The chiefs second round picks reveal a team ready to win

[whatwasthat?]

NFL Draft 2010: The Chiefs Second Round Picks Reveal A Team Ready to Win - Arrowhead Pride

NFL Draft 2010: The Chiefs Second Round Picks Reveal A Team Ready to Win

Here's assuming most of us never saw this coming. The Chiefs second round choices have probably stumped most of us and left the best of us scratching our heads. But instead of seeming unclear, the 2010 NFL Draft is revealing some interesting cards the Chiefs have been holding for some time and it means that things are much more exciting that we ever realized.

So to help you out, I mind-melded with Scott Pioli after the 50th pick to check in with what he was thinking. And what we found out is worth hearing:

1. Scott Pioli has one thing in mind: getting playmakers on every facet of the team.

Consider this. The offense, the defense and special teams units all now have an absolute home run hitter in place. On any level, the Chiefs now have someone you can actually expect to make a game-changing play. Eric Berry is absolutely electric in the defensive backfield. Dexter McCluster can be utilized all over the offensive side and is someone that defensive coordinators absolutely have to account for. And Javier Arenas is being called the best returner in the entire draft.

At the NFL level, it's those truly special talents that usually change the final outcome. It's the fantastic return that generates the unexpected field position. It's the guy with great hands who comes through in the clutch. It's the unshakeable kicker. It's the uber-athleticism of someone like McCluster that breaks a play wide open. And certainly, we knew that Berry was already capable of such things.

Of course, you can't do anything without an appropriate foundation, which leads me to...


2. Scott Pioli believes the foundation is already in-house or available elsewhere.

Remember this: if rookies get signed, then someone has to go. The Chiefs need some inside linebacker help, yet the Raiders are the ones with Rolando McClain. Now the rumors are that a guy like Kirk Morrison will be a free agent. Perhaps it's these sorts of pick-ups that Pioli is envisioning with the rest of the off-season available to him after the draft as teams must make moves to avoid roster bonuses, adjust rosters with the new rookies and so forth.

Then again, perhaps Pioli believes we're already set in some places where we thought we needed help. It's about that time for the young defensive linemen to take the next leap that we've all been waiting for. Our offensive line played better as the season went on. So perhaps the need to continue to build the lines just wasn't as pertinent as some of us were led to believe. A team only takes skill position players or return men when they're set in other places, so it says something about the Chiefs confidence in what they already have (or think they can get elsewhere) that they've grabbed Arenas and McCluster.

The big surprise, of course, is that we didn't think we were ready for "luxury" picks yet. We still thought the Chiefs still had some pouring to do for the foundation of his Kansas City house. But apparently, he has more confidence in his coordinators to bring solid play out of some guys who are already in house (or from later round choices) to allow some picks like this.

Either way, I like what this says about our team. It says our coordinators will raise the level of what we have. It also says the guys currently on the roster are better than you think. And it says that the Chiefs are ahead of the curve and ready to win.

[kcred]

The royals have a better chance of making the post season than the chiefs do. Stop drinking the koolaid.. look for more blackouts in December. Open your eyes. The chiefs are at least 2yrs away from making the playoffs.

[Three7s]

This draft has been bad, for most of the reasons chief31, vern, and bwilliams have already brought up.

[AussieChiefsFan]

The royals have a better chance of making the post season than the chiefs do. Stop drinking the koolaid.. look for more blackouts in December. Open your eyes. The chiefs are at least 2yrs away from making the playoffs.

Very Optimistic there (!)

[endzonewillie]

NFL Draft 2010: The Chiefs Second Round Picks Reveal A Team Ready to Win - Arrowhead Pride

NFL Draft 2010: The Chiefs Second Round Picks Reveal A Team Ready to Win

Here's assuming most of us never saw this coming. The Chiefs second round choices have probably stumped most of us and left the best of us scratching our heads. But instead of seeming unclear, the 2010 NFL Draft is revealing some interesting cards the Chiefs have been holding for some time and it means that things are much more exciting that we ever realized.

So to help you out, I mind-melded with Scott Pioli after the 50th pick to check in with what he was thinking. And what we found out is worth hearing:

1. Scott Pioli has one thing in mind: getting playmakers on every facet of the team.

Consider this. The offense, the defense and special teams units all now have an absolute home run hitter in place. On any level, the Chiefs now have someone you can actually expect to make a game-changing play. Eric Berry is absolutely electric in the defensive backfield. Dexter McCluster can be utilized all over the offensive side and is someone that defensive coordinators absolutely have to account for. And Javier Arenas is being called the best returner in the entire draft.

At the NFL level, it's those truly special talents that usually change the final outcome. It's the fantastic return that generates the unexpected field position. It's the guy with great hands who comes through in the clutch. It's the unshakeable kicker. It's the uber-athleticism of someone like McCluster that breaks a play wide open. And certainly, we knew that Berry was already capable of such things.

Of course, you can't do anything without an appropriate foundation, which leads me to...


2. Scott Pioli believes the foundation is already in-house or available elsewhere.

Remember this: if rookies get signed, then someone has to go. The Chiefs need some inside linebacker help, yet the Raiders are the ones with Rolando McClain. Now the rumors are that a guy like Kirk Morrison will be a free agent. Perhaps it's these sorts of pick-ups that Pioli is envisioning with the rest of the off-season available to him after the draft as teams must make moves to avoid roster bonuses, adjust rosters with the new rookies and so forth.

Then again, perhaps Pioli believes we're already set in some places where we thought we needed help. It's about that time for the young defensive linemen to take the next leap that we've all been waiting for. Our offensive line played better as the season went on. So perhaps the need to continue to build the lines just wasn't as pertinent as some of us were led to believe. A team only takes skill position players or return men when they're set in other places, so it says something about the Chiefs confidence in what they already have (or think they can get elsewhere) that they've grabbed Arenas and McCluster.

The big surprise, of course, is that we didn't think we were ready for "luxury" picks yet. We still thought the Chiefs still had some pouring to do for the foundation of his Kansas City house. But apparently, he has more confidence in his coordinators to bring solid play out of some guys who are already in house (or from later round choices) to allow some picks like this.

Either way, I like what this says about our team. It says our coordinators will raise the level of what we have. It also says the guys currently on the roster are better than you think. And it says that the Chiefs are ahead of the curve and ready to win.

Excellant points. I completely agree that Pioli did not wish to go all broke on FA until after he knew what we had from this draft. Let us also not forget the undrafted men we will no doubt see trying to make the team.

[endzonewillie]

The royals have a better chance of making the post season than the chiefs do. Stop drinking the koolaid.. look for more blackouts in December. Open your eyes. The chiefs are at least 2yrs away from making the playoffs.

If this is the case , I will be happy when it happens however I think it could happen in 2010. We are going into Haley's second year as well as Pioli's and the changes made to the team are astonishing. We may not make it to the Superbowl for 2 yrs but we should atleast be a wild card team in 2010. Just some positive optimism.

[AussieChiefsFan]

If this is the case , I will be happy when it happens however I think it could happen in 2010. We are going into Haley's second year as well as Pioli's and the changes made to the team are astonishing. We may not make it to the Superbowl for 2 yrs but we should atleast be a wild card team in 2010. Just some positive optimism.

That's exactly what I think! 2010 I believe could quite possibly be a wild card year or even a divion winning year if the chargers fall apart midseason or something.

[endzonewillie]

That's exactly what I think! 2010 I believe could quite possibly be a wild card year or even a divion winning year if the chargers fall apart midseason or something.

I project the Chargers to be out of the playoffs and the Donks as well. The Chiefs could win the division the way the other teams look.

[AussieChiefsFan]

I project the Chargers to be out of the playoffs and the Donks as well. The Chiefs could win the division the way the other teams look.

That's what I love to hear!

[chief31]

I keep hearing these good things about Shaun Smith, as if he is the answer to our woefull run defense because of his and Romeo's past. So let's have a look at it...

(Only included games in which Smith was listed as a starter and under Crennel though '07 and '08.)

12/28/08 Steelers - 176 rushing yards.
12/15/08 Eagles - 134
12/07/08 Titans - 235
11/30/08 Colts - 90
11/17/08 Bills - 186
11/06/08 Broncos - 123
11/02/08 Ravens - 193
09/28/08 Bengals - 69
09/21/08 Ravens - 151

2008 Average rushing yards allowed - (1357/9=) 151 RYPG

12/30/07 Niners - 112
12/23/07 Bengals - 155
12/16/07 Bills - 108
12/09/07 Jets - 119
12/02/07 Cardinals - 133
11/25/07 Texans - 77
11/11/07 Steelers - 159
11/04/07 Seahawks - 105
10/28/07 Rams - 79
10/14/07 Dolphins - 110
10/07/07 Patriots - 147
09/30/07 Ravens - 111

(1415/12=) 118 RYPG

Two year total (132 RYPG)

KC 2009 RYPG - 156.5

The 2008 average for Smith would rank at 29th in 2009. The '07 average for Smith' games would rank 20th in 2009. And his two year total would rank 27th in '09.

By the numbers of RYPG allowed during those two seasons with Crennel, Smith wasn't exactly impressive. Slightly better than the '09 Chiefs. But not very encouraging as the saviour of our run defense.

Maybe he was doing an outstanding job, and everyone else was horrible. Unlikely to be the case, but certainly a slim possibility. I just don't like hanging our hopes on this.

[Ryfo18]

I keep hearing these good things about Shaun Smith, as if he is the answer to our woefull run defense because of his and Romeo's past. So let's have a look at it...

(Only included games in which Smith was listed as a starter and under Crennel though '07 and '08.)

12/28/08 Steelers - 176 rushing yards.
12/15/08 Eagles - 134
12/07/08 Titans - 235
11/30/08 Colts - 90
11/17/08 Bills - 186
11/06/08 Broncos - 123
11/02/08 Ravens - 193
09/28/08 Bengals - 69
09/21/08 Ravens - 151

2008 Average rushing yards allowed - (1357/9=) 151 RYPG

12/30/07 Niners - 112
12/23/07 Bengals - 155
12/16/07 Bills - 108
12/09/07 Jets - 119
12/02/07 Cardinals - 133
11/25/07 Texans - 77
11/11/07 Steelers - 159
11/04/07 Seahawks - 105
10/28/07 Rams - 79
10/14/07 Dolphins - 110
10/07/07 Patriots - 147
09/30/07 Ravens - 111

(1415/12=) 118 RYPG

Two year total (132 RYPG)

KC 2009 RYPG - 156.5

The 2008 average for Smith would rank at 29th in 2009. The '07 average for Smith' games would rank 20th in 2009. And his two year total would rank 27th in '09.

By the numbers of RYPG allowed during those two seasons with Crennel, Smith wasn't exactly impressive. Slightly better than the '09 Chiefs. But not very encouraging as the saviour of our run defense.

Maybe he was doing an outstanding job, and everyone else was horrible. Unlikely to be the case, but certainly a slim possibility. I just don't like hanging our hopes on this.

At least we should put a few more points on the board next year. We took some reaches in my opinion, it's up to the coaching staff to mold these guys into impact players.