LJWorld.com

The final phase of Todd Haley’s tough and demanding Kansas City training camp will include two new blockers who were hurried in to help a beleaguered offensive line.

Andy Alleman and Ikechuku Ndukwe were in uniform and sweating through Tuesday’s morning practice, just a day after the Chiefs sent Miami an undisclosed 2010 draft pick for them. Alleman was working at right guard, and Ikechuku was at right tackle, two spots where players struggled in last weekend’s preseason loss to Minnesota. Quarterback Matt Cassel was sacked three times and harried several others, prompting general manager Scott Pioli to do business with his father-in-law, Miami boss Bill Parcells.

Haley said he expects them both to compete for starting positions and to play Saturday against Seattle.

“I would expect these guys to kind of integrate in fairly quickly,” Haley said. “The guys down in Miami, the program’s not going to be a lot different. System-wise, the terminology is a little different, but it’s still a lot of the same thought processes. These are both smart guys that I think will have a chance to learn quickly.”

Practicing in 90-degree heat Tuesday, warmer than they experienced the previous three weeks in Western Wisconsin, the Chiefs had Alleman and Ndukwe going full speed.

“We were excited to get them on our team for those positions specifically. They’ll bring competition to the right tackle and right guard spot,” Haley said.

From the way Haley talked, it would not be surprising if the newcomers become starters even though the season is less than three weeks away.

“I would expect them to fully compete,” Haley said.

Alleman and Ndukwe are both curious what the Chiefs gave up for them. It has not been disclosed.

“Andy and I were joking,” said Ndukwe. “We thought maybe it was a pack of (gum) and an old fingernail clipper. It doesn’t matter. We’re here, we’re happy to be here.”

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Alleman appeared in 15 regular-season games for Miami last year and started at left guard in the playoffs. Ndukwe, 6-4, 325, has appeared in 21 games and two playoffs outings with Baltimore and Miami, He started 15 games at right guard for the Dolphins last year. Right tackle will be a bit of an adjustment for him.

“Right tackle was where I needed to work the most at,” he said. “I appreciate them giving me the opportunity to learn one position. Even though the plays are similar, it’s still a lot of different verbiage, and there’s definitely some new plays. No offenses are the same, but things are similar.”

He insisted he’s not worried about learning a new position on the fly with a new team in a new city playing for a new coach.

“I play football. That’s what I do,” he said. “As cliched as it is, I’m a football player. That’s what I do.”

In the meantime, Haley’s prepractice speech to his team was designed to instill a little tension, if not a little fear.

“I let the team know this morning we have 19 days left before we kick off (the season) against Baltimore,” he said. “Things are picking up a little. Time’s going to move fast for all of us. A lot of decisions and practice have to occur with high efficiency.”