keg in kc
04-25-2009, 05:13 PM
He Fits the Mold (http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2009/04/25/he_fits_the_mold/)
Apr 25, 2009, 5:48:02 PM by Bob Gretz - FAQ
When they took Tyson Jackson and looked at the 360-degree view, when the pulled the pockets out of his pants, when they studied the tape and read the reports, when they questioned those who know him and spent time with him, when the psychologist went through all the drawers and closets in his personality, one thing became clear:
Tyson Jackson fits the mold of what Scott Pioli and Todd Haley are seeking as they rebuild the Chiefs roster.
That’s why the LSU defensive end was the third selection in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
It came as a surprise to many, who had expected Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry, or Virginia OT Eugene Monroe or a trade down in the first round.
All those possibilities were on the Chiefs radar screen around 3:14 p.m. Saturday when the St. Louis Rams made their decision to take OT Jason Smith and Pioli/Haley were on the NFL draft clock.
Trading down was a possibility but they had no one to hit the dance floor with. That didn’t come as a surprise, since trades in the top five have become very rare. For the first time since 2003, there was a deal in the top five, but that comes with an asterisk. It was the fifth pick and the deal was a bit unusual because it included three players moving from the New York Jets to the Cleveland Browns. With former Jets head coach Eric Mangini now head coach of the Browns, he had insight into the players that nobody else had.
Back to the No. 3 pick. With the clock ticking and the phone not ringing, Pioli/Haley made their selection and picked the player who had shown the characteristics they so valued. Yes, there’s athletic ability, size and strength and all those things so very necessary to play on the line of scrimmage in the NFL
But in the brave new world of Arrowhead, there had to be something more. Jackson had those qualities. Two of the biggest were his versatility and one of those intangibles that Pioli believes is very tangible: a love for the game.
“He loves football, loves to play football,” Pioli said after the smoke cleared and the press conference to introduce Jackson was held.
During their moments with the media, Pioli/Haley were very emphatic that they see Jackson as a three-down player and one that could play inside at defensive tackle or outside at defensive end. Whether it’s the 3-4, the 4-3 or the hybrid version of the two that the Chiefs plan to play this year, there’s a spot for Jackson.
That made him a valuable piece of the puzzle for the Chiefs.
And there was that love of the game. Pioli found that in his conversations with the young man. He got that from talking to others about Jackson and what was important to this young man from Edgard, Louisiana. Jackson spoke in glowing terms to someone about former LSU head coach Nick Saban, who recruited him to Baton Rouge and was the Tigers head coach in his red-shirt freshman season. That conversation was relayed to Pioli, who worked with Saban in Cleveland and they still talk frequently about players and football.
Those are the intangibles that Pioli believes are real factors. Those are the things Pioli wants to find out about players. Is football important to him? Yes. Is it the most important thing in his life? Yes. Is he committed? Yes. Affirmative answers to those questions are always going to make a player a candidate to join the roster being created by Pioli/Haley.
That’s why Tyson Jackson was the third player taken in the 2009 NFL Draft.
Apr 25, 2009, 5:48:02 PM by Bob Gretz - FAQ
When they took Tyson Jackson and looked at the 360-degree view, when the pulled the pockets out of his pants, when they studied the tape and read the reports, when they questioned those who know him and spent time with him, when the psychologist went through all the drawers and closets in his personality, one thing became clear:
Tyson Jackson fits the mold of what Scott Pioli and Todd Haley are seeking as they rebuild the Chiefs roster.
That’s why the LSU defensive end was the third selection in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
It came as a surprise to many, who had expected Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry, or Virginia OT Eugene Monroe or a trade down in the first round.
All those possibilities were on the Chiefs radar screen around 3:14 p.m. Saturday when the St. Louis Rams made their decision to take OT Jason Smith and Pioli/Haley were on the NFL draft clock.
Trading down was a possibility but they had no one to hit the dance floor with. That didn’t come as a surprise, since trades in the top five have become very rare. For the first time since 2003, there was a deal in the top five, but that comes with an asterisk. It was the fifth pick and the deal was a bit unusual because it included three players moving from the New York Jets to the Cleveland Browns. With former Jets head coach Eric Mangini now head coach of the Browns, he had insight into the players that nobody else had.
Back to the No. 3 pick. With the clock ticking and the phone not ringing, Pioli/Haley made their selection and picked the player who had shown the characteristics they so valued. Yes, there’s athletic ability, size and strength and all those things so very necessary to play on the line of scrimmage in the NFL
But in the brave new world of Arrowhead, there had to be something more. Jackson had those qualities. Two of the biggest were his versatility and one of those intangibles that Pioli believes is very tangible: a love for the game.
“He loves football, loves to play football,” Pioli said after the smoke cleared and the press conference to introduce Jackson was held.
During their moments with the media, Pioli/Haley were very emphatic that they see Jackson as a three-down player and one that could play inside at defensive tackle or outside at defensive end. Whether it’s the 3-4, the 4-3 or the hybrid version of the two that the Chiefs plan to play this year, there’s a spot for Jackson.
That made him a valuable piece of the puzzle for the Chiefs.
And there was that love of the game. Pioli found that in his conversations with the young man. He got that from talking to others about Jackson and what was important to this young man from Edgard, Louisiana. Jackson spoke in glowing terms to someone about former LSU head coach Nick Saban, who recruited him to Baton Rouge and was the Tigers head coach in his red-shirt freshman season. That conversation was relayed to Pioli, who worked with Saban in Cleveland and they still talk frequently about players and football.
Those are the intangibles that Pioli believes are real factors. Those are the things Pioli wants to find out about players. Is football important to him? Yes. Is it the most important thing in his life? Yes. Is he committed? Yes. Affirmative answers to those questions are always going to make a player a candidate to join the roster being created by Pioli/Haley.
That’s why Tyson Jackson was the third player taken in the 2009 NFL Draft.