Archie Bunker
08-05-2009, 12:57 PM
Better late than never I guess.....
http://www.draftcountdown.com/review...ity-Chiefs.php
August 5, 2009
Kansas City Chiefs '09 Draft Review
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scott Wright
President, Draft Countdown
The 2008 NFL Draft marked the start of a massive rebuilding project in Kansas City and after a franchise-worst 2-14 campaign that effort continued in earnest this offseason with a total restructuring of both the front office and coaching staffs. After turning down numerous job offers in recent years Scott Pioli, one of the architects of the New England Patriots dynasty, accepted the Chiefs general manager position. Pioli’s first big move was to hire Todd Haley, fresh off a Super Bowl appearance as the Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator, to be his new head coach. The acquisition of quarterback Matt Cassel for just a second round pick was a huge step in the right direction but after earning rave reviews for their performance on Draft Day a year ago the Chiefs needed to come through with another strong showing. Will this crop of rookies bring Kansas City one step closer to respectability?
For months there was a lot of speculation about who the Chiefs would pick at #3 overall but nobody could really get a read on which direction they were leaning, which is rare for a pick that high. However, in the days leading up to the draft they seemed to zero in on L.S.U. DE Tyson Jackson and that is indeed who they ultimately chose. A strong, tough base end with excellent bulk, Jackson isn’t a dynamic pass rusher but he is stout against the run and offers a lot of versatility. In some ways it was a shock to see Jackson come off the board that early because most viewed him as more of a mid-first round value. However teams that run a 3-4 defense, like Kansas City, most likely had him rated much higher than 4-3 devotees because he is such a perfect fit as a five-technique in that scheme. There is no question the Chiefs reached a bit for Jackson and all things being equal they would’ve preferred to trade down but he probably wouldn’t have gotten out of the Top 10 and there just weren’t any other teams interested in moving up. Jackson wasn’t a flashy pick but he'll be plugged into the starting lineup day one and will really help fortify the front seven. Pioli drafted both Richard Seymour and Ty Warren early in the draft when he was with the Patriots and he can only hope to have that type of success with Jackson.
The Chiefs didn’t pick again until round three and they went right back to the defensive line, this time tabbing Purdue’s Alex Magee. Primarily a defensive tackle early in his career, Magee moved outside to end as a senior but struggled and looked out of place. Magee was impressive while working back inside at the Senior Bowl, which led many to conclude that was his best fit, but Kansas City apparently liked what they saw of him at defensive end so that will be his permanent home. As a rookie Magee will battle Glen Dorsey for the starting job opposite Tyson Jackson but Dorsey is struggling with conditioning issues and considering this new regime’s lack of ties to the former #5 overall pick it would not be a surprise if Magee, their handpicked guy, eventually wins out. In round four the Chiefs took a flyer on Ohio St. CB Donald Washington, who looks like a first round pick on paper and could’ve very easily gone a round or two earlier. Washington appeared poised to follow in the footsteps of other great Buckeye cornerbacks like Malcolm Jenkins but after running with the first team in 2006 and 2007 he was suspended for a violation of team rules and ultimately lost his starting job. Washington opted to go pro even though he was coming off a down year and had eligibility remaining, which looked like a shaky decision until he lit it up at the Scouting Combine by posting this year’s top marks in both the vertical leap (45 inches) and broad jump (11’3”). A great athlete with a prototypical blend of size and speed, Washington has the talent to be a starting corner in the NFL as long as he can keep his head on straight. This was a classic Boom or Bust pick for Kansas City but at that point in the draft the potential rewards outweighed the risks. The Chiefs really don’t have much depth at corner so Washington will have an opportunity to win the nickel or dime job as a rookie.
In round five the Chiefs pulled off a bit of a surprise when they reached for Missouri OT Colin Brown. A former walk-on, Brown was a two-year starter at right tackle for the Tigers but also saw some action at center and guard. Not only does Brown have outstanding size (6-63/4, 335) and a big frame but he’s also a pretty good athlete. At this point Brown is being viewed as more of a developmental blocker and won't be counted on to do much more than provide depth as a rookie but he will likely be groomed as a replacement for Damion McIntosh on the right side. In round six the Chiefs attempted to provide their new quarterback with another weapon, selecting McNeese St. WR Quinten Lawrence. A four-year starter who was also a member of the school’s track and field team, Lawrence suffered a broken ankle and didn’t play much as a senior but he possesses an intriguing blend of size (6-0, 190) and speed (4.40) and might have gone higher if not for the injury. A vertical threat who may fit best as a slot guy, Lawrence will battle for the #5 or #6 job on the wideout depth chart as a rookie while also competing for a return role on special teams.
Kansas City owned three picks in the seventh round and they used the first on Tennessee St. RB Javarris Williams. Hailing from the same program that produced Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie a year ago, Williams isn’t flashy but he’s a good all-around player and was very productive as a four-year starter in college. Larry Johnson and Jamaal Charles sit atop the running back depth chart so Williams will battle Kolby Smith for the #3 job, although a roster spot is not guaranteed. The day before the draft Kansas City traded away future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez so with that in mind they used their next pick to add some depth at tight end. Jake O’Connell wasn’t overly productive during his time at Miami (OH) but he caught the attention of scouts by running in the mid-4.6’s and registering a 41-inch vertical at the Redhawks Pro Day workout. More of an H-Back prospect, O’Connell is still raw but in time he could provide a pass catching threat to compliment Brad Cottam, who is more of a blocker. With their last pick, which also happened to be the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, the Chiefs selected South Carolina K Ryan “Mr. Irrelevant” Succop. A strong-legged veteran of the SEC wars, Succop worked as both a kicker and punter during his time with the Gamecocks while also excelling on kickoffs. Kansas City has been searching for a long-term solution at kicker for years now and after releasing last year’s starter Connor Barth the job is now Succop’s to lose.
The Chiefs are clearly a work in progress and appear to be years away from contending so all of their problems couldn’t be addressed with just one draft class. This certainly wasn’t a sexy effort by the Chiefs and a few of their picks were head scratchers but it’s tough to question Pioli considering his track record. If nothing else the move to acquire Cassel earns Kansas City a passing grade all by itself and if history is any indicator a number of their other unsung picks will blossom as well. It’s been nearly forty years since the Chiefs last appeared in a Super Bowl and they have really fallen on hard times in recent years. With that said the organization is putting the right pieces in place and with a proven leader at the helm it’s only a matter of time until they are relevant again.
GRADE: B
http://www.draftcountdown.com/review...ity-Chiefs.php
August 5, 2009
Kansas City Chiefs '09 Draft Review
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scott Wright
President, Draft Countdown
The 2008 NFL Draft marked the start of a massive rebuilding project in Kansas City and after a franchise-worst 2-14 campaign that effort continued in earnest this offseason with a total restructuring of both the front office and coaching staffs. After turning down numerous job offers in recent years Scott Pioli, one of the architects of the New England Patriots dynasty, accepted the Chiefs general manager position. Pioli’s first big move was to hire Todd Haley, fresh off a Super Bowl appearance as the Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator, to be his new head coach. The acquisition of quarterback Matt Cassel for just a second round pick was a huge step in the right direction but after earning rave reviews for their performance on Draft Day a year ago the Chiefs needed to come through with another strong showing. Will this crop of rookies bring Kansas City one step closer to respectability?
For months there was a lot of speculation about who the Chiefs would pick at #3 overall but nobody could really get a read on which direction they were leaning, which is rare for a pick that high. However, in the days leading up to the draft they seemed to zero in on L.S.U. DE Tyson Jackson and that is indeed who they ultimately chose. A strong, tough base end with excellent bulk, Jackson isn’t a dynamic pass rusher but he is stout against the run and offers a lot of versatility. In some ways it was a shock to see Jackson come off the board that early because most viewed him as more of a mid-first round value. However teams that run a 3-4 defense, like Kansas City, most likely had him rated much higher than 4-3 devotees because he is such a perfect fit as a five-technique in that scheme. There is no question the Chiefs reached a bit for Jackson and all things being equal they would’ve preferred to trade down but he probably wouldn’t have gotten out of the Top 10 and there just weren’t any other teams interested in moving up. Jackson wasn’t a flashy pick but he'll be plugged into the starting lineup day one and will really help fortify the front seven. Pioli drafted both Richard Seymour and Ty Warren early in the draft when he was with the Patriots and he can only hope to have that type of success with Jackson.
The Chiefs didn’t pick again until round three and they went right back to the defensive line, this time tabbing Purdue’s Alex Magee. Primarily a defensive tackle early in his career, Magee moved outside to end as a senior but struggled and looked out of place. Magee was impressive while working back inside at the Senior Bowl, which led many to conclude that was his best fit, but Kansas City apparently liked what they saw of him at defensive end so that will be his permanent home. As a rookie Magee will battle Glen Dorsey for the starting job opposite Tyson Jackson but Dorsey is struggling with conditioning issues and considering this new regime’s lack of ties to the former #5 overall pick it would not be a surprise if Magee, their handpicked guy, eventually wins out. In round four the Chiefs took a flyer on Ohio St. CB Donald Washington, who looks like a first round pick on paper and could’ve very easily gone a round or two earlier. Washington appeared poised to follow in the footsteps of other great Buckeye cornerbacks like Malcolm Jenkins but after running with the first team in 2006 and 2007 he was suspended for a violation of team rules and ultimately lost his starting job. Washington opted to go pro even though he was coming off a down year and had eligibility remaining, which looked like a shaky decision until he lit it up at the Scouting Combine by posting this year’s top marks in both the vertical leap (45 inches) and broad jump (11’3”). A great athlete with a prototypical blend of size and speed, Washington has the talent to be a starting corner in the NFL as long as he can keep his head on straight. This was a classic Boom or Bust pick for Kansas City but at that point in the draft the potential rewards outweighed the risks. The Chiefs really don’t have much depth at corner so Washington will have an opportunity to win the nickel or dime job as a rookie.
In round five the Chiefs pulled off a bit of a surprise when they reached for Missouri OT Colin Brown. A former walk-on, Brown was a two-year starter at right tackle for the Tigers but also saw some action at center and guard. Not only does Brown have outstanding size (6-63/4, 335) and a big frame but he’s also a pretty good athlete. At this point Brown is being viewed as more of a developmental blocker and won't be counted on to do much more than provide depth as a rookie but he will likely be groomed as a replacement for Damion McIntosh on the right side. In round six the Chiefs attempted to provide their new quarterback with another weapon, selecting McNeese St. WR Quinten Lawrence. A four-year starter who was also a member of the school’s track and field team, Lawrence suffered a broken ankle and didn’t play much as a senior but he possesses an intriguing blend of size (6-0, 190) and speed (4.40) and might have gone higher if not for the injury. A vertical threat who may fit best as a slot guy, Lawrence will battle for the #5 or #6 job on the wideout depth chart as a rookie while also competing for a return role on special teams.
Kansas City owned three picks in the seventh round and they used the first on Tennessee St. RB Javarris Williams. Hailing from the same program that produced Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie a year ago, Williams isn’t flashy but he’s a good all-around player and was very productive as a four-year starter in college. Larry Johnson and Jamaal Charles sit atop the running back depth chart so Williams will battle Kolby Smith for the #3 job, although a roster spot is not guaranteed. The day before the draft Kansas City traded away future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez so with that in mind they used their next pick to add some depth at tight end. Jake O’Connell wasn’t overly productive during his time at Miami (OH) but he caught the attention of scouts by running in the mid-4.6’s and registering a 41-inch vertical at the Redhawks Pro Day workout. More of an H-Back prospect, O’Connell is still raw but in time he could provide a pass catching threat to compliment Brad Cottam, who is more of a blocker. With their last pick, which also happened to be the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, the Chiefs selected South Carolina K Ryan “Mr. Irrelevant” Succop. A strong-legged veteran of the SEC wars, Succop worked as both a kicker and punter during his time with the Gamecocks while also excelling on kickoffs. Kansas City has been searching for a long-term solution at kicker for years now and after releasing last year’s starter Connor Barth the job is now Succop’s to lose.
The Chiefs are clearly a work in progress and appear to be years away from contending so all of their problems couldn’t be addressed with just one draft class. This certainly wasn’t a sexy effort by the Chiefs and a few of their picks were head scratchers but it’s tough to question Pioli considering his track record. If nothing else the move to acquire Cassel earns Kansas City a passing grade all by itself and if history is any indicator a number of their other unsung picks will blossom as well. It’s been nearly forty years since the Chiefs last appeared in a Super Bowl and they have really fallen on hard times in recent years. With that said the organization is putting the right pieces in place and with a proven leader at the helm it’s only a matter of time until they are relevant again.
GRADE: B