My official endorsement for the 21st overall pick.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

It's not that we don't need help at that position, it's that we need depth at that position. Studebaker, while not a world beater, held his own when he was on the field. And he's shown he can cover. Houston has not and it's questionable if he will be able to do so, especially at the NFL level. And he definitely won't at 270 lbs.

I don't see how the Chiefs can draft a project at that position (and Houston will be a project as he's never been asked to do anything other than rush the passer from a three point stance) when there are bigger holes on the roster.

If a guy like Reed or Acho is there in the second, or Herzlich in the fourth (who, if he checks out medically, is prototype for the strong side OLB spot) or Keiser (who played a OLB in a 3-4 for Stanford this past season) in the fifth, then sure, but the first rounder needs to plug a gap where we have a real need. OT, NT, WR, C all have priority over drafting a guy who looks to be the same type of player as Hali is, without the proven track record of what Hali has accomplished in the NFL.

I don't want Hali on the strong side. I definitely don't want Houston on the strong side as a 3-4 OLB. And I don't think that Houston wants to do anything other than rush the passer, which is why he showed up at 270 lbs. You go to the combine with a specific agenda. If he wanted to show 3-4 teams he could be a standup OLB, he would have came in a 250/255. The guy obviously wants to be a designated pass rusher in a 4-3. And I don't blame him. It's what he's done his entire college career.

Another great post. Some great points.

First of all, let me agree with you that he's not going to be in a Chiefs uniform, much as it breaks my heart (I felt the same way about my #2 and my #3 preferences last year, Clausen and Spiller). Houston's weight gain, even if it is muscle, is certainly a red flag to Pioli. It shows a degree of inconsistency, and while Crennel and Haley could likely pound the guy back to the 255 range if they had to, Pioli wants a guy you don't have to pound, Pioli wants a guy who pounds himself.

Er... you know what I mean.

Three quick points where we disagree:

1. As I detailed in my OP as to the importance of OLB, you truly need worldbeaters at the OLB position. It's that important. You can't have a great defense with just one world-beating passrusher anymore than you can have a great offense with a mediocre QB.

2. I have to go with Claythan on this issue with Stude. You know I love Stude, but he's a backup. He comes in spot situations, gives you the occasional rush, drops into coverage some, ****s up shit on special teams. He's not somebody who's going to give you much in passrushing, and he's definitely not somebody the defense has to adjust for. Just roll your fullback out to take him on and you're fine 90% of the time. Meanwhile, you can concentrate on where Hali is and double- and triple-team Dorsey.

Putting another blue chip at the position makes everybody else on the defense play far more impressively.

3. Every passrusher is a project when you line up a 3-4 defense. There is no such thing as a readymade 3-4 OLB prospect in the NFL. Houston is far more geared with the format than 99% of the passrushers in this draft. I'll take those odds.

By the way...

I like Acho and really like Reed. Neither will last until our second. And everybody else you mentioned is a backup at the NFL level.

If you want a stud starter at OLB, you must drop a 1st for one.