Even while McCluster succeeds, this continues to be my concern about that pick...
 

He is a gadget guy, yes. Who can provide tons of different things for your offense. And he's someone who can contribute immediately.

But is he someone you can build around?

I hesitate still, even now, to say yes.

What's the track record of really small football players in the NFL?

Don't they typically peter out after a few years? Even if they are very good -- as Sproles, a thicker back than McCluster, was very good -- won't they eventually flame out in a few years, rather than providing the sustained level of ability that virtually any other position on the football field would?

I am prepared to endure your scorn.

I think it's unknown until he loses the 'gadget' tag... I don't think anyone has seen enough yet.

Real fans don't ask those types of questions....

Working well so far.

Who do you get in the 2nd to "build around?"

That isn't necessarily the alternative.

Why call him a prick?

Are you suggesting there are no foundation/elite guys to be found in R2?

The Chiefs have been down for the past four seasons. Can't you people just enjoy the ride instead of worrying about what lies ahead?

He's no Claussen.

We get it.

Unless he's an Andre Johnson type of player, you don't build around a WR anyway.

If he helps us win, then he was worth the pick.

If he loses any speed/quickness because of an injury, he's ****ed because the opposition will tee-off on him.

Next year we'll get us another one (gadget player in the second round, that is).

Steelers enjoyed antwain randel el for like 10 years.

He is a playmaker. The more dynamic playmakers generally don't last that long either (see RBs in particular) because of the way they are used and abused while their skills are still fresh.

There could be, and Dex could be one of them. I was just curious about who these guys were in the draft.

I think it depends on how they use him. Steve Smith has had a pretty good run with the Panthers, and he's only 5'9, 185. I think McCluster could conceivably be the same kind of player, although he'd obviously have to add more bulk. DeSean Jackson's a bit taller, but not much thicker. There's probably a few more guys in the league that don't have the prototypical 6'2, 215 pound receiver build. If he's just a running back, and they limit his role to that of Sproles or Bush, then I'm not sure how much longevity he'll have (but that would be true of anybody - I wonder that about Charles, it's a brutal position).

Drew Brees... Wait, I shouldn't have said that.

Depends on how you use him. Are you going to Herm the shit out of him like Herm did with LJ?

Bet you DeSean Jackson is around the league for a while.

Honestly we have no idea who's going to be great 5 years down the road. We just don't know. This game can beat up any man's body in that amount of time.

If you have a guy you know who can be electric for you right now, take him.

Better to get a guy that can win you games. Look at what he's done so far? You could argue he won us that 1st game.

Drafting Dexter has been such a breath of fresh air IMO.

Still think he's basically Eric Metcalf.

ThIs

What we are building around is having multiple offensive weapons, not one specific player. Having McCluster in means that we have one more weapon and we are that much more dangerous. I don't understand why it is even a question of value with him. It was a great pick, end of story.

I'm amazed at how many people at CP still have a problem with the pick. It's as if they think they are doing more college scouting than the Chiefs staff.

It's fine to debate picks, no front office is unquestionable.

Once again someone put a reeruned post up geeeez what does the kid have to do for FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! to get your approval omg!!! Your damn right he was a great pick and is a reason we are 3-0. So stop this stupid ass criticism for one of our best players. The guy can run routes like a wr and and can also play rb and return kicks. He has scored a td by running back a punt, and a pass. Anyway I swear some of our fans are about as bad as the Eagles. And they boo Santa Claus. He was a hell of a pick and will be great for a long time with us. End of discussion!!!!

Agreed. It just seems like this pick is getting constantly questioned.

Which is reeruned because he has been a major cog to us winning right now :shake:

He needs to develop as a receiver for long term productivity

I think you want to suck Clausens dick that is why? Because we drafted Mccluster over him. That is what this is really about your stupid love crush with Clausen. What you do with Clausen behind doors is your business, but whacking it to him and throwing Mccluster under the bus because you wanted him. Means one thing first off that is why you aren't making decisions and Pioli is. Second off let it go omg Mccluster was an amazing pick and Clausen will just be another average QB! That is just my 2 cents!

Yes, he is. He's got the right character to fit into a culture that is clearly committed to playing your ass of and win, and while he may not be a guy to build off of in some offenses, he's most certainly one you can build off of in Charlie Weis' offense.



Warrick Dunn, Desean Jackson, Percy Harvin, Wes Welker, Dante Hall. You can argue all you want about body frame, but in terms of pounds when you factor in the extra inch or 2 or 3 of height, you're talking a difference of only a few pounds.


I don't think it's appropriate to compare the two at this point. McCluster has only had a handful of carries. Sproles has more than a handful of carries in his career and the thing you worry about most with a small player is their ability to take on the constant grinding toward the line of scrimmage. If their job is to play in space, they're a lot less susceptible to injury.

Rookie with 2 TDs in 3 weeks.



Um... sorry...not concerned anymore.

#24?

Yeah, and every 6th rounder should be Tom Brady.

I don't want to get this thread off on a tangent, because I at least partially agree with it, but did anyone watch for Terrence Cody this week? He was supposed to be active for the first time this week but doesn't show up on the stat sheet. Did anybody watch that game and see him play?

Because this is analogous to the 36th overall pick. Yes, you should be able to get a foundational player at this point in the draft.

The pick that should be questioned is Javier Arenas.

Picks like McCluster are a coup if you are a GM, because you get a guy who will be pretty much as good as he'll ever be right away. Most people are rightfully tired of losing, but we seem to be getting to the point (like arguing over the fact that you can win with a game manager) that we're willing to take shortcuts.

That's how you end up in purgatory.

No one builds around a WR. They added a playmaker which they DESPERATELY needed.

Next draft? Back to the grind to get a deep-threat WR with size, a NT and OLB. Can't fix it all in 1 draft.

They picked Moeaki becuase in the NFL size=no injuries

There are lots of positions that don't take overly long to develop. Inside Linebacker, Guard, Tight End, arguably Free Safety.

I don't think it's accurate at all to say McCluster is anywhere near his peak. He played most of his snaps as a RB. He still has a crazy amount of upside as he gets better at route running and recognition in the passing game.

If the Chiefs were interested in taking shortcuts, they would have spent a boatload of money on players like Julius Peppers and drafted for need instead of "role players." The fact that the Chiefs took two role players in spite of what we thought were glaring positions of need, to me, indicates that they are a lot more interested in a patient approach to building this team.

An average about 5 second rounders become pro bowlers.

The idea that we should be able to get a foundational player in the second round, especially when you're talking about positions of high positional value, is completely overstated. Most hits have come from either picking conservatively (Guard, Running Back, Right Tackle, Tight End) or getting lucky by stealing a CB, QB, WR, etc... who ended up being underrated.

Most picks around McCluster and Arenas are going to bust and bust hard. Probably around 1/2 to 3/4 of them.

That's what this draft seems like. It all seems like a shortcut.

We need long-term solutions at some pretty critical positions that take a while to develop: passrushing, nose tackle, receiving, even QB.

But the 2010 draft wasn't about development, it was "what can you do for me now?"

The biggest reason why I liked the 2009 draft out of the gate more than the 2010 draft is because it was far more foundational. The 2008 draft was orgasmic.

The 2010 draft isn't as foundational, if it can be called foundational at all.

This is a fair argument.

I think it is consistently questioned for all the right reasons. Just because you question something doesn't mean you aren't open to any answer...I agree with the OP...It seemed to me a very questionable pick with an extemely high 2nd rounder that could have gone to say an OL which we need...This football team despite being 3-0 is still rebuilding...I think people forget that and just want to live in a fantasy land.

I questioned the pick when it happened and still do....but that doesn't mean 1) I am not open to being 100% wrong.... or 2) I can't enjoy Dex for what he is in the moment.....

A question is simply that...a QUESTION....and with time, the questions will be answered one way or another.

From an outside perspective, I thought the pick was a bit high.
Talented guy, don't get me wrong, but Mr. Direckshun may have a point.
That speed fades quickly.
Getting an OL, DL or a LB that can be solid, (not necessarily a star), for aboot 7-10 years would be the ideal in round 2. Darrell Greens don't come along every year.
Sproles was a 4th rounder BTW.

Yep. The odds are against even a second-rounder. Most of them will play for a while, but relatively few are stars. It's surprising, but true.

Per the original topic, I would agree that the smallest players tend to have shorter careers, though they can be impactful during that time. Maybe Pioli got McCluster for our Super Bowl run in 2010.

*yawn*

But this goes back to the argument we had all along pre-draft: those positions you mentioned are EASY to find. Arguably, we have two young ILBs in Belcher and DJ who are looking like they could be 5-year options. And when you look at the free agency wire, you see a lot of these guys who can more than adequately fill those positions. It won't be hard for us to overpay for a productive ILB or a Right Tackle. If Pioli's history in NE is any indication, he likes to build first and then spend big money when he feels the foundation has been set.

But playmakers do not grow on trees and teams typically do not get rid of these guys. We talked a lot about how the best teams have a handful of playmakers. As of now, I haven't seen them use McCluster in a way that makes you really concerned about his long-term health (outside of the preseason).

Not really... that's kinda why we're having this discussion. You saying he'll be great for a long time doesn't make it so.

I swear some Chiefs fans are only capable of one single emotion at a time. The thought of being ecstatic with the progress of the team, yet at the same time wanting to discuss the long term future shouldn't overload your brain to the point of all caps and multiple exclamation points.

"SHUT UP YOU HAVE TO BE HAPPY SINCE WE WON GAMES." doesn't make for a very good conversation.

It makes for some great fascism, though. That you have to admit.

Bottom line, until we fix the QB position we're on the outside looking in so moves will be questioned.

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Looks pretty good so far.

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:clap:

While that's fine, we've had a million threads talking about how we have to get a first round QB... period. No settling. And there were multiple statistics out there to prove it. So if we're talking about second round picks, that shouldn't be up for debate.

Now, last year, like Cassel, I took a "wait and see" approach for Sanchez. I thought he was a product of a great running game and defense, and thought he was getting way too much credit for game management. I'm really unhappy to report that this year, he's proving to be much more than that. It's beginning to look like we whiffed big time by passing on Sanchez.

So yeah, once again, we ****ed up pretty big time in 2009, but I don't think the QB argument really comes into play nearly as much in 2010.

It's pretty frustrating to realize if we could go back and swap out Jackson and Cassel with Sanchez and any number of 2nd rounders last year we'd be even better than we are today.

You seem to write this as if there is a point this or any team could reach where every move is not questioned.

Don't be silly.

Sad but true. But the good news is, I think the 2010 draft is moving us in the right direction. But yes, the QB situation is going to loom over their heads until they figure it out.

This thread is dumb

The weeks before the draft:

Drafturbators: "NEVER DRAFT FOR NEED! WE NEED PLAY MAKERS! WE DON'T HAVE TALENT! WE NEED PLAYMAKERS!!!!!!!!!"

......*Pioli drafts playmakers*

The weeks after the draft:

"WTF? WE HAVE MUCH BIGGER NEEDS! DO YOU NOT SEE THE NEEDS WE FAILED TO ADDRESS! WE SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED FOR NEED! WTF?"

Huh? I don't remember that...

Please name of these Drafturbators you're calling out. I'd like to look into this.

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Not interested in naming names, but that's actually pretty accurate.

Strawman much?

I mean, it's not like there weren't playmakers at positions of greater need available.

But you knew that. It's just easier for you to mis-represent the facts.

In all honesty, I'm sick of the argument. I'm just going to enjoy the wins until the problems we didn't address rear their heads.

In a perfect world, it never happens.

Well, I heard tons of crap about how drafting McCluster and Arenas was like "putting 1000 dollar rims on a pinto" or some such shit.

Yeah, when he caught that pass from Cassel on the curl route, made a guy miss than darted 20+ more yards for a TD....THAT was as gadget as it gets.

A gadget player IMO is only 1 dimensional(e.g Dante Hall) Hall couldn't take a hit as a WR or slot or block for that matter. He was a return man only. McCluster is far more than that and is our version of Wes Welker with a little more speed.

We needed playmakers on Offense with serious speed. Speed kills and you can never have enough of it. I have no problem with Dex as our 2nd pick.

Maybe he is right Zach! Just maybe. You cannot say honestly that we would not be better off with Sanchez at QB??? Just askin. Hell I kinda like the picks we got last draft, but I will Always question his reeruned love for Cassell and all things Patriot.

So basically, you don't want to get playmakers for the QB that sucks.

Got it.

That's like saying, we are ignoring the infield defense in baseball until we get Roy Halladay.

Oh DO shut up. Everybody pisses and moans that they the Chiefs don't get playmakers. Then they get one and its "ooooh I dunno I ah-scared"

The Seattle Sonics on draft day: Um, lets not draft Durant. We don't have a center yet.

What the hell you talking about no one knows what he will be 3 or 4 years from now. But from what i have seen this kid will only get better. Is he there yet no, but like i said before the sky is the limit for this kid. I think they are going to mold him into a Wes Welker mold. But the reason people are excited because he has just started to hit his potential. When he has the ability to run routes with his speed and cut ability is why people are drooling. Because they see the potential this kid has.

the quicker we all learn that mecca isn't a Chiefs fan, just a troll...the better

Are you still planning on sucking your own cock?

mecca facts:

lives at home
has no job

/mecca facts

No one doubts his abilities. The doubt resides in his small frame and whether it was a good idea to take that risk with a second round pick considering the rest of the needs on the team.

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Look at that Gadget Play at 1:00

Maybe you could suck it for me?? ROFL!!! we won't go 8 and 8 :)

It's not much of a strawman. When asked whether to draft Eric Berry or CJ Spiller over Russel Okung or Rolando McClain, the argument was that we needed playmakers a lot more than we needed positional players. I really don't see how drafting Spiller (when we have a guy like Charles) is a whole lot different--that was purely a decision about drafting a playmaker over drafting a full-time player at a position of need.

The truth is, we were willing to draft a low-risk guy at a low positional value in a position of need (Daryl Washington, etc...) or draft a high-risk guy at a high positional value in a position of need (Cody, Kindle, Misi). The former are technicians, not playmakers. The latter are playmakers IF you're lucky. The Chiefs instead drafted a playmaker like Spiller who does not fit a position of need, but most certainly fits a role we can use and that we didn't have.