The Pick is Poe!

With the 11^th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft the Kansas City Chiefs select…..Dontari Poe Defensive Tackle Memphis.

The Junior from Memphis stands 6’4” and weighs in at 346 pounds. Poe is a mountain of a man and had incredibly impressive combine numbers including a 4.98 second forty yard dash and 44 repetitions of the bench press. Dontari puts the POE in Potential, but unfortunately that is all he is, potential. He had substandard numbers during his time at The University of Memphis, totaling 22 tackles and 1 sack his senior year. He never stood out, he never dominated a game the way his athletic ability would lead you to believe he did. He was selected to 2^nd team all conference for Conference USA. This is a conference with teams like Rice, Tulane, and UTEP to name a few. To his credit he was never used the same way in consecutive seasons, having multiple defensive coordinators in his 3 years at Memphis.   

I mentioned the combine numbers, which were nearly identical to what Haloti Ngata’s were coming out of Oregon. I can’t speak for all of you, but if Poe can channel his inner Ngata, he was a steal at #11. Ngata is one of the best defensive linemen in all of football, regardless of defensive scheme. If there is a defensive coordinator that can get this type of ability and production out of Poe it is Romeo Crennel, which just happens to be the Chiefs Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator. If Poe is to succeed he came to the right place to start his development.

I will be honest, when this pick was made, I wasn’t too excited about it. I am still not too excited about it, but it can’t be argued that NT is a huge need on this team and Poe carries the most ability to fill that hole. I am 100% confident in Pioli and his scouting department and I am sure they have done all the homework necessary to ensure that this is the right pick. Pair that with Crennel’s ability to coach the defense and you have the recipe for success.

Now it is just time for Crennel to work his magic.

-J

My Dream Draft

As the 2012 NFL Draft approaches I thought it would be fun to mock my “Dream Scenario” for the Kansas City Chiefs. I will have prospects go in the same range where they are valued, meaning I won’t have a prospect valued as a 2^nd rounder fall to the 4^th just so the Chiefs can take him. With that said I will outline most of the first round so everyone knows who is available.

1.      Colts – Andrew Luck

2.      Redskins – Robert Griffin III

3.      Vikings – Matt Kalil

4.      Browns – Trent Richardson

5.      Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne

6.      Rams – Justin Blackmon

7.      Jaguars – Riley Reiff

8.      Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill

9.      Panthers – Fletcher Cox

10.  Bills – Michael Floyd 

11.  Chiefs – TRADE – The Chiefs trade #11 and #107 (those picks are valued at 1250 and 80 points for a total of 1330) to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 17^th and the 53^rd overall picks (950 + 370 = 1320). The Bengals select David DeCastro.  

12.  Seahawks – Luke Kuechly

13.  Cardinals – Cordy Glenn

14.  Cowboys – Mark Barron

15.  Eagles – Quinton Coples

16.  Jets – Melvin Ingram

17.   Chiefs – TRADE – The Chiefs trade #17 (950) to the Detroit Lions for #23, #85, and #158 (760 + 165 + 28.2 = 953.2). The Lions select Stephon Gilmore. 

18.  Chargers – Jonathan Martin

19.  Bears – Nick Perry

20.  Titans – Whitney Mercilus

21.  Bengals – Dre Kirkpatrick

22.  Brown – Kendall Wright 

23.  Chiefs – Dont’a Hightower ILB Alabama – I mentioned in my initial mock draft that Hightower could be a dark horse candidate at pick 11, but in my dream scenario the Chiefs are able to trade back twice, gathering 4 additional picks, and were still able to come away with the guy they want. Hightower has everything you could want in a 3-4 SILB; size, strength, pass-rushing ability, and athleticism to cover TE’s. He has the leadership qualities that Pioli looks for (team captain at Bama) and experience having played in Nick Saban’s 3-4 defense the past few years. With this pick the Chiefs improve both their run defense and their pass-rush.

44. Amini Silatolu  OG Midwestern St. – With their second pick the Chiefs solidify their offensive line with the addition of Silatolu. The Chiefs were absolutely awful in short yardage situations and could not run at all up the middle. With the improvement of Asamoah, the insertion of Hudson, and now the addition of Silatolu, the Chiefs have the making for a very formidable OL. With Lilja still on the team there is no rush to throw Silatolu into the starting lineup. He can sit and learn for awhile as he adjusts from OT to OG and to the speed of the NFL.

53. Jared Crick DE Nebraska – After Ndamukong Suh left for the NFL Crick was supposed to become that dominant DT in the middle of the Nebraska defense, but a torn pectoral muscle forced him to miss most of last season. Crick is a natural fit as a 5-tech, much better than current DE Glenn Dorsey, and has a lot to offer. Size, strength and relentless hustle make him a strong candidate to replace Dorsey. With the addition of Crick the Chiefs can explore options to trade Dorsey who is a better fit for a 4-3 defense anyway. If nothing comes about the Chiefs have already found their replacement for when his contract runs up.

74. Markelle Martin S Oklahoma St. – The Chiefs desperately need safety depth. With Jon McGraw and Sabby Piscitelli still unsigned (thank goodness) that leaves a lot of playing time left to be filled. Martin has recently battled some injury problems as well, but it shouldn’t be anything to worry about long term. When healthy he is a hard hitter that can stop the run as well as cover the TE’s. The Chiefs play a lot of 3 safety sets and need three playmakers on the field. With Eric Berry back and the addition of Martin they now have that.

85. Josh Chapman NT Alabama – Since transitioning to the 3-4 defensive front the Chiefs have yet to find a long term answer in the middle of their defense. They drafted Jerrell Powe last year, but he was only played 7 snaps last season. Even if Powe has progressed enough to start next season he still needs to be rotated in and out with someone. Enter Chapman who manned the middle for the Bama defense alongside Dont’a Hightower. He is exactly what you look for in a 3-4 NT and if it weren’t for some injuries (played last season on a torn ACL and torn Meniscus) he would go much higher. These injuries might keep him on the Physically Unable to Perform list at the beginning of the season, but he should soon be ready for some quality playing time.

146. Vick Ballard RB Mississippi St. – Even with Charles coming back and the addition of Peyton Hillis the Chiefs need to look to add another back. Ballard has enough size and strength to develop into an every down type of back, but needs a lot of work. Coming into Kansas City he can sit and learn behind Charles and Hillis and refine his game. This is a low risk- high reward type of pick.

158. James Hanna TE Oklahoma – Tony Moeaki is coming off an injury, Kevin Boss is a solid TE, and Jake O’Connell has yet to show anything of worth. James Hanna is a developmental TE that has a ton of athleticism, topping most categories for TE’s at the NFL Combine. He can come in immediately and be a pass-catching threat, but needs to develop his blocking skills to become a regular TE. With the NFL moving to more double TE sets, Hanna’s value goes up.

182. Matt McCants OT UAB – Branden Albert, Eric Winston, David Mims. Those are the only tackles currently on the Chiefs roster. Drafting another OT is an absolute must this draft and not many come with as much potential as Matt McCants. He is extremely athletic and has excellent size to play either tackle position. He won’t be thrust into the lineup and can refine his skills as a reserve OT.

218. Chris Owusu WR Stanford – Concussion issues are the only thing keeping Owusu out of the top half of this draft. He has speed to burn, played in a pro-style offense, and has kick return ability, but multiple concussions have caused his draft stock to plummet. In the 7^th round of the draft the Chiefs are trying to catch lightning in a bottle with hopes the concussions don’t keep Owusu from ever playing in the NFL. Definitely worth that chance this late in the draft.

238. Akiem Hicks DE Regina  - Another DE? Absolutely. First of all Hicks is nowhere close to ready to play in the NFL. He played two years at a JUCO then the last two years at a University in Canada. However he is just oozing with potential. This is purely low risk – HIGH reward and if the Chiefs are willing to sit him and develop him for a couple of years this selection could really pay off.

That concludes my dream mock. The Chiefs are able to trade down and gather more picks, filling various holes throughout the roster. The top half of the Chiefs roster is loaded with talent, but to become a great team, they must have quality depth. That is exactly what I wanted to accomplish in this draft. Select a few players that could contribute immediately to push this team over the edge and also improve the talent level in the bottom half of the roster. This would be just another step into getting to our final goal. What do you think Chiefs Fans?

-J

Mock Draft picks 21-32

It is now time to finish up my mock draft for this 2012 offseason. In the previous posts I have outlined the first 20 picks and today I finish things up. Only twelve picks left to announce so let’s get to it.

21 – Cincinnati Bengals – Stephon Gilmore CB South Carolina – The Bengals have already addressed one need taking Peter Konz five picks ago and now they can address another position of need and land another top prospect. What was once a position of strength has turned into a major weakness. Top corner Leon Hall will miss all of next season with a ruptured achilles and even after signing Jason Allen and Pacman Jones the CB spot definitely needs help. Gilmore is a highly athletic corner with a lot of potential without the baggage that Janoris Jenkins has. The Bengals have to be happy with being able to address two huge needs in the 1^st round of the draft.

22 – Cleveland Browns – Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M – I honestly don’t think Tannehill will fall this far, but he should. Tannehill will immediately challenge Colt McCoy for the starting spot and give the Browns some much needed hope. With the addition of Trent Richardson earlier they can rely on him more than Tannehill. If this were to happen the Browns would be pinching themselves thinking it was a dream!

23 – Detroit Lions – Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama – The Lions really need a CB and they get an incredibly talented one in Jenkins. Jenkins comes with a lot of off the field problems, but his talent is just too much to ignore at this point. He will immediately upgrade the loss of Eric Wright and give the Lions a potential shut down corner.

24 – Pittsburgh Steelers – Dontari Poe DL Memphis – The Steelers are in utter shock that Poe has fallen so drastically. They don’t waste any time getting to the podium to announce this pick. Poe has everything you look for in a NT and the Steelers are in need of one with Casey Hampton nearing the end of his career. This is about the spot Poe needs to go. As I said earlier he has all the measurables, but no production. The Steelers would be the prime location and they can sit him and allow him to develop correctly rather than thrusting him into the lineup immediately.

25 – Denver Broncos – Michael Brockers DT LSU – Surprisingly the Broncos have quite a few needs, however the addition of Peyton Manning hides a lot of them. They can focus on their defense and they really need some defensive tackles and the prospect with maybe the most potential is waiting to hear his name called. Brockers instantly fills a huge void in the middle of that defensive line.

26 – Houston Texans – Dont’a Hightower ILB Alabama – I originally had WR Stephen Hill here, but after thinking about it a bit more I decided to change it. The Texans traded away stud LB DeMeco Ryans leaving a void in the middle of their D. Right now they only have Brian Cushing and Darryl Sharpton as ILB’s. Cushing is a clear cut starter, but Sharpton is still an unknown coming out of Miami. Hightower is superiorly talented to Sharpton and much better suited for the SILB spot. Plug him in to replace Ryans and the defense doesn’t take a step back.

27 – New England Patriots – Andre Branch OLB/DE Clemson – The Patriots really need to add to their pass rush. They lost Mark Anderson and Andre Carter is injured and getting older. Branch has the athletic ability and the pass rush ability that the Patriots look for. Adding a young prospect to this defense is just what the doctor ordered.

28 – Green Bay Packers – Nick Perry OLB/DE USC – While Perry projects better as a pass rushing defensive end he does have plenty of athletic ability to move to the outside linebacker position. The Packers need another pass rusher opposite of Clay Mathews and Perry can certainly get that job done.

29 – Baltimore Ravens – Mike Adams OT Ohio St – The Ravens could look to add another WR to give Flacco some more help however they also have to keep him upright in order for him to throw the ball. Bryant McKinnie was their starting LT last year if that tells you anything. Adding Adams gives the Ravens a potential long term solution at the position. Although Adams is raw, he has a lot of potential.

30 – San Fransisco 49ers – Coby Fleener TE Stanford – While TE isn’t much of a need with Vernon Davis adding a threat like Fleener can’t hurt. Look at what the Patriots have done with their two tight ends and this is a copycat league. Adding Fleener gives Alex Smith another weapon which never hurts. The 49ers need to address the right side of their OL, but they can afford to wait with as deep of class as guards as it is.

31 – New England Patriots – Kendall Reyes DE UConn – The Patriots need another defensive end that can also move inside to defensive tackle when they go to their 4-3 look. Reyes is an intriguing prospect for the fact that he is flying under the radar and is seldom heard about. Reyes as everything you look for in 3-4 defensive end and the Patriots are happy to add him to their defense.

32 – New York Giants – Doug Martin RB Boise St – The Giants released Brandon Jacobs earlier this offseason and only have Ahmed Bradshaw as a legitimate running threat heading into next season. Bradshaw is injury prone and has issues holding onto the ball so giving him some competition as well as someone to share the load is a good idea. Martin is one of my favorite players in the draft and I think he will be an outstanding back in the NFL.

That concludes my version of the 2012 NFL mock draft. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did putting it together. 

-J

Mock Draft picks 11-20

Welcome to part two of my mock draft. Today I am going to cover picks 11 through 20. Just a reminder there are no trades in my mock as they are too hard to predict. Well let’s get it too it!

11 – Kansas City Chiefs – David DeCastro OG Stanford – The Chiefs have done a great job this offseason filling holes and improving their football team. If the Chiefs like Tannehill he could be the pick here, but I am not a Tannehill fan. I think he is too big of a risk and in the 1^st you have to take a player you know will be able to contribute. Another possibility is Dontari Poe the NT from Memphis. However I am not a fan of his either. He has all the measurable you want, but this game isn’t won and lost by how athletic you are. He had almost zero production at Memphis against weak competition, totaling 33 tackles and 1 sack. That sack came against Austin Peay, so I am not sure it even counts. Ideally the Chiefs are able to trade back and grab Dont’a Hightower. I was really tempted to take him here as I really think he is the perfect fit for what we need and seems like a Pioli pick. However I just couldn’t have him being selected this early. Instead I went with David DeCastro. He is a plug and play type of player that will solidify our OL for the next decade. He is an all-pro waiting to happen and has been compared to Steve Hutchinson. Our  running game just got so much scarier.

12 – Seattle Seahawks – Luke Kuechly ILB Boston College – For a 7-9 team the Seahawks have a lot of holes: DT, LB, OG, DE, etc. It is rumored they want to trade back so they can take Hightower at a more reasonable location. In this mock the best LB falls to them in Luke Kuechly and they couldn’t be happier. Kuechly has everything you look for in a LB. I would have had him going one pick earlier to the Chiefs, but I have doubts about him playing the thumper role in a 3-4 defense. Their defense just took a huge step in the right direction with this addition.

13 – Arizona Cardinals – Melvin Ingram DE/OLB South Carolina – The Cardinals need an OT, but even Jonathan Martin is gone in this mock. They need a WR to take coverage off of Larry Fitzgerald, but both Floyd and Blackmon are already both gone. They also need an ILB, but it is still too early for Hightower and he isn’t a great fit in their defense. They turn their attention towards their pass rush. With the addition of Melvin Ingram they now have an OLB to pair along with last year’s rookie Sam Acho.

14 – Dallas Cowboys – Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama – The Cowboys have needs all over their defensive backfield. Even though the Cowboys went out and signed FA CB Brandon Carr to a $50 million deal Terrance Newman played awful in the second half of last season and depth is an issue. They also need safety help so Mark Barron could be the other Bama player they look at, however Kirkpatrick has the ability and size to play corner or safety depending on how they view him.

15 – Philadelphia Eagles – Mark Barron SS Alabama – The Eagles really struggled last season on all three levels of their defense. They traded for DeMeco Ryans so that really helps that LB corp. They could add another LB later in the draft, but Ryans allows them time to wait to address this need. It comes down to Mark Barron or Dontari Poe and in my mind this is a no brainer. Barron comes from the top defensive team in the nation last year while Poe played poorly. This is also a deep DT class and an incredibly weak safety class. Mark Barron is the pick and the Eagles take another step in the right direction.

16 – New York Jets – Whitney Mercilus OLB Illinois – The Jets needs WR’s and an OT, however there aren’t really any of those worth taking. The Jets can add to that defense and gather more pass rush, which they really need. It comes down to Mercilus or Courtney Upshaw. I question Upshaw’s ability to play in a 3-4 defense as he seems really stiff. Mercilus is much more athletic and can make the transition to an OLB.

17 – Cincinnati Bengals – Peter Konz OC Wisconsin – The Bengals need to address their OL especially the interior. It comes down to Konz or Cordy Glenn. With Konz not only being the best center in the draft he could also play guard if need be. Even with the addition of Konz this won’t be the only pick directed towards the OL.  

18 – San Diego Chargers – Cordy Glenn OG/OT Georgia – The Chargers offensive line really needs an overhaul. With McNeill leaving via free agency and Kris Dielman having to retire due to concussions the Chargers are going to have at least two new starters along the OL. Enter Cordy Glenn who can fill Dielman’s hole at OG or can bounce outside and play OT.

19 – Chicago Bears – Quinton Coples DE/DT UNC – Coples fall ends here. While DL isn’t a huge need for the Bears Coples just has too much talent to pass up. I, like many others, question his motor and his drive. You think Brian Urlacher will continue to allow that? Not a chance and the Bears get the steal of the draft.

20 – Tennessee Titans – Courtney Upshaw DE/OLB Alabama – The Titans really need an interior lineman, center or guard. Unfortunately for them there are not any remotely close to being worth this spot, however this is a deep class of guards and one can be found easily in the next couple of rounds. The Titans can’t believe that Upshaw falls this far. He will be an immediate upgrade as a pass rusher and fills a hole in the Titan lineup.

Well that concludes the second portion of my mock. Coming soon will be the 3^rd and final part so be sure to come back to finish this thing up!

-J

Mock Draft picks 1-10

With the biggest wave of free agency out of the way teams have turned their attention towards April 26^th – 28^th when the NFL holds its annual Draft. This is the most exciting portion of the offseason because nobody really knows what their favorite teams are thinking. There are surprises aplenty, both good and bad, but in the end every NFL team adds talent with hopes of improving their team and finally adding that piece to get them to the next level.

Mock drafting has become incredibly popular and fans flock to various sites to see who their favorite team is going to take. I have decided to take a shot at my own mock draft. I will not project any trades in this mock, because it is impossible to know who will trade with who come draft day. Also, as with everyone else, I rate some players higher than others. My rankings may or may not coincide with other rankings you have seen. Today I am just going to do picks 1-10 and later I will post the 2^nd and 3^rd parts to my mock. That’s enough talk, on to the mock!

1 – Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck QB Stanford – This pick has pretty much been a consensus pick since the season concluded. Luck is the highest rated QB since the man he is set to replace, Peyton Manning. It almost isn’t fair to the rest of the NFL that they go from Manning to Luck.

2 – Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III QB Baylor – The Redskins didn’t trade away the farm to move up to take a player of any other position. This is nearly as predictable as the previous pick. RGIII is an amazing QB prospect in his own right and fits Shanahan’s offense impeccably. The Redskins now have a face to their franchise.

3 – Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil OT USC – If Christian Ponder has any chance to succeed the Vikings must protect him. Kalil has all the potential in the world to become an elite LT. He was the reason Tyron Smith (9^th overall pick last year) had to play RT. With this addition the Vikings can turn their attention towards a top WR and Defense the rest of the draft.

4 – Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson RB Alabama – The Browns have a lot of needs: QB, WR, RB, CB, etc. With so many needs at so many critical spots and 3 picks in the first two rounds they can take the Best Available Player at every pick. With that strategy in mind it comes down to Ryan Tannehill, Justin Blackmon/Michael Floyd, Richardson, and Morris Claiborne. In my opinion Richardson is the best and surest bet out of all these possibilities. With a RB as dynamic as Richardson it also takes a lot of pressure off of QB Colt McCoy.

5 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne CB LSU – The Buccaneers have a lot of talent that didn’t perform to expectations last year. If they can rebound and add just a few pieces they could be a surprise team in 2012. Adding Morris Claiborne is exactly what the doctor ordered. With the age of Ronde Barber and the legal troubles of Aqib Talib the Buc’s would be smart to add a CB of Claiborne’s caliber.

6 – St. Louis Rams – Michael Floyd WR Notre Dame – My first surprise of the draft. I have Floyd rated higher than Oklahoma St WR Justin Blackmon. Floyd has better size, equal speed and hands. He is also coming out of a pro-style offense with experience running every route as Blackmon has been in OSU’s air-raid system. Both have mild character concerns, but shouldn’t be anything of too much concern. I was tempted to give the Rams Iowa OT Riley Reiff, but I’m not sure if the Rams are ready to give up on Jason Smith yet or not. They address a big need and give Bradford a true #1 WR.

7 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma St. – The Jaguars are in a tough spot as they have several needs. They could opt to take Iowa OT Riley Reiff here to replace RT Guy Whimper or a top pass-rushing defensive end to pair with Jeremy Mincey. However the talent of Blackmon is just too great to pass up. QB Blaine Gabbert needs all the help he can get as he struggled mightily in his rookie year. Getting him a #1 WR in Blackmon will help in his development.

8 – Miami Dolphins – Riley Reiff OT Iowa – The Dolphins could elect to take QB Ryan Tannehill here as Tannehill’s former Head Coach Mike Sherman is the offensive coordinator in Miami. However I think the Dolphins will roll with Matt Moore or David Garrard in 2012 and try to build the best team around them that they can. If that doesn’t work there are a lot of top QB prospects in the 2013 draft they could select that are just as talented as Tannehill. Or they could grab a 2^nd tier QB in the 2^nd round. I have them going with the 2^nd rated OT in my mock. With Reiff they can replace over-the-hill veteran Marc Colombo. This gives the Dolphins two bookend tackles for the next decade.

9 – Carolina Panthers – Fletcher Cox DT Mississippi St. – The Panthers have several needs. They need to give QB Cam Newton another target, but there isn’t another WR worth taking in this spot. They need a CB to play opposite Chris Gamble, but once again there isn’t a CB worth taking. That narrows it down to Cox, Dontari Poe, Luke Kuechly, or David DeCastro. I am not as high on Poe as some and with John Beason I think they can wait to grab a LB. DeCastro is a solid option, but their OL isn’t as weak as their run defense. Cox has flown under the radar for most of the season, but is steadily climbing draft boards. He can do it all as a DT and that’s exactly what the Panthers need.

10 – Buffalo Bills – Jonathan Martin OT Stanford – This would be a prime spot to trade down with a team looking to take Tannehill, however I am not projecting trades. The Bills need pass-rushers, so they went out and signed one of the best in Mario Williams. They need a WR and CB, but none worth taking at #10. They just lost starting OT Demetrius Bell to the Eagles in Free Agency leaving them with Chris Hairston at LT. While this is probably too high for Martin, he is a talented prospect with a lot of potential and the Bills absolutely HAVE to fill this hole.

Well that is the first 10 selections in my 2012 mock draft. Be sure to check in too see who I have going to the Chiefs as well as the rest of the 1^st round.

-J



Week One Recap



With week one of Free Agency in the books several teams made headlines. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the most noise after signing Top FA WR Vincent Jackson, Top FA OL Carl Nicks, and above average cover corner Eric Wright. The Bills made some noise with the addition of Mario Williams. The Rams have made a lot of noise by signing Cortland Finnegan and Kendall Langford as well as trading the #2 overall pick in the NFL draft and today the Manning Saga has taken ESPN by the throat as Manning announced he will be going to Denver. It would be easy to lose track of what the Chiefs have done so far in free agency, but they should not be overlooked. The Chiefs have had a very solid first week of free agency. What started slow and discouraging has turned into a positive. Let’s take a look at what the Chiefs have done thus far.

First they added Peyton Hillis. Hillis of course is the former Razorback that was drafted in the 7^th round by the Denver Broncos. He was then traded to Cleveland along with a draft pick in return for QB Brady Quinn. Hillis then went on to have a career year posting over 1100 yards and 12 touchdowns. After being voted to the cover of Madden, the curse struck Hillis. He had a contract dispute, injuries, and rumors about him leaving the NFL to join the CIA. He comes to the Chiefs on a 1-year 3 million dollar contract in hopes to regain stardom.  One of the Chiefs goals this offseason was to find a bigger back to compliment Jamaal Charles. They were able to do just that. Hillis is 6-1 240 lbs of pure mean.  He is coming to Kansas City with a chip on his shoulder ready to prove his doubters wrong. He provides that power back that the Chiefs thought they were getting with Thomas Jones. There really aren’t any negatives to this pick up. Yes, Hillis had a bad year. Yes, Hillis may be a bit of a head case. However I think he is wrongfully accused to a certain degree. He comes to Kansas City to play under the same OC that he did when he had that career year.  I think this was a great pick-up for the Chiefs and I am anxious to see what Hillis will do.

Next the Chiefs signed another former Oakland Raider, Kevin Boss. Boss is best known for his days in New York catching passes from Eli Manning. He then went to Oakland and signed a big contract, but because of the cap issues Oakland has, he was released. He was quick to sign a 3 year deal worth 9 million dollars with the Chiefs. Boss gives the Chiefs a solid #2 TE to pair with Moeaki. Both are solid TE’s, good blockers and good pass catchers. They both are injury prone to a degree so another TE addition isn’t out of the question. Chiefs fans have seen what happens when their top TE goes down with injury and you don’t have any adequate replacements. Now they do. 

In a surprise move by the Houston Texans, RT Eric Winston was cut for failing a physical after an ankle surgery. This sent one of the best Right Tackles out to the open market for the highest bidder. The Chiefs were quick to set up a visit with Winston and kept him in KC for 3 days trying to work out a deal. Both sides agreed to a 4 year 22 million dollar contract that puts one of the league’s premier Zone-Blocking RT’s on the roster. This is undoubtedly the biggest move of the offseason for the Chiefs. What was one of the biggest weaknesses has turned into an absolute strength. Not only does this improves our offensive line tenfold, but allows the Chiefs some flexibility in the draft.

The last signing of the week came courtesy of another former AFC West opponent, the Denver Broncos. The Chiefs agreed to a 1 year 1.5 million dollar contract with former Bronco/Brown Quarterback Brady Quinn. Quinn was rumored to be a target of the Chiefs in the 2008 draft, but the Browns traded up right before the Chiefs Selection and took Quinn. The Chiefs then selected WR Dwayne Bowe. After a rough start to his career in Cleveland he was traded to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a draft pick and previously mentioned Peyton Hillis. Quinn has never really had a legitimate chance in the NFL, he has the tools to succeed. There is a reason he was once a 1^st round prospect.  I truly believe Quinn can push Cassel and maybe even challenge him for the starting role. I just don’t know that Quinn will get that chance. At the very least Quinn comes in as a valuable back-up.

When looking at the transformation this roster has undergone since the season concluded the Chiefs have made a number of gains. None of these players, save Winston, will set the world on fire. However to become a great football team you must  have talent up and down your roster. There is no doubt that all the additions so far have upgraded our football team. Peyton Hillis is much better than Thomas Jones. Kevin Boss is much better than Leonard Pope. We literally went from the worst starting right tackle in the league to one of the best with the addition of Winston and Quinn is easily better than Tyler Palko.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I would rather have the four players we picked up over the one that Denver did. ESPECIALLY when you look at cost. Winston/Hillis/Boss/Quinn and their combined estimated salary of $35.5 million trump Mannings reported $95 million.

I would say the first week of free agency was a success Chiefs fans. What say you?

-J

Demo Demoted

Today the Kansas City Chiefs made another roster move. This particular move caught many off guard, me included. The Chiefs released inside linebacker Demorrio Williams.

Demo was signed in 2008 as a free agent from the Atlanta Falcons. After registering 70 tackles in 2008, he set a career mark of 142 stops in 2009. In 2010 Demo lost some playing time with the signing of UDFA Jovan Belcher and lost even more time in 2011 as Belcher took over the starting role and saw the majority of the defensive plays. He has totaled 25 tackles the last two seasons.

As I said this was a surprising move, but when you look at it, it makes a lot of sense for the Chiefs. Demo was entering the final year of his 5 year contract this season. The Chiefs were going to owe him $1.7 million, freeing that money up to spend on another potential free agent or draft pick. Since Belcher has come on strong and getting more and more playing time from Demo, he was too expensive to keep on the roster for special teams and reserve purposes. The Chiefs currently have 4 ILB’s on the roster: Derrick Johnson, Cory Greenwood, Brandon Siler, and Caleb Campbell. Belcher is a restricted free agent and will be back with the Chiefs next season.

Greenwood has been a solid special teamer and Crennel and Co. seem to be really high on his development. Greenwood comes a lot cheaper than Demo and will be able to match the production. Siler played well before tearing his Achilles tendon in his short stint in red, but also with his time in San Diego. Campbell is the only unknown.

I still expect the Chiefs to sign or draft another ILB in the later rounds in the coming NFL Draft, but ILB is not a priority for the Chiefs at this point. 4 players probably isn’t enough depth at ILB but also LB’s make up the majority of special teams units.

As I mentioned earlier this saves the Chiefs money. They can now be even more aggressive in free agency, maybe landing one or two top tier players (Manning and Soliai anyone?).  I wish the best of luck to Demo wherever he ends up, because rest assured he will find another job. This move just made too much sense for the Chiefs not to make.

What says you Chiefs Nation?

-J

Chiefs sign another DB

Former Texans DB Jacques Reeves

The Kansas City Chiefs have confirmed the signing of yet another Defensive Back. Jacques Reeves formerly of the Dallas Cowboys and most recently the Houston Texans. Reeves suffered a broken leg in 2009 and has been out of the NFL since. The former Purdue Boilermaker was originally a 7^th round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played with the Cowboys through the 2007 season before spending the next two seasons in Houston.

Via KCChiefs.com:

Reeves (5-11, 188) has seen action in 88 games (35 starts) with 164 tackles (146 solo), six interceptions returned for 145 yards, 45 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He has 25 career special teams tackles and has returned 13 kickoffs for 199 yards (15.3 avg.).

This is a low risk bottom of the roster type of signing for Chiefs. Seems to be just a roster filler and an attempt to catch lightning in the bottle. I definitely don’t for see Reeves doing anything of note and would even be surprised if he made the final 53. What makes this move curious is Brandon Carr has yet to be signed, but another player in the same position group has been inked. At least Pioli and Co. are continuing to be aggressive after FA’s. I would just prefer that we had signed a bigger and proven contributor (Bowe, Carr, Belcher, McClain, etc).

Carr Routt-ed out of KC?

Stanford Routt intercepts Kyle Orton during the Raiders 16-13 overtime victory.

The Kansas City Chiefs confirmed today that they have signed Free Agent CB Stanford Routt (formerly of the Oakland Raiders) to a 3 year 19.6 million dollar deal with $4 million guaranteed.

My initial reaction upon learning of this news was anger. I was not happy about this signing because, let’s be honest, it probably means the end of Brandon Carr in KC. I am and will continue to be a big Brandon Carr fan. Drafted out of D-II Grand Valley State and has since started in every single game of his career. It almost seems like we have seen him grow up on the green grass at Arrowhead.

It doesn’t take much research to make the determination that Routt is not as talented as Carr and will therefore be a step-down. Routt committed 17 penalties during the 2011 season and 12 penalties during the 2010 season. He also allowed 8 touchdowns last year. Granted that came with responsibility of playing as a #1 CB and not having much of a secondary around him. In KC he won’t be relied upon as a #1 CB, we have Brandon Flowers for that. However this is still not good news, as a football fan, you want your team to retain its best players.

However let’s look at from a different perspective. As fans we have absolutely no idea what is going on in the Front Office. We don’t know how much effort was put into retaining Carr or what his asking price was. It can almost be promised that Brandon Carr will sign for more than around $6.5 million a year. As the best CB available in the Free Agent class, Carr will probably get in the neighborhood of $10-12 million a year. Is he worth it? That’s debatable. He is worth it to the Chiefs? Probably not.

The Chiefs have a lot of holes left on the roster and more of their own FA’s to sign, including Dwayne Bowe. Saving some money by signing Carr rather than Routt was a good financial move. This gives the Chiefs flexibility in pursuing other free agents. Carl Nicks or Paul Soliai anyone? This signing assures the Chiefs that they will not have to look any further at the CB position. They could potentially lose a top corner (Carr) but not have considerable drop off (Routt) and won’t have to spend or depend on a rookie to step in and perform. With Routt you know what you are getting. A good #2 CB that plays best in a bump and run type of defense.

So looking back over this deal I have to give props to Scott Pioli for not waiting around to make something happen. He was aggressive and got the man he wanted. Now we just have to wait to see if this aggressiveness continues throughout the rest of the offseason. Remember players are set to become free agents on March 13^th.

Welcome to the good side Mr. Routt!

-J



Get Lost!

Here is the third and final post of my take on the Chiefs Free Agency. We have already taken a look at who I consider the Must keeps and the 50/50’s of the Chiefs Free Agency class. Today I look at the players I hope Get Lost!!

Leonard Pope: Haley is gone, which probably means Pope’s biggest supporter is too. He has caused a lot of fans stress over the past two years with his alligator arms and constant holding penalties. Pope wouldn’t be a bad 3^rd TE, but he should not get the amount of playing time he does. With the recent extension of Jake O’Connell (I’ll touch on that later) and Tony Moeaki coming back Pope talents or lack thereof are replaceable. The Chiefs need to address the TE position this offseason either through FA or the draft. 

Jake O’Connell: Why J O’C was given an extension, I am not sure. He has shown nothing in his time with the Chiefs. However he does provide depth at a position where the Chiefs have no depth. At this point in his career I don’t see him as anything more than a #3 TE that plays on Special Teams. I wonder what the Chiefs have in store for him in 2012. 

Sabby Piscitelli: I groaned when the Chiefs signed Piscitelli last offseason and his play warranted my groaning. He constantly looked lost in coverage and couldn’t make an open field tackle to save his life. Granted he wasn’t supposed to play as much as he did, but because of the injury to Eric Berry he was thrust into additional playing time. It shouldn’t be hard at all to find an equal or better player to replace Piscitelli. 

Tyler Palko: Palko, like Langford, is an ERFA. However there is no reason to keep Palko. His play this season was abysmal. Hopefully the Chiefs address the QB position this offseason. If we ever have to depend on Palko again, it will spell doom for the Chiefs. 

Anthony Becht: Signed after T-Mo went down for depth purposes, Becht didn’t do anything with the playing time he got. With a full offseason to address needs and to bring players back to health, Becht is as good as gone. 

Ryan O’Callaghan: R O’C spent the year on the injured reserve, but during his time in Kansas City he hasn’t shown the skill or the development necessary to bring him back. How effective will he be after this injury? I’m not sure and I’m not willing to find out. If the Chiefs draft an OT and with their development of Mims, O’Callaghan is no longer needed. 

Jerheme Urban: Urban also a follower of Todd Haley has never really shown anything during his two years in Chiefs red. With the addition of Breaston and Baldwin, the versatility of Copper and a Top Ten WR like Bowe, there just isn’t any room for Urban. 

Thomas Jones: Some may consider keeping TJ, classifying him in the 50/50 section, but I am not one of them. Jones has declined since he has come to KC and hasn’t shown much of anything. He is no longer a threat running the ball, was never a threat catching the ball, and isn’t a spectacular blocker. People talk about his leadership, but I am not even sold on that. What leader sucker punches a rookie in training camp? TJ is old and washed up and needs to hit the road with those massive, but useless biceps. 

That concludes my series on what players the Chiefs should re-sign or release. As you can tell the Front Office has a lot of big decisions coming up, not only with Free Agents, but coaching replacements and the draft. So what do you all think? Do you agree or disagree with my classifications?

-J

50/50 Free Agents

In my first blog I explained which Free Agents should be considered “Must Keeps” for the Kansas City Chiefs. Today I will look at which Free Agents fall into the 50/50 section. This simply means if these players can be re-signed at the right price the Chiefs should consider bringing them back, however if they are lost to Free Agency it wouldn’t be a significant loss to the team. 

50/50:

Kelly Gregg: Gregg a bowling ball of a NT was a nice pick up in last year’s Free Agency class. He gave the Chiefs a big-bodied presence in the middle which is essential in any 3-4 defense. The Chiefs particular system asks NT’s to play a 0 technique, or head up on the center. Their responsibility is to demand double teams, allowing the linebackers to make plays and stopping the run. Gregg did an admirable job this season and Derrick Johnson’s numbers reflect that. However the Chiefs were not a great run stopping team, ranking 26^th in the league, allowing 132 yards per game. In this aspect Kelly Gregg did not do enough to help the defense. Gregg who may be considering retirement at the age of 35 would be welcomed back in a advisor/rotational NT role. However the Chiefs need to find an upgrade at this position in the offseason. Is that 2011 6^th round draft pick Jerrell Powe or another FA pickup/draft selection?  

Kyle Orton: Orton did a good job in the 3 games he started for the Chiefs this season. He led the team to wins over previously undefeated Green Bay and the Denver Broncos. He had the Chiefs in a position to win against Oakland before two blocked FG’s kept the Chiefs from winning and ultimately making the playoffs. While Orton is definitely not an elite quarterback it is plain to see that he gives the Chiefs a legitimate starting QB and is a much better thrower of the football than incumbent starter Matt Cassel. However Orton should have many suitors in Free Agency and have a chance to start somewhere else. If he elects to return to KC he will not only be battling against Cassel for the starting spot, but also GM Scott Pioli’s infatuation with the former Patriot.

Jackie Battle: The RB position needs to be upgraded this offseason. In the most action Battle has ever gotten at the NFL level he just looked average. A back with below-average vision, who is just content to lower his head rather than make a cut is worth keeping around as a 3^rd back. Battle is a hard worker and is a good special teams player, but not much else. Battle is a solid contributor, but one that can be replaced rather easily.

Jon McGraw: McGraw is a hard worker, giving everything he has. However at 32 years old he has slowed down considerably. He knows angles and is a decent tackler, but his coverage days are over. With Eric Berry coming back and other safety options available McGraw could be expendable. However he brings a certain leadership and toughness welcomed to any NFL Roster.

Amon Gordon: Gordon, an NFL journeyman, played well for Kansas City this season. Gordon has the size (6-2 305) and strength to play anywhere on the defensive line. He brought energy to the defensive and made several plays. While Gordon should never be relied upon to play or get a majority of snaps he provides solid depth. However he may become expendable with the emergence of Allen Bailey, the youth of Wallace Gilberry, and the unknown in Brandon Bair. 

Wallace Gilberry: Gilberry bulked up last season in an attempt to become an every down lineman rather than just a pass rushing specialist. That idea backfired and he wasn’t nearly as effective in 2011 has he was in 2010. What Gilberry does bring is some youth and solid depth to the Chiefs defensive line with proven results. If it comes down to re-signing him or Gordon I believe the Front Office will lean towards Gilberry. 

Travis Daniels: Daniels played very well this season as the 4^th corner behind the Brandon’s (Carr and Flowers) and Javier Arenas. As the old adage goes, you can never have too many corners. Daniels could probably be a #3 for a DB hungry team and could also step in and play a little safety if need be. However with lasts year’s draft pick Jalil Brown heading into his second season and Scott Pioli’s propensity to draft corners in the draft, it may spell the end of Daniels tenure in Kansas City. 

Barry Richardson: I am probably going to catch a lot of flak for putting B-Rich on this list, however the depth the Chiefs have along the OL is atrocious. Richardson should only be kept for depth purposes as a swing tackle. He can step in and play average football for you for slight stretches at a time, but should not be relied upon for anything else. The coaching staff may have big plans for 2011 UDFA David Mims and hopefully with the addition of an OT through the 2012 draft, B-Rich could be history.

Reshard Langford: Langford is an Exclusive Rights Free Agent (ERFA) which means the Chiefs control his future. There is absolutely no reason not to bring him back. At the very least he provides much needed safety depth and special teams ability.

Casey Wiegmann: At 38 years old Wiegmann may be considering retirement for the 3^rd straight offseason. He has accumulated over 11,000 straight snaps and has been a solid player for the Chiefs OL. However his age is really becoming a factor and his play is starting to decline. With Rodney Hudson waiting in the wings and poised to take over the starting role, Wiegmann may decide to call it quits while he is still physically able too. The Chiefs currently have an opening for an Offensive Line Coach and who knows the system better the Wiegs?

That is all of the 50/50 type Free Agents that the Chiefs have this season. Obviously some will have to be kept because a team just cannot have that much turnover in one offseason. Coming soon will be the 3^rd and final part of my free agency series. The Get Lost group is on its way.

-J