KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jarrad Page couldn't help but watch with envy when the Chiefs would play an opponent like Pittsburgh or Baltimore, one that plays the 3-4 defense.

"It seems like those guys always get pressure on the quarterback," said Page, a Chiefs starting safety. "I think with the 3-4, you're always going to get pressure on the quarterback because you can do so many things. (The offense) never knows who's rushing and who's going to drop, so you can bring pressure from more positions.

"That's what the coaches are doing now, getting guys ready to play. I don't know yet who's going to be the stand-up (rushers) outside, whether they're getting Tamba (Hali) ready to do that or what. We do have enough athletes that we can have some guys do that. I'm pretty sure we have the guys and we can make it happen."

The Chiefs started the process of installing their new defense Friday with the opening practices of their three-day minicamp, their first under new coach Todd Haley.

The practices were closed to the media, and Haley wouldn't disclose how the Chiefs lined up defensively. He did say the Chiefs were still assessing skills of various players and would continue to massage the lineup if necessary.

"We've got them lined up right now," Haley said. "But every discussion we have as a coaching staff is, 'Well, let's see what this weekend looks like.' This weekend is more about teaching, really. It's not even a fair weekend to come out of this and say we're going to have any idea on evaluations."

The Chiefs have 67 players. Participation at this minicamp is not mandatory under NFL rules. Haley wouldn't disclose an exact number of players who participated but said the number was more than 60.

"This is all voluntary," he said. "The guys have been very good about letting me know when there's an issue or something's up. We've been 60-plus from the start. That's a sign that the guys want to get on board.

"The way I've seen it work is that this time of year is for getting in condition and getting strong and building the foundation of your team. A lot of things occur in these hours spent in the weight room and out on the turf running and sweating together. Relationships start to form and a bond starts to happen and if you're not here, that can't happen.

"There are some that don't want to do what it takes to win. They'd rather be doing something else when the other guys are working together and trying to build the foundation."

Haley indicated much of the practices were spent teaching the basics.

"We had to teach them a little bit of how to practice to win," Haley said. "That's a big part of it, especially this time of the year is knowing how to practice fast without being out of control, without hurting other teammates and being on the ground, some of the things that get you into trouble.

"There's an art to getting done what you need to get done as a player."

The Chiefs are planning to play some of their old 4-3 defense as well and look like last year's Arizona Cardinals. Haley coached for Arizona last season and brought the Cardinals' coordinator, Clancy Pendergast, to lead Kansas City's defense.

The Chiefs have yet to unveil publicly when they're in the 3-4 how they will use several of last year's players, including former first-round draft picks Hali and Glenn Dorsey.

"It will be interesting to see how the players we have kind of fit into that," said backup linebacker Monty Beisel, signed last month after 2 1/2 seasons with the Cardinals. "I'm still not real familiar with who's who on this team yet. What I do know is that from the top down with Scott and Todd and bringing in Clancy and Gary Gibbs and all of those guys, we've got a knowledgeable group of coaches.

"I know a little bit about Derrick Johnson and what kind of player he is. He's an athlete that can make plays. Once we learn the scheme, it will be exciting and effective.

"It's a players' defense. It's kind of a hybrid, some 3-4, some 4-3. The guys I've been around have really enjoyed the defense. We changed it, modified it, did a lot of different things, and that's fun for the players. You can definitely make a lot of players. You get to play fast and attack, so from a player's aspect, it's fun."