Chiefs Camp Day 7: Offense Responds
Sept. 16, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tackle Donald Stephenson (79) during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Chiefs 35 to 17. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Day 6 of camp wasn’t particularly good for the Chiefs offense. Several drops, fumbles, and interceptions plagued the offense yesterday.
Today was a different story. According to Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star, the Chiefs offense was able to score several touchdowns in a drill that took place from inside the 20 yard line. Teicher also reported that quarterbacks Alex Smith and Chase Daniel both looked sharp. He asked offensive coordinator, Doug Pederson, about how his offense responded after yesterdays practice.
"“It’s a training camp,’’ Pederson said. “Offense is going to win a day, then lose a day. That’s just the way training camp is set up. You drop a pass, you make a mistake, the quarterback throws an interception, you move on. You coach it on film. We had a lot of good teaching film from yesterday, and the guys responded nicely today.’’"
Just as I expected. The offense came out sharp today, something that tells us the coaching is really starting to reflect. The Chiefs aren’t going to be perfect every play and one of the problems the Chiefs had last season was making the same mistakes each week. As Coach Pederson said, they had a lot of good teaching film and the players came out ready to execute.
Jul 28, 2013; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) drops back to pass during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
It’s encouraging to hear that Alex Smith was particularly sharp today as well. He was able to bounce back from his interceptions and mistakes that were made yesterday. He has developed the mentality of “one play at a time” over the last few seasons in San Francisco. That’s one of the reasons Smith has been particularly good in not turning the ball over.
The Chiefs defense has been relentless with the pressure on the offense all camp, which in the end should really help when game time starts. Facing what some are considering to be one of, if not the, best defenses in the AFC every day can really help get this offense ready to play.
We always hear the cliches of training camp. The “we’re getting a little bit better every day” is one we hear most, but hearing the news out of camp this morning shows that its genuinely true from Andy Reid and his coaching staff.
Side Note: I spoke with Chiefs tackle, Donald Stephenson, yesterday and he assured me that the finger is a minor set back. He was having one of the better camps of any player out there before his finger was broken while taking reps at guard. He could play right now if necessary, but between the club of a cast he was sporting and the Chiefs precautions, he will sit and rest for at least 14 days. He won’t miss any meetings and will be ready for the regular season.
The Chiefs take the field again tomorrow at 8:15 AM, and it’s also “American Family” fun day, where the Chiefs will have an entire team autograph session. Encouraging day from the offense today, lets keep hearing good progress from both sides of the ball!