Until September 5, 2012 gets here, all NFL fans can do is patiently wait and watch their favorite team’s front office throw touchdowns and make tackles. During this time the players are tying up lose ends with family, holding contract talks, and performing some type of physical conditioning with their team. Some of them are still rehabbing recent injuries, and some are even completing the very elusive task of earning their college degree. All of these things are currently happening at One Arrowhead Drive.
The off-season program of the Kansas City Chiefs will not determine what the team will or will not achieve in the 2012 season, but it will give fans a better understanding of what types of tools the team has, and how those tools plan to be used.
But before we talk about news around the Chiefs OTA’s, I would like to inform Chiefs Nation that Brodie Croyle has officially retired from the NFL. On May 21, 2012, Croyle, who was most recently a member of the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, retired.(Poor Brodie)
Now, back to the Chiefs OTA’s from last week, fans saw cornerback, Travis Daniels, and rookie safety, Terrance Parks (Florida State), taking first-team snaps at the two safety positions, while Eric Berry and Kendrick Lewis are still rehabbing their injuries. Daniels is a recent college graduate of Louisiana State University after six seasons in the NFL. Congratulations to Mr. Daniels, and hopefully he can convince Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey to do the same. Players with degrees earn 20%-30% more than players without a degree. They also have a career that lasts 50% longer, as one theory states that players, who show the intelligence, concentration, and mental discipline to complete a degree, also show these qualities on the field. This is according to the National Football League Player’s Association.
But it’s what Chiefs fans didn’t see at the OTA’s this week that is very troubling. I don’t know of any other way to describe it. Fans didn’t see wide receiver Dwayne Bowe on the field, and it has been made very obvious that the Chiefs are preparing themselves for his absence in 2012. The Chiefs currently have 13 wide receivers listed on the roster, and the Kansas City Star reported weeks ago that Steve Breaston may be the number one guy at wide receiver this season. Most recently, the team signed wide receiver Aaron Weaver (6’2”, 220 lbs), who transferred to Syracuse in 2010 after Hofstra eliminated its football program. He has played in 26 games with 141 receptions, and 1,504 yards receiving.
But, as I said from the beginning, OTA’s only tell you specific things, and who will be on the Chiefs’ roster by September 5th is NOT one of them.
In more news, Chiefs first round draft pick, nose tackle Dontari Poe, was participating some at OTA’s last week, however he still remains unsigned. Poe is attending work outs, and even saw some reps in the team’s sub-packages. This is a good thing because he can learn a lot during this time. It’s good for the Chiefs and it’s good for Poe. Amon Gordon has been filling the starting spot at nose tackle during practice. Also, the Chiefs have officially moved OW (offensive weapon), Dexter McCluster, to the slot receiver position. This move could be a result of Bowe’s absence, and could be an indication that the fourth-round pick, Devon Wylie, will be McCluster’s back-up, which would end the rumors that he would be a rookie starter at the position.
Moving forward, the following players have either not been on the practice field yet, or suffered a minor injury during OTA’s: Jamaal Charles (knee), Kendrick Lewis (pectoral), Tony Moeaki (knee), Brandon Siler (achilles), Eric Berry (knee), the Chiefs’ fifth-round pick, Dequan Menzie (hamstring), center Rob Bruggeman (finger), Chiefs’ sixth-round pick, Cyrus Gray (hamstring), and the Chiefs’ second-round pick, offensive lineman Jeff Allen, has a high ankle sprain and is wearing a walking boot.
On a happy note, former Chiefs offensive coordinator, and current Kansas Jayhawks football coach, Charlie Weiss, was an observer at the Chiefs first full-squad practice. While the current Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, has the offense running lots of zone blocking schemes. This type of offense is predicted to improve the Chiefs offense from their 12.3 points per game in 2011, which was the lowest output in Chiefs history since the 1982 strike season.
Coach Daboll is very familiar with Peyton Hillis and Brady Quinn from the time that they spent together in Cleveland, so with the absence of many of the Chiefs veterans he is using Hillis and Quinn to help out with the young guys during practice. Eric Winston is looking good at practice as he reminds Chiefs fans of the days when they had Willie Roaf and Will Shields. Jonathan Baldwin has been outstanding during OTA’s, and is making highlight reel catches all over the field.
Stanford Rout, Brandon Flowers, and Kendrick Lewis are also studying each others habits on the field, and establishing their own methods of communication.
The following is a list of the remaining scheduled OTA’s at the Arrowhead practice facility that will lead us up to the opening day of Training Camp in late July.
May 21-22, 2012
May 24, 2012
May 29, 2012
May 31- June 1, 2012
June 4-5, 2012
June 7-8, 2012
June 12-14, 2012 – MANDATORY MINI-CAMP
