Luke Joeckel may pique Chiefs’ interest at No. 1 overall

[DaneMcCloud]

http://nfl.si.com/2013/01/08/luke-jo...-no-1-overall/

For as long as Luke Joeckel remains on the draft board in April, he’s likely to be seriously considered by whichever team happens to be on the clock.

The Chiefs, by virtue of holding the No. 1 overall pick, will have first crack at the standout Texas A&M offensive tackle. Joeckel finalized his plan Tuesday to enter the 2013 NFL Draft, according to multiple reports.

The 6-foot-6 Joeckel played a key role in Johnny Manziel’s sudden takeover of college football this season. Despite playing against elite SEC talent, week in and week out, Joeckel turned in a dominant 2012 and is considered to be, for now, the top available offensive lineman for the coming draft.

How strongly Kansas City leans toward Joeckel depends on a number of factors, not the least of which being Branden Albert’s pending free agency.

The Chiefs face the usual options with Albert set to hit the market: re-sign him, let him walk or slap the franchise tag on him. That third choice would cost the Chiefs just shy of $10 million, but it’s hard to see them allowing their starting left tackle to walk.

The variable that could push them toward that money-saving decision is Joeckel. If the Chiefs convince themselves in the coming couple of weeks that Joeckel is capable of filling Albert’s shoes, that swap may make sense for new head coach Andy Reid. Kansas City also might be intrigued by the prospect of Joeckel at left tackle and Albert at guard — the Chiefs need to address their interior line, too, now that guard Ryan Lilja has decided to retire.

Unfortunately for Reid and the Chiefs, the top of this year’s draft class does not have an obvious No. 1 pick — unlike the 2012 draft, where the Colts had their choice between Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. Given Kansas City’s obvious needs (quarterback, receiver and linebacker, for starters), that lack of a clear superstar has to be even more frustrating.

Which is why Joeckel has a shot to go No. 1, should Albert hit free agency and a huge K.C. roster hole suddenly meshes with the available draft talent.

Even if Joeckel slides past the Chiefs, though, he will find no shortage of teams interested in his talent — so much so, in a few cases, that the rest of the top 5 (Jacksonville, Oakland, Philadelphia and Detroit) might be able to swing a draft-day trade contingent on Joeckel’s availability.

But any of that quartet also could make a case for Joeckel early. Both the Jaguars and Raiders had huge issues at right tackle; the Eagles struggled all over their line (save for Evan Mathis), and are still awaiting Jason Peters’ return from an Achilles injury; and the Lions might be shorthanded, even with 2012 first-rounder Riley Reiff in tow, if Jeff Backus retires and Gosder Cherilus leaves in free agency.

All those teams will have to wait to see what the Chiefs do as a 2013 draft opener. Given Joeckel’s potential as an NFL lineman and the lack of elite prospects, a match could be made at No. 1 overall.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

The bottom one is what every QB coach/OC in the NFL would have him do in that position.

Sorry, but he shit his pants in that gif. There was plenty of pocket to the left, but he saw a defender come through, he got scared and dumped it off. His entire body posture and throwing motion was affected by the perceived threat of the rush and he went damn near fetal. That leads to interceptions.

I haven't seen Geno do that. Ever.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Sorry, but he shit his pants in that gif. There was plenty of pocket to the left, but he saw a defender come through, he got scared and dumped it off. His entire body posture and throwing motion was affected by the perceived threat of the rush and he went damn near fetal. That leads to interceptions.

I haven't seen Geno do that. Ever.

Get the right coach to coach some of that up. Geno Smith isn't a bad QB, I was just stating what would happen. In the NFL, that left side of the pocket isn't wide open.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Get the right coach to coach some of that up. Geno Smith isn't a bad QB, I was just stating what would happen. In the NFL, that left side of the pocket isn't wide open.

My point exactly. If Wilson is crapping himself with a guy four steps away and the entire left side of the field open, what's going to happen to this guy when he gets tatooed by some 340 lbs. animal at the next level?

Those hits he's taken (many of which are really hard, brutal shots) and the concussions have to be in the back of his mind.

He heard the steps and went quasi-fetal.

That's not a good sign.

[Al Bundy]

The clip you showed of Geno Smith there was no one near him. The bowl game for Geno bothered me big time.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Look the 2 idiots agree.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

The clip you showed of Geno Smith there was no one near him. The bowl game for Geno bothered me big time.

Other than the one where he gets his helmet tore off. There's also another good one in his sophomore year where he gets face masked hard spins and keeps going downfield.

But here's a couple of him standing in the pocket, moving with the pocket with pressure all over him:







And just how does the Bowl game bother you?

[BossChief]

McNabb wishes he had the talent of Geno.

[Bewbies]

Watching Geno gifs again has me excited for the draft...

Glad we have a front office/coaching staff that understands how important the QB is.

[The Bad Guy]

I think he'll be the top pick. Out of all the QBs, he's the cleanest.

However, why when someone cites the bowl game do Geno lovers get all bent out of shape?

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

I think he'll be the top pick. Out of all the QBs, he's the cleanest.

However, why when someone cites the bowl game do Geno lovers get all bent out of shape?

Bent out of shape about a bowl game Geno was in? Are you kidding me?:

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Bent out of shape about a bowl game Geno was in? Are you kidding me?:

How about some highlights from the Pinstripe Bowl?

[Red Dawg]

Big Andy and Dorsey are not crazy. They know for sure that a team without a great QB will not go far. Unless Geno is bad at Indy and stupid in the interview and film sessions the pick will be him.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

How about some highlights from the Pinstripe Bowl?

You mean the Syracuse ground game? Because that's about the only highlights you are going to find in that one.

Though, Geno did go for 16/24, 200 yards, 2 TD's and 0 Ints, with another TD called back for what was deemed holding.

Though, if you want to make a comparison of the two highly ranked QB's in that one, rather than just one, I'd be happy to do that.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

I think he'll be the top pick. Out of all the QBs, he's the cleanest.

However, why when someone cites the bowl game do Geno lovers get all bent out of shape?

I'm not one to get bent out of shape by those who cite the Pinstripe Bowl.

I recognize that it was not a good game by his standards, and were that the only game I saw, I might have the same opinion as those people.

However, I do believe the guys that are the most critical are using that as a measuring stick, because that is the only game they watched.

Those of us that have watched multiple games see all the tools he brings to the table, and also see that with good coaching, the mechanical issue that affected his performance can be corrected, and weather conditions will not have nearly the effect on his game that it had in that Bowl game.

We also recognize that even the strongest arms, like Cutler's, Stafford's and Rodgers are still affected by weather.

And the one other thing that we recognize is that even the best QBs struggle against defenses that can provide cnsistent pressure, and Geno has faced consistent pressure in every game because his O-Line is one of the worst in college football.

The combination of weather and pressure, and the lack of a running game to alleviate some of that pressure, all played a part in that game.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

....and milkman knocks it out of the park.