1. KC Chiefs' identity has been built on great pass rushers
By Sam Mellinger - The Kansas City Star
"Kansas City changed forever on a beautiful Sunday afternoon almost exactly 25 years ago. Temperatures in the 60s. Light breeze. Sunny. A gorgeous day to put a proud franchise on a wonderfully violent new path that would at once push the Chiefs forward and reconnect with their past. That it happened against the Raiders just makes it feel right.
Chiefs fans don't need the video to picture it clearly. Late in the second quarter, Jay Schroeder drops back. A rookie named Derrick Thomas is racing around the left edge of the offensive line, sprinting past tackle Rory Graves. There had been a fair amount of hype on Thomas, even back in 1989 before NFL hype became our nation's greatest sports passion. But nobody had seen it, not at the sport's highest level, until Thomas ducked under Graves and dragged Schroeder to the ground. The Raiders were stopped cold." READ MORE…
Photos: 8/21 Practice
The team at practice on Thursday.
2. Five things to watch in Saturday's Chiefs‐Vikings preseason game
By Terez Paylor - The Kansas City Star
"1. Score a touchdown
The Chiefs' first‐string offense moved the ball some against the Panthers, but only came away with two long field goals. That's not going to cut it this week, especially since the starters are expected to play into the third quarter. Of course, it would be much easier if Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe were playing, but the standard doesn't change just because those guys might not play.
- Improvement from Davis
The Chiefs will lean a ton on Charles this season, which means he'll certainly have his share of dings and dents. That's why it will be important for Knile Davis to firmly establish himself as a reliable No. 2 back capable of breaking a handful of big plays from the running‐back position. He's already done it on special teams — now he needs to show he can do it at his primary position. He could take a step forward by getting upfield faster against the Vikings; there was a little too much East and West stuff against the Panthers." READ MORE…
3. Chiefs‐turned‐Vikings QB Matt Cassel: 'I have no ill will'
By Associated Press - KCChiefs.com
"KANSAS CITY, Mo. ‐‐ The last time Matt Cassel stepped inside Arrowhead Stadium, banners were flying overhead asking for him to be benched. He'd been booed at a celebrity softball game and become a scapegoat for an entire organization that had fallen on hard times.
Two years later, the former Chiefs quarterback has the inside track on the starting job for the Minnesota Vikings, who visit Kansas City for a preseason game Saturday night." READ MORE…
4. Chiefs' Knile Davis now handles the ball with care
By Randy Covtiz - The Kansas City Star
"Chiefs running back Knile Davis slipped out of the backfield, headed 8 yards downfield, turned and saw the pass from Alex Smith heading for his midsection.
Davis bobbled the pass for an instant. A year ago, that ball probably would have hit the ground. " READ MORE…
5. Double Coverage: Vikings at Chiefs
By Adam Teicher and Bob Goessling - ESPN.com
"The third game is generally the most attractive of the NFL preseason since the starters generally play longer than in any other preseason game. So Saturday night's meeting between the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings at Arrowhead Stadium could be the most interesting of this year's exhibition schedule for both teams.
An added bonus is that Minnesota quarterback Matt Cassel was a four-year starter for the Chiefs before he was released after a dismal 2012 season in which he threw only six touchdown passes with 12 interceptions. " READ MORE…
Tweet of the Day
The #Chiefs encourage fans to exercise caution with high temperatures by following these guidelines. READ: http://t.co/Ab9rf0lJGC — Kansas City Chiefs (@KCChiefs) August 23, 2014
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