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FINDING 53 THAT FIT

August 19th - 6:19 PM

Chiefs head coach Todd Haley will do whatever it takes to give his team a competitive advantage on Opening Day at Baltimore. Part of that strategy includes utilizing the Chiefs roster in the most efficient manner.

Today, LS Thomas Gafford took individual reps with the tight ends. Haley also said that Gafford may get his feet wet at the fullback position as well. The Chiefs are exploring Gafford’s skillset (he was a backup tight end at the University of Houston), hoping he might provide a set of skills that could potentially save the team a roster spot in some way/shape/form at some point in the season. 

“Anywhere you can save a spot I think that gives us an advantage,” Haley said. ”So, we’re going to start working him in there at tight end and maybe a little fullback and if it saves us a roster spot in one game in some situation it could help us. I think that’s good business.”

PM PRACTICE OBSERVATIONS

August 19th - 3:55 PM

The afternoon practice session has been washed out and a walk-thru will be held indoors in its place. No practice observations this afternoon.

RIDING OUT THE STORM

August 19th - 3:45 PM

We’ve just received the “All Clear” and it’s time to get back to work.

It was quite the afternoon in River Falls as multiple funnel clouds and a few tornado touchdowns were spotted across the 75-mile radius surrounding the greater Twin Cities area.

Tornado warning alams sounded on the River Falls campus when reports surfaced of a tornado nearby, some reports say that the tornado lowered just 6 miles southeast of town. The sirens sent university students and staff members fleeing into bathrooms, closets and anywhere else that seemed appropriate and window-free.

As for a direct impact on the Chiefs, positional meetings were interrupted as players and coaches were required to leave their meeting rooms located on the upper levels of the University Center. Most players and coaches kept away from the action, but a few brave souls took a peek at the dark rolling clouds that were moving incredibly fast.

It was quite a sight to see.

ARROWHEAD DECALS TO STAY FOLLOWING VIKES GAME?

August 19th - 1:37 PM

Should they stay or should they go? Coach Haley wants his player to earn their Arrowheads, so the team has practiced all spring and summer without any decals on their red helmets. The Arrowhead decals made a short appearance last weekend vs. Houston, but were back off the the horn sounded for practice on Monday.

Those decals will have to go back on once again this Friday night at the Metrodome. Will they stay on the lids when camp moves back to Kansas City?

“Probably soon,” Haley said of the decals returning for good. ”We’re probably spending too much money on decals now, but we’ll see.”

Haley has a point. Helmet decals will be coming and going in bunches this season as the Chiefs will replace their Arrowheads with Dallas Texans logos during three AFL Legacy Games this regular season as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the American Football League, founded by our own Lamar Hunt.

HALEY WANTS COMPETITION AT ALL POSITIONS

August 19th - 12:20 PM

Head coach Todd Haley has yet to officially name QB Matt Cassel the Chiefs starting quarterback. His stance on Cassel isn’t specific to the player, however, his stance on Cassel mirrors that of every player on the Chiefs training camp roster.

“Again, every spot is open right now,” Haley re-confirmed on Wednesday. “Every spot is an open competition. Some are getting closer to being filled and some are not close at all. So I’m not going to refer to answer that as far as him being the starter. I think Matt is getting more and more comfortable with what we are doing out there.”

Haley’s decision to has raised some eyebrows in some circles, particularily when Haley declined to comment on which quarterback he thought was performing the best this training camp. But Haley confirmed after today’s practice that speculation based on his decision to not name a starter is just that…speculation. 

“You can make out of that what you want,” Haley said. “What I have told this team is that every spot is open and I’m going to stay true to my word. We’re going to evaluate every spot and these guys that give us the best chance to win on Opening Day will be in the lineup.”

It’s become quite apparent that the Chiefs depth chart is filled out in pencil, not ink. Changes occur every day with players running in and out of drills with the first team on each side of the football. Reserves have become nearly impossible to chart as the second and third teams are changing at an even quicker rate.

It should be noted, however, that Cassel hasn’t been one bouncing back-and-forth. He’s only taken first-team reps this camp.

“When any of those announcements are made in regards to starting lineups, we’ll cross that bridge,” Haley said. ”I’m just sticking to my word, that’s all.”

THE SHOW WILL GO ON

August 19th - 11:46 AM

The Chiefs will be leaving River Falls in about 48 hours, but when one door closes another opens. For the Chiefs, both doors lead to the same hallway…training camp. Just because the Chiefs are breaking camp in River Falls doesn’t mean their breaking camp in general.

“Although we are going to be leaving here in a few days, camp is going to continue,” Haley said today. “It’s just going to continue in a different venue. I’m not sure how many days we have left, but I’m guessing in the mid-to-high twenties (in practices) left where we are going to be able to go out and practice and continue to install and try to find our identity.

“It’s a process and right now we are heading into our second preseason game,” Haley continued. “I’m expect every position to continue to improve and get better.”

AM PRACTICE OBSERVATIONS

August 19th - 9:07 AM

The full pads have come off and the Chiefs are in shorts and uppers (shoulder pads and helmets) for the final day of two-a-days.

9:09 AM - QB Tyler Thigpen is in sweats today and it looks as if he’ll be held out of practice once again. With head coach Todd Haley only wanting to use three QBs in games and Matt Gutierrez yet to see action this preseason, it appears on the surface that Thigpen may be on the mend through Friday’s game.

9:28 AM - LS Thomas Gafford showed up to practice in a white jersey today (long snappers usually wear red). Apparently there wasn’t a wash mix-up, because Gafford is repping at tight end right now during individual drills. The eyes of fellow specialists Dustin Colquitt and Ryan Succop were Gafford as he ran his first route and Gafford didn’t disappoint, catching the ball away from his body and turning upfield.

9:48 AM - Each day after practice head coach Todd Haley is asked about the progression of WR Dwayne Bowe. Bowe’s progression, of late, seems to be going in an upward direction. Today, Haley praised Bowe in front of the receivers after a crisp route - “That’s the way to run a route right there, great job Bowe.”

9:56 AM - One of the best blocked plays I’ve seen this camp came during the first period of 11-v-11 work. RB Jackie Battle ran a counter sweep behind a pulling G Mike Goff. Goff came around end, but had no one to block and ended up getting to second-level before picking up a defender. This tells you that the playside end and tackle did their jobs very well. It reminded me of those runs you would see RB Priest Holmes make arond the end behind a pulling G Will Shields. Those rare plays came in bunches for the Chiefs when T Willie Roaf and TE Jason Dunn were working on the perimeter.

9:58 AM - S Bernard Pollard is being held out today. Mike Brown is working with the first-team defense in his absense.

10:08 AM - Punt return work today during special teams. One of the big questions in camp is who will be the return men? Today it was CB Maurice Leggett, WR Taurus Johnson, WR Rodney Wright, WR Bobby Engram and RB Dantrell Savage lined up deep. It seemed that Leggett and Johnson got the most work.

10:25 AM - It’s like a pick-up hoops game out here to open some more 11-v-11 work. The DBs are having some fun with QB Matt Cassel after Cassel wanted CB Brandon Carr to call his own foul (defensive holding) after celebrating a pass breakup.

TICKETS FOR FRIDAY A HOT ITEM

August 19th - 8:14 AM

The countdown is on as we near our return to Kansas City. Two practices today and one session tomorrow are all that separate the Chiefs from their next preseason game and a return home on Friday.

The Chiefs final day in the Northwoods, however, won’t be a quiet one. The national spotlight has been shining on the Metrodome ever since yesterday’s announcement that QB Brett Favre will start against the Chiefs on Friday (I still have my doubts - handoff, handoff, handoff?!?).

Regardless of Favre’s playing status, a once quiet preseason game has turned into a madhouse. The Chiefs will have to be prepared for a packed house and a boisterous crowd filled with emotion. Local news outlets reported last night that Ticketmaster had to set up additional infrastructure to meet last-minute ticket demands. We’ll be looking for red on Friday.

“This would be like the Chiefs signing QB John Elway in 1999.” - Mitch Holthus on the Vikings signing QB Brett Favre

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