According to Gun/Gretz Kawika Mitchell

[whoman69]

I would seriously doubt that after a year and a half out of football, that Maz retains the physical and mental skills to compete. If he is not starter, I doubt he takes a trip back to ST and thus does not make the team. Scanlon is a surety to be on the team at least until the last cut because of his NFLEL exemption. I would doubt Grigsby is put on the practice squad, though it is possible. He will probably be a backup and ST while Scanlon and Mitchell fight it out for the starter spot. Scanlon may be hurt by the wear and tear of the NFLEL season.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by whoman69

Scanlon may be hurt by the wear and tear of the NFLEL season.

I think he's also hurt by not being here for most of the offseason workouts. There's something to be said for playing live ball, obviously, but there's also something to be said for getting coaching here on our system. That could be an advantage for Mitchell if it does come down to a head-to-head thing. Although the more I hear the coaches talk lately, the more I think it'll take an injury or something absolutely amazing from Scanlon in camp to get Mitchell off the field. And by "amazing", I don't mean looking good late in the second half of a preseason game against guys who probably won't ever be in the league, I mean coming into camp and taking the job the way maslowski nearly did a few years ago when he was fighting with Patton for the starting job until he got hurt, against the Bears as I recall, in a preseason game.

[ROYC75]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I think he's also hurt by not being here for most of the offseason workouts. There's something to be said for playing live ball, obviously, but there's also something to be said for getting coaching here on our system. That could be an advantage for Mitchell if it does come down to a head-to-head thing. Although the more I hear the coaches talk lately, the more I think it'll take an injury or something absolutely amazing from Scanlon in camp to get Mitchell off the field. And by "amazing", I don't mean looking good late in the second half of a preseason game against guys who probably won't ever be in the league, I mean coming into camp and taking the job the way maslowski nearly did a few years ago when he was fighting with Patton for the starting job until he got hurt, against the Bears as I recall, in a preseason game.

I agree. The live action served what the Chiefs needed to see in Rich, does he have the talent and the brains to pick up the schemes. He excelled well against the weaker league. But it has paid the price as far as scheme and learning how Gun wants to run a D. Kawika has benefited this during the off season. I don't think anybody here has questioned Mitchells ability, it's what's upstairs that was lacking.I hope Gun has it worked out for the Chiefs sake.

I have said it before and will say it again, It's Mitchells job to lose, I don't think Rich can come back from NFLE & grab it away unless Mitchell totally sucks or has an TC injury.Although Rich did get to practice it ( scheme)some last year, it's different than playing 12 games ( like Mitchell ) and having the off season to fine tune the scheme.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by ROYC75

I don't think anybody here has questioned Mitchells ability, it's what's upstairs that was lacking.I hope Gun has it worked out for the Chiefs sake.

Yeah, I don't think there's any question that the best thing that can happen for us is for Mitchell to become a good linebacker. We don't need jobs decided by injury, and we don't need anybody getting a starting nod by attrition the way that Calvin Pickering "beat out" Ken Harvey in Royals spring training. Mitchell needs to come out in a month and prove why it's his job, and then Grigsby and Scanlon both need to play their asses off. Elevate everyone's play at MLB and the team will be that much better.

I have said it before and will say it again, It's Mitchells job to lose, I don't think Rich can come back from NFLE & grab it away unless Mitchell totally sucks or has an TC injury.Although Rich did get to practice it ( scheme)some last year, it's different than playing 12 games ( like Mitchell ) and having the off season to fine tune the scheme.

I think that's a fair statement. And Mitchell has to find a way to stay healthy this year, that's maybe his biggest hurdle. The whole team does, for that matter. Let's hope the Battle injury is the exception and not the rule this year.