"The way it looks now back-up Geoff Schwartz ... will likely sign elsewhere."

[Direckshun]

So says the guy who runs draftinsider.net, Tony Pauline, talking to people all week at the Combine:

Kansas City Chiefs:

I'm told Branden Albert may not be the only veteran offensive lineman out the door in Kansas City. The way it looks now back-up Geoff Schwartz, who received heavy interest at the combine, will likely sign elsewhere.

Follow Tony Pauline @TonyPauline.

He's also reporting the rumor that the Raiders want to try to re-sign McFadden, but they are unlikely to pull it off.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by scott free

Tannehill is a definite sleeper, considering the internal tumult of last year I'd say he did a very admirable job of keeping things together... just because he wasnt an INSTANT superstar doesn't mean he wont be great.

In many ways, he's a lot like Alex Smith IMO... very efficient with whats given to him talentwise and able to keep the wolves at bay in the lockerroom through steady leadership.

Not an instant eye catcher, but one of those guys who can really grow on you.

I agree.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

I agree.

The guy had horrible, Horrible o line play to boot.

I think he will be fine.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

As for all of those people advocating going with journeymen OL players and low round picks. You really trust this line:

Stephenson/Fisher - Allen - Hudson - (journeyman/Watkins/Johnson/etc) - Fisher/Stephenson

To hold up against:

SF:

A. Smith - J. Smith - McDonald - Brooks

Seattle:

Irvin/Clemons/Avril - Mebane - McDaniels - Bennett

Arizona: (With Washington blitzing in the middle)

Acho - Campbell - Williams - Docket - Okafor

St. Louis:

Quinn - Brockers - Langford - Long


And I haven't even mentioned the Jets and their tremendous front 7 yet. You've gotta be kidding me if you think that we'll be ok with what's currently on the roster or with just getting a late round player to start or even any of our depth guys. If we don't have good players in place on the OL, don't expect us to get out of their with Alex Smith's health intact.

How many Guards do you see go as top 20 picks?

Kush and Hudson compete for Center. Hudson, Allen, Watkins compete for Guard. And plenty of opportunities in the draft, free agency, and scrap cuts to find more competition.

No, I'm not worried. I worry more about finding playmakers than I am a ****ing Guard.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

How many Guards do you see go as top 20 picks?

Kush and Hudson compete for Center. Hudson, Allen, Watkins compete for Guard. And plenty of opportunities in the draft, free agency, and scrap cuts to find more competition.

No, I'm not worried. I worry more about finding playmakers than I am a ****ing Guard.

Yeah, and how did those "playmakers" work out for Manning in the Superbowl?

How did Randy Moss work out for Tom Brady against the Giants?

How did that work out for Drew Brees and the High Flying Saints against the dominant front 7s that they faced?

How has that worked out for Stafford with Calvin Johnson?

Aaron Rodgers and his dynamic Packers?

Yeah, you don't need a dominant OL to succeed at all in this league. Just playmakers.

If you understood football, you would know that the game is won and lost in the trenches.

[JohnnyHammersticks]

We need some stability on our o-line. A leader we can count on to keep an even keel under pressure. A quiet leader who lets his play do the talking. Somebody like this guy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW9C4qi5Y80

[RippedmyFlesh]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

Yeah, you don't need a dominant OL to succeed at all in this league. Just playmakers.

If you understood football, you would know that the game is won and lost in the trenches.

If you don't think a great qb doesn't make his line better I just don't know what to say. You keep saying more time. I say separation so you don't need as much time because we know Alex can be conservative. Seattle has the best secondary in football so that is why they could stop them. The pocket broke down because guys weren't open in 2 seconds like they had been all year for them.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by RippedmyFlesh

If you don't think a great qb doesn't make his line better I just don't know what to say. You keep saying more time. I say separation so you don't need as much time because we know Alex can be conservative. Seattle has the best secondary in football so that is why they could stop them. The pocket broke down because guys weren't open in 2 seconds like they had been all year for them.

Again, Tom Brady vs the Giants. Everyone agrees that he is an Elite QB, correct?

Giants secondary was nowhere near dominant in those Superbowl games. Brady had elite talents to work with on the perimeter. Yet the Patriots still couldn't win because they got dominated in the trenches.

There is a limit to how much better a QB can make his OL look. There are only so many times that Smith can escape from a defender in the backfield and make plays with his legs or buy time by moving the pocket. There are ways to scheme players open, but the only way to help against a pass rush is to keep extra guys in, which means less targets and weapons for Smith to work with.

A dominant OL makes everything better because it helps in both the run and pass game. If you don't have a good OL, Charles becomes less of a threat. If Charles is less of a threat, teams can drop more guys into coverage and shut our offense down. A dominant OL gives our WRs time to get open no matter how average they may be and it keeps our QB healthy.

The only time that you should draft a WR in the first is if:

A) You are set at OL with at least solid starters across the board.

B) You are set in your front 7 defensively.

C) a true potential #1 WR falls to you that you just can't pass on.

It's like you guys are all Matt Millens in here, lol.

[RippedmyFlesh]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

C) a true potential #1 WR falls to you that you just can't pass on.

It's like you guys are all Matt Millens in here, lol.

With this draft at wr and safe to say prob 3 qb's picked in the 1st round this year that could very well happen. And he would be cheap for a bit while Bowe is expensive. If you add a wr of Bowe quality or better that will help Alex more than a fricking guard.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

Yeah, and how did those "playmakers" work out for Manning in the Superbowl?

How did Randy Moss work out for Tom Brady against the Giants?

How did that work out for Drew Brees and the High Flying Saints against the dominant front 7s that they faced?

How has that worked out for Stafford with Calvin Johnson?

Aaron Rodgers and his dynamic Packers?

Yeah, you don't need a dominant OL to succeed at all in this league. Just playmakers.

If you understood football, you would know that the game is won and lost in the trenches.

You're conflating high picks with success. More lower round picks become excellent starters on the offensive line than at any other position. Let's not forget that there's still a bust rate to consider when it comes to offensive line, and Andy Reid has taken his team there on more than one occasion. Or have you already forgotten the moldy diarrhea-crusted abortion that was Eric Fisher's rookie season? You know, the 1.1 offensive line pick that nearly ended Alex Smith's career?

An offensive line is partly finding good players. That's an element, yes. But there's an additional element, and that's chemistry. It's crucial for the line to play as a unit more than any other position group.

And constantly ****ing around, drafting offensive line high to replace previous high pick offensive linemen out on their 2nd contracts is stupid. In other words, once you have a guy who plays well, keep him.

This offensive line played well enough at the end of last season to be great. Albert can't be helped, but by keeping Stephenson and at least Asamoah or Schwartz, we'd be going a long way to keeping the chemistry together.

[RippedmyFlesh]

I just don't understand not keeping Schwartz.The line as a whole played better with him on the field. A rookie isn't going to be better next year but there are WR's out there easily better than anyone not named Bowe.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by RippedmyFlesh

I just don't understand not keeping Schwartz.The line as a whole played better with him on the field. A rookie isn't going to be better next year but there are WR's out there easily better than anyone not named Bowe.

We can't afford him apparently, not if we want to have room to accomplish stuff like extensions for Smith, Houston, etc. while filling other holes and still having enough room to sign our draft picks.

[RippedmyFlesh]

Stephenson,Fischer,Hudson,Allen Draft a ol in 4th or 5th round and have Kush, Watkins, Rishaw,Rookie, compete for 1 spot basically. I don't think it's a stretch that 1 in that group could emerge as a starter.

[RippedmyFlesh]

This is my argument Old School Sacc loves him some OLineman and I respect his knowledge. When he says Beckham if he's there is the pick from someone who loves OL as much as Sacc then that's the direction to go in. If any one would advocate for a 1st round lineman it would be Sacc and he isn't. Fischer from what everyone says will gain 15 lbs and be better. Stephenson will get better because he is still young and we have seen him improve. Hudson should get better esp if kush steps it up and he can move to guard.
Bottom line I just don't think the OL is in as much peril as you believe it to be.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by RippedmyFlesh

This is my argument Old School Sacc loves him some OLineman and I respect his knowledge. When he says Beckham if he's there is the pick from someone who loves OL as much as Sacc then that's the direction to go in. If any one would advocate for a 1st round lineman it would be Sacc and he isn't. Fischer from what everyone says will gain 15 lbs and be better. Stephenson will get better because he is still young and we have seen him improve. Hudson should get better esp if kush steps it up and he can move to guard.
Bottom line I just don't think the OL is in as much peril as you believe it to be.

The OL wasn't that great to begin with even with Schwartz and Albert in the picture, and now we are losing them both.

That's cause for some worry.

[RippedmyFlesh]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

The OL wasn't that great to begin with even with Schwartz and Albert in the picture, and now we are losing them both.

That's cause for some worry.

It's also a matter of $ too. Macklin just signed for 6M. granted it's only 1 year but still. Twice as much as an interior lineman. Macklin is a #2 and he got 6M. If you can get a rookie as good or better than him which we can at 23 you jump on him. The only justification for picking a lineman 1st round is if you need a left tackle. We don't that's why we don't have to over pay Albert and why he will prob walk.