Dan Williams

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Ralphy Boy

Pick your poison.

Okung or Williams.

Our DL is much thinner and has much less potential then our OL IMO. We can't survive another year with Ron Edwards at NT.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Our DL is much thinner and has much less potential then our OL IMO. We can't survive another year with Ron Edwards at NT.

We have two top five picks playing on the defensive line. That's two out of three positions being manned by top five picks.

And you think it's imperative that we spend another top five pick on the defensive line because it's been neglected? Because it's thin without any talent? After spending two top five picks on that positin over the past two years?

That our offensive line has more potential than that? Because we've spent a grand total of ONE pick in the first three rounds on the offensive line over the last TEN years?

You have got to be kidding, right?

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

We have two top five picks playing on the defensive line. That's two out of three positions being manned by top five picks.

And you think it's imperative that we spend another top five pick on the defensive line because it's been neglected? Because it's thin without any talent? After spending two top five picks on that positin over the past two years?

That our offensive line has more potential than that? Because we've spent a grand total of ONE pick in the first three rounds on the offensive line over the last TEN years?

You have got to be kidding, right?

Other then Dorsey, who do you feel good about on our defensive line? We were 31st in the NFL against the run and gave up 27 pts a game. I saw some improvement with our offense once LJ was gone, I really didn't see it with our defense.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Other then Dorsey, who do you feel good about on our defensive line? We were 31st in the NFL against the run and gave up 27 pts a game. I saw some improvement with our offense once LJ was gone, I really didn't see it with our defense.

I'm not saying I'm pleased with the defensive line. I wasn't overly pleased with the play of Dorsey all season, and while Edwards gave effort, he isn't the type of guy you want manning the nose in a 3-4. I'd like him a part of a rotation, but not the main 1-2 down guy all game long. I thought Jackson did okay at the seven tech. He looked lost a lot out there, but showed enough that I'm not worried too much about him. I suspect that a lot of the problems on defense were a result of going to a 3-4 while having a defensive coordinator who was more of a 4-3 scheme guy. I think we'll see marked improvements in the defense next year from most positions.

Belcher played well when given the minutes, Flowers will be an All-Pro sooner rather than later, Hali was 100% every time he was on the field. Carr got burned more than you'd like, but he seems to have the tools to be a very good #2.

I'd put the defensive needs as such:

1. Nose Tackle
- Ron Edwards give a ton of effort, but he's not a true 3-4 NT. A guy you want as your backup. A space eater is needed. (Early: Dan Williams/Cam Thomas; Middle: Torrell Troup; Late: Linval Joseph; FA: Travis Ivey/Jay Ross/Kade Weston)

2. Strong Safety
- Mike Brown just doesn't have the legs to play safety at the highest levels anymore. Injuries and age have robbed him of his once excellent playmaking abilities. No depth at SS for the Chiefs as well. (Early: Eric Berry; Middle: Darrell Stuckey; Late: Myron Rolle. True box safeties are disco dinosaurs and Berry can play either safety position and could have Page move to either SS or FS.)

3. LOLB
- Mike Vrabel is as hard nosed as anyone whose ever played and gives all out effort all the time, but he's at the end of his career and a suitable replacement/backup that can swing to either side would be a godsend for the Chiefs. (Early: Sergio Kindle; Middle: Eric Norwood; Late: Roderick Muckleroy/AJ Edds/Rahim Alem.)

4. MLB/ILB
- Depending upon your view of Jovan Belcher and Derrick Johnson, both of these positions could be an immediate upgrade or don't need to be addressed. Belcher, when given the minutes later in the season, played very well for a rookie out of a small college at the MLB spot. Hits hard and was around the ball. The guy has a a lot of upside and the coaches like him. Johnson is an enigma. He could be the best ILB in the league and showed why in the Denver game. He also doesn't show up for games or seems disinterested for long periods of time. He's prototype for an ILB in a 3-4 with excellent ball skills, big, bone jarring hits and superb speed. This position alone come draft time is going to make Pioli and Haley lose hair and gain facial wrinkles. Chiefs have the potential to be very good and the potential to be bad.

But I was less pleased with the offensive line. They were unquestionably the worst OL unit in the NFL last season. It's a position that has been severely neglected over the past decade, and it shows on the field. If Okung is off the board, then I really don't care who they pick in the first round - hopefully it's Berry or Bryant. I think that Dan Williams is a bit of a reach at the five spot, even more than Tyson Jackson was last year. He's a one year wonder that had a very good senior bowl. I'm a bit leary of picking a guy like that in the top five, and think that you can get a run stuffer of similar capabilities like Cam Thomas or Terrance Cody in the second and beyond. (I'd love to see them throw a free agent tender at a guy like Kade Weston if he doesn't get picked.)

I can't see how the Chiefs don't come away with at least three new linemen out of this draft. Starting Center, Guard and, at the very least, a new Right Tackle.

[B_Ambuehl]

The nose tackle position is going to suck next year again regardless of who we draft. It takes rookie tackles at least a year to become decent at best. That's why teams are scared of Cody. Yeah he looked good in college but, like all the other rookie DTs, he'll have to improve to even be a contributor in the NFL and lazy people rarely improve. But anyway, this football team should've picked up either Justin Bannan or Jamal Williams to man the spot for at least a year while they let a rookie develop physically. It was stupid to not even give those guys a look.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by B_Ambuehl

The nose tackle position is going to suck next year again regardless of who we draft. It takes rookie tackles at least a year to become decent at best. That's why teams are scared of Cody. Yeah he looked good in college but, like all the other rookie DTs, he'll have to improve to even be a contributor in the NFL and lazy people rarely improve. But anyway, this football team should've picked up either Justin Bannan or Jamal Williams to man the spot for at least a year while they let a rookie develop physically. It was stupid to not even give those guys a look.

They signed Shaun Smith.

[B_Ambuehl]

Has he ever played the nose in a 3-4? IIRC he played a 5 technique with Cleveland and was in a 4-3 with cincinnati and detroit.

[Ralphy Boy]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

We have two top five picks playing on the defensive line. That's two out of three positions being manned by top five picks.

And you think it's imperative that we spend another top five pick on the defensive line because it's been neglected? Because it's thin without any talent? After spending two top five picks on that positin over the past two years?

That our offensive line has more potential than that? Because we've spent a grand total of ONE pick in the first three rounds on the offensive line over the last TEN years?

You have got to be kidding, right?

Chill out dude. I told him to pick his poison. Pioli has spent a lot less 1st rounders on O-line (1) than he has D-line (4). The odds are pretty good.