Post by lazarus on Aug 19, 2005 18:46:53 GMT -5
COUNTDOWN TO SEASON OPENER: 23 DAYS
CHIEFS AT CAMP
Day 22 in River Falls, Wis.
Bell’s debut put off a week
Kendrell Bell’s Chiefs debut probably will come next weekend against the Seahawks.
Coach thingy Vermeil said Thursday that Bell, a hard-hitting linebacker acquired from Pittsburgh in the offseason, is getting closer to contact but won’t see action in Saturday’s preseason game against Arizona.
“Next week at this time, Kendrell should be getting ready to play a few snaps,” Vermeil said as the Chiefs wrapped up their final run of two-a-days in River Falls.
Bell, who missed much of last season with a groin injury, had shoulder problems during the Chiefs’ offseason workouts. Though Bell has been practicing in camp, Vermeil has held him out from contact as a precautionary measure.
Linebacker Keyaron Fox also will miss Saturday, Vermeil said. Fox, the top backup on the right and left sides, has been out with a hamstring injury.
Though they haven’t been at full strength, Vermeil said he ends camp feeling confident in the defense’s improvement.
“They’re ahead of where they were last year,” he said. “It ain’t even close. And all I have to do is look at the takeaways, the interceptions they’ve had. We’re way ahead, and I think the temperament of the defense, the discipline within the scheme, the fundamentals within the scheme, we’re better there.”
Handicapping the receivers
As the clock ticks down to the first cuts, quarterback Trent Green is eagerly watching the receiver race.
Offensive coordinator Al Saunders said before camp that the Chiefs probably will keep five receivers. Green wonders whether it’s possible they’ll have six.
Marc Boerigter and Chris Horn have been impressive in the last week, and Horn started in last weekend’s preseason opener in place of Eddie Kennison, who had to tend to a family matter.
Green said Boerigter and Horn, who are coming off injuries, have their speed back. He said Richard Smith and Jeris McIntyre are making headway. And rookie Craphonso Thorpe, who came back from a college leg injury, is somewhat of an unknown.
“He’s been on and off the field and had some inconsistency, as you would expect for a young guy,” Green said. “For him to make the roster, he’s going to have to come on strong, whether it be the preseason games or in practice.”
Move ’em out
The moving trucks arrived late Wednesday to pack the Chiefs home from their 3 1/2 -week trip to River Falls. By early Thursday, equipment was being loaded.
Today, the Chiefs conduct a short walk-through practice before heading home to Kansas City.
Thursday’s workouts were hampered by rain, and Vermeil moved indoors when morning thunderstorms threatened. By late afternoon, the skies cleared and the team had a two-hour practice outside in shells.
“We’ve had very few disappointing practices,” Vermeil said. “We’ve had some that could be better, but overall I think the energy in all our practices has been pretty good.”
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OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Trent Green was sharp Thursday as the Chiefs scaled down their final full workout. He lofted a 20-yard pass to Chris Horn in the corner of the end zone, past Justin Perkins. He rifled a pass to Eddie Kennison between two defenders. Later in the practice, Kennison bobbled a pass and corralled it just before he stepped out of bounds.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Undrafted rookie Kris Griffin dropped in the passing lane and picked off a pass from James Kilian; Derrick Johnson and Benny Sapp closed in on a sack on the rookie, who fell to the ground.
INJURY REPORT
Quarterback Todd Collins (hand); running back Robert Holcombe (knee); wide receivers Freddie Mitchell (knee) and Nathaniel Curry (hamstring); offensive linemen Peter Heyer (ankle), Aaron Johnson (hand) and Kevin Sampson (toe); defensive linemen John Browning (back), Carlos Hall (triceps), Khari Long (back) and Junior Siavii (knee); linebackers Shawn Barber (knee), Mike Maslowski (knee), Quinton Caver (knee) and Keyaron Fox (hamstring); and defensive backs Eric Warfield (back), Jerome Woods (knee) and Scott Connot (hamstring) did not practice.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
A walk-through late this morning, a flight back to Kansas City this afternoon
CHIEFS AT CAMP
Day 22 in River Falls, Wis.
Bell’s debut put off a week
Kendrell Bell’s Chiefs debut probably will come next weekend against the Seahawks.
Coach thingy Vermeil said Thursday that Bell, a hard-hitting linebacker acquired from Pittsburgh in the offseason, is getting closer to contact but won’t see action in Saturday’s preseason game against Arizona.
“Next week at this time, Kendrell should be getting ready to play a few snaps,” Vermeil said as the Chiefs wrapped up their final run of two-a-days in River Falls.
Bell, who missed much of last season with a groin injury, had shoulder problems during the Chiefs’ offseason workouts. Though Bell has been practicing in camp, Vermeil has held him out from contact as a precautionary measure.
Linebacker Keyaron Fox also will miss Saturday, Vermeil said. Fox, the top backup on the right and left sides, has been out with a hamstring injury.
Though they haven’t been at full strength, Vermeil said he ends camp feeling confident in the defense’s improvement.
“They’re ahead of where they were last year,” he said. “It ain’t even close. And all I have to do is look at the takeaways, the interceptions they’ve had. We’re way ahead, and I think the temperament of the defense, the discipline within the scheme, the fundamentals within the scheme, we’re better there.”
Handicapping the receivers
As the clock ticks down to the first cuts, quarterback Trent Green is eagerly watching the receiver race.
Offensive coordinator Al Saunders said before camp that the Chiefs probably will keep five receivers. Green wonders whether it’s possible they’ll have six.
Marc Boerigter and Chris Horn have been impressive in the last week, and Horn started in last weekend’s preseason opener in place of Eddie Kennison, who had to tend to a family matter.
Green said Boerigter and Horn, who are coming off injuries, have their speed back. He said Richard Smith and Jeris McIntyre are making headway. And rookie Craphonso Thorpe, who came back from a college leg injury, is somewhat of an unknown.
“He’s been on and off the field and had some inconsistency, as you would expect for a young guy,” Green said. “For him to make the roster, he’s going to have to come on strong, whether it be the preseason games or in practice.”
Move ’em out
The moving trucks arrived late Wednesday to pack the Chiefs home from their 3 1/2 -week trip to River Falls. By early Thursday, equipment was being loaded.
Today, the Chiefs conduct a short walk-through practice before heading home to Kansas City.
Thursday’s workouts were hampered by rain, and Vermeil moved indoors when morning thunderstorms threatened. By late afternoon, the skies cleared and the team had a two-hour practice outside in shells.
“We’ve had very few disappointing practices,” Vermeil said. “We’ve had some that could be better, but overall I think the energy in all our practices has been pretty good.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Trent Green was sharp Thursday as the Chiefs scaled down their final full workout. He lofted a 20-yard pass to Chris Horn in the corner of the end zone, past Justin Perkins. He rifled a pass to Eddie Kennison between two defenders. Later in the practice, Kennison bobbled a pass and corralled it just before he stepped out of bounds.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Undrafted rookie Kris Griffin dropped in the passing lane and picked off a pass from James Kilian; Derrick Johnson and Benny Sapp closed in on a sack on the rookie, who fell to the ground.
INJURY REPORT
Quarterback Todd Collins (hand); running back Robert Holcombe (knee); wide receivers Freddie Mitchell (knee) and Nathaniel Curry (hamstring); offensive linemen Peter Heyer (ankle), Aaron Johnson (hand) and Kevin Sampson (toe); defensive linemen John Browning (back), Carlos Hall (triceps), Khari Long (back) and Junior Siavii (knee); linebackers Shawn Barber (knee), Mike Maslowski (knee), Quinton Caver (knee) and Keyaron Fox (hamstring); and defensive backs Eric Warfield (back), Jerome Woods (knee) and Scott Connot (hamstring) did not practice.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
A walk-through late this morning, a flight back to Kansas City this afternoon