Ranking the Chiefs’ 2014 training camp battles: No. 1 — backup quarterback

[Mr_Tomahawk]

As a lead-in to the Chiefs’ training camp in St. Joseph, which begins when rookies and quarterbacks report July 20, The Star will rank the 10 most interesting position battles.

1. Backup quarterback

Quarterback is the most scrutinized position on the field, so there should be little surprise that the three-man race between Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray and Aaron Murray for the No. 2 job behind Alex Smith is the most interesting battle of camp.

All three players bring different strengths to the table, but before we dive into that, allow me to say this about Smith: he does not have the strongest arm in the world, and he isn’t a flashy guy. But he is, far and away, the best quarterback on the roster, and his performance during organized team activities proved it. In general, he made good decisions and was easily the most accurate quarterback of the four on the roster. The offense simply performed at a different level when he was on the field.

However, the others are interesting. Daniel proved he could play in the regular-season finale against San Diego, when he and the rest of the backups almost engineered a win over a playoff team. Though he doesn’t always make it look pretty, Daniel is a smart, heady player whose professionalism was valued by the Chiefs last season, and with this being his fourth season in the league, he is a veteran now.

Although the San Diego game was the only regular-season start he has during his entire career, if Smith goes down with an injury at some point, Reid might prefer it if a player Daniel’s age (27) took the reigns of a team hoping to earn playoff berth, as opposed to youngsters like Bray, 22, or Murray, 23.

Still, the problem for Reid is that the latter two probably have a higher upside than Daniel. Bray went undrafted in 2013 amid maturity concerns, but his physical tools are undeniable. At 6 feet 6, he is tall enough to see over his linemen, and he is blessed with a very strong arm, easily the strongest of all the quarterbacks on the roster. Because of this, he is a bit of a gunslinger — he never hesitated to chuck it deep during OTAs — but he can also make throws that the other quarterbacks cannot make. Reid also says Bray is more mature than he was last season and has a much better command of the offense. His potential is intriguing.

However, Bray still has a ways to go when it comes to pocket awareness, consistency and accuracy, and it was apparent during OTAs that he’s still got plenty to learn. But if he can prove during the preseason that he’s made significant strides since last season, the Chiefs could have a hard time cutting him, and might be forced to pick between keeping four quarterbacks — which is unusual — or making a tough choice between Daniel and Bray.

Murray, a fifth-round choice in this year’s draft, is likely a lock to make the team, even though he seems poised to spend this season learning Reid’s offense, just like Bray did a year ago. Like Daniel, he is 6 feet tall and isn’t the physical prototype of a quarterback like Bray is, but Murray possesses enough arm strength to throw it deep and has been praised for his intelligence and intangibles.

During OTAs, he took nearly all his reps behind Smith, Daniel and Bray, but he showed a willingness to scan the field in search of the open man, which is a sign of poise. He is certainly one to keep an eye on throughout the preseason, provided he continues to make progress in his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered last November. The Chiefs have to like the fact Murray, who wore a kneebrace during OTAs, did not seem terribly hampered by the injury once he reported for OTAs..

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...#storylink=cpy

[Coochie liquor]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Not bad at all. Dream season for a pathetic fan base and city.

Not this short dicked shallow minded, same old thing posting , too afraid to come out of the closet ass mofo again. Isn't there a circle jerk somewhere that's missing their pivot man??
You need to seriously get some new material, cuz all I hear from you is blah blah blah.... Now go give daddy a blumpkin!! Do you even know anything of substance?? Do you even know who plays qb for your Dung-keys? I've got a feeling your football iq is better than your reg iq, and that much like your sex life is very pathetic!!

Drops the microphone and exits the arena.....

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

I guess I need some serious correction because I just don't see what Fasano brings to the team that McGrath can't provide.

McGrath runs a 6.7 forty

Fasano runs a 6.5

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by SNR

I told you. You're going to see an equal amount of Jenkins and Hemingway when we go to 3 WRs. Sometimes Jenkins, sometimes Hemingway. Alex may pick a favorite target that he likes throwing to by the end of the year, but that shit isn't going to be solved in training camp.

The reason why CB4 isn't that interesting is because it's pretty much going to be Ron Parker. He knows the defense, has impressed the coaches all offseason, and is actually in line to compete for one of the starters positions. Where he falls on the depth chart will depend on whether or not Cooper makes the necessary strides from year 1 to 2.

I'll give you a handful of position battles that are far more up-in-the-air than CB4.

1. RG1- We already mentioned this one. This is for a starting spot, so it's kind of huge.

2. QB2- QB battles are always fun. If you don't like them, then something is wrong with you

3. NT2- Cory Grissom and Jaye Howard will actually be counted on to provide some snaps this year, unlike last year when Howard was inactive all year. Do we have a guy who can legitimately spell Poe when he needs a breather?

4. SS2- I think Jerron McMillan still has the goods to be a decent safety in the league-- no clue why the Packers gave up on him so early. Sorensen is claimed to be good, but he's still a rookie free agent. Malcom Bronson is a dark horse whom the coaches like a lot for some reason. This will be a tight battle to watch

5. OL: This entire line is one giant fatty battle royale. Fisher, Allen, Hudson, Stephenson are locks. May as well throw Kush in there too. Zach Fulton as well, even though he might not win the starting job, though he very well could. That leaves a camp battle for guard depth between Rishaw Johnson/Jeff Linkenbach if Johnson doesn't win the starting spot. We also need a backup swing tackle, and it's usually a bad idea to have one guy back up LT, RT, AND RG. Can Frenchie pull it off? What if J'Marcus Webb is the best? Is Linkenbach a cut from the roster, then in spite of his versatility?

6. TE3: Harris looked great without pads on. When full contact training camp starts, this battle might be over very quickly if he's just another Jon Baldwin. But if Harris keeps stuff up, this has the potential to be one of the fiercest mano-a-mano training camp battles on the team

7. Mc****stick WR: I really don't think that Deanthony Thomas can replace McCluster's route running or possession receiver skills. We may list him as a RB. If that's the case, then there's a huge opening for kick returner/midget WR/worthless gadget player. Dressler, Hammond Jr, Wilson, and the other ****sticks will all be duking it out as kick returners, special teamers, and Chad Hall replacements. Honestly, any of them could ****ing win. It's wide open and completely up in the air between 3 or 4 guys.

The only thing I'd really disagree with is Thomas not being able to match or exceed Dex, theres no guarantee of course, but based on college production and measurables atleast, he's a clear cut upgrade.

He averaged 17 yards every time he touched the ball and had a ridiculous number of td's.

[SeeingRed]

Originally Posted by Inmem58

1. We will probably still be 7-9

2. That means JC will have 3,900 receiving yards and 30 TDs

jees I hope I can get him in my fantasy league then

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Coochie liquor

Not this short dicked shallow minded, same old thing posting , too afraid to come out of the closet ass mofo again. Isn't there a circle jerk somewhere that's missing their pivot man??
You need to seriously get some new material, cuz all I hear from you is blah blah blah.... Now go give daddy a blumpkin!! Do you even know anything of substance?? Do you even know who plays qb for your Dung-keys? I've got a feeling your football iq is better than your reg iq, and that much like your sex life is very pathetic!!

Drops the microphone and exits the arena.....

...to the sound of crickets.

That, my good sir, was some weak ass shit.

I'm kind of embarrassed for you actually. Jesus...circle jerk? blumpkin? pathetic sex life? You dropping the microphone for that? Geez...

Maybe you want to start lurking a bit more, take the whole CP thing in from a sideline perspective before you go and post something like this again. We've got standards here kid. You are going to have to wash some dishes and mop some floors before you are allowed into the kitchen again to cook up something more than Top Ramen.

[Bowser]

The longer Sacc bangs this drum about Dee Ford being a potentially good special teamer and nothing else, the more convinced I am that Dee Ford is going to be a difference maker on defense.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

everyone around here just screamed 'just pay Bowe!!!'


so they did

They were LISTENING!!!

fuqoutahrrr

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by Bowser

The longer Sacc bangs this drum about Dee Ford being a potentially good special teamer and nothing else, the more convinced I am that Dee Ford is going to be a difference maker on defense.

I bet ford would make an ace gunner.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

I bet ford would make an ace gunner.

(Although, with that laundry list of injuries, I'm concerned that Ford won't have the reckless, aggressive mentality that it takes to become a special teams ace. (Remember our recent promising free safety Kendrick Lewis - after a nagging shoulder injury that was repeatedly aggravated, he just wasn't the same player he flashed as his rookie year.)

I'm hoping that Ford is able to put the MCL injury, the abdominal injury and back injury that required surgery (which was why he was held out of the NFL Combine) behind him so that he can use his prodigious physical talents to potentially dominate on special teams. I mean, guy didn't make many tackles as a defensive end, never forced a fumble (well, three over his entire college career) and didn't really make any tackles for loss outside of his sacks so I'm not sure how much he's really going to contribute as a NFL pass rusher other than a situational third down specialist. However, his Pro Day numbers were really good so I'm hoping that Coach Toub can take those numbers and turn them into something productive. I mean, a guy that really didn't do as much as Vernon Gholston in college, but yet has his level of athleticism and body...



...well, he's not at thick as Gholston, and has a really thin waist, which probably contributed to those back and ab core injuries, but a little KC BBQ should help with that, but if he retains his svelt look, I think it would make him more agile in the middle of the field running after returners or blowing up wedges.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

...to the sound of crickets.

That, my good sir, was some weak ass shit.

I'm kind of embarrassed for you actually. Jesus...circle jerk? blumpkin? pathetic sex life? You dropping the microphone for that? Geez...

Maybe you want to start lurking a bit more, take the whole CP thing in from a sideline perspective before you go and post something like this again. We've got standards here kid. You are going to have to wash some dishes and mop some floors before you are allowed into the kitchen again to cook up something more than Top Ramen.

I think both of you should partake in a self banning, for at least a month, for acting like dipshits...

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by SeeingRed

jees I hope I can get him in my fantasy league then

Be careful here. With a much stronger schedule and not knowing how good the O-line will be just yet and D's playing more toward the run than pass because they still don't respect our pass game yet, I see FF owners taking JC way to high and JC not producing much for the first half of the season like he normally does.

With a young O-line with half of the line never playing together makes it very suspect. Our O-line must be stellar early on and I hope it happens but reality say's it won't. I predict many FF owners will take JC way to high not looking thoroughly at all the dynamics that must take place for JC to produce as a Rd 1 pick.

Just a friendly warning.

[Coochie liquor]

Originally Posted by TEX

I think both of you should partake in a self banning, for at least a month, for acting like dipshits...

I think SuckOffPoodles missed my point. I'm ragging ReerunKC for a pretty pathetic constant troll job on this board. I know he's a Dung-keys fan but seriously bring something to the table when you reply. Other Dung-key fans on here can actually participate in conversation. All ReerunKC does is type the same thing over and over. No originality, no knowledge. It's like I'm waiting for her to post something that takes an actual train of though to compose but I'm obviously setting the bar too high. My bad!

NOW BRING ON THE SEASON!!!

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Chiefshrink

Be careful here. With a much stronger schedule and not knowing how good the O-line will be just yet and D's playing more toward the run than pass because they still don't respect our pass game yet, I see FF owners taking JC way to high and JC not producing much for the first half of the season like he normally does.

With a young O-line with half of the line never playing together makes it very suspect. Our O-line must be stellar early on and I hope it happens but reality say's it won't. I predict many FF owners will take JC way to high not looking thoroughly at all the dynamics that must take place for JC to produce as a Rd 1 pick.

Just a friendly warning.

JCs running is just icing on the cake compared to his receiving game.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

JCs running is just icing on the cake compared to his receiving game.

And if your only offensive weapon is JC then D's will isolate on him alone regardless of pass/run with JC and with a tougher schedule meaning better D's to face it will be very suspect for JC IF the O-line does not develop and produce as expected.

Take a read of 'scott free's' link he posted in another thread which confirms my worries about the O-line.

http://www.foxsports.com/kansas-city...ossible-071614

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Chiefshrink

And if your only offensive weapon is JC then D's will isolate on him alone regardless of pass/run with JC and with a tougher schedule meaning better D's to face it will be very suspect for JC IF the O-line does not develop and produce as expected.

Take a read of 'scott free's' link he posted in another thread which confirms my worries about the O-line.

http://www.foxsports.com/kansas-city...ossible-071614

Yeah I read that. Whatever.


The Chiefs had the greatest offensive line for three seasons. Playoff wins? 0.