http://mvn.com/nfl-chiefs/2008/05/17...ottam-edition/
Grading the New Chiefs: The Morgan/Cottam Edition
By Jon Yoon | May 17th, 2008
I hate sounding like a homer, but it’s hard for me not to gush about the 2008 draft. Don’t worry, I’ll start being critical again after the draft analyses are over. Morgan was yet another grand slam of a pick in the third round. Cottam, I believe, has potential to be a quality pick.
Morgan’s Role with the Chiefs:
I know it’s become sexy to hate Bernard Pollard. After all, in order for a player to be considered a “bonecrusher,” doesn’t that imply that he has to actually hit somebody? Unlike most fans, I haven’t given up on Pollard and I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that any player can be fully evaluated after only one year of experience. Like most rookies, Pollard and Page both made costly mistakes in 2008. Folks, if you want to endure the rebuild, you have to endure mistakes.
I don’t know if Pollard ever becomes worth that second round pick. But it’s reassuring that if he doesn’t pan out, Morgan is a pretty solid guy to replace him. Arguably, Morgan has more post-draft upside than Pollard ever had. Morgan is fairly raw and will probably use the first half of the season to learn his position. That gives Pollard about a half-year to prove himself, which is more than enough time. If Pollard is anything short of spectacular, I expect to see him split some snaps with Morgan. The great thing about Morgan is that while he’s developing into the safety position, he won’t be a waste of a roster spot. Morgan is going to be absolutely outstanding on special teams, even though to most fans, it doesn’t really count for much. There’s also a strong possibility that you see him doing some nickel coverages.
Cottam’s Role with the Chiefs:
Of all the picks, I think Cottam might have been the pick that generated the least excitement… at least to other fans. I’m willing to bet that the lukewarm reaction is due to a lack of understanding of what Cottam’s role with the Chiefs will be. There are some that see him as Gonzalez’s future replacement. That could be true. There are others that view him as Jason Dunn’s replacement. Could also be true. But the truth is, Cottam isn’t a superstar as a receiver or as a blocker; instead, he’s pretty good at both.
Uh oh. Is this another Kris Wilson pick in the making? Hardly. If you look a little deeper into the Chiefs’ motivations for drafting Cottam, you’ll see that Chan Gailey is a huge supporter of a 2-TE set offense. What makes Cottam such an outstanding pick is that he can be an asset in both run blocking and pass receiving. Note that he doesn’t have to be a standout on either dimension. If he grades out as above average on both dimensions, then he’s a valuable addition to the offense.
What makes this kind of a role player so dangerous is that it allows you to be more deceptive in your playcalling. When Jason Dunn entered the game, you knew the Chiefs were going to run the ball. When Dante Hall came into the slot, more likely than not, the Chiefs were going to pass the ball. Sure, the Chiefs sometimes tricked teams by passing the ball with Dunn on the field, but that’s pretty much akin to playing 11-on-10 football. With Cottam in the game, there is a reasonable expectation that he can contribute on every down, no matter what the playcall. Particularly for a team that wants to run the ball and playaction a lot, I think Cottam will quietly be a very solid pick for the Chiefs.
MVN chews on Brad Cottam/DaJuan Morgan
(https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=185092)