AirForceChief
08-26-2011, 12:19 PM
I like the speculation on the numbers at each group for the final roster:
Pre-Season Rankings – Week #3
August 25, 2011 - Bob Gretz | Comments (12)
We promised you weekly rankings during the pre-season on the Chiefs unwieldy roster of nearly 90 players. After the game in Baltimore, we got sidetracked by several important items.
But before they hit the field for pre-season game No. 3, it was time to break the club down position-by-position. With the cut next week moving the roster to 85 players, and then a few days later falling all the way to 53, there are a lot of decisions that must be made in a very short time.
Here’s this man’s opinions on where these 89 players rank at their spot and who has reasons to be looking over their shoulder for the fabled “Turk” the mythical figure who brings news of football unemployment. Every player is ranked either going up, down or hanging steady.
Also those shaded in gray are very much on the roster bubble or their chances are someplace worse.
Feel free to agree, disagree or argue. But there’s no doubt the clock is ticking down on the 2011 NFL pre-season.
Quarterbacks
Rank Player
Comment
1.
Matt Cassel
Offense has struggled, so has #7
2.
Tyler Palko
Quirky style, but gutty passer
3.
Ricky Stanzi
Hard to improve w/no protection
Comments: Still expecting the Chiefs to add a veteran QB of some kind, although Palko’s performance vs. Ravens certainly solidified his spot.
Running backs
Rank Player Comment
1.
Jamaal Charles
Leg tweak a concern right now
2.
Le’Ron McClain
Getting into shape; hard runner
3.
Thomas Jones
Lost pounds and seems quicker
4.
Dexter McCluster
Better suited coming out as RB
5.
Jackie Battle
He is what he is: tough, reliable
6.
Mike Cox
He is what he is: tough, reliable
7.
Shane Bannon
Not flashed at any point
8.
Tervaris Johnson
Missed time to injury hurts him
Comments: The question is whether they carry two fullbacks or not. They have in the past, but that was due to special teams play. Cox, Bannon and Johnson don’t show up much in the kicking game.
Wide receivers
Rank Player Comment
1.
Dwayne Bowe
Has had very good camp
2.
Steve Breaston
Starting to show himself
3.
Jerheme Urban
Played well at times
4.
Keary Colbert
Surprise of pre-season;
5.
Jonathan Baldwin
Disappointment before injury
6.
Terrance Copper
Special teams will be his card
7.
Verran Tucker
Will battle Copper for last spot
8.
Zeke Markshausen
Too much ground to cover
9.
Jeremy Horne
He’s taken step back from ’10
10.
Chandler Williams
Can’t gain any traction
11.
Josue Paul
Not much to see so far
12.
Chris Manno
Not much to see so far
Comments: Will it be five or six receivers? If it’s six, there’s competition for that last spot. Otherwise the position appears to be closed.
Tight ends
Rank Player Comment
1.
Tony Moeaki
Made up for missed time quickly
2.
Leonard Pope
Hasn’t shown much this camp
3.
Jake O’Connell
Ankle injury comes at bad times
4.
Cody Slate
Has some receiving skills
5.
Charlie Gantt
Struggled to handle position
6.
Anthony Becht ?
His talents give him a chance
Comments: After Moeaki it appears to be a position where anything could happen. Pope and O’Connell could come back as a pair, or two new faces could move into the jobs. Stay tuned.
Offensive line
Rank Player Comment
1.
Branden Albert
Still an ascending player at LT
2.
Jon Asamoah
No problem stepping in at RG
3.
Ryan Lilja
Veteran back at familiar LG
4.
Rodney Hudson
Rookie has worked both C/G
5.
Casey Wiegmann
Veteran keeps getting it done
6.
Barry Richardson
Has looked good at times
7.
Butch Lewis
Rookie free agent can play G/T
8.
Ryan O’Callaghan
Injury doesn’t help his chances
9.
Darryl Harris
Injury doesn’t help his chances
10.
Bobby Greenwood
Now working at both C/G
11.
Jared Gaither
Can’t stay on the practice field
12.
Mike Ingersoll
Can play all five spots
13.
David Mims
Nice tools; green as grass
14.
Chris Harr
Struggled but he works hard
15.
Lucas Patterson
Struggled but he works hard
Comments: Figure 9 or 10 blockers on the final roster, so there should be a real battle for the last two spots. Versatility will be the key.
Defensive linemen
Rank Player Comment
1.
Glenn Dorsey
Making continued improvement
2.
Wallace Gilberry
Trying to match run vs. pass skills
3.
Allen Bailey
Rookie has chance to contribute
4.
Kelly Gregg
Question: how long can he play?
5.
Tyson Jackson
Improved; needs consistency
6.
Dion Gales
Really stepped up his game
7.
Brandon Bair
Rookie has skills to rush passer
8.
Jerrell Powe
Big guy has been inconsistent
9.
Amon Gordon
Journeyman has roster chance
10.
Harold Ayodele
Late arrival shows a spark
11.
Anthony Toribio
Knee injury killing his chances
Comments: They’ll carry six, possibly seven, so there are not of spots open here after Jackson.
Linebackers
Rank Player Comment
1.
Tamba Hali
Working hard with new $$
2.
Derrick Johnson
Working hard with new $$
3.
Justin Houston
Making up for lost time
4.
Andy Studebaker
Solid summer without fanfare
5.
Cameron Sheffield
He’s back strong from injury
6.
Jovan Belcher
Solid performer to date
7.
Demorrio Williams
Started strong in camp
8.
Cory Greenwood
Slow starter, he’s gotten better
9.
Justin Cole
Athlete will survive in kick game
10.
Gabe Miller
Injury has him headed for IR
11.
Micah Johnson
Hasn’t shown much to date
12.
Eric Bakhtiari
Concussion stopped good camp
13.
Amara Kamara
Smallish ILB, he shows up at ball
14.
Pierre Walters
Doesn’t show much progress
Comments: There will be 10 or 11 LBs based on special teams play and quite a battle for those last few spots.
Secondary
Rank Player Comment
1.
Brandon Carr
He’s had a strong camp
2.
Brandon Flowers
He too has had strong camp
3.
Eric Berry
Makes three strong campers
4.
Kendrick Lewis
Add another guy to the list
5.
Javier Arenas
Solid pre-season to date
6.
Jalil Brown
Rookie has shown nice skills
7.
Travis Daniels
Veteran has played well
8.
Jon McGraw
Veteran has played well too
9.
Reshard Langford
Started strong, tailed off
10.
Demond Washington
Rookie free agent has talent
11.
Sabby Piscitelli
He lacks speed, but can hit
12.
Donald Washington
Inconsistent on defense
13.
Quinten Lawrence
Giant strides thanks to switch
14.
Ricky Price
Hasn’t stood out much
14.
Javes Lewis
Hasn’t stood out much 2
15.
Mario Russell
Hasn’t stood out much 3
Comments: The number figures to be four corners, four safeties and one player who can play both, more than likely a corner. There’s competition for last three spots.
Here's the link so you can see the arrows (ascending, descending, neutral) tagged to each player:
http://www.bobgretz.com/chiefs-football/pre-season-rankings-%e2%80%93-week-3.html#more-22543
Pre-Season Rankings – Week #3
August 25, 2011 - Bob Gretz | Comments (12)
We promised you weekly rankings during the pre-season on the Chiefs unwieldy roster of nearly 90 players. After the game in Baltimore, we got sidetracked by several important items.
But before they hit the field for pre-season game No. 3, it was time to break the club down position-by-position. With the cut next week moving the roster to 85 players, and then a few days later falling all the way to 53, there are a lot of decisions that must be made in a very short time.
Here’s this man’s opinions on where these 89 players rank at their spot and who has reasons to be looking over their shoulder for the fabled “Turk” the mythical figure who brings news of football unemployment. Every player is ranked either going up, down or hanging steady.
Also those shaded in gray are very much on the roster bubble or their chances are someplace worse.
Feel free to agree, disagree or argue. But there’s no doubt the clock is ticking down on the 2011 NFL pre-season.
Quarterbacks
Rank Player
Comment
1.
Matt Cassel
Offense has struggled, so has #7
2.
Tyler Palko
Quirky style, but gutty passer
3.
Ricky Stanzi
Hard to improve w/no protection
Comments: Still expecting the Chiefs to add a veteran QB of some kind, although Palko’s performance vs. Ravens certainly solidified his spot.
Running backs
Rank Player Comment
1.
Jamaal Charles
Leg tweak a concern right now
2.
Le’Ron McClain
Getting into shape; hard runner
3.
Thomas Jones
Lost pounds and seems quicker
4.
Dexter McCluster
Better suited coming out as RB
5.
Jackie Battle
He is what he is: tough, reliable
6.
Mike Cox
He is what he is: tough, reliable
7.
Shane Bannon
Not flashed at any point
8.
Tervaris Johnson
Missed time to injury hurts him
Comments: The question is whether they carry two fullbacks or not. They have in the past, but that was due to special teams play. Cox, Bannon and Johnson don’t show up much in the kicking game.
Wide receivers
Rank Player Comment
1.
Dwayne Bowe
Has had very good camp
2.
Steve Breaston
Starting to show himself
3.
Jerheme Urban
Played well at times
4.
Keary Colbert
Surprise of pre-season;
5.
Jonathan Baldwin
Disappointment before injury
6.
Terrance Copper
Special teams will be his card
7.
Verran Tucker
Will battle Copper for last spot
8.
Zeke Markshausen
Too much ground to cover
9.
Jeremy Horne
He’s taken step back from ’10
10.
Chandler Williams
Can’t gain any traction
11.
Josue Paul
Not much to see so far
12.
Chris Manno
Not much to see so far
Comments: Will it be five or six receivers? If it’s six, there’s competition for that last spot. Otherwise the position appears to be closed.
Tight ends
Rank Player Comment
1.
Tony Moeaki
Made up for missed time quickly
2.
Leonard Pope
Hasn’t shown much this camp
3.
Jake O’Connell
Ankle injury comes at bad times
4.
Cody Slate
Has some receiving skills
5.
Charlie Gantt
Struggled to handle position
6.
Anthony Becht ?
His talents give him a chance
Comments: After Moeaki it appears to be a position where anything could happen. Pope and O’Connell could come back as a pair, or two new faces could move into the jobs. Stay tuned.
Offensive line
Rank Player Comment
1.
Branden Albert
Still an ascending player at LT
2.
Jon Asamoah
No problem stepping in at RG
3.
Ryan Lilja
Veteran back at familiar LG
4.
Rodney Hudson
Rookie has worked both C/G
5.
Casey Wiegmann
Veteran keeps getting it done
6.
Barry Richardson
Has looked good at times
7.
Butch Lewis
Rookie free agent can play G/T
8.
Ryan O’Callaghan
Injury doesn’t help his chances
9.
Darryl Harris
Injury doesn’t help his chances
10.
Bobby Greenwood
Now working at both C/G
11.
Jared Gaither
Can’t stay on the practice field
12.
Mike Ingersoll
Can play all five spots
13.
David Mims
Nice tools; green as grass
14.
Chris Harr
Struggled but he works hard
15.
Lucas Patterson
Struggled but he works hard
Comments: Figure 9 or 10 blockers on the final roster, so there should be a real battle for the last two spots. Versatility will be the key.
Defensive linemen
Rank Player Comment
1.
Glenn Dorsey
Making continued improvement
2.
Wallace Gilberry
Trying to match run vs. pass skills
3.
Allen Bailey
Rookie has chance to contribute
4.
Kelly Gregg
Question: how long can he play?
5.
Tyson Jackson
Improved; needs consistency
6.
Dion Gales
Really stepped up his game
7.
Brandon Bair
Rookie has skills to rush passer
8.
Jerrell Powe
Big guy has been inconsistent
9.
Amon Gordon
Journeyman has roster chance
10.
Harold Ayodele
Late arrival shows a spark
11.
Anthony Toribio
Knee injury killing his chances
Comments: They’ll carry six, possibly seven, so there are not of spots open here after Jackson.
Linebackers
Rank Player Comment
1.
Tamba Hali
Working hard with new $$
2.
Derrick Johnson
Working hard with new $$
3.
Justin Houston
Making up for lost time
4.
Andy Studebaker
Solid summer without fanfare
5.
Cameron Sheffield
He’s back strong from injury
6.
Jovan Belcher
Solid performer to date
7.
Demorrio Williams
Started strong in camp
8.
Cory Greenwood
Slow starter, he’s gotten better
9.
Justin Cole
Athlete will survive in kick game
10.
Gabe Miller
Injury has him headed for IR
11.
Micah Johnson
Hasn’t shown much to date
12.
Eric Bakhtiari
Concussion stopped good camp
13.
Amara Kamara
Smallish ILB, he shows up at ball
14.
Pierre Walters
Doesn’t show much progress
Comments: There will be 10 or 11 LBs based on special teams play and quite a battle for those last few spots.
Secondary
Rank Player Comment
1.
Brandon Carr
He’s had a strong camp
2.
Brandon Flowers
He too has had strong camp
3.
Eric Berry
Makes three strong campers
4.
Kendrick Lewis
Add another guy to the list
5.
Javier Arenas
Solid pre-season to date
6.
Jalil Brown
Rookie has shown nice skills
7.
Travis Daniels
Veteran has played well
8.
Jon McGraw
Veteran has played well too
9.
Reshard Langford
Started strong, tailed off
10.
Demond Washington
Rookie free agent has talent
11.
Sabby Piscitelli
He lacks speed, but can hit
12.
Donald Washington
Inconsistent on defense
13.
Quinten Lawrence
Giant strides thanks to switch
14.
Ricky Price
Hasn’t stood out much
14.
Javes Lewis
Hasn’t stood out much 2
15.
Mario Russell
Hasn’t stood out much 3
Comments: The number figures to be four corners, four safeties and one player who can play both, more than likely a corner. There’s competition for last three spots.
Here's the link so you can see the arrows (ascending, descending, neutral) tagged to each player:
http://www.bobgretz.com/chiefs-football/pre-season-rankings-%e2%80%93-week-3.html#more-22543