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Chiefs vets say lack of practice will test team's film study habits

Chiefs Quarterback is learning from the best
Posted at 7:45 PM, Jul 31, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-31 21:37:40-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After missing out on valuable practice time, including rookie mini-camps and organized team activities, the Chiefs' veterans expect new players will need to study hard headed into the 2020 season.

“Just getting the playbook,” linebacker Anthony Hitchens said on his advice to rookies as training camp begins at the team facility, "so, when you get out there, you don't just see it, you visualize it. Watch film, we've got so much film on our iPads, you can watch so many plays from years past.”

The Chiefs continue regularly scheduled COVID-19 testing as the team prepare to ramp up conditioning ahead of the first full team practice, which is scheduled for Aug. 14.

“We've got a lot of really good players,” right tackle Mitchell Schwartz said. “I think our offensive line's gonna be awesome this year, and it's just nice to kind of get back into the normal swing of things."

Kansas City will give a few players a look at right guard, where the Chiefs need to replace starter Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. He opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to coronavirus concerns.

“We know how much he cares about football and being here, so for him to be able to make a decision and choose that," Schwartz said. "We know how difficult that was."

Whether it’s the search for a new starting right guard or working in new faces on the defensive side, Chiefs players and coaches said film will be crucial with no preseason games.

“You can see a lot in slow motion," Hitchens said. "You don't have to be going 100 mph to get better. ... There's a lot of different ways you can get ready for a game without just throwing your body and hitting people in practice."