Rookie minicamp is as good a time as any for teams to move players around with an eye on finding their proper pro position.
The Chiefs have done just that with sixth-round pick Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. According to Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star, Duvernay-Tardif got some work at left guard on Monday.
Though a top Canadian collegiate prospect at tackle, it’s possible Duvernay-Tardif’s future could be inside, with coach Andy Reid indicating Monday that guard is a position within his scope.
“He’s probably more natural at the guard spot than the tackle spot, but we want to make sure he learns both,” Reid said of Duvernay-Tardif, according to the Star.
Reid indicated Monday that Duvernay-Tardif had displayed some development over the course of the rookie minicamp.
“A lot of this was new for Larry. We understood that. We understood that this was going to be a jump for him,” Reid said of Duvernay-Tardif, a McGill University product, according to a transcript on the club’s website. “Physically we liked the things we saw. That’s a position you can develop.
“It’s going to take some time but he’s very intelligent, he’s a hard worker, it looks like he’s a real tough kid. Those are things you like to work with on the offensive line there.”
If Duvernay-Tardif can pick up the finer points of playing guard while showing he can also play tackle if needed, he’ll help his case to garner a roster spot. Moreover, such versatility is always an asset when it comes to being active on game day, too. After the draft, Chiefs G.M. John Dorsey noted that Duvernay-Tardif might be able to play both tackle positions and both guard positions, according to a team-issued transcript. It appears the Chiefs are willing to see if Duvernay-Tardif can prove their evaluation correct.
UPDATE 11:45 p.m. ET: As Herbie Teope of ChiefsSpin.com noted, Duvernay-Tardif also saw work at guard on Sunday.
Read more here:http://www.kansascity.com/2014/05/26/5047659/chiefs-vets-begin-ota-program.html#storylin