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4 takeaways from Day 9 of Chiefs training camp

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4 takeaways from Day 9 of Chiefs training camp


The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs had been again at coaching camp follow at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, Missouri on Saturday.

Following the break day on Friday, the Chiefs saved the power excessive throughout follow. There have been loads of standout performs on each offense and protection, with the staff taking part in a number of staff 11-on-11 durations all through the course of follow. The protection acquired work on blitzes and their dime package deal. The offense labored on issues like staff run drills, the fast passing recreation and the two-minute drill.

With all of that in thoughts, listed below are a couple of of the issues that we’re taking away from the most recent follow session:

Trent McDuffie appears to be getting extra comfy

AP Picture/Charlie Riedel

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McDuffie has seen a quiet coaching camp up to now, however one thing actually appeared to click on for the rookie on Saturday. He’s had some points with the size of larger receivers like Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster, however he’s making progress there. He’s continued to indicate sticky protection in opposition to a number of the sooner wideouts too.

There have been two performs that basically stood out from McDuffie on the day. One got here in opposition to JuJu Smith-Schuster on a nook route the place he acquired his hand on the ball for a move defended.

 

One other one got here in 11-on-11 staff drills, the place McDuffie performed by means of the catch along with his fingers and popped the ball out on Mecole Hardman.

“Getting up to now of camp, I believe a giant factor for me is simply ending,” McDuffie mentioned after follow. “All the pieces doesn’t go good (on each snap). I would mess up on the road with my method or on the prime of the route, however with the ability to struggle by means of that adversity and end on the ball on the finish of the play, I believe is one thing I’m working exhausting at and one thing that you just noticed on the market in the present day. It’s one thing I’m making an attempt to do each day.”

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The rookie nook appears to be steadily constructing confidence and good habits that may certainly translate to the common season.

Defensive position boasting versatility

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports activities

The Chiefs combined issues up on the defensive position fairly a bit throughout follow on Saturday. Throughout their earliest 11-on-11 interval, the staff appeared to be working a few of their blitz packages and that included some distinctive alignments from the defensive position. Media and followers in attendance noticed snaps with Chris Jones lining up on the skin at defensive finish, one thing that he’s carried out at occasions prior to now.

FOX 4 Kansas Metropolis’s PJ Inexperienced noted Steve Spagnuolo’s NASCAR alignment with Jones and Mike Danna on the within and George Karlaftis and Frank Clark on the sting. Different durations of follow featured a mix of Jones at edge, Khalen Saunders at nostril deal with and each Danna and Clark dashing from the skin. One other time they’d Jones on the skin with Karlaftis on the within. This group appears to have the flexibility to do lots of various things and as soon as Carlos Dunlap will get in control it’ll add one other component to the group as properly.

Slimmed-down Orlando Brown Jr. flashing in move safety

AP Picture/Reed Hoffmann

May a slimmed-down Orlando Brown Jr. have a higher edge in move safety this season? The franchise-tagged left deal with confirmed as much as coaching camp trying like he’s put within the work to lose some weight throughout the offseason. A number of media members and followers in attendance famous that the left deal with appeared slightly bit faster in move safety throughout follow on Saturday.

Frank Clark, George Karlaftis, Carlos Dunlap — all of them tried Brown in 1-on-1 drills and he shut them down. It’s robust to inform if this was a operate of the actual issues they had been engaged on within the 1-on-1 drills, however Brown seems good regardless. He additionally flashed in staff drills, the place he helped lock down the blindside for Mahomes throughout the early blitz interval. Maybe an indication of a giant season to come back for Brown as he seeks a long-term extension from the staff.

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Mecole Hardman is the grasp of metaphors

AP Picture/Charlie Riedel

Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman was in uncommon type after follow on Saturday. He had lots of enjoyable with the media, talking in metaphors and asking them some enjoyable questions as properly.

When requested about his function on particular groups as a punt returner, he described himself because the Amazon Prime choice and everybody else because the common Amazon choice.

It was a little bit of a head-scratcher, however I took it to imply that he’s the popular choice (Prime), however generally that choice received’t be out there. Hardman is predicted to play a bigger function on offense this season, which might imply he’s unable to contribute as ceaselessly on particular groups. That is much like the best way that Dave Toub used Tyreek Hill when his function on offense elevated. He by no means dominated out utilizing Hill on punts as a result of he was all the time a risk to take it the space, however he saved these alternatives for when the staff actually wanted a play.

This wasn’t the one metaphor that Hardman busted out after follow, although. Hardman made a slick one-handed seize over rookie CB Nazeeh Johnson in 1-on-1 drills early on throughout the day.

“I actually didn’t wish to contact the bottom, man,” Hardman mentioned of the play. “Form of like if a cat falls or one thing, they don’t wish to fall. Talking of that, have you ever ever seen ‘Cats: The Musical’? That’s sort of how I really feel on the market, actually.”

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What precisely did Hardman imply with the “Cats: The Musical” remark? Nicely, I’m undecided he even absolutely is aware of.

Possibly the following metaphor we’ll get out of Hardman will probably be from Will Ferrell’s “Blades of Glory.”





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2025 NFL Draft scouting report: Devin Neal, RB, Kansas

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2025 NFL Draft scouting report: Devin Neal, RB, Kansas


Nov 9, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jeremiah Cooper (4) hits Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal (4) during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

Cutback Ability 

The first thing you see when you watch Devin Neal is his ability to make decisive decisions as a runner. It allows him to see and find running lanes as they develop or while they are. It is also showcased when he breaks into the second level and is tasked with making a defender miss. 

Speed 

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Neal can finish runs when in space, break off long runs, and find the endzone when given the chance. He shows whenever he is given the chance to be a receiver and already has momentum built up. With any touch of the ball he has, he can go to the endzone with his speed. 

Receiving Ability

Neal has some drops on his film, he isn’t perfect, but he gets open when tasked with running a route. He does a good job of moving without the ball in his hands, and it allows him to be in a position to be a reliable receiver. Once he gets the focus drops out of the way, he can really find some nice receiving work in the NFL if given the chance.



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Kansas State Fans Unload On Jerome Tang After Wichita State Loss

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Kansas State Fans Unload On Jerome Tang After Wichita State Loss


Kansas State’s meltdown loss to the Stockers can be attributed to many on the team.

But it was coach Jerome Tang who was the center of the criticism Saturday night. This is the second time in the last three games where the Wildcats were outdone dramatically in the second half.

Kansas State stars Coleman Hawkins and David N’Guessan combined for just 15 points on 35 percent shooting. Meanwhile, David Castillo went 0 of 7 from 3-point range, contributing to a 28 percent shooting performance from the arc.

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On the other end, Wichita State’s Xavier Bell and Corey Washington combined for 42 points. The Shockers collectively got to the paint and free-throw line very often Saturday.

“I saw this live,” one user said. “Competitive for 30 minutes, the Cats freaked out being down by 4 and couldn’t stop chucking threes and play horrible defense. Tang tries but this squad has no heart and grit. Soft. Fragile.”

Kansas State starts facing conference opponents next week, with their first Big 12 matchup against Cincinnati (9-1) Monday night. But honestly, most fans are ready to throw in the towel on the season already.

“I love this college with my whole heart,” another fan said. “Will always support the University but this is one of the worst starts to a season I have ever seen. This is not the standard we have built and something needs to change. The program should be embarrassed because the fans sure are.”

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Jayden Armant is a graduate of the Howard University School of Communications and a contributor to Kansas State Wildcats on SI. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.





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Chiefs Suffer Several Big Injuries Before Steelers Game

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Chiefs Suffer Several Big Injuries Before Steelers Game


The Pittsburgh Steelers have been pummeled with injuries over recent weeks. They aren’t alone in that predicament, however, as their Christmas Day opponent in the Kansas City Chiefs are currently dealing with their fair share of bumps and bruises.

Defensive tackle Chris Jones (calf), wide receiver Xavier Worthy (ankle), offensive tackle Jawann Taylor (knee) and linebacker Jack Cochrane (ankle) all went down in Kansas City’s win over the Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon, casting doubt on their collective statuses for Wednesday’s meeting with Pittsburgh in a short week.

Jones, widely regarded as one of the NFL’s elite defensive talents for the better part of a decade, sustained his injury in the fourth quarter. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid described it as a strain, and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to go against the Steelers.

The five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro has recorded five sacks on the season to go with 30 total tackles, nine of which have gone for losses, and a forced fumble.

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Worthy, who was selected with the No. 28 pick of the first round in the 2024 draft, posted a career-high six catches for 65 yards and a touchdown versus Houston. He departed with his injury in the second quarter before returning after halftime and remaining available from that point forward, meaning he’s likely good to go against the Steelers.

Reid also described Taylor’s injury as a strain after he was pulled in the third quarter of Saturday’s contest. The 27-year-old has held a spot on the Chiefs’ injury report since Week 13 with a knee issue, though he’s yet to miss a game both this season and throughout his entire six-year career.

Taylor occupies the right tackle spot and has made 15 starts this campaign. Kansas City’s depth has already been tested after left tackle D.J. Humphries was inactive versus Houston with a hamstring injury, leaving Wanya Morris and second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia as the team’s most likely options at the two spots if the former pair of players can’t work their way back onto the field in the coming days.

Cochrane fractured his ankle, per Reid, which may very well end his year. The special teams ace logged a total of 306 snaps, mustering five tackles over that stretch.

The Chiefs are now 14-1 and have a magic number of one to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC, meaning another win or a single Buffalo Bills loss would do the job.

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Thus, Kansas City could adopt a safe approach by resting some of its guys and opting not to risk worsening the health of its players with such little down time before taking on the Steelers.

Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has seen its hold on the AFC North slip out of its hands following a loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday that has both teams sitting with a 10-5 record.

Though the Steelers have clinched a postseason berth, they are currently on a two-game losing streak and would ideally avoid slipping any further.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) and wide receiver Ben Skowronek (hip) both suffered injuries against Baltimore while cornerback Donte Jackson (back), defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin), quarterback Justin Fields (abdominal), safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) and wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) all didn’t make an appearance with pre-existing wounds.

Pittsburgh needs to get off the schneid quickly, and the hope is that it can return several key pieces whom are currently on the mend for its bout with the reigning Super Bowl champions from KC.

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Make sure to bookmark Steelers On SI to get all your daily Pittsburgh Steelers news, interviews, breakdowns and more!



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