Pioli drafts for need.

[Direckshun]

I took some time this afternoon to run all four first-rounders through a common metric to see if there's any connection I could draw.

2009: DE Tyson Jackson, LSU
2010: SS Eric Berry, Tennessee
2011: WR Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh
2012: NT Dontari Poe, Memphis

Turns out there really isn't a connective tissue between the four. It's crazy that one guy drafted all four of them.

Character flags:

Yes: Baldwin (diva), Poe (motor)
No: Jackson, Berry

In need of development:

None: Berry
Some: Jackson
Lots: Baldwin
Complete: Poe

Positional value:

High: Jackson, Baldwin, Poe
Medium: Berry

Draft's depth at the position:

Deep: Berry, Baldwin
Shallow: Jackson, Poe

Boom-bust?

Nope: Berry, Jackson
Yes: Poe, Baldwin

Out of every single line I could draw, I could only draw two:

1. The Chiefs tend to avoid injury-concern players in the first round. (But even this is unlikely because they liked Barron.)
2. The Chiefs have a desperate need at the drafted position each year.

DE was the team's #1 need in 2009. Safety was among the team's top needs in 2010. WR was perhaps the top need in 2011, and NT was the top need this year.

I think Pioli may just be a needs-first drafter, at least in the first round.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

He was a rookie. They don't want to play them if they don't have to.

Nonsense. They didn't luck into Gregg until after the draft. When he was drafted and in mini-camp etc., it looked like Powe was the guy to play a significant roll at NT.

Even when they signed Gregg, they had to know that he was a stop-gap. It doesn't make sense not to give Powe some snaps last year. They lost 5 games by 20+ points, put him in.

[Bump]

well to be fair, Eric Berry was the pick we all wanted and it was the correct pick for any team at #5.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Nonsense. They didn't luck into Gregg until after the draft. When he was drafted and in mini-camp etc., it looked like Powe was the guy to play a significant roll at NT.

Even when they signed Gregg, they had to know that he was a stop-gap. It doesn't make sense not to give Powe some snaps last year. They lost 5 games by 20+ points, put him in.

It didn't make sense to not give Stanzi snaps either. They didn't play Hudson until they had no choice due to injury.

There was no reason (in their mind) to put Powe on the field.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

It didn't make sense to not give Stanzi snaps either. They didn't play Hudson until they had no choice due to injury.

There was no reason (in their mind) to put Powe on the field.

From recent quotes by RAC (before the draft), it sounded like Powe didn't know enough of the defense due to no offseason. They probably figured that with Gregg and Gordon, they had enough veteran presence that they didn't have to rush him in.

[philfree]

All teams draft for need. They set their draft boards based on player ability + need. If a 280 lb 4-3 DE is the best player in the whole draft he still wouldn't be at the top of our draft board because we don't need a 4-3 end.

[JohnnyV13]

With respect to Powe, I think the big reason is not only was there no offseason, the dude is learning disabled.

Do you really want to try to force feed a guy that will struggle to digest the playbook, when he doesn't even have a full training camp? You'd be setting him up to fail. Instead, they put him in the weight room and let him sit in a year of meetings before expecting him to play. I think it makes perfect sense.

With respect to Poe, I think they looked at him and saw a guy that played too many snaps and too many positions. The biggest scouting report flaw I read about him is that he tends to "stand up" after contact, which destroys his leverage. He also has no real developed pash rush moves other than the bull rush.

His biggest asset is that he actually gets off the ball quickly and his over all athleticism for a guy his size.

Well, fatigue is a big reason a lineman tends to stand up, because when your legs are gone its hard to bend you knees to keep low and still maintain your power (rather than bending at the waist to get your upper body low, which also gives you no power).

But, the guy went hard for way too many snaps and was moved around the defenses in college. He's also clearly worked his ass off in the weight room. If he truly had substandard coaching, perhaps the Chiefs could have concluded they will get much better results with their top level coaching since the guy seems willing to work. Second, the Chiefs are likely to liberally substitute Powe to keep both big guys fresh.

I'm not trying to polish their knob, I'm just trying to see how a smart decision maker could have gone after Poe.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by JohnnyV13

the dude is learning disabled.

Oh really is it called Powetistic, or Powetism, Powelexia.

[whoman69]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Nonsense. They didn't luck into Gregg until after the draft. When he was drafted and in mini-camp etc., it looked like Powe was the guy to play a significant roll at NT.

Even when they signed Gregg, they had to know that he was a stop-gap. It doesn't make sense not to give Powe some snaps last year. They lost 5 games by 20+ points, put him in.

They had a 45 man roster to work with. If you have a player on there whom you plan on going in only if its a blow out, you're not planning very well to use your roster.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

You knew the rationalization was coming.

Very few wanted this kid before the draft, now people think he's a great pick.

People are already setting it up for when he sucks his first year (or two or three) they can break out the "of course he was going to suck his first year" argument.

He'll get a ridiculously long leash for no other reason than who drafted him.

I don't like the pick, and will be surprised if he ever lives up to his (immense) potential.

The real problem is that the "first year or two" excuse will be legitimate.

I'm with nj, though, and have said before, that I believe Powe will be the starter to start the season, and actually have high hope for him.

It will be difficult for Poe, even if he does show some of that promise, to root Powe out of the starting lineup, if he plays as well as I believe he can.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by milkman

I don't like the pick, and will be surprised if he ever lives up to his (immense) potential.

The real problem is that the "first year or two" excuse will be legitimate.

I'm with nj, though, and have said before, that I believe Powe will be the starter to start the season, and actually have high hope for him.

It will be difficult for Poe, even if he does show some of that promise, to root Powe out of the starting lineup, if he plays as well as I believe he can.

I totally agree...there was a groupe of us that thought Powe was a borderline 2nd/3rd round quality player in that draft that has a pretty nice sized upside.

It's gonna be nice to be able to call in the Powe Poe on opowesing offenses in coming years.

I wonder if Kelly Gregg signs anywhere...Romeo had mentioned that he wanted to play next year and if that's true, I don't see where he fits in KC.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I totally agree...there was a groupe of us that thought Powe was a borderline 2nd/3rd round quality player in that draft that has a pretty nice sized upside.

It's gonna be nice to be able to call in the Powe Poe on opowesing offenses in coming years.

I wonder if Kelly Gregg signs anywhere...Romeo had mentioned that he wanted to play next year and if that's true, I don't see where he fits in KC.

If I already didn't like the Poe selection, this "Powe Poe" play on the names would turn me.

It really is seriously stupid.

[philfree]

Originally Posted by milkman

If I already didn't like the Poe selection, this "Powe Poe" play on the names would turn me.

It really is seriously stupid.

So how's Powe looking? Except for the the three guys returning from blown ACLs I haven't seen any reports of what kind of shape the players showed up in. Did Powe show up in shape or did he balloon to 400lbs in his first offseason? I'll bode well for him if he's in shape and ready to go.

[BossChief]

There was a report that quoted Romeo saying that Powe is in great shape.

[philfree]

Originally Posted by BossChief

There was a report that quoted Romeo saying that Powe is in great shape.

Oh. Cool.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by philfree

So how's Powe looking? Except for the the three guys returning from blown ACLs I haven't seen any reports of what kind of shape the players showed up in. Did Powe show up in shape or did he balloon to 400lbs in his first offseason? I'll bode well for him if he's in shape and ready to go.

I seem to recall a report about a month ago, when the players showed up for off season conditioning, that the Chiefs were pretty pleased with the shape that Powe showed up in.