2008 Arby's Mini-Camp Roundup

Jun 07, 2008, 3:20:34 PM

By Josh Looney

It’s the Chiefs version of a spring practice. The 2008 Arby’s Chiefs Mini-Camp was held Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. A crowd of 11,604 Chiefs fans weaved through the many construction projects surrounding the Truman Sports Complex to get their first look at the 2008 edition of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Donning helmets, jerseys and shorts during the day’s drills, the Chiefs still gave fans plenty to cheer about. Specials teams kicked off the practice, followed by an entertaining individual drills period that featured defensive line coach Tim Krumrie’s unparalleled intensity both physically and verbally. Players spent time signing autographs following 72 scrimmage plays that featured team run, situational offense, special downs, team 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills.

“I think it’s exciting for a lot of the young guys to go into Arrowhead,” Chiefs Herm Edwards said following Mini-Camp. “They haven’t been in there and they can get a feel of what it’s going to be like when the season starts as far as the fans. It’s been a good four days of mini-camp and we have one more day left to get in some work. I told them that we’re coming to the point where by tomorrow we’ve got about 400 plays that we’ve practiced after five days of work. The more that we practice, the more we can go through things that help evaluate the players.”

Positional Observations

• A healthy RB Larry Johnson didn’t fail to impress as he took his first touch 50+ yards for a TD on a toss right.
• Off-season acquisition G Adrian Jones continues to receive first-ream reps at right guard with the offense. The first-team offensive line lined up as follows from left to right: T Branden Albert, G Brian Waters, C Rudy Niswanger, G Adrian Jones, T Damion McIntosh.
• LB Donnie Edwards rested and LB Demorrio Williams filled in for Edwards at the outside linebacker position.
• Two members of the Chiefs 2008 Draft class turned heads in the Chiefs secondary, S Dajuan Morgan (3rd round, 82nd overall) and CB Brandon Carr (5th round, 140th overall).
• Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham is back coaching the linebackers. The move was certainly pleasing to the crowd as it was easy to hear his name being chanted throughout individual drills.

Double Take
The Arby’s Mini-Camp is an annual opportunity for Chiefs fans to get their first look at the Chiefs new draft class. A watchful eye always rests on the Chiefs first-round draft choice, but fans had to divide their attention between opposite sides of the field for the majority of the afternoon as DT Glenn Dorsey worked with the first-team defense and G/T Branden Albert worked with the first-team offense at left tackle.

“Today was a great first experience at Arrowhead,” Dorsey said while signing fan autographs. “Just knowing the commitment of these fans makes me want to work even harder to prepare for this upcoming season.”

Statistical Timeout: The 2008 Draft marked the first time that the Chiefs have held two first-round selections since ‘84. Ironically the Chiefs selected an interior defensive lineman at number five and an offensive tackle at number 21 that season (NT Bill Maas and T John Alt).

Play of the Day

• QB Brodie Croyle hooked up with WR Dwayne Bowe on what seemed to be any regular 10-yard out route. There was nothing regular about this catch, however, as Bowe stretched out horizontally, made an amazing diving catch and immediately got up to race untouched down the left sideline.

Missed Your Chance?
Weren’t able to make it out to Arrowhead on Saturday? Fear not, the Chiefs will conduct a practice on Thursday, June 12th in at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, MO that is open to the public. The practice session in St. Joseph will kickoff at 12:00 noon.

If St. Joseph doesn’t fit into your schedule, Chiefs training camp in River Falls is only 47 days away. The Chiefs will spend their 18th consecutive summer in America’s Dairyland starting on July 25th.