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HOT TOPIC
A cursory look at the Chiefs depth chart at the end of their spring conditioning drills suggests that the Kansas City defense, the unit needing to make the biggest improvement under defensive-minded new head coach Herm Edwards, has not changed appreciably from a personnel standpoint.
In a typical weekday session, Kansas City's first-team defense lines up frightfully similar to the 2005 unit that finished 25th in total defense and 30th against the pass.
There are some exceptions, though whether they represent upgrades is yet to be seen.
There will be a new face at right corner, with former Denver starter Lenny Walls emerging as the leading contender to replace free agent departee Eric Warfield. Rookie end Tamba Hali, the No. 1 draft pick out of Penn State, frequently takes snaps with the first unit in the absence of incumbent left end Eric Hicks, still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. The inside tackle rotation changes frequently, but returning starters Ryan Sims and Lional Dalton still take the bulk of the spring repetitions.
A time-worn truism in all athletics holds that you improve a team by either improving your current players or acquiring better ones.
The Chiefs seem to be leaning toward Option A.
Edwards, not surprisingly, says the Chiefs are trying to exercise both options. The Chiefs have been very active in acquiring new defenders, he insists, though the acquisitions he cites are mostly draftees or veteran role players who hardly inspire visions of a quick turnaround.
But there is evidence from the spring sessions that Kansas City's returning defenders are showing a tougher, more aggressive mindset as they adjust to the philosophy of their new coach, himself a former longtime cornerback.
More passes were being knocked down in 7-on-7 and team drills as defenders swarmed the offensive backfield or dropped into passing lanes. There also was a new energy on the defensive side, a byproduct no doubt of the excitable head coach who openly cheers for his defense while playfully dogging his offense.
"It's very important that our (defensive) mindset change, and I think for the most part that it has," Edwards said at the conclusion of offseason workouts this week. "Now we've got to make the next change; we have to become a very physical team and a very fast team on defense. We have guys who understand that. Now we've got to get it done."
PLAYER NOTES
--The Chiefs final practice of their off-season program on June 22 showed them clearly how things will be done under new coach Herm Edwards.
Edwards conducted the final workout prior to the July 27 opening of camp in a driving rainstorm that would have sent former coach Dick Vermeil scurrying for the cover of the indoor practice facility just a year earlier.
"It was kind of fitting that practice ended with these kinds of conditions," Edwards said. "You have to play in the rain; no doubt about it. You have to be able to function in these conditions, so it was a good test for us, especially for the young players who did a pretty good job handling things."
--Second-year player Will Svitek also learned that Edwards takes a dim view of fighting, either during a game or a practice.
Svitek, who recently returned to America from playing in NFL Europe, was thrown out of the rest of practice after engaging in a fight late in the session.
"You fight in the game, you get kicked out and you get a big fine," Edwards noted. "It's a bunch of money, too, more than he can afford. He needs to watch that stuff."
-- Asked for the 100th time this spring about any negotiations with former Jets and Patriots Pro Bowl corner Ty Law, Edwards tried a different variation of the same "nothing's happening" response he gave to the first 99 questions.
"I'm a prophet. I've said he won't sign until right before the start of training camp. He'll showing up in somebody's camp somewhere."
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Running back Dee Brown, who started three of the 14 games he played for Carolina in 2002, emerged from spring drills as the backup to starting halfback Larry Johnson.
But coach Herm Edwards also made it clear that he still thinks Johnson's backup may be a more established player. A guy named Priest Holmes.
"I'm still anticipating Priest coming back," Edwards said again this week. "If he does, then we've got two starting running backs, and not many teams have that luxury. If Priest isn't the guy, then Dee Brown gets the first shot. If he can't do the job, we look some place else."
--The Chiefs have signed the defensive player of the year in the Arena Football League.
Cornerback Jerald Brown, who had 11 interceptions and 25 passes defended during his third AFL season this year with the Columbus Destroyers, signed a two-year contract. Brown played collegiately at Glenville State (W.Va.), a Division II school. He also played in the AFL for the Arizona Rattlers and the New York Dragons.
MEDICAL WATCH: WR Dante Hall should be ready to go by the opening of training camp after tearing a ligament in his thumb during offseason drills. Had the injury happened during the regular season, Hall might have missed a month to six weeks of playing time. The Chiefs also anticipate having defensive linemen Eric Hicks and Ron Edwards ready for the start of camp. Both did little during spring drills while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. The same is true for nickel back Bennie Sapp, who also missed the spring drills while recovering from offseason surgery.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAUER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--TE/LS Ed Perry (not tendered June 1).
--CB Dewayne Washington (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--OT Jordan Black: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--DT Lional Dalton: UFA; 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--LS Kendall Gammon: UFA; terms unknown.
--DE Carlos Hall: UFA; terms unknown.
--QB Damon Huard: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--CB Benny Sapp: ERFA; terms unknown.
--PK Lawrence Tynes: ERFA; terms unknown.
--DE Jimmy Wilkerson: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--OT Ian Allen: UFA Cardinals; terms unknown.
--DT Ron Edwards: UFA Bills; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--RB Quentin Griffin: FA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--CB Chris Johnson: Not tendered as RFA by Rams; $940,000/2 yrs, $5,000 SB.
--DT James Reed: Not tendered as UFA by Jet; terms unknown.
--OT Kyle Turley: FA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Lenny Walls: FA; $1.75M/1 yr, SB unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--LB Shawn Barber (released).
--WR Marc Boerigter: UFA Packers; $782,700/1 yr, $90,000 SB.
--QB Todd Collins: UFA Redskins; $2.5M/2 yrs, $450,000 SB.
--WR Chris Horn: Not tendered as RFA/Saints; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Dexter McCleon (released).
--FB Tony Richardson: UFA Vikings; $2.5M/2 yrs, $500,000 SB.
--LB Gary Stills (released).
--CB Eric Warfield (released).
--OT John Welbourn (retired).
--S Jerome Woods (released).
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