Teicher: Tackle crop not as strong if Chiefs go that direction

[Tribal Warfare]

Tackle crop not as strong if Chiefs go that direction
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

If the Chiefs are looking to improve at offensive tackle — and they don’t seem thrilled with either of their two current starters — they should have shopped the draft last year. Then, plenty of top prospects were available.

The task would be more difficult this year, if it’s what the Chiefs choose to do.

“It’s really a class that lacks an elite superstar,” Pro Football Weekly draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki said. “Physically, the guy that has the most talent in this class is Tyron Smith, but there are a lot of concerns. He played at only 280 pounds at USC and he had a lot of trouble grasping the playbook. Guys that make a lot of mental errors and miss assignments, it’s a problem on the offensive line.

“Whether he’s the most sound pro, I have serious reservations. There are guys who are a little bit (safer), more sound, more consistent.”

Compare that to last year, when top prospects such as Russell Okung, Anthony Davis and Bryan Bulaga were available to the Chiefs with their first pick.

“I think last year’s tackles were better,” NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. “It was a better class.”

The Chiefs have Branden Albert at left tackle and Barry Richardson on the right side. Neither has established himself as a quality starter. The current administration of general manager Scott Pioli and coach Todd Haley inherited both players. Haley recently gave Albert a less than resounding vote of confidence when he said Albert would be the starter again at left tackle “as long as he’s the best one.”

But, looking at how Pioli drafted with the Patriots and now with the Chiefs, he seems to believe tackles can be found in lower rounds.

“If you look at the history of New England and how they’ve built their roster, they just in general have not drafted tackles very highly,” Nawrocki said. “Bill Belichick has been able to conceal the shortcomings with his edge blockers by providing a lot of (help from backs and tight ends). It’s just the way they scheme them.

“One thing that’s very clear is that there’s a need. I thought they should have addressed it last year in the draft. I think Barry Richardson has been a solid guy. I think he’s very committed. He’s not great and wasn’t drafted highly and may not have a big name but he’s been a solid player and I think they feel fairly comfortable with him there.

“They trust (Albert) on that left side. The issues have been more about being able to control his weight and staying disciplined than any issue about the talent. I think they feel comfortable there. Could they draft a tackle? Absolutely. It’s all going to be a function of what type of talent is available on the board at the time they come up.”

After USC’s Smith, who will probably be gone by the time the Chiefs make the 21st overall pick, the top tackles in the draft include Boston College’s Anthony Castonzo, Colorado’s Nate Solder and Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi.

“(This year) you can pick apart some of their games,” Mayock said. “Costanzo to me is the next logical guy. Some teams think he’s a right tackle and some teams think he can make it on the left side. …

“Carimi is not a great athlete. He’s a technician and a tough guy. He’s a right tackle and maybe a guard.”

[Bewbies]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Oh noes! Not the dreaded CP moron insult of "you don't watch games."

First off, you don't have a clue as to what I watch, so, just by stating that, you are making yourself out to be an ignorant jackass.

Second, like I said, it has become sacrilege to even question the deity status of Eric Berry here on the Chiefs Planet. God (Berry) forgive me that I actually compared his play to that of another rookie who plays the exact same position in a similar scheme. That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Yowser!

Third, if you watched the games yourself, you'd be aware of the fact that Berry accumulated pretty damn good statistics that belied his actual on-the-field performance for the vast majority of the year.

As one of the other idiots so conveniently pointed out, Berry's stats were quite similar to Brown's stats. In fact, Berry was giving up more touchdowns than Brown, particularly in the passing game, where he was consistently out of position. However, Brown was crucified for it, whereas Berry has been deified.

Berry ended up being a third linebacker for the majority of the season because of his inability to correctly read and adjust to the passing game, accumulating much of his tackles playing up on the run behind Belcher. (Probably most due to the fact that they used Belcher to actively engage guards as our NT and RDE struggled to do so consistently against better offensive lines.)

And that's not necessarily a bad thing to have a rookie strong safety do when a team is weak along the defensive line, but particularly strong at the cornerback position.

But to actively bitch about a comparison between Berry and Ward, when they played almost identical roles is, in a word, stupid. But then, seeing the guys who are bitching about such a comparison...well, they aren't the most, um, savvy lot around here.

GENIOUS!!

[JohnnyV13]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

And?

I simply said that Ward had as good a season as Berry, and it could be argued that he had an even better season. He finished the year with 31 more tackles, one more tackle for loss, one more block, one more pass defended and two less interceptions than Berry.

And in 2009, the Chiefs were in the bottom five in passer rating against when blitzing a defensive back.

Last year, the Chiefs had the best pass defense in the league when blitzing a D back.

Guess Eric Berry didn't have anything to do with that drastic improvement.

[ChiefMojo]

One thing about drafting someone like Carimi or Solder at #21 is that you can move Richardson inside to a starting G spot in the very near future. Not only that, but you have a quality swing OT if either Albert or lets say Carimi went down.

Waters, Wiegmann and to an extent Lilja aren't going to be playing forever.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by JohnnyV13

And in 2009, the Chiefs were in the bottom five in passer rating against when blitzing a defensive back.

Last year, the Chiefs had the best pass defense in the league when blitzing a D back.

Guess Eric Berry didn't have anything to do with that drastic improvement.

...or the improved run defense. He might be the only person alive besides TJ Ward and his family that thinks the guy is in Berry's league as far as football instincts and talent.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by JohnnyV13

And in 2009, the Chiefs were in the bottom five in passer rating against when blitzing a defensive back.

Last year, the Chiefs had the best pass defense in the league when blitzing a D back.

Guess Eric Berry didn't have anything to do with that drastic improvement.

I'd say it was substantially more due to Crennel's scheme than Eric Berry or Javier Arenas' (who was very successful in both college and his rookie year at blitzing - 3 sacks in 2010) individual efforts. Although, having superb athletes who are effective blitzers from the defensive backfield helps.

[Rams Fan]

Okung wasn't even the best tackle in the 2010 draft, if you compare his statistics to other rookie tackles that is.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Okung wasn't even the best tackle in the 2010 draft, if you compare his statistics to other rookie tackles that is.

Okay...

And?

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Okay...

And?

Would you have rather had the Chiefs taken an OL besides Bulaga or Okung?

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by PGM

...or the improved run defense. He might be the only person alive besides TJ Ward and his family that thinks the guy is in Berry's league as far as football instincts and talent.

So, the improved run defense is a key factor?

Comparing KC's run defense to Cleveland's:

2009:
KC:
YPA: 4.7
TDs: 18
1st Down% on rushes: 23.0

Cleveland:
YPA: 4.6
TDs: 15
1st%: 23.7

2010:
KC:
YPA: 4.3
TDs: 11
1st%: 21.6

Clev:
YPA: 4.1
TDs: 7
1st%: 20.2

Yikes! It seems that Cleveland actually had better improvements in their rush defense than Kansas City did. But I'm sure that has nothing to do with Ward's play. Although, you did infer that it was Berry who was responsible for KC's increased run defense numbers...hmmmmm.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Bewbies

I don't think either of our OT's are All-World or anything, but the biggest problem on our O-line is our QB.

I would disagree that the biggest problem with our o-line was Cassel. That was true to a degree in '09, but I thought he improved more than probably any of us could have imagined in terms of getting the ball out. The problems were pressure up the middle and what looked like completely whiffed (or misread) blocking assignments at pretty much every spot on the line. There would be plays, and this happened all season, but particularly late, where defenders would arrive literally a fraction of a second behind the snap. That's not something you lay on the QB. Yes, he did have his moments, but it was not 2009 where he was getting himself sacked. And I think the numbers bear that out (26...).

I've said this until I'm blue in the face, but I think Wiegmann's where we need to look. He's a great guy, and he's had a great career, but he wasn't the same player late in the year, whether it was his weight (which supposedly drops into the 260's or 270's as the season wears on) or his age. It didn't show as much in the run game, but when we had to pass...

JMO of course.

And this is in no way saying Cassel is great or that he doesn't have other issues.

Not sure how I feel about Muir, either. I'm not sold on the line coaching, but I wouldn't pretend to be anything even approaching an expert.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Would you have rather had the Chiefs taken an OL besides Bulaga or Okung?

In the first round?

No.

[Saccopoo]

[Ebolapox]

jesus ****ing christ, it never ends. we get a gift from god and you question it? ****, man.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by ChiefMojo

One thing about drafting someone like Carimi or Solder at #21 is that you can move Richardson inside to a starting G spot in the very near future. Not only that, but you have a quality swing OT if either Albert or lets say Carimi went down.

Waters, Wiegmann and to an extent Lilja aren't going to be playing forever.

This year we need a B-B+ type of OL from somewhere FA or the draft. If not the OL will be a debacle next year.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

There is no point in extending this discussion any further. You can not be reasoned with in your crusade to vindicate your obsession with Okung 1 year ago. It's sad that this is still going on.