DJ is ready. He played.

Andy will go with whomever is the better tackle option.

Exactly. We didn't bring this dude in to sit. Everyone is in awe of Thuney at LT being pretty much the floor for the position. Don't give up instant kills on Mahomes that Wanya and Kingsley were doing. If you're gonna get beat die slowly.

Thuney dies slow enough at LT that Pat has an actual opportunity to throw, but it's definitely not pretty.

It's impressive because he's a guard making that switch. But he's not Willie Roaf out there. Kingsley and Wanya were so ****ing terrible that he looks like Roaf by comparison.

DJ should be able to easily replicate what Thuney has done at LT, which is give us the floor production of a starting left tackle.

Thuney moving back to LG, where he's one of the best in the world, helps the entire line out.

One thing we really haven't spoken much about is the type of rusher we're likely to face going forward.

Chargers -- Mack and Bosa; Tart and Ford from the interior
Buffalo -- Rousseau, Miller; Oliver and Jones from the inside
Houston -- Hunter and Anderson; nothing much from the interior
Baltimore -- Van Noy and Oweh; Madubuike and Jones from the interior

As I look at those guys, don't most of them win with power more than speed? Miller is almost pure speed, Mack and Bosa are more power than speed at this point in their careers. Hunter is a bit of both, Anderson mostly speed. Van Noy and Oweh, by nature of their rush scheme, are mostly power. Rousseau is a poor man's Hunter in that he's a bit of both.

But I don't see anyone on that list like Bonitto, for instance -- a real speed merchant. Or Garrett (though Hunter is close).

Then look at how they line up. Bosa is essentially a pure left side guy at this point so I'd probably write him off. Von Miller has been left side only so I'd likely write him off. Van Noy is VERY heavy to the left side; not worth making a lineup decision around.

So when I'm looking at the challenges my LT is going to face it really starts to narrow down:

Mack, Rousseau, Oweh and then Anderson/Hunter are almost completely interchangeable.

Shouldn't that really end up making the decision in large part? Especially when most of those teams also have pretty dangerous power rushers that can get at our interior (i.e. Caliendo) with Tart, Oliver, Madibuike and Jones?

My biggest worry would be Houston in that regard in that Anderson could just give Humphries fits if he's struggling with speed. But against the rest of them, power is likely to be their biggest asset. Oweh is pretty explosive but w/ the 3-4 alignment, I don't think Thuney's any more likely to be able to kick out on him and catch him than Humphries is. You're going to need some help to his side either way so having a stronger interior to shut down Jones/Madibuike would be pretty big.

With Humphries looking better against power rushers (again, that's traits based, but Humphries looks to have a REALLY stout base), 3 of the 4 teams were likely to face seem to suggest that getting Humphries out to LT with Thuney in at LG would be a better overall protection scheme.

And against Houston...well like I said, I barely even give a shit. We'll roll those guys either way. Houston seems like the one team where I'd pretty strongly prefer Thuney's aggression at LT, especially since I don't really have any worries about them getting to us from the interior. But if we play Houston and Thuney is your guy at LT, that's it - that's where he stays. Even in the AFCCG and SB. So I might still be willing to roll the dice believing that I don't NEED to have things perfect to smoke them and hoping that it provides another data point for the AFCCG decision.

Rousseau, in particular, seems like a really tough matchup for Thuney, because he's so long and is good at converting speed to power.

Yeah - I'd like to have a better foundation to have that conversation because I think I kinda know what some of them are based on watching them vs. us and then the occasional national game.

But if someone where to show me that Mack is still shitting and getting off the edge, I'd absolutely take that into account. And so insight like yours w/r/t Rousseau is interesting to me.

I'm open to being corrected on any of my surface level stuff there. Especially my thoughts on the 3-4 (I just really feel like Humphries style of getting back and setting a pocket should work better than Thuney trying to get out and attack someone like Oweh out of an odd front) -- I may be completely out to lunch there. Especially since I believe Denver works from a 3-4 primarily and Humphries had some issues.

Mostly I was just pondering a working theory and I type fast so I figured I'd put pen to paper and see what anyone had to offer.

Pat doesnt like that type of talk in here

It's kind of interesting to think that they could actually base their decision partially on our expected matchups, but DJLN is absolutely right that it's a valid discussion. It will be fascinating to see where they land.

We may be pretty tight cap-wise this year. Probably won’t do a ton of spending.

Hollywood and Omenihu on 1-year deals would be nice

Um, that's pretty much what I said, wasn't it?

But for the sake of argument, then why are people bitching about his stamina and game shape?

You'd think people would have learned when we went through this exact same shit with Pat's ankle. People wanted him to sit out, and possibly miss the #1 seed, because they were scared he would get more hurt.

How did that turn out? Maybe people should stop being scared.

At the risk of more verbal abuse I have to say that Thuney is "attacking" closer to the LOS like they used to do in Patriots Brady days. Those Patriot teams didn't form the U around Brady.....they kept their man as far away from the backfield as they could. I think that is why he attacks early.

I think as we get closer and closer to a 3peat they are just concerned something is going to happen that keeps us from the 3peat. Lingering pain from the past? Who knows?

Just think about that though. "Going for a 3-peat" which has never been done. A 15-2 team with the #1 seed and one of the best QB/HC combos ever.

And people are scared. I just don't get it.

Not super easy to find old clips of the Patriots pass blocking, but this was the first one i could come up with looking for Nate Solder highlights (more of a lowlight, really).

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Both of the OTs are taking 'conventional' sets there.

This one's a little more mixed:

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Looks like some reps have the conventional approach, others more aggressive. I'd say more 'conventional' than not, but definitely a few where the LT isn't getting back as much as he's trying to come forward or at least hold his ground. And we do that at times as well, but primarily w/ RPOs (and I don't think the Pats were using the RPO game back then).

I really think it's as simple as a G doesn't get back and he's spent his entire career playing G. If it had something to do with Patriot pass rush sets, we'd have coached that way out of him by now. I mean he's played 66 games for KC now vs. 80 for NE.

Anything 'ingrained' from a half decade ago would've been largely re-written by this stage of his career.

Pre-game (or playoff) jitters? :shrug:

One thing we haven't discussed.

No matter who plays LT, they're going to be helped a little by the fact that by 1/18, Jawaan Taylor will be healthy for the first time in almost two months.

I don't either.

That we even have the chance is exciting as ****.

What is there to fear? That we don't do something that no other team has done?

It's crazy to me how most of us watched this team pre-Patrick and said, "just one Super Bowl before I die."

Now people are acting like spoiled ****ing children.

Just enjoy the ride, folks.

Whoever we face in game 1, it will be a team full of pass rushers. Feels like all the 4-7 seeds in the AFC just happen to be the best pass rushing teams.

There won't be any grace period for Humphries to play against cupcakes.

That said, Mahomes had good protection against Pittsburgh on Christmas if that happens to be our first opponent.

Pitt is a team, I just do not see advancing. Russel just has looked terrible for a month now. Shocked if it is not SD or Houston.

It's not even about enjoying the ride although I imagine whinging above stuff like this does get in the way of that.

After all they've done since Mahomes was drafted, why wouldn't you be supremely confident in this team right now?

Like I said, they've been aggressive the whole time. Scared teams don't trade Tyreek Hill. Worried teams don't trade up nearly every year in the draft.

This is THAT team. They're going to 3-peat. At this point, it's just about making that as easy as possible. Hence why having a pro bowl LT and all pro LG makes sense.

Of course, if DJ isn't up to it you go right back to Thuney. But it would be really nice to see this offense be as good as it can be in the playoffs. That's why the team is even considering playing DJ in the first place.

I absolutely suck at 'enjoying the ride'.

I didn't even go to the Texans game because I was just kinda worn slick by sitting in Arrowhead, being grumpy due to bad football and then being annoyed with myself because I knew we were going to win anyway.

That whole damn Chargers game I was just frustrated and knew better. "Man, this is bad. We suck at everything. And NONE of it matters because we're still gonna win somehow..."

Just didn't wanna do that again. I wanted to be able to fast forward to the good bits. Just watch the first half, get annoyed, find something else to do and come back for the last 5 minutes.

"Enjoy the ride" just isn't in my DNA.

Suppose that really just makes me something of a miserable SOB but as the brilliant Marshall Poole once said in one of our nations greatest offerings to class and culture -- Open Range -- "I know it. That's just the way it is..."

At least you don’t let your misery drive you to uneducated and irrational takes.

Now we might need to work on your “verbally abusing” some of these others, you hyperbolic sonofabitch. LMAO

It started out as entertaining conversation, now I just can't wait to finally settle this shit once and for all... one way or the other

Agreed. Can someone cryostasis me or give me a time machine to next Saturday, please?

I recall one time he had to make major decisions on the OL. He ended up moving all but the center around and the Chiefs got annihilated in the Super Bowl. Reid is great, but not infallible.

There's a difference in evaluating a move after the fact and talking about it before it happens.

If anything that Super Bowl proves the point - you want your best out there, not a bunch of guys playing out of position.

2825 posts is impressive. Only ChiefsPlanet could achieve a feat like this!

Only 175 more posts and DJ Humphries will turn into Tristan Wirfs!!!!!! WE CAN DO IT!!!!

Yeah its gonna be a looong wait, before I can say told ya so :)

Oh for ****s’s sake, as if the love of hyperbole in this discussion isn’t enough, we also seem to have a strong dislike of context.

That OL situation was one riddled with injuries and I’m not sure there was a “right” way to set it up for success. It is apples and oranges to the current situation.

12:00 immediate pressure

13:40 beat around the edge

15:45 toasted on a spin move

No way Reid trusts him.

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These appear to be left out of that one clip saying it was "all his snaps".

Or am I wrong?

either way, those are BAD.

Wayna Morris level bad.

It's mind-blowing. In the old era, if we faced a very good team in the regular season, forget in the playoffs, we would be needing everything to go perfect to even have a fighting chance. Even then we lost a lot. And the playoffs we lost every single time.

Now we are beating good teams half the time without even trying or at least without even playing well. And that's happening in the freaking playoffs as well. This is an era I never thought we'd live in. But to your original point once you are used to living in it, as is everything in life, sometimes you lose perspective.

Yes, those were left out.

The Chiefs can't afford to have a play like that in a postseason game.

It could mean they lose.

You being scared is quite hilarious.

Sorry, but DJ Humphries isn't part of the dynasty. He doesn't have the history with this team for me to NOT be scared of obvious weaknesses on film.

Now if Reid gives him the vote of confidence, that's different. But right now he hasn't.

Our left tackle is JOY TITTY!

Yeah those were awful, but the ceiling is so much higher…. And Caliendo is dirt. So much lower than the floor. Plus even though we didn’t try to run the ball over The past four games we have to improve the LG position, we can’t allow Thuney to protect the blind side.

Unathletic beta

Thuney has obvious weaknesses on film as well. People just don't want to admit it because he's better than Wanya and Kingsley.

He's a guy coming off an ACL tear and a hamstring injury. Maybe his ceiling is, but this is the playoffs NOW. So we don't have time to **** around and find that out

He's better than Humphries, too.

I'm sure no one else wants to, but I really wouldn't be opposed to putting Wanya Morris out there. He will have 2 weeks to get healthier.

Two best offensive games of the season and you dopes want to ****ing throw it all away. ROFLROFLROFL

How much better than Humphries though? I think Humphries can give 90% of what Thuney been giving. Thuney then gives us 200% more than what Caliendo was giving and this line improves drastically.

Humphries already started a game and Mahomes got beat to shit by the Chargers.

Right now, correct. That's what is so odd about all of this. A few weeks ago when we buried the Steelers everyone was on board with leaving JT AT left tackle.

Now they wanna experiment in the playoffs?

It was a decent analysis of the whole line play. Did you miss the part at the end where he said DJ st OT and Thuney at LG was likely our best option!

Joe Thuney also started a game and Mahomes was beat to shit and running for his life. He allowed 10 pressures in 43 pass block snaps.

Because Mike Caliendo is one of the worst starting lineman in the entire league. Weird that you all keep forgetting about that.

No way they do that, technically he can get very lazy.

No, many have always hoped that DJ would be able to go for the post season, even with the Steelers game.

Wasn't this his first start against Myles Garrett????

It was his first game and he was facing Myles Garrett. He has improved DEMONSTRATIVELY since then.

0 sacks allowed ROFL

Man, this is why I have issues with PFF grading. TJ Watt had his 5th highest pass rush grade of the season against KC. In 35 pass rush snaps he literally didn't record a single pressure.

Humphries was his first game back in a year and had to go against Khalil Mack. Humphries also shut them down in the second half.

Right? This keeps being said and I checked twice and he's allowed zero sacks.

So where is it he's so terrible? I'm not even being sarcastic.

I think in his first game he was the highest graded lineman?

It’s amazing how they want to judge DJ working off rust, playing with scrubs and against a team playing for its post season life, and yet totally ignore Thuney’s first game at LT.

The double standards are not a strong argument in favor of their rationality in this matter.

I guess Chris Jones really took a huge step back because he only had 6 sacks and 73 pressures.

So you're gonna do this thing too?

If we're going to use pressures, Caliendo surrendered 7 in over 200 snaps.

Hand-wringing over that is not worth putting in a guy who clearly isn't ready and might get Mahomes killed or allow a game-changing sack FF.

He has a 44.8 pass block grade on the season. That's the 16th lowest grade among OL with as many snaps or more as he has.

7 pressures, 6 hurries, 1 hit in his last 93 pass block attempts.

That's his last 2 games played.

Acceptable.

Well then Wanya Morris should be more than acceptable. Wanya had a 95.3% efficiency rate which is quite a bit higher than Caliendo's eff rate the last 2 games (92 .4%).

Andy said otherwise.

You might want to let Andy know since he's the one entertaining it.

Clearly isn't ready?

LMAO

Since when have you been a coach for the Chiefs?

LMAO

And there it is. The FEAR.

We might get Mahomes killed! OMG!

Remember the Texans game you ****ing pussy? Not only did he not get injured, he had one of his best games of the year.

Everyone was on board?

The same people advocating for DJ now always have been. Nothing has changed between then and now other than DJ's injury status.

He gave up instant pressure on like 4-5 snaps out of 20 against the Broncos.

I don't think that's sustainable in a postseason Mahomes is likely to be dropping back 40 times a game.

I think Andy saw the same thing.

He played just fine in the first half. The entire offense fell apart in the second. He was playing the best pass rushing team in the NFL and he was playing next to guys that are lucky to be on a team.

He isn't worse the Thuney, he's just not. Provided he's fully healthy and in shape.

I trust Andy to do what's best for the team. If that's Thuney, great. If it's Humphries, even better. That's the difference, the argument, here.

One of us is thinking logically, the other can't remove their emotions.

If Thuney starts, I'm fine with it. If DJ does, I'm even more fine with it. You, on the other hand, won't consider anyone other than Thuney and you said why - you're afraid they might lose.

I'll defer to Reid no matter what decision he makes.

This has nothing to do with emotions. The instant pressures he gave up just didn't jive with me.

And that is it in a nutshell - people like you, me, DJLN and others feel confident in a win whatever the coaches decide, while others are only confident in a win if the coaches decide a certain way.

nope...and not even shown here is the spin move #92 dusted him on

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It&#39;s gonna be Joe Thuney at LT<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> can&#39;t afford quick pressures like these right now. There are no whiffs in Thuney&#39;s tape <a href="https://t.co/mN35UHty0K">pic.twitter.com/mN35UHty0K</a></p>&mdash; Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ron_Kopp/status/1876804150882627888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The other thing with Thuney is he will give ground as a smaller LT -- but his guard skills allow him to reset his feet &amp; catch bull rushes eventually<br><br>Humphries gets overpowered here inside, and loses his feet. Gets a holding call on the 2nd play <a href="https://t.co/Q5uLZpz2ZV">pic.twitter.com/Q5uLZpz2ZV</a></p>&mdash; Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ron_Kopp/status/1877028010433409256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Clay is part of the Thuney brigade too huh? Well how about that. You guys are not winning this one.

Live look at Clay and I supporting our rightful savior Mr. Joseph Thuney in this thread of losers, cowards and traitors :D

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LMAO

Thuneys pass blocking grades have improved each week he’s played LT and has played against some of the best pass rushers in the league during that span. Pat trusts him. That’s huge for playing such a crucial offensive position in this offense.

If we’re being honest, Caliendo and Humphries have both been pretty bad overall, but I do think Humphries next to Thuney has to be the best left side if we want to run a balanced offense. Gotta at least start the game out like that and have the shifts ready to go if he struggles.

Watch

Stop being afraid of Scott Fujita