Kansas City Chiefs training camp opened with intensity after a needed day off. Although the players were resting, the Chiefs front office was not. Defensive tackle Roy Miller was signed during the day off to add rotational depth, whom was ecstatic to be back with Texas Longhorn teammate Derrick Johnson. The signing was perfectly timed for the defense. Thursday saw Johnson return, Chris Jones in smiles showing signs of recovery while on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, and the defense taking over the practice momentum.
Thursday and Friday were full padded practices that featured a defense tired of taking it easy. From veteran Marcus Peters racking up interceptions, to rookie safety Leon McQuay III showing ball hawk skills, the defense stole the show. However, not all was positive as the aggressiveness led to occasional fighting and unfortunate injuries. Kansas City Chiefs training camp is beginning to epitomize the preciseness and toughness coach Andy Reid demands while the defense has set the tone.
Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp – Defense Comes Alive
Turnover Thursday
Johnson returned to the practice field in all smiles. Although he only had a tooth abscess, his presence added consistency and veteran preciseness to camp. His leadership will be essential going forward, doing his part in assisting defensive coach Bob Sutton coordinate some of the younger camp bodies. He is also on his own mission to get back to perfect football.
“Mentally, I am better. Physically, I am not. Not that I am limping out there, but I was 11 months removed then. I am like seven months removed now, so it is a little different,” explained Johnson. “I am good. I can make all of the plays, but I am a perfectionist. I look at the film sometimes and I say ‘Man I am running on my heels’ or I am taking an extra step just to get over here in my left leg.’ Just clean up little stuff.”
Practice began with a sense of urgency in an 11-on-11 drill. The defense was clearly dominating, holding Alex Smith to only two completions. Terrance Mitchell and Ron Parker both took turn breaking up passes. The only two completions in the opening of camp went to Tyreek Hill and Seantavius Jones, both the highlight receivers of camp thus far.
Defensive domination was maintained as the second and third string took the field. With camp jitters and pressure setting in after five days of full-team practice, Patrick Mahomes began to revert to his old ways of forcing passes into poor windows. The seam route was completely shut down by McQuay.
Mahomes’ practice Thursday showed that he needs to be consciously aware of every move he makes. He has looked best so far when he picks up his own intensity; his poor performance Thursday may have been a mental lapse. Fortunately, with coach Reid behind his back, this rookie mistake ought not be repeated.
Shifting the momentum to the running game, the next drill was a live, full-on, goal line test. Spencer Ware flashed muscle, punching the ball in through running and receiving. However, the defense won overall thanks to Bennie Logan being the defensive tackle he was meant to be. Eric Berry also had several plays where he turned himself into a missile and stopped momentum at the line of scrimmage.
Logan being the leader of the defensive scrum is an excellent sign. His play is a major key for the Chiefs success in 2017. His shining when practice got the most aggressive is no coincidence. He is the type of player that thrives when the trenches close and victory goes to the lowest man. If this is the way the Chiefs interior line will work this season, the rush defense could truly end the will of other teams.
Although the defense carried through the day, including Tanoh Kpassagnon landing another sack, the offense finished the day with electricity. Ware carried all first-string repetitions, and looked fantastic doing so. Meanwhile, Hill scored a touchdown on a perfectly timed pass from Smith. Smith showed additional timing by hitting Chris Conley in-between safeties for the last touchdown of the day.
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy gave insight after practice into the evolving relationship between Hill and Smith.
“…Once you get that tempo down, especially on a lot of the go balls and the deep routes, knowing there is some air time there and you can put that ball up and he is going to go get it,” Nagy stressed. “It has been impressive and Alex has done a great job with it.”
Safety Jordan Sterns was placed on waivers with an injury designation to make room for Miller. Cornerbacks Terrance Mitchell, Keith Baxter, and J.R. Nelson all left practice due to injury. Charcandrick West was on the sideline due to a lingering ankle issue from earlier in the week.
Friday – Stressing the Details
Friday’s training camp practice may have had the most anticipation since the beginning of training camp. Now two weeks into the process, injury concerns were beginning to creep up and relationships were being strained. Friday would be the day to test relationships and stress the details of practice.
Unfortunately, the first thing that stood out was the injury report. Mitchell, who left practice early after having his best day at camp, was on the sidelines. West returned to practice, but only 20 minutes in, hobbled his way off the field. And the biggest concern among starters was the lack of tight end Travis Kelce.
The beginning repetitions for the offense were split success; Smith connected to Hill on another beautiful pass, but Mahomes tried to fit another poor pass during 1-on-1 drills. Eric Murray, whose name would come up frequently during the day, picked off the pass with ease.
Coach Reid confirmed Murray’s improvement after practice, “I like what I have seen there. He is competing and he is seeing things. He is diagnosing routes. He is anticipating well. He is doing some good things.”
Whether it was the interception’s momentum, or Bennie Logan’s intensity, the defense continued to dominate in 9-on-7 drills. Logan was again the leader of the defensive line, stuffing runs and leading the grind. However, rookie running back Kareem Hunt has shown improvement in his vision, and began to show patience as he sorted through the line of scrimmage.
After practice, Logan commented on his objective to ‘embarrass’ the player in front of him.
“I’m just having fun playing with the guys, but when I’m on the field going against an opponent I just try my best to pretty much embarrass the guy in front of me,” Logan emphasized. “If that’s run, pass, whatever it’s called for, it’s my job to be destructive upfront and just get after it.”
Corners De’Vante Bausby and Phillip Gaines were taking more first-string repetitions when the team returned to passing drills. Murray was also working in as a first-string safety and displayed an ability to recover and break up passes with impeccable timing. However, not all was cheerful when linebacker Josh Mauga limped off the field. Only a few plays earlier he displayed lateral speed while breaking up passes over the middle.
However, it was the unlikely and quiet tight end, Gavin Escobar, who flipped the narrative by bailing out Mahomes not once, but twice, with what may have been the two best touchdown receptions of camp. Escobar managed to catch a “laser-pass” that should have gone right over him, and later fought for possession with safety Steven Terrell. Escobar did not only improve his Madden ‘spectacular catch’ stat, but was hauling in regular receptions all of practice.
The day wrapped up with another Jones reception that showed why the nickname “Stretch” was earned for his separation ability. Near the end of the day, Marcus Peters and tight end Ross Travis exchanged colorful language. Practice had been heated all day long, bordering on tempers flaring. Fortunately, this was the only moment where things truly lead to fighting, and no pure boxing matches have occurred.
After practice, Hunt’s media availability gave insight into the team’s chemistry and how much fun he is having challenging himself.
“Honestly, we are always trying to help each other no matter what,” Hunt said. “We are a big family, all of us, whatever we think we can get better at, they will help me. If I have something to say I will try to give them a tip or something like that. We always want the best for each other.”
Hunt is one of the most intriguing running backs as the film shows he has all the intangibles to establish a long career. However, pass receiving, an essential part to the Chiefs scheme, was a concern for Hunt’s game.
“Yeah, I definitely feel comfortable with catching the ball out the backfield,” he explained. “I was definitely aware that they like to use their running backs in the passing game because of Jamaal Charles and (Spencer) Ware and all of those guys. It is just exciting to be a part something like this, getting there in space. I like catching the ball out the backfield.”
Kelce’s knee should not be a concern, as it only ‘flared-up’ according to coach Reid. Mauga, however, aggravated a hip flexor injury and should be watched over the tenure of camp.
Kansas City Chiefs training camp takes starts at 8:15AM on Saturday, 9:15AM on Sunday, and 8:15AM on Monday.
Follow @LWOS_KCChiefs for more updates throughout training camp! Back Monday with takeaways from Saturday and Sunday.
