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Thread: Reviewing KC’s offensive line

  1. #1
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    Default Reviewing KC’s offensive line


    Brian Bahr/Getty
    By Michael Ash
    Warpaint Illustrated Columnist
    Posted Mar 27, 2008



    After discussing what the Chiefs aren’t doing with the offensive line last week, it’s only fair to take a look at the other side of the coin. Many of the linemen already with the team will be competing for starting jobs next season, so we'll evaluate those currently on the roster.

    OT Anthony Alabi

    Alabi played his college ball at TCU and was taken in the fifth round of the 2005 draft by Miami, back during the Dolphins’ brief Nick Saban era. Coincidentally, the pick used to take Alabi originally belonged to the Chiefs, with the two teams swapping fifth-rounders that year as part of the Patrick Surtain trade.

    Alabi played 13 games in three years at Miami and was among their many cuts this offseason. He was claimed off waivers by four clubs, but with the worst record of the bunch, the Chiefs snagged him.

    He might be an unknown, but Alabi will be in the mix this year for the starting right tackle spot.

    OT Adrian Jones

    Herm Edwards drafted this former Jayhawk with the Jets back in 2004. He started every game during Edwards’ final year in New York, but his playing time dropped off dramatically after that season and he was ultimately released late in 2007.

    The Chiefs claimed Jones off waivers, but don’t have any grand expectations for him. He’ll compete for a backup spot during camp.

    OT Travis Leffew

    The undrafted free agent has bounced from team to team since coming into the league in 2006. The Chiefs signed him off Atlanta’s practice squad late last season and he’ll be one of many linemen trying to earn a roster spot this offseason.

    OT Damion McIntosh

    He isn’t the long-term answer at left tackle, but McIntosh held down the fort reasonably well in his first season as a Chief. Although he’ll remain a starter in 2008, where exactly he’ll line up seems up in the air at the moment.

    If the Chiefs can find a new left tackle in the draft, McIntosh is the obvious candidate to move to the opposite side of the line. But if the team can add two new tackles, or someone already on the roster steps up to fill the right tackle spot, McIntosh may be a consideration at guard.

    It would be a gamble, however, considering he’s only played two games at guard in his career. He also didn’t appear to be a particularly strong run blocker last season.

    C Rudy Niswanger
    Will Niswanger be KC's starting center in 2008?
    Brian Bahr - Getty
    Considered by many to be a key part of the future of KC’s line, Niswanger looked promising in limited duty as a guard in 2007. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending knee injury late in the season and was forced to undergo surgery.

    The good news is that he’s ahead of schedule in his recovery and should be ready for mini-camp. During Monday’s press conference, Herm Edwards said Niswanger would be the center if the season started today, so an issue that has been speculated about all offseason appears to have been resolved. This will allow Brian Waters to remain at guard and returns Niswanger to the position he played at LSU.

    G Tre Stallings

    A sixth-round pick in 2006, Stallings has been working with Will Shields to help improve his game. He appears capable athletically, but has apparently had trouble learning the playbook. Having already used up his practice squad eligibility, and with the Chiefs likely to bring in plenty of linemen before training camp, this will be an important offseason for Stallings as he fights to stay on the roster.

    OT Will Svitek

    Once considered KC’s left tackle of the future, it seems those hopes were set a little too high. But Svitek showed promise at right tackle late last season and should be in the mix for that spot in 2008.

    OT Herb Taylor

    The Chiefs are high on Taylor, who was nothing short of dominant in college at TCU. He briefly filled in at left tackle against the Detroit Lions and looked solid. The team is hoping to see him step up to the next level this offseason and he’s another player who will be in consideration for a starting role at right tackle. Depending on the other options, Taylor could also have an opportunity at guard.

    G Brian Waters

    It’s fair to say Waters didn’t have his best season in 2007. Let’s be honest, though - one man can only hold the wall up for so long before the entire dam finally breaks. There’s been a lot of speculation as to which position he’ll line up at next year, but that subject appears to have been put to rest with the announcement of Rudy Niswanger at center.

    The linchpin of the Chiefs’ line and one of the team’s most vocal leaders, Waters will be relied on heavily as the reconstruction of the offensive line gets underway. Incidentally, it seems he may be looking for a new contract.

    Evaluation

    Only two spots along the line appear set at this point: Brian Waters at left guard and Rudy Niswanger at center. The most anticipated scenario is that left tackle will be manned by a rookie from the first or second round of the draft, but that’s certainly not a guarantee. There are a host of potential candidates for right tackle already on the roster.

    The biggest hole may be at right guard, where the Chiefs don’t appear to have an obvious solution at the moment. Moving Damion McIntosh inside is only an option if both tackle positions are already set, and even then it may not be an ideal fit. Guard is yet another position the Chiefs may need to target early on in the draft.

    That brings us back to the overall problem the Chiefs are facing. Many seem to expect them to focus heavily on offensive linemen with their first few draft picks, if not throughout the entire draft itself. But that’s not a realistic solution for a team needing help in so many areas. Should Kansas City pass on talented corners and receivers just to stock up on linemen?

    There’s no doubt the Chiefs have holes and question marks all over the offensive line. At this point, the best hope is that they find a few talented players in the draft while this year’s plan works out better than last year’s.

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  2. #31
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    Quote Originally Posted by texaschief View Post
    uh, trade his *** then....for perhaps Detroit's first pick or San Fran's pick. Both need RBs. lol

    I'm not so sure that we will see 7 OTs taken in the first round. I'm not sure that many teams need OTs as much as they need players at other positions. We only saw 2 taken last year in the first round.
    If only it were that simple...

    If he would keep his damn mouth shut and return to the old form of running over everyone(while staying healthy) we might see, uh hum, playoffs next year. One can dream big.

    I agree that we won't see 7 OT(or OL for that matter) taken in the first round. Maybe we can get two of those guys I mentioned.


    "Everybody underestimates the kick in the groin." - Bas Rutten

  3. #32
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    Quote Originally Posted by texaschief View Post
    Really? That's what you're getting out of this? The fact that i'm not sold on J. Long as a LT or Clady being worth a top 5 pick means i don't think the OL is important? I'm just not buying into all the hype about these two guys compared to someone we could pick up 30 picks later.
    If we don't go for an O lineman first then we get McFadden, if he is there.

    If he isn't then I say go with the rest of you asses and trade down.

    This has become depressing.

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  4. #33
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    Quote Originally Posted by royalswin100games View Post
    If only it were that simple...

    If he would keep his damn mouth shut and return to the old form of running over everyone(while staying healthy) we might see, uh hum, playoffs next year. One can dream big.

    I agree that we won't see 7 OT(or OL for that matter) taken in the first round. Maybe we can get two of those guys I mentioned.

    U R simple
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  5. #34
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    Quote Originally Posted by hermhater View Post
    U R simple
    I am tall and simple.


    "Everybody underestimates the kick in the groin." - Bas Rutten

  6. #35
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    Quote Originally Posted by royalswin100games View Post
    I am tall and simple.
    You are probably simply tall.
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  7. #36
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    Quote Originally Posted by hermhater View Post
    Do you really not believe that the Chiefs are being feared right now?
    I do. I think we're only a few players and a year or so out from being a true contender.
    All it will take is shoring up the O line (6 picks, 4 if we're lucky) and a few DB's (easy in todays draft they are all over right?).
    I think if we can take an OT in the 2nd, an OL in the 4th and 5th and perhaps in the 6th or 7th, we should be fine on the line. DBs in the 1st or 3rd then in 6th or 7th.
    Are you trying to imply that Jake Long is overrated in everyones eyes here because that is our most needed position? I think some people here are blinded by the NO DOUBT great need we have on the OL to the point where they can't see past that need in order to improve our team the most efficient way possible.

    And you are talking about LT right?
    LT is ALL i'm talking about.
    I look at it this way:

    Let's say our goal is to get as close to a 100 pt. mark as possible with our first two picks. Each player is worth a certain pt. number.

    If J. Long is worth let's say, 45 and Glenn Dorsey is worth let's say a 55. But where J. Long is a 45 at LT and a Sam Baker or someone who would be taken at pick 35 is worth a 41, is that little extra that Long would give us really worth a whole extra round? If we take Long, who would be our 2nd round pick? Would that player be at the same worth to our team as that Baker would be? I've heard Flowers as our 2nd round pick. Would Flowers make the same impact at CB as Baker would at OT?

    I'd rather see a:
    Dorsey/Baker THAN
    Long/Flowers

    I think the value of the former would be MUCH greater than the later. IMO

    I only put Baker in that scenario because he would be the WORST case scenario. I honestly believe you'll see a Cherilus or Williams available at 35.

  8. #37
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    Screw it Herm....draft 15 DTs....you know you want to.

  9. #38
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    Quote Originally Posted by texaschief View Post
    I look at it this way:

    Let's say our goal is to get as close to a 100 pt. mark as possible with our first two picks. Each player is worth a certain pt. number.

    If J. Long is worth let's say, 45 and Glenn Dorsey is worth let's say a 55. But where J. Long is a 45 at LT and a Sam Baker or someone who would be taken at pick 35 is worth a 41, is that little extra that Long would give us really worth a whole extra round? If we take Long, who would be our 2nd round pick? Would that player be at the same worth to our team as that Baker would be? I've heard Flowers as our 2nd round pick. Would Flowers make the same impact at CB as Baker would at OT?

    I'd rather see a:
    Dorsey/Baker THAN
    Long/Flowers

    I think the value of the former would be MUCH greater than the later. IMO

    I only put Baker in that scenario because he would be the WORST case scenario. I honestly believe you'll see a Cherilus or Williams available at 35.
    Dude that is way too much football learnin' for a guy like me to understand.

    You're asking for the bird.

    And the angry parrot that looks like the one that you used to have is tied for first...

    Just make sure you don't mix up the Chiefs with the Chiefs Crowd folk.

    These guys all love the bird,
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  10. #39
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    Quote Originally Posted by texaschief View Post
    Screw it Herm....draft 15 DTs....you know you want to.
    If we go D we go CB.


    U R moching me!

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  11. #40
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    Quote Originally Posted by hermhater View Post
    If we go D we go CB.


    U R moching me!

    Me? Mock you? How could you think such things of me good sir?

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