Join Chiefs365 | Insider Forum with Josh Looney - Talk it up!

LET’S CALL THE CHIEFS ROSTER A “FLEXIBLE 53”
September 7th – 5:25 PM

As we discussed earlier today, the makeup of the Chiefs roster seems destined to change at somebody in the not-so-distant future. It’s not a matter of “if,” but more of a matter of “when?” Head coach Todd Haley addressed that topic this afternoon, saying that the bottom of the Chiefs roster will see plenty of movement going forward. 

“Right now, I think we have the right 53,” Haley said. “I think there is no doubt in my mind but this will be something we continue to work on the entire year. The rules have it that there can be movement on the bottom end of the roster and I think we’ll take full advantage of that to have the right 53 out there. You will continue to see some movement from the Chiefs.”

Chiefs players know that part of staying on the team’s 53-man roster is constant availability and production. It’s been nearly 48 hours since the Chiefs trimmed down their roster by 22 bodies, but few Chiefs have taken the time to exhale.

“It’s definitely a steady pace where you have to come to work every day thinking that you could still get your job taken from you,” RB Dantrell Savage said today. “You have to come both mentally and physically prepared for anything.” 

The sign of relief only lasts so long.

RICHARDSON REJOINS CHIEFS
September 7th – 5:20 PM

Second-year tackle Barry Richardson rejoined the Chiefs this evening as a member of the club’s practice squad. Richardson had been released when the Chiefs claimed T Ryan O’Callaghan off waivers from New England on Sunday.

Richardson occupies the Chiefs eighth and final practice squad roster spot.

HALEY PLAYING CASSEL SITUATION CAUTIOUSLY
September 7th – 2:43 PM

Chiefs head coach Todd Haley isn’t ready to claim QB Matt Cassel healthy enough to play at Baltimore just yet, and that’s okay. No matter which way you look at it, the return of Cassel today was nothing but a positive.

”He was out there,” Haley said. ”I think as the week goes on we’ll know a little bit more with Matt. It was good that he was out there and he was able to get through some things. As the week goes on a little further we’ll know a little more where he’s at.”

The Chiefs coaching staff would be taking a wait-and-see approach with Cassel even if he hadn’t practiced today. But the simple fact that Cassel lined up with teammates in full pads and ran through drills means that the Chiefs starter isn’t playing catch-up this week.

”I think it was positive he was on the field,” Haley said.

Positive indeed. A few reports have surfaced around the web stating that Cassel is nowhere near 100% even though he practiced today, mainly because he was hampered with a knee brace on this left knee. I think it’s a bit premature to draw any conclusions either way about Cassel. We all want answers, but patience is key in evaluating injury rehab.

”It’s good this is a long week and we’ve got the extra day,” Haley said of Cassel’s progression. “That will help with anybody that’s nicked up.”

Cassel’s full-padded appearance at practice is nothing but positive for the Chiefs.

O’CALLAGHAN FOCUSING ON THE BASICS FIRST
September 7th – 2:03 PM

Newly acquired Chiefs right tackle Ryan O’Callaghan is focused on contributing on the line as early as possible. Just a half-day after being claimed off waivers from New England, O’Callaghan was in full pads taking part in the Chiefs Labor Day practice.

“I haven’t even slept yet,” O’Callaghan told me this afternoon.

With the Chiefs thin at right tackle, O’Callaghan knows that he has an opportunity to contribute quickly. Possibly even as a starter in the near future.

“That’s why they brought me here,” O’Callaghan said of contributing quickly. “If I’m not contributing, then why have me? That’s kind of the way that I’m looking at it.”

Whether O’Callaghan can claim the team’s starting right tackle post is to be determined. Currently he is battling another recent addition, T Ikechuku Ndukwe, for the starting spot at right tackle. Before he can do anything though, O’Callaghan says that he has to take care of the basics.

“Step one is learning the plays,” O’Callaghan said. “I can’t do anything until I know what I have to do. I haven’t had a chance to really look at the playbook yet. I’m going to learn what I need to learn so I can have a positive effect on this team.

“It seems like a great place out here,” O’Callaghan continued. “A lot of opportunity.”

CHIEFS MONDAY PRACTICE
September 7th – 11:31 AM

The Chiefs were back on the practice field this morning with considerably less bodies. After watching over a month of 80 players practicing, 61 on the field this morning causes a double-take. Practice observations won’t be what they were during training camp, for obvious reasons. But here is what I can tell you.

• QB Matt Cassel was in full pads and practicing with the team. He wore a brace on this left knee and did all individual drills that the QBs participated in.
• CB Brandon Flowers, TE Jake O’Connell and S Jarrad Page were all back after missing the final preseason game.
• The only player in the “rehab zone” was RB Kolby Smith.
• As far as injuries go, the Chiefs don’t have to put injury tags on any player until 3:00 PM on Wednesday. That is the first mandatory day for the Chiefs to submit an injury report.
• New offensive tackle Ryan Callaghan was on-field and practicing, wearing #75.
• DE Dion Gales switches to #70, while LB Pierre Walters now wears #97.
  
  

SUCCOP BEATS THE ODDS
September 7th – 10:21 AM

Chiefs K Ryan Succop was selected by the Chiefs with the 256th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, officially anointing him the newest “Mr. Irrelevant.”

A solid spring helped Succop beat on K Connor Barth in a head-to-head kicking battle and an impressive training camp saw Succop keep his job and enter 2009 as the Chiefs kicker. Right now, Succop is one of only two “Mr. Irrelevant’s” still in the league.

2008 “Mr. Irrelevant” SLB David Vobora is a member of the Rams, rounding out the final picks still in the league. S Michael Green (Seattle - 2000) and CB Ramzee Robinson (Detroit - 2007) were the two other most recent “Mr. Irrelevant’s” to see NFL action. They are now both currently free agents.

PLAYING EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL
September 7th – 10:02 AM

One of the biggest concerns I’ve heard regarding the Chiefs current roster is the lack of depth on the offensive line. Fans have expressed via email, message boards and Twitter that eight offensive linemen is concerning to them.

Rostering eight offensive linemen does stretch a team thin at that position, but it also enables the club to carry another position spot that may be a necessity (usually an extra special teams player, but in the Chiefs case it might be the fourth QB). Carrying eight offensive linemen also means that each is likely to be active on opening day (45 of 53 dress on game day).

Regardless, the Chiefs aren’t alone as nine other teams also are only rostering eight offensive linemen. That’s 31% of the league, so not necessarily a rare move. Below is a listing of each NFL team and the amount of offensive linemen they currently carry on their roster.

NE -10

DAL - 10

NYG - 10

PHI - 10

WAS - 10

STL - 10

BAL - 9

CIN - 9

PIT - 9

HOU - 9

IND - 9

JAX - 9

OAK - 9

DET - 9

GB - 9

MIN - 9

ATL - 9

CAR - 9

NO - 9

TB - 9

ARZ - 9

SEA - 9

KC - 8

BUF - 8

MIA - 8

NYJ - 8

CLE - 8

TEN - 8

DEN - 8

SD - 8

CHI - 8

SF - 8

THE REAL DEAL
September 7th – 5:56 AM

A flurry of activity took place inside the Chiefs offices this weekend with a total of 23 transactions taking place – 14 releases, seven practice squad additions, one waiver claim and an IR designation. In the end, half of those released this weekend found employment with the Chiefs as a developmental team member; no need to clean out the locker just yet. But as we begin regular season week number one today, Kansas City’s roster remains incomplete.

The lone opening on the Chiefs “61-man team” is the eighth and final practice squad spot. That roster opening seems likely to belong to T Barry Richardson should he clear waivers. Richardson was released yesterday after the Chiefs claimed Ryan O’Callaghan off waivers from New England. So, by mid-day today the Chiefs roster will likely be complete…for now.

Kansas City’s roster structure seems likely to change again in the not-so-distant future based on the way it’s currently laid out. The Chiefs obviously won’t keep four quarterbacks once starter Matt Cassel is given a clean bill of health and ready to play. Cassel’s med report will eventually trigger a release, which will trigger a signing, which will tilt the roster yet another direction, creating new scenarios, which leads to multiple avenues. It’s a lot like those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books you read as a kid, except it’s the special Chiefs edition.

That’s just one of many examples that can re-shape the Chiefs roster significantly. Who knows which domino will fall first and which direction it will lead the club. But when it comes to changes involving the 2009 Chiefs roster, it’s not a matter of “if”, but “when?”

Another area of the roster generating a lot of attention is the fact that the Chiefs are carrying just eight offensive linemen. Most everyone figured that the KC front office would find a right tackle via waivers yesterday, but swapping out that new body with another offensive lineman was a bit of a surprise (O’Callaghan for Richardson). However, claiming O’Callaghan gives the Chiefs much more versatility along the offensive front.

Should O’Callaghan take over the starting right tackle duties, the Chiefs three reserves have the ability to play multiple posts along the front line. Andy Alleman can play either guard or center; same with Wade Smith. Ikechuku Ndukwe has the tools to play both guard and tackle. Still, three reserves seems a bit thin and the arrival of another body is likely on back-order. The signing of O’Callaghan does give the Chiefs piece of mind for the time being.

Then there is the curious case of WR Rodney Wright – the lone non-rookie currently on the Chiefs practice squad. Could his presence be a temporary way for Wright to practice with the team until his card is pulled, becoming the club’s sixth receiver and punt returner? Oh, the humanity of it all!

It sure is fun to think of the different ways the Chiefs can go with their roster from here, but the final tweaks will work themselves out in time. All that Chiefs players and coaches can do now is focus on the main thing: winning.