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Chiefs beginning to get with the program

When the Chiefs started full-squad offseason practice last week, they looked like a new program with a fresh coaching staff.

By week’s end, four practice sessions later, they appeared a bit more like coach Todd Haley’s vision.

“I thought we made progress in a lot of areas,” Haley said. “There’s still a lot of work to do, but there were some encouraging signs. Our tempo of our practice picked up considerably. It was very good. We ran each day after (practice) pretty hard. We got better and better as the week went on.

“We got more schemes put in on each side, and guys seemed to know or figure it out a little better as the week went on. They’re starting to figure out what we want. We’re efficient. We’re on the field and we’re off the field. We’re not out there for two hours.”

The Chiefs take a break from practice this week. They’ll resume next week with two sessions plus a mandatory weekend minicamp.

By the time they’re finished with offseason work in the middle of next month, they’ll hold 10 more practices, plus five in the minicamp.

If the current rate of progress continues, they’ll be ready for the start of training camp in late July. The Chiefs looked sloppy in their first practice but were much sharper by the time they finished the week.

“It’s always slow at first when you’re putting in a new offense and trying to get everybody in to the same program,” wide receiver Bobby Engram said. “But I’m encouraged. We’ve got a lot of good players.

“It’s part of the growth process. Guys are trying to feel this offense and get to know each other on the field. Obviously, the first week of practice is going to be slower, a little more uncertain than it will be three or four weeks from now.”

The Chiefs made most progress in the passing game. Dropped balls and scattered passes were the standard earlier in the week. Leaping catches and completed passes were the norm by Friday’s final practice.

“As time goes on, you improve,” Haley said. “If you weren’t improving … I’d be a little more worried. That’s the encouraging part to me.”

The Chiefs are fitting together new pieces on both sides of the ball. They are transitioning to a 3-4 defensive system and adjusting to a new coordinator, Clancy Pendergast.

Haley, the former offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals, will put his stamp on Chan Gailey’s system. The Chiefs have a new quarterback in Matt Cassel and are adjusting to life without Tony Gonzalez.

“It’s going to take some time,” Haley said. “There’s no doubt. That’s what’s good about this time of year. It’s receivers, tight ends, backs or whoever’s running the routes understanding the coverage. The defense is putting in stuff, too, so they’re throwing a bunch of different looks at them, which makes it difficult.

“I’m trying to have patience and understanding that it’s early and it’s really the first football that we’ve done. The passing game is an intricate deal and it takes time.”

By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

What program?