finally, for the lovely couple we met at training camp this afternoon, the answer is...............I can't find an answer. The Broncos trained in Greeley from 1982 to 2003 before moving to Dove Valley, where they currently conduct training camp. But I am unable to to find where they held training camp in the 1960's. Sorry I couldn't give you the definitive answer you desired.
Charlie Weis conducts much of the offenses' practice from a scooter, his damaged left knee wrapped & braced. When he has to teach, he grabs his cane & gets in the huddle.
Todd Haley stood between the fields talking to Scott Pioli for much of the 2-hour practice. But when the offense started running the 2-minute drill, he called the plays & stood right behind the offense. When plays didn't develop properly, he let 'em have it. I was over 89-yards away from Haley & could hear nearly every word.
Thomas Jones looks so fit, so trim, so strong, the way he cut up inside the tackles, it's hard to believe he is just 3-days shy of his 32nd birthday.
If you think Jamaal Charles looks quick & fast, you need to see him in person, he has rare speed.
Brody Croyle has sustained some sort of arm injury. He rode a stationary bike for most of the practice, a brace on his right arm from mid-forearm up, it appears to his elbow. This left Haley with only two quarterbacks, Matt Cassel & Tyle Palko.
Watching the two QB's throw fade routes , trying to hit the top of a 6' blocking dummy was even better from the far endzone. Taking the snap, taking a 2-step drop & lofting the ball to a spot in the corner of the endzone is soooooo difficult. I got a whole new respect watching the drill from 100-yards downfield. Cassel was streaky, Palko only hit it twice in about 25 tries.
Dwayne Bowe caught everything I saw thrown in his direction. He made two great sliding catches on the goal line. Chris Chambers made Brandon Carr's day miserable. He got open, he caught everything Matt Cassel tossed at him & Carr could do nothing to stop him.
Just as in Friday's game, every time Cassel threw to Leonard Pope, the ball sailed on him & went over the 6' 8" tight end's reach.
I don't think Brian Waters is quite right physically. In some drills he moved very well & in others, he didn't. He took a knee every chance he got. His right calf, which he tweaked last week, is still very much an issue. The situation at guard isn't good. Rudy Niswanger ran with the 1's at right guard while Casey Weigmann played center. Ryan Lilja rode a bike along with fellow O-linemen Barry Richardson, Darryl Harris & Jon Asamoah. There is no depth at guard right now, none, you have a hobbled Brian Waters & a center, Rudy Niswanger running in the guard spots.
I like safety Kendrick Lewis, the rookie 5th round draft choice has great anticipation & is in position to make plays, just what you want n a free safety. Eric Berry closed quickly on an underneath route for Leonard Pope in time to knock it away. For the 3rd time in 15 years it looks as tho the Chiefs will start a pair of rookies in the defensive centerfield. First it was Jerome Woods & Reggie Tongue in '96, followed by Bernard Pollard & Jarrad Page in 2006. I like these two, they'll make some mistakes but they look like playmakers, something this defense needs so desperately.
Andy Studbaker continued running with the 1's on defense, Mike Vrabel playing in passing situations. The rest of the group minus Tamba Hali, show me very little. Romeo Crennel or no Romeo Crennel, this front-7 is so lacking talent-wise & that's something he can't cure.
As I watch 2nd year right tackle Colin Brown, I see a guy who is the road grader-type you want at this position, but his footwork is below average & he's working against pass rushers who aren't the best, they're Chiefs after all. He has slimmed down & he is impressive on running plays, Brown can even get to the 2nd level to engage linebackers seemingly with ease, but his pass blocking footwork may never allow him to play at this level. Because Ryan O'Callaghan was slowed by a leg injury during the practice, Brown ran with both the 1's & the 2's for a while.
Ryan Succop kicked right into us, so we had an excellent view of his workout. He was perfect from both hashmarks from 37 & 42 yards. He hit the right upright from 47-yards, but made the 2nd try. Made one & missed one from 52-yards.
Near the end of practice Missouri Governor Jay Nixon showed up on the field with a small entourage & some very serious security personnel. They were standing there facing all these little kids & old folks watching like someone at the practice was there to do harm to the gov. I'm not a fan, so I guess it annoyed me more than it should.
Tomorrow's practice is scheduled for 1:50 PM but the weather forecast calls for an 80% chance of thunderstorms with winds of 20-30 MPH, so I imagine they'll go inside & we'll go to the movies. But there are 2 practices on Wednesday including a scrimmage in Spratt Stadium(about a 1/4 mile closer to the parking lot), so we will see more of them before we leave for Kansas City.
If you missed tonight's Giants-Jets game from the new Meadowlands Stadium, you missed a great performance & an ugly injury. Eli Manning received a 3" gash in his forehead after being bounced around like a pinball between his running back Brandon Jacobs, a Jet pass rusher & after his helmet was knocked off, he fell against the facemask of Jet safety Jim Leonard. It was like "Saw 2", there was blood everywhere. It took 11 stitches to close the wound & I doubt he'll play this weekend. Backup QB's Jim Sorgi & Brett Bomar along with undrafted free agent wide receiver Victor Cruz tore the Jets a new one. The trio combined for 6 completions good for 146 yards & 3 scores. Cruz made a one-handed catch & run for the first score. He looked like a seasoned veteran, not an undrafted rookie. This is how an undrafted player from UMass makes it in the NFL, make something happen when you get an opportunity.
Brian Westbrook signed a 1-year deal today with the San Francisco 49ers. The deal is worth $1.25 million guaranteed with another million in incentives. Westbrook was sidelined with 2 concussions & a bad ankle last season before being released by the Eagles. I don't know how much he has left in the tank.
The NFLPA told league sponsors today when the current collective bargaining agreement expires right after the Super Bowl, so do players endorsements. Advertisers can no longer use a player's name or likeness in any of their print, voice or video advertising. This is to include all the annoying spots ESPN runs for Sportscenter, which is O.K. with me.
Finally, for the lovely couple we met at training camp this afternoon, the answer is...............I can't find an answer. The Broncos trained in Greeley from 1982 to 2003 before moving to Dove Valley, where they currently conduct training camp. But I am unable to to find where they held training camp in the 1960's. Sorry I couldn't give you the definitive answer you desired.
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