Listen to Kansas City Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel address the media Monday at training camp in St. Joseph at Missouri Western State University.
Category: Chiefs
Chiefs look sharp as they win preseason opener against Arizona
Michael Adams caused a big chunk of Kansas City to catch its breath Friday night.
Jamaal Charles, on his first carry since ACL surgery on his left knee last September, took a solid shot from the Arizona cornerback right where the scar is. But he jumped up and hustled back to the huddle, helping K.C. score touchdowns on its first two possessions en route to a 27-17 victory over the Cardinals in a very satisfying preseason opener.
“That was a relief,” said coach Romero Crennel. “For him to take that hit, I think that helped clear his mind about where he is with that injury. Until you get hit on it, you just never know. You’re always wondering about it. Now he’s been hit in a game and I think that will help him going forward.”
Charles, the NFL’s second-leading rusher in 2010, had 12 yards on three carries and caught one pass for 11 yards. Two other key starters who also sat out last season after ACL surgery — safety Eric Berry and tight end Tony Moeaki — also played with no apparent problems, lifting the spirits of coaches and fans alike.
Charles insisted he “wasn’t even paying attention” to the hit to the left knee.
“It was good just to be on the field again and running the ball again in a real live game,” he said. “It was great to be out there with my teammates.”
Did he feel like the old Jamaal, the one whose 6.4 yards per carry in 2010 was just under Jim Brown’s NFL record?
“I don’t know. You tell me,” he said with a grin. “I feel fresh. My body feels real good. I feel ready to go.”
Matt Cassel found Peyton Hillis on a 12-yard scoring strike to cap the first possession, marking the second straight game the defense for Arizona yielded a touchdown on the opening drive.
In their second possession, the Chiefs romped 72 yards in just four plays, capped by Shaun Draughn’s 4-yard run.
“It’s disappointing that we didn’t play better,” said Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt. “I don’t accept that. I just don’t think it was a good effort by our team and I’m glad we’ve got three (preseason) games left to clear that up.”
Little was decided in the battle between John Skelton and Kevin Kolb for Arizona’s starting quarterback job. But William Powell, a second-year running back from Kansas State, had a big game, rushing for 92 yards on nine carries. He scored the Cardinals’ first touchdown on a 2-yard run on fourth down after exploding for 67 yards a moment before.
Skelton started and was 3 for 6 for 35 yards and one interception. Kolb, who started in the Hall of Fame game against New Orleans, came off the bench and was 1 for 5 for 21 yards. The Cardinals, who spent the week practicing at the Chiefs’ camp in nearby St. Joseph, Mo., dropped to 0-2 in the preseason, while the Chiefs matched their preseason victory total for the past three seasons.
“I thought John looked comfortable,” Whisenhunt said. “He made a mistake when he called a run the wrong way. But he made some good, accurate throws. Kevin looked good early, but we continue to have protection issues when he’s in there. I thought they did OK.”
Cassel, who missed most of the second half of last season with a hand injury, looked sharp. He connected with a wide-open Hillis to finish a 12-play, 72-yard march for a 7-0 lead the first time the Chiefs had the ball and was 5 for 6 for 67 yards. He rifled a 29-yard completion to Dexter McCluster to set up Draughn’s TD run with 4:13 left in the first quarter.
Hillis, an offseason free agent signing, had 41 yards on four carries. He broke through a big hole on the right side of the line for a 28-yard run in the second TD drive, helping the first-teamers to touchdowns on the only two possessions they played.
Abram Elam intercepted Skelton’s pass intended for Larry Fitzgerald and returned it 37 yards to set up Ryan Succop’s 22-yard field goal in the third quarter. Succop’s 24-yarder following Devon Wylie’s long punt return made it 20-10.
Ricky Stanzi, the Chiefs’ third-string quarterback, found backup tight end Steve Maneri for 19 yards in the fourth period to help set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Cyrus Gray. Gray had 15 carries for 65 yards and Maneri had three catches for 69 yards.
With 8:28 left, the Cardinals made it 27-17 when Richard Bartel connected with Jaymar Johnson on an 18-yard touchdown pass.
The replacement officials were not shy about throwing flags, calling six penalties on each team for a total of 149 yards.
— Associated Press —
Romeo Crennel Press Conference – 8/6
Listen to Kansas City Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel address the media Monday at training camp in St. Joseph at Missouri Western State University.
Player/Coach interviews from Chiefs Training Camp – 8/3
Listen to interviews from the Kansas City Chiefs after their training camp practice Friday in St. Joseph at Missouri Western State University.
Chiefs, Missouri Western to host Junior Training Camp this Monday
The Kansas City Chiefs and Missouri Western State University will again host the Gatorade Junior Training Camp on Monday, Aug. 6 from 1:15 – 3 p.m. at Spratt Stadium on the campus of Missouri Western in St. Joseph during 2012 Chiefs Training Camp presented by Heartland Health.
The event, for boys and girls in grades three through eight, is designed to allow children an opportunity to learn and practice football skills through multiple drills and teach them about the importance of hydration.
Youth will have the opportunity to participate in a number of drills, including bag, cone and ladder drills, quarterback drills, running back agility drills, running back ball drills, wide receiver and tight end drills, linebacker and defensive line drills as well as defensive back drills. A hydration station will also be on site for camp participants to utilize.
Players and coaches from the Missouri Western State Griffons football team will be on-hand leading camp participants in all the drills throughout the day.
Each camp participant will receive two complimentary tickets to the Friday, Aug. 10 preseason game when the Chiefs take on the Arizona Cardinals in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Arrowhead Stadium. Immediately following the Gatorade Junior Training Camp, participants and their families will be able to watch the Chiefs take the practice field for a training camp practice at 3:20 p.m. All camp participants will also be able to enter their name to participate in the helmet walk after practice, allowing the chance to walk with a Chiefs player and carry their helmet. Each camp participant will also be able to enter for the chance to take home a case of limited edition Chiefs-branded Gatorade.
— Chiefs Media Relations —
Kansas City, Arizona to hold joint practice at MWSU Tuesday
The Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals will hold a joint practice at Missouri Western State University on Tuesday, Aug. 7 at 3:15 p.m. The practice will take place on the grass practice fields on the north side of the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex. The Chiefs and Cardinals will participate in multiple practice drills together. The Chiefs will hold a team autograph session following practice.
Admission is $5 per person with children three and under admitted free. Tickets are on sale now at www.gogriffons.com or by calling 816-271-4481. Any remaining tickets will be sold on site the day of the event. There will be a $5 parking fee. Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance.
No admission fee will be charged on Wednesday, Aug. 8 (as originally posted) as the Cardinals will not be holding a public practice on this day. For more information on 2012 Chiefs Training Camp presented by Heartland Health visit www.kcchiefs.com.
— Chiefs Media Relations —
Listen to Romeo Crennel’s press conference – 8/3
Listen to Kansas City Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel address the media Friday at training camp in St. Joseph at Missouri Western State University.
Player/Coach Interviews from Chiefs Training Camp – 8/2
Listen to interviews from the Kansas City Chiefs after their training camp practice Thursday in St. Joseph at Missouri Western State University.
Romeo Crennel Press Conference – 8/2
Listen to Kansas City Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel address the media Thursday at training camp in St. Joseph at Missouri Western State University.
Chiefs sign OT Ray Willis, waive FB Taylor Gentry
The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Tuesday the club has signed offensive tackle Ray Willis and waived fullback Taylor Gentry.
Willis (6-6, 304) has played in 44 games (26 starts) in five NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks (2005-09). He joins the Chiefs after brief stops with the Miami Dolphins (2011), New Orleans Saints (2011) and the New York Jets (2012). The Angleton, Texas, native originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round draft pick (105th overall) of the Seahawks in the 2005 NFL Draft. Willis was a four-year starter at Florida State University and prepped at Angleton High School.
Gentry (6-2, 250) played in 44 games at North Carolina State, catching 38 passes for 313 yards (8.2 avg.) and recording 61 tackles (22 solo). He was a two-time all-conference and all-area selection and team MVP at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh, N.C., as a tight end, wide receiver, outside linebacker and defensive end. He originally joined the Chiefs as a rookie free agent in May.
— Chiefs Media Relations —