Chiefs TEICHER- Chiefs draft helps, but it doesnt fill all the gaps - Page 2

C-Mac · 05-06-2008, 08:13 AM

Chiefs draft helps, but it doesnt fill all the gaps
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

The Chiefs wanted to help Brodie Croyle stay upright by fixing up their offensive line — but first-round draft pick Branden Albert is the only newcomer of impact up front.
More on the Chiefs
With every sack, every feeble rushing play, every three-and-out series, the Chiefs resolved they would take this offseason to fix their forlorn offense.

They would repair their decrepit offensive line, they would give Brodie Croyle the tools to succeed as an NFL starting quarterback, they would take some of the considerable burden off their overtaxed defense.

Despite the Chiefs’ elation over their recent 12-player draft, their efforts are coming under question.

“You can only do so much in the draft,” said former Washington and Houston general manager Charley Casserly. “It’s still a work in progress. They got better where they could get better.”

Yet it’s difficult — if not impossible — to argue the Chiefs will be better on offense. They do have some reasons for optimism. They traded an offensive coordinator learning on the job, Mike Solari, for a proven veteran, Chan Gailey.

Running back Larry Johnson won’t be a holdout again and — if the law of averages prevails — won’t miss half the season because of a foot injury. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe could be even better than he was as a rookie.

Elsewhere, the Chiefs appear held together with a lot of wishful thinking. Croyle has yet to win a game or prove he’s a high-quality NFL starter. The offensive line still has holes. The Chiefs are relying on a boost from two third-round draft picks, running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Brad Cottam.

“Can you get everything you want in the draft? No,” Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said. “But we got a lot. We got some tight ends. We think we’re better there. We’ve got another runner. The problem is they’re all young, but that’s OK.”

The offensive line, the source of many ills last year, was to be the focal point. But Branden Albert, the second of two first-round draft picks, is the only newcomer of impact.

Albert will join Brian Waters and Damion McIntosh in the starting lineup. The two other starters will come from a group of journeymen and young players that includes Wade Smith, Herb Taylor, Anthony Alabi, Adrian Jones, Rudy Niswanger and Will Svitek.

They hoped to draft several linemen but wound up with Albert and sixth-round tackle Barry Richardson.

“The best thing they did was stay disciplined in the draft,” Casserly said. “They could have gone and drafted five offensive linemen right off the bat, but if they did that, maybe four of them can’t play. What good does that do for them?

“There was an elite group of offensive linemen in the draft this year. The Chiefs got one of them. That group went faster than anybody thought. So if they would have drafted an offensive lineman in the second round, they would have been getting a third- or fourth-round offensive lineman. They didn’t do that, and they should be commended for that.”

Since late last season, the Chiefs also added Smith as a free agent and Alabi and Jones off waivers. Two of those players could wind up starting.

“It’s not like we haven’t signed some guys that are pretty decent football players,” Gailey said. “Nobody’s proven it yet, but we think they have a chance to help us.

“The one thing Herm and Carl (Peterson, president/general manager) and Bill (Kuharich, vice president of player personnel) didn’t want to do was reach for somebody just because it would have been nice to have another one.”

Bowe, meanwhile, is the Chiefs’ only proven wide receiver.

Their other receivers are Jeff Webb, free-agent addition Devard Darling, former Arena League star Bobby Sippio, Maurice Price, fourth-round pick Will Franklin, sixth-round choice Kevin Robinson and three undrafted free agents.

“Bowe had a good year last year,” Edwards said. “We’ve brought some guys in. We drafted (Will Franklin). (Maurice) Price was a young guy we had hope for last year and he got hurt. We brought in Darling. We have some guys.

“I’m comfortable with the guys we have, but we’ll continue to look. There will be some guys available June 1. If we look at these guys all through (offseason practices) and minicamp and no one has really taken that No. 2 spot and run with it, we might go and bring somebody in.”

The Chiefs have already talked about Charles being the big-play threat at running back that neither Johnson nor Kolby Smith is. They once had similar hopes for Michael Bennett, but that never materialized in large part because of their dependence on Johnson.

For now, the Chiefs sound determined to make Charles part of the plan.

“He can score from anywhere on the field,” Gailey said. “He’s got that kind of speed. And he’s better between the tackles than I think people give him credit for even though he’s only 200 pounds.”

Coogs · 05-06-2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

You got the players you wanted, now make something happen. No more excuses.

Herm or Gun?

Chief Chief · 05-06-2008, 09:48 AM

Catchy headline.

"Let's State The Obvious" for $800 please, Alex.

BigChiefFan · 05-06-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Someone's expectations are out of touch with reality.

Bullshit. I don't believe the team is ready to make a move, but Herm has had his three years, he CHOSE to stick with the vets-he even did it LAST YEAR. He's run out of excuses. He CHOSE to go this route, nobody forced his hand. He should have chosen this route three years ago. That fact that he didn't shouldn't buy him more time. In fact, quite the contrary, it should show how much he ****ed up in his first two years here. Enough of the free passes. They get PAID to a job, I'm sorry, but complete incompetence his first two years, shouldn't buy him more than this season. These are HIS players, that he CHOSE-it's time to start showing those players are worthy. Herm put himself in this mess.

**the Talking Can** · 05-06-2008, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsfan88

This is why there is a thing called FREE AGENCY that is another medium to build and improve your team. Jeff Faine and Jake Scott were YOUNG (both 27 years old) offensive linemen that were available in free agency that could have come in and immediately started on the Chiefs offensive line... instead the Chiefs decided to do nothing during free agency and rely completely on the draft, where even Herm in this article admits you can't fill all of your needs through.

I would much rather have a starting offensive line consisting of McIntosh at right tackle, Alberts at left tackle, Faine at center, Waters at left guard and Scott at right guard than the mess the Chiefs currently have now.

15 years of absolute failure built upon FA acquisitions and you still don't get it...

you True Fans are something else....

Hoover · 05-06-2008, 10:04 AM

I love how we all bitch about us not hitting on low round draft picks, but when the team actually is going to play them we all scream bloody hell because we didn't give the spot to some FA who got a bunch of cash.

I think Rudy has either the guard or center spot all wrapped up, thats why we let Wiegmann walk. There is only one real spot open on the line and we have a bunch of guys ready to fight for it. I guess the problem was if we would have drafted a guard in the 3rd he might not have won the job which would have labeled him a BUST on this board.

**DaKCMan AP** · 05-06-2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Bullshit. I don't believe the team is ready to make a move, but Herm has had his three years, he CHOSE to stick with the vets-he even did it LAST YEAR. He's run out of excuses. He CHOSE to go this route, nobody forced his hand. He should have chosen this route three years ago. That fact that he didn't shouldn't buy him more time. In fact, quite the contrary, it should show how much he ****ed up in his first two years here. Enough of the free passes. They get PAID to a job, I'm sorry, but complete incompetence his first two years, shouldn't buy him more than this season. These are HIS players, that he CHOSE-it's time to start showing those players are worthy. Herm put himself in this mess.

I think you CHOOSE to ignore the difference between evaluation of past performance and expectations for this season.

beach tribe · 05-06-2008, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Bullshit. I don't believe the team is ready to make a move, but Herm has had his three years, he CHOSE to stick with the vets-he even did it LAST YEAR. He's run out of excuses. He CHOSE to go this route, nobody forced his hand. He should have chosen this route three years ago. That fact that he didn't shouldn't buy him more time. In fact, quite the contrary, it should show how much he ****ed up in his first two years here. Enough of the free passes. They get PAID to a job, I'm sorry, but complete incompetence his first two years, shouldn't buy him more than this season. These are HIS players, that he CHOSE-it's time to start showing those players are worthy. Herm put himself in this mess.

I don't think you understand that until this 4-12 BS, Hermie was Carl's little bitch boy. Herm tattled to Clark about how Carl wouldn't let him rebuild, and Clark gave him more power realizing that a total rebuild was inevitable.

Fish · 05-06-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Bullshit. I don't believe the team is ready to make a move, but Herm has had his three years, he CHOSE to stick with the vets-he even did it LAST YEAR. He's run out of excuses. He CHOSE to go this route, nobody forced his hand. He should have chosen this route three years ago. That fact that he didn't shouldn't buy him more time. In fact, quite the contrary, it should show how much he ****ed up in his first two years here. Enough of the free passes. They get PAID to a job, I'm sorry, but complete incompetence his first two years, shouldn't buy him more than this season. These are HIS players, that he CHOSE-it's time to start showing those players are worthy. Herm put himself in this mess.

Did you actually believe that Herm would(or could) rebuild the team his first year when the GM clearly thought there was still a chance to "Win now"? Did you expect the head coach to overule the GM immediately and start making changes?

It would be totally different if we actually had started the rebuild Herm's first year.... but we didn't. We went to the playoffs his first year, and most everybody was still hanging on to a shred of hope that we were just a few pieces away from a consistent squad. Then we see on Hard Knocks that the coach wanted to start Croyle and play the young guys, but King Carl still wanted to "Win now". We had to hit rock bottom before the rebuild actually began. And we didn't hit rock bottom until halfway through last season.

Herm didn't choose shit. He slowly put himself in position to get the owner behind the rebuild and get away from Carl's Mediocrity Express, so they could actually get shit done. We're finally seeing the changes that Carl never had the balls to make. We're seeing the rebuild finally come. And I'm sorry you think it should have come 2 years ago, but it didn't. That blame is not all Herm's. Get over it!

InChiefsHeaven · 05-06-2008, 10:34 AM

Ummm...how come I keep hearing about this "easy schedule" that we have...we suck...there is no such thing as an easy schedule...

...I'm sure our opponents are all looking forward to playing us, they've already marked it as a 'W'.

Micjones · 05-06-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Predictable response from one of the biggest idiots on this board. They went after Jeff Faine. He signed elsewhere. GET OVER IT. Jake Scott was on the market for a while without garnering much interest. Hell, Indy didn't even want to resign him. But of course since the Chiefs didn't go after him he must be an all-out stud.

The fact that he wasn't retained had more to do with the contract he was after than his on-field performance. Bill Polian said the Colts organization would've welcomed him back with "open arms", but he went on to say they wouldn't be early players in free-agency.

And God knows only a stud could improve Guard play here in Kansas City.

This line would be infinitely better with a guy like Scott at Guard, but what good would that do this football team?

Micjones · 05-06-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

15 years of absolute failure built upon FA acquisitions and you still don't get it...

Free agency misses aren't what have this team in this position.
Failures through the draft are.

The best WR, QB, and RB of the last 20 years were all FREE AGENT SIGNINGS.
Roaf? Free Agent. Surtain? Free Agent. Wiegmann? Free Agent.

Stop drinking the "Free Agency is the devil" Kool-Aid.

Fish · 05-06-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Free agency misses aren't what have this team in this position.
Failures through the draft are.

The best WR, QB, and RB of the last 20 years were all FREE AGENT SIGNINGS.
Roaf? Free Agent. Surtain? Free Agent. Wiegmann? Free Agent.

Stop drinking the "Free Agency is the devil" Kool-Aid.

Those failures through the draft are directly related to the continued dependence on veteran free agents.

The fact that the best WR, QB, and RB of the last 20 years were all FREE AGENT SIGNINGS should indicate to you that there was a big flaw in the concept. That isn't the way to build a team. Not these days it isn't. It didn't work for 20 straight years, and it wasn't going to work in year 21. Why would we want to continue with a process that hasn't shown success in 2 decades?

Nobody is saying free agency is the devil. But many people are now saying that we've been misusing free agency for too long, and while it might have brought us some short-term gain this year, it will not help the future of this rebuilding franchise.

Free agency has it's place in the process. But management obviously feels that we're at a point in the process where free agency isn't going to help us rebuild. I happen to agree with them completely.

Coogs · 05-06-2008, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Free agency misses aren't what have this team in this position.
Failures through the draft are.

The best WR, QB, and RB of the last 20 years were all FREE AGENT SIGNINGS.
Roaf? Free Agent. Surtain? Free Agent. Wiegmann? Free Agent.

Stop drinking the "Free Agency is the devil" Kool-Aid.

Wiegmann was from the FA list, but didn't the rest of these guys come from trades? And that would include Green as the best QB over the past 20 years.

Micjones · 05-06-2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Those failures through the draft are directly related to the continued dependence on veteran free agents.

I disagree whole-heartedly.
The problem we have with this God awful Offensive Line exists for one reason. Drafting and missing on Defensive Linemen taken high in the draft.

The reason why we needed Dwayne Bowe? Because we hadn't made a real commitment to the Wide Receiver position in almost 10 years. His predecessor, Kennison -- the best Wide Receiver to play in Kansas City in 20 years, was in the twilight of his career. Did I mention that Kennison was a Free Agent?

Quote:

QB

Green is arguably the best QB to play in Kansas City since Len Dawson.
He was plenty good enough to have won the big game.
Do I think we need to groom our own QB? Absolutely... But don't tell me Free Agency doesn't work. It sure as hell did with Green.

Quote:

RB

A sure-fire Chiefs Ring of Fame player and the best to ever play his position for this franchise. This argument is failing you.

Quote:

That isn't the way to build a team.

The way to build a team is to have a balanced approach.
Free Agency...
NFL Draft...

Quote:

Free agency has it's place in the process. But management obviously feels that we're at a point in the process where free agency isn't going to help us rebuild. I happen to agree with them completely.

They're just scapegoating to avoid taking full blame for their own failings.
Signing young, ascending Free Agents makes sense. Especially when you're trying to rebuild.

Micjones · 05-06-2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coogs

Wiegmann was from the FA list, but didn't the rest of these guys come from trades? And that would include Green as the best QB over the past 20 years.

You've got it halfway right...
Holmes wasn't acquired through a trade.
Neither was Kennison (if memory serves).

My point is to utilize every option available. Free Agency, Trades (how nice would Vilma have been in this defense?), and the Draft.

05-06-2008, 08:13 AM
C-Mac Lurker Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wally World Casino cash: $2013699	TEICHER- Chiefs draft helps, but it doesnt fill all the gaps Chiefs draft helps, but it doesnt fill all the gaps By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star The Chiefs wanted to help Brodie Croyle stay upright by fixing up their offensive line — but first-round draft pick Branden Albert is the only newcomer of impact up front. More on the Chiefs With every sack, every feeble rushing play, every three-and-out series, the Chiefs resolved they would take this offseason to fix their forlorn offense. They would repair their decrepit offensive line, they would give Brodie Croyle the tools to succeed as an NFL starting quarterback, they would take some of the considerable burden off their overtaxed defense. Despite the Chiefs’ elation over their recent 12-player draft, their efforts are coming under question. “You can only do so much in the draft,” said former Washington and Houston general manager Charley Casserly. “It’s still a work in progress. They got better where they could get better.” Yet it’s difficult — if not impossible — to argue the Chiefs will be better on offense. They do have some reasons for optimism. They traded an offensive coordinator learning on the job, Mike Solari, for a proven veteran, Chan Gailey. Running back Larry Johnson won’t be a holdout again and — if the law of averages prevails — won’t miss half the season because of a foot injury. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe could be even better than he was as a rookie. Elsewhere, the Chiefs appear held together with a lot of wishful thinking. Croyle has yet to win a game or prove he’s a high-quality NFL starter. The offensive line still has holes. The Chiefs are relying on a boost from two third-round draft picks, running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Brad Cottam. “Can you get everything you want in the draft? No,” Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said. “But we got a lot. We got some tight ends. We think we’re better there. We’ve got another runner. The problem is they’re all young, but that’s OK.” The offensive line, the source of many ills last year, was to be the focal point. But Branden Albert, the second of two first-round draft picks, is the only newcomer of impact. Albert will join Brian Waters and Damion McIntosh in the starting lineup. The two other starters will come from a group of journeymen and young players that includes Wade Smith, Herb Taylor, Anthony Alabi, Adrian Jones, Rudy Niswanger and Will Svitek. They hoped to draft several linemen but wound up with Albert and sixth-round tackle Barry Richardson. “The best thing they did was stay disciplined in the draft,” Casserly said. “They could have gone and drafted five offensive linemen right off the bat, but if they did that, maybe four of them can’t play. What good does that do for them? “There was an elite group of offensive linemen in the draft this year. The Chiefs got one of them. That group went faster than anybody thought. So if they would have drafted an offensive lineman in the second round, they would have been getting a third- or fourth-round offensive lineman. They didn’t do that, and they should be commended for that.” Since late last season, the Chiefs also added Smith as a free agent and Alabi and Jones off waivers. Two of those players could wind up starting. “It’s not like we haven’t signed some guys that are pretty decent football players,” Gailey said. “Nobody’s proven it yet, but we think they have a chance to help us. “The one thing Herm and Carl (Peterson, president/general manager) and Bill (Kuharich, vice president of player personnel) didn’t want to do was reach for somebody just because it would have been nice to have another one.” Bowe, meanwhile, is the Chiefs’ only proven wide receiver. Their other receivers are Jeff Webb, free-agent addition Devard Darling, former Arena League star Bobby Sippio, Maurice Price, fourth-round pick Will Franklin, sixth-round choice Kevin Robinson and three undrafted free agents. “Bowe had a good year last year,” Edwards said. “We’ve brought some guys in. We drafted (Will Franklin). (Maurice) Price was a young guy we had hope for last year and he got hurt. We brought in Darling. We have some guys. “I’m comfortable with the guys we have, but we’ll continue to look. There will be some guys available June 1. If we look at these guys all through (offseason practices) and minicamp and no one has really taken that No. 2 spot and run with it, we might go and bring somebody in.” The Chiefs have already talked about Charles being the big-play threat at running back that neither Johnson nor Kolby Smith is. They once had similar hopes for Michael Bennett, but that never materialized in large part because of their dependence on Johnson. For now, the Chiefs sound determined to make Charles part of the plan. “He can score from anywhere on the field,” Gailey said. “He’s got that kind of speed. And he’s better between the tackles than I think people give him credit for even though he’s only 200 pounds.”
Posts: 5,637

05-06-2008, 09:48 AM	#17
Chief Chief Veteran Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City MO Casino cash: $10004900	Catchy headline. "Let's State The Obvious" for $800 please, Alex.
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05-06-2008, 10:04 AM	#20
Hoover Rufus Dawes Jr. Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $1328179	I love how we all bitch about us not hitting on low round draft picks, but when the team actually is going to play them we all scream bloody hell because we didn't give the spot to some FA who got a bunch of cash. I think Rudy has either the guard or center spot all wrapped up, thats why we let Wiegmann walk. There is only one real spot open on the line and we have a bunch of guys ready to fight for it. I guess the problem was if we would have drafted a guard in the 3rd he might not have won the job which would have labeled him a BUST on this board.
Posts: 17,389

05-06-2008, 10:34 AM	#24
InChiefsHeaven Rockin' yer FACE OFF! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Casino cash: $3554937	Ummm...how come I keep hearing about this "easy schedule" that we have...we suck...there is no such thing as an easy schedule... ...I'm sure our opponents are all looking forward to playing us, they've already marked it as a 'W'. __________________ We have a million reasons for failure, but not one excuse... Die Donks, DIE!! Holy Crap fellas!!! We did it!!! THREE TIMES!!!
Posts: 25,834