Chiefs Camp Report - 8/24

Training camp continued Monday, and Warpaint Illustrated was on the ground for the Chiefs’ first practice back in Kansas City.

Tyler Thigpen was back in his cleats and on the field. Matt Cassel and Brodie Croyle will clear next week’s roster cuts and earn arrowhead decals for their helmets, but Monday’s practice offered no further clarity on who will be KC’s third quarterback, as neither Matt Guttierrez nor Thigpen received significant snaps in 11-on-11 drills.

It’s entirely possible KC’s chief clipboard holder isn’t even on the current roster. Todd Haley made it clear during his talk with the media Monday that the Chiefs will continue to add players to the roster who can help make them competitive.

“We will do anything and everything we can to make the team better,” he said. “If that means adding somebody on the day before the season starts, or today, tomorrow or in a week, we’ll do it. We’re not disrespecting anybody, we’re just keeping our word that we will do everything we can to improve the team. If there is somebody out there who makes us better at any position we’re doing it.”

In a meeting, Haley had Kansas City’s scouts stand up and say how many preseason games they would attend, just to drive home the point that the players weren’t safe. The Chiefs have had scouts at every preseason game thus far. As teams trim the fat en route to their final 53-man roster, the Chiefs won’t hesitate to sift through the names and bring some in. Haley admitted that there are probably some players in camp who will obviously make the final 53-man roster, but was reluctant to name them or throw out a number.

The first-team offensive line still included Barry Richardson at right tackle Monday, as Damion McIntosh worked with the second team. Herb Taylor received no reps on the right side of the line, which may indicate he won’t get much of a shot at the starting right tackle spot, despite the less than inspiring play of McIntosh and Richardson thus far in the preseason.

With all the attention on the right tackle position, it’s the play of the line’s interior, and more specifically, Rudy Niswanger, that’s more worrisome. Niswanger is getting little push off the line, and has even surrendered some pressure to the quarterback in one-on-one situations with defensive linemen.

Monday, Eric Ghiaciuc, who was seemingly brought in to challenge for the starting center job, still received no reps with the first team. That could indicate the move to bring in Andy Alleman and Ike Ndukwe from Miami points to Haley being severely unhappy with where his offensive line is right now. Without having seen Ndukwe or Alleman, it’s too early to make a prediction on how their presence will effect Niswanger, Ghiaciuc, Wade Smith, or Darryl Harris. However, it affected Brian De La Puente immediately, as he was waived Monday afternoon.

Zach Thomas and Kolby Smith did not practice Monday.