Keep ****ing doubting Rishaw Johnson.

[Direckshun]

http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2014/3...-johnson-guard

Kansas City Chiefs G Rishaw Johnson impressed late last season
By Joel Thorman
on Mar 19 2014, 8:44a

Regular readers may have noticed that we recently posted an item on Chiefs safety Sanders Commings and whether he could end up being the answer at free safety. Right here we have another post wondering if an in-house player is the answer at a position of need.

The position is guard and the player is Rishaw Johnson.

As a refresher, Johnson was an SEC recruit at Ole Miss in 2008. He was there until 2010 when he was kicked off the team. He then went to California (PA). He joined the Seahawks in his first season in the NFL then came to Kansas City his second year. The league lists him at 6'3 and 313 pounds. Last year's starting guards are listed at 340 pounds (Geoff Scwhartz), 306 pounds (Jon Asamoah) and 305 pounds (Jon Asamoah).

Matt Conner included Johnson in our in-house players series earlier this year but I came across a couple more of items on Johnson that warrants another look-see.

Last week, I saw this from Lance Zierlein, sports talk radio host in Houston and football writer:

Lance Zierlein @LanceZierlein

@bkissel7 @Schottey Chiefs believe Rishaw is ready to take over. They LOVED how he played vs. SD at end of the year.

Johnson was among the Chiefs backups that played in Week 17 against the Chargers while the starters rested but a backup throughout the season. That caught my interest for obvious reasons being free agency week and all. If the Chiefs believe they possibly / maybe / could have a potential starting guard on the roster, they probably wouldn't go out and spend big money on a guard in free agency, right?

Terez A. Paylor @TerezPaylor

This is true. Did well vs SD RT @ArrowheadPride: Seems like a long shot but Chiefs do have an in-house option at OG http://sbn.to/1jxEmMw

But wait! There's more!

Schwartz, who is now with the Giants in New York, went on The Drive with Danny Parkins on 610 Sports on Tuesday. Danny asked him what the Chiefs have in the guys who were behind him on the Chiefs line last season.

"Rishaw played really well in the Chargers game," Schwartz said. "He's a guy that has a lot of talent and he really developed as the year went on. He's strong and explosive off the ball. Sometimes it takes guys a couple of years to get comfortable where they're playing in a game. He did a great job against the Chargers."

Another mention of the Chargers game ... interesting. This led me to asking Chiefs GM John Dorsey on our call yesterday how important that Week 17 game was for the coaching staff and front office, getting the youngsters a shot to play.

"Anytime you can get another opportunity to evaluate the players that don't get to contribute on a week-in, week-out basis, that's very helpful," Dorsey said. "What it does is it helps the coaching staff get a degree of comfort that those guys in the personnel department as they build this thing. That's what the communication between the coaches and the personnel staff does. It's always an advantage to get those guys to play and those guys showed very well on Week 17 of the NFL schedule."

Unfortunately, Dorsey wasn't giving us an in-depth scouting report on Johnson but he did say this: "He's going to come in here and he's going to compete. He's showed that he can play the game of football, and I'm just excited to see how much stride he has made here this year."

It's a long way to the season opener with more free agency and the 2014 NFL Draft to acquire more talent as well as evaluation opportunities such as OTAs and training camp to evaluate existing talent. Rishaw Johnson is one of those existing talents that is one to keep an eye on.

It's almost like the Sanders Commings situation. You have hopes that this guy can come in and take over the job next year. But he's probably too young and inexperienced to hand the job to him. Competition and veteran insurance (Jeff Linkenbach?) is needed.

My gut has been telling me for a while that the Chiefs first round pick will be an offensive lineman. That would obviously shake things up.

[BlackHelicopters]

Teams win SBs with good defenses too.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I would rather collect 4 draft comp picks and use our money to invest in major extensions for Smith, Houston, and Berry. That also gives you a chance to frontload Smith's contract.


Other than Carson Palmer to the Cardinals (which may have been a fluke and definitely isn't a long-term answer)... how many late round trades for QB actually do that? I don't like the comp we gave up for Alex Smith. But it's silly that people think because we traded Smith we need to start stockpiling free agents around him immediately to justify the investment. The Seahawks traded a 3rd and a 20-pick 2nd round swap to bring in Charlie Whitehurst. I'd say they still managed to build a terrific team because they focused on the draft.

The Seahawks only gave up 1 draft pick essentially for Whitehurst, no matter how you spin it.

It did, however, take them 4 years to reach, and win a SB.
In 4 years, alex Smith will be 33 years old, and I may have mentioned this before, but only 4 SBs have been won by QBs over the age of 33.
2 2nds is too high price for a caretaker, which is all that Smith will prove to be in your rationalizations.


It's hard to believe that after what the Chiefs did this offseason, that their goal is to just put butts in seats as you claim. If they truly believed that, then why wouldn't they take the safe approach and sign one of their low-priced Guards for cheap? It sure seems to me that what the Chiefs are doing is telling us our primary priority is building through the draft. And I like that a lot better than what we did last year.[/QUOTE]

[milkman]

And I don't want to go on a spending spree.

You keep saying that this team isn't ready to compete.
You're wrong.

They showed over the last 7 games that they can score points.

With a free safety that can play the back end, an ILB alongside DJ that can play all 3 downs, and another pass rusher or 2, this team would be right there.

2 free agents and the draft.
That's all.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by milkman

The Seahawks only gave up 1 draft pick essentially for Whitehurst, no matter how you spin it.

It did, however, take them 4 years to reach, and win a SB.
In 4 years, alex Smith will be 33 years old, and I may have mentioned this before, but only 4 SBs have been won by QBs over the age of 33.
2 2nds is too high price for a caretaker, which is all that Smith will prove to be in your rationalizations.

I've been talking about the Seahawks model a lot. That also means taking a lot of gambles on QBs until you find the right one. Which is why I'd love for the Chiefs to draft someone like Aaron Murray. I only support what the Chiefs are doing today if they proactively get ahead of transitioning the QB position.

I don't think Smith has to be a caretaker. I don't see why the Chiefs can't be better than 2013 this season, and if Dorsey does his job well, why we can't be very good by 2015. I like our 2015 chances the way we're doing it now a hell of a lot better than our 2015 chances if we bought some pricey free agents this year.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by milkman

And I don't want to go on a spending spree.

You keep saying that this team isn't ready to compete.
You're wrong.

They showed over the last 7 games that they can score points.

With a free safety that can play the back end, an ILB alongside DJ that can play all 3 downs, and another pass rusher or 2, this team would be right there.

2 free agents and the draft.
That's all.

You can either choose to bring in 2 free agents today and have 13 picks the next 2 drafts with an average cap situation.

Or you can choose to focus today's money on extending Berry, Smith, and Houston, pick up 3 to 4 comp picks (bringing us to 16 to 17 comp picks), and start making moves that might allow us to trim out an additional $25M+ in cap space in 2015 on top of an already favorable cap situation. And next year's class could shape up to be outstanding with guys like JJ Watt and Earl Thomas potentially in the mix.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

You can either choose to bring in 2 free agents today and have 13 picks the next 2 drafts with an average cap situation.

Or you can choose to focus today's money on extending Berry, Smith, and Houston, pick up 3 to 4 comp picks (bringing us to 16 to 17 comp picks), and start making moves that might allow us to trim out an additional $25M+ in cap space in 2015 on top of an already favorable cap situation. And next year's class could shape up to be outstanding with guys like JJ Watt and Earl Thomas potentially in the mix.

So what's your schtick gonna be next year and the year after and the year after when we're in the same goddamn position we are now?

[htismaqe]

I don't know why you keep bringing up JJ Watt and Earl Thomas. They wouldn't sign here in a million ****ing years.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

You can either choose to bring in 2 free agents today and have 13 picks the next 2 drafts with an average cap situation.

Or you can choose to focus today's money on extending Berry, Smith, and Houston, pick up 3 to 4 comp picks (bringing us to 16 to 17 comp picks), and start making moves that might allow us to trim out an additional $25M+ in cap space in 2015 on top of an already favorable cap situation. And next year's class could shape up to be outstanding with guys like JJ Watt and Earl Thomas potentially in the mix.

You act as if these comp picks are some kind of panacea.

Albert might garner a 3rd, but he also could go down to injury and garner a 6th.

McCluster is nothing special and won't garner more than a 5th, while Jackson and Schwartz are 6th, 7th rounders, at best.

Big ****ing deal.

I'll take the 2 free agents.

[O.city]

Signing a Chris Clemons to play free safety or a solid wr isn't going to seriously effect comp picks

[kcchiefsus]

Originally Posted by milkman

You act as if these comp picks are some kind of panacea.

Albert might garner a 3rd, but he also could go down to injury and garner a 6th.

McCluster is nothing special and won't garner more than a 5th, while Jackson and Schwartz are 6th, 7th rounders, at best.

Big ****ing deal.

I'll take the 2 free agents.

I'm pretty sure the value of their contracts plays a big part in this. McCluster, Jackson, Schwartz, Asomoah all got decent enough contracts that should factor into us getting higher picks than the 5th or 6th you're predicting.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by kcchiefsus

I'm pretty sure the value of their contracts plays a big part in this. McCluster, Jackson, Schwartz, Asomoah all got decent enough contracts that should factor into us getting higher picks than the 5th or 6th you're predicting.

The value of the contracts is only a small part of the equation.

Production is the larger part.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I think this post is really stupid on two different grounds:

Owners *do* only care about $$$. But the most reliable formula for selling seats is TO BE SUPER BOWL COMPETITIVE.

I really don't know how people argue with a straight face that zero playoff wins is the Hunts' idea for selling seats. I really don't.

My second point is, EVEN IF THAT IS HUNT'S ONLY CONCERN, then you mortgage the future on a splash free agent this offseason. You don't sit on your ass while Denver signs a Pro Bowl team.

I think his point is the Chiefs keep applying bandaids instead of trading off pieces and doing a full rebuild through the draft as they stated they wanted to do.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

You can either choose to bring in 2 free agents today and have 13 picks the next 2 drafts with an average cap situation.

Or you can choose to focus today's money on extending Berry, Smith, and Houston, pick up 3 to 4 comp picks (bringing us to 16 to 17 comp picks), and start making moves that might allow us to trim out an additional $25M+ in cap space in 2015 on top of an already favorable cap situation. And next year's class could shape up to be outstanding with guys like JJ Watt and Earl Thomas potentially in the mix.

There's this thing called the Franchise Tag. Houston and Seattle would never let Watt or Thomas hit the FA market in a million years. Keep ****ing dreaming.

[thabear04]

http://arrowheadaddict.com/2014/03/2...w-right-guard/

Meet The Chiefs New Right Guard

It may be with a bit of tongue-in-cheek that I say this but, it looks like the Chiefs have every intention of starting Rishaw Johnson at the Right-Guard position in 2014. And, I have to say, I’m not at all surprised.

Now, basing your whole decision on one game, the last San Diego game, would be foolish at best. However, Andy Reid and his staff have had the opportunity to observe Rishaw Johnson on the practice field since the beginning of last season (and before) and I have a good idea that they’ve been playing their hand out this past season, with a card up their sleeves. That card would be Rishaw Johnson… and his performance in the San Diego game only confirmed what they already knew: Rishaw Johnson is a stud.

So, I went back through every play R. Johnson was a part of in that game and you’ll find that re-cap below. However, before we get into the particulars of that game I want to share further what I’ve come to see as the vision for the Chiefs offensive line in 2014.

Firstly, Eric Fisher is the Left Tackle. Now and in the future. The Chiefs didn’t draft him number one overall to leave him on the right side. The Chiefs aren’t paying him the big bucks to leave him on the right side either. Now, you’ll get no disagreement from me that Fisher left something to be desired last season. However, it was clear to most who were paying attention that Fish progressed greatly over the course of the season and needed an offseason of weight training and film room and play book study. Yes, Fisher came in saying he would play whereever the Chiefs wanted him to but his destiny as a first round selection is Left Tackle, let’s not kid ourselves.

UPDATE: If you can’t live with the idea of Eric Fisher being the Chiefs Left Tackle this year, you better contact Andy Reid directly because just yesterday, Ben Nielsen revealed that Andy Reid has named Eric Fisher his Left Tackle when the Chiefs go to camp.

That designation allows the rest of the pieces to fall in place. Stephenson to Right Tackle, Hudson to Center, and Allen (for now) to Left Guard. Some have suggested that Eric Kush played so well in the San Diego game that he might get a look at the Guard spot. The Chiefs need a back-up Center too much to do that at this point. Plus, if the Chiefs have come to the realization that they can use Kush at Guard then they have an interior swing-man but will still need a swing-man for the tackle positions because Stephenson will become a regular.

Rishaw Johnson (RJ) in the last San Diego Game

Most of the time Rishaw Johnson was pitted against Kendall Reyes, a defensive lineman that the Chargers drafted in the second round in 2012. So, Reyes has had 2 full seasons to mature and should just be coming into his own. And yet, as you’ll see, R. Johnson owned him for most of the game including a pancake early on.

#75, Rishaw Johnson, 6-3, 313, Guard, UDFA by the Seattle Seahawks in 2012

vs.

#91, Kendall Reyes, 6-3, 300, DL, 2nd round pick of the San Diego Chargers in 2012

Please note, most Bolded text is a positive play for Rishaw Johnson. The Underlined and Bolded plays are his pancakes. The RED and Underlined and Bolded plays were bad plays on his part which there were very few of. Almost all the plays in this game were either, plays of no consequence on his part or plays of a positive contribution.

Charger’s DL Kendal Reyes, whom Rishaw Johnson faced most of the day, had 2 tackles and 1 sack in the game. The sack came on a spin move and was well deserved. It was a nice move. Reyes has had 62 tackles in two seasons so he averages 2 tackle per game. Consequently, the two tackles that Rishaw Johnson allowed him were right in line with what any average veteran would have allowed Reyes. Assuming that Rishaw Johnson has more room to grow, he should only get better than this performance against Reyes.

However, Rishaw Johnson had three pancakes in all and over half the plays he participated in were positive plays for him. The sack that Rishaw Johnson allowed was followed by 4 to 5 consecutive positive plays on his part. That’s always a good sign, when a young player makes a mistake, to see them come right back and make some plays of their own and not let down.

This non-homeboy take and unbiased analysis may be right on the money. So, far, their talk about Albert, Schwartz, Asamoah and Allen… as far as I’m concerned… have hit the nail right on the head. There’s so much we’re not privy to with respect to G Rishaw Johnson however, we should pay attention to the relative values the Chiefs brass are expressing in the choices they have made this offseason. They didn’t choose to sign Geoff Schwartz, they signed Joe Mays. Would you rather have Joe Mays or Geoff Schwartz? Knowing what I know, I’d take Schwartz like many fans. However, knowing now what Schwartz signed for, we also know the Chiefs could have afforded him… but didn’t sign him. Why? Because the Chiefs personnel team knows something we don’t. Rishaw Johnson is good. Good enough to be given the Right Guard position… at least the chance to lose it in practice. Other wise, wouldn’t the Chiefs have taken some other action at the front of the Free Agency period?

Now, I will not be at all surprised if the Chiefs take a Guard in the draft. Then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Chiefs take a player from any position including QB in this draft. If they’re going to follow through with their vow to take the “best player available” then why should we be surprised if the do exactly that. With that said, if the Chiefs do take a Guard (or a Tackle who they convert to Guard… or take a Tackle who can play RT and move Stephenson inside) in this draft I would not be surprised at all if that choice is to replace Jeff Allen at Left Guard.

Strengths: When I evaluate Rishaw Johnson I see an offensive lineman with tremendous balance. Rishaw uses his hand well. He doesn’t have a great punch but he knows how to use leverage and holds his own when bull rushed. I often notice “RawJo” (what do you think of this nickname? … can’t call him “Johnson” and “Rishaw” won’t do and neither will RiJo, it sounds too much like a Rice-a-Roni treat), anyway… I often notice him sitting in his stance too high while every other lineman on the Chiefs line will have their back more nearly parallel to the ground. What it can mean is… he either is tipping his hand about whether or not it’s going to be a passing play, or he could be giving away leverage when shifting his body into running game mode. RawJo finishes plays and when he gets his man off balance he makes sure they end up on the ground. You gotta love that.

Weaknesses: RawJo doesn’t have an overly big or powerful physical presence. He often chips a defensive lineman and then looks like he doesn’t know where he’s supposed to go, or who he’s supposed to block next. Experience should take care of this but, Johnson will need more work on his run blocking than his pass protection… a plus for Alex Smith, not for JC. However, in the San Diego game Knile Davis had a very good day on the ground. Rishaw will need to learn to not hold on to the defensive lineman’s jersey too long or he’ll be called for holding. In comparison to Rovekious Watkins, who started at Left Guard in the San Diego game, RawJo is far ahead.

Rishaw Johnson reminds me a little bit of Brian Waters and a little bit of Justin Blalock of the Falcons. RawJo is about the same size as Waters and although neither has Superman’s physique, they both get results. Bottom line, that’s all that matters.

After watching the San Diego game through three-plus times, I’m very comfortable with naming Rishaw Johnson the starting Right Tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014.

[The Franchise]

I'll be happy for him.....when they don't take a ****ing OG in the 1st round this year.