KC Star Teicher: The plan for the draft

[BigRedChief]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/589398.html

One potential plan to draft a better Chiefs squad



By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Thanks in part to the bounty of picks they received from Minnesota in the Jared Allen trade, the Chiefs are now the players in this weekend’s NFL draft.

They are one of only two teams with two first-round draft picks; and the Chiefs, with the fifth and 17th picks, will have selected twice by the time Dallas makes the first of its two choices.

The Chiefs also have six of the first 82 picks, meaning they could fill most of their remaining lineup holes and recover quickly from their disastrous 2007 season.

But they can do that only by executing a smart strategy. Here is one such plan:

•First round, fifth pick: Boise State offensive tackle Ryan Clady
Now that they’ve traded Jared Allen, the Chiefs have no more pressing need than to fill his considerable hole at defensive end. Virginia’s Chris Long is the most logical choice.

“If they can pick up Chris Long, if he falls to them, that would be an amazing steal,” said Matt Miller, who operates an Internet draft Web site at www.newerascouting.com. “He has All-Pro potential. He plays very well against the run. He’s a high-character guy. He’s basically Jared Allen without all of the offseason problems.”

The problem with Long is he probably will be gone by the time the Chiefs get their chance. Ohio State’s Vernon Gholston is a possibility, but his addition would give the Chiefs two undersized defensive ends, Tamba Hali being the other.

“I don’t know that Gholston fits with what they’ve got going on,” Miller said. “With Hali on the other side, they need someone who can stand up at the point of attack and stop the run. Their linebackers are athletic guys, not big run stoppers.”
That’s why Clady might make the most sense. He played only three seasons in college, so he will inevitably face a break-in period. But he would be a more logical choice than Virginia’s Branden Albert, who played mostly guard in college.

“If the Chiefs wait until the 17th pick to get a tackle, they could get someone like (Vanderbilt’s) Chris Williams or (Pittsburgh’s) Jeff Otah, but there’s quite a bit of a dropoff there from Clady,” Miller said. “They’re probably better off getting the tackle first.”

•First round, 17th pick: Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey
At 262 pounds, Harvey isn’t much bigger than Gholston. But he could play bigger without losing any of his quickness.

“Derrick Harvey out of Florida in his sophomore year was one of the best defensive ends in the country,” Miller said. “He was just amazing. He’s a good athlete as well, but he’s stronger than Gholston and bigger, so he’s going to hold up better against the run.”

•Second round, 35th pick: Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib
The Chiefs wanted a cornerback early in last year’s draft but moved on to other needs. They can’t afford to make that mistake again. They not only must draft a cornerback early, but they must take one capable of taking the departed Ty Law’s starting spot as well.

There will be cornerbacks available here who would arrive better suited to being an immediate starter. But none would have the long-range potential as Talib.
“Talib’s not that great in (man-to-man) coverage,” Miller said. “He’s had some problems with that. I’m not sure how he would transition to the cover-2 defense that the Chiefs play. But he’s such an
athlete. He can start as a rookie and help on special teams, too.”

•Third round, 66th pick: Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge
The Chiefs would like a safety net at quarterback in case Brodie Croyle fails. After filling the most pressing of needs, it’s time to get one.
Ainge compares to Croyle in some ways. He doesn’t quite have Croyle’s ability to make all of the throws, but he is bigger and stronger and better suited to handle the rigors of the position.

“Erik Ainge is probably still going to be around at this pick,” Miller said. “He had a very good college career, and a lot of people are overlooking him. With three picks in the third round, it would be smart for the Chiefs to get their quarterback here.”

•Third round, 73rd pick: Kansas State wide receiver Jordy Nelson
Nelson isn’t very fast, but the Chiefs signed Devard Darling to be their speed receiver. Nelson, at 6 feet 2 and 213 pounds, has the size Herm Edwards is looking for at receiver. Edwards likes bigger receivers for their ability to beat the bump off the line of scrimmage and their ability to go up and get balls in a crowd, much as Dwayne Bowe did repeatedly last season.

Nelson also has the bonus of being able to step in as the kickoff and punt returner.
“There are a lot of receivers in the third round who can step in and be starters right away,” Miller said. “Andre Caldwell of Florida. Keenan Burton of Kentucky. Donnie Avery from Houston. If they can find any of those guys at 73, they would make a good choice.

“But I think Jordy Nelson makes the most sense. He would be hard to pass over if he’s still on the board. He’s one of those guys who loves to play football. You can tell by watching him. Nelson would be a true No. 2 receiver, which is something the Chiefs need. A lot of these other guys are probably going to project as slot receivers.”

•Third round, 82nd pick: USC guard Drew Radovich
Having been a starter in a premier college program, Radovich could be the starting right guard on opening day.
That would give the Chiefs a starting line of Clady at left tackle, Damion McIntosh at right tackle, Radovich and Brian Waters at guard, and Wade Smith or Rudy Niswanger at center
.
Maybe not the same as when the Chiefs used three Pro Bowlers on their line, but a vast improvement over last season and possessing the ability to get better as the season goes on.

[BigRedChief]

Pathetic. Clady at #5? Ainge at that spot? Jordy and Talib will be gone way before this pick in his plan.

[cdcox]

Worst picks ever. Looks about right.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Leave it to Teicher to print the worst possible mock for the Chiefs.

A reach @ 5.

Bitching about taking an undersized DE in Gholston, then does the EXACT same thing in taking HARVEY, who are BOTH the same size as Jared Allen.

Homer pick in the 2nd.

TERRIBLE pick in the 3rd in Ainge. Either take a QB at 5/17/35 or don't bother.

Another great white hope homer pick in Nelson. At least he'll enjoy running circles around Talib in practice.

Radovich is the only decent pick, but Eric Young would look a ton better there.

[the Talking Can]

that is so ****ing stupid

holy god that sucks penis harder than goatse

[Hootie]

If we take Clady I will be very upset...unless we move down to do it...

[Sure-Oz]

I will be so pissed if we ****ing reach that high with clady with the defensive prospects available

[the Talking Can]

that's the kind of terrible, terrible draft you get when you pick for need....

i'd rather have a suspended allen then that nonsense

[evolve27]

Worse f***ing plan ever.

[Molitoth]

Horrible mock. Please god do not let this come true!

['Hamas' Jenkins]

So Teicher uses some dumb fuck who has an internet drafting site as his source, when said dumbfuck obviously doesn't understand how the draft works??

God, what a cabal of fucktards.

[siberian khatru]

That is the worst ****ing mock I've ever seen. What an absolute disgrace. Is Teicher just trying to piss everyone off?

[Hootie]

Herm and Carl know they are in deep shit with the fans...they aren't THAT stupid...I am 100% positive we take Long, Ellis, Dorsey, Gholston or move down and take Albert...I really am. You can quote me...they know they can't **** up the #5 with the state of the fan base...

[noa]

That would sure would be making chicken chit out of chicken salad.

[siberian khatru]

If the Chiefs drafted like that, I would pick up my computer and throw it through my TV screen, thus ensuring that I could not see or read about the Chiefs ever again.