"The OL needs time to gel." Ok. How long does that take?
 

I'm a busy Chiefs fan on the internet, so I need instant and direct answers, please!

I'm as excited about the new OL as everybody else, but I keep hearing this warning from critics, "Ok, but your new OL will need time to gel." Teicher the Dickless even said we could be looking at 1-3 or 0-4 to start the season all because the OL will not have had time to "gel" yet! Seems scary!

I'm trying to think of massive single-offseason OL rebuilds in the past. The recent Cowboys rebuild in the early 2010s was entirely through the draft and took at least two seasons to construct. I think I remember the Chargers doing a full-on rebuild a bit later and being impressed by it, but in typical Chargers fashion is sort of just slowly collapsed and dudes got injured.

Is there a precedent for this kind of thing where we're virtually guaranteed a Week 1 OL full of starters who have never played next to one another in a game? And when they say, "They need time to gel" does that mean a few weeks? Just a game or two? Not until late in the season? And what's the severity of playing with an un-gelled line?

This is a dumb comment when it comes to straight man on man blocking. The time to gel comes from stunts and twists. They’ve got all of TC. I’m not worried.

I think the left side will gel pretty quick. Thuney is as proven as a guard can be.

The right side is a bit more of a question mark. Kinda depends who the starters are. LDT and Remmers could probably hit the ground running. Long and Niang would have higher upside, but neither played last year.

By all accounts, Humphrey is about as pro ready as any rookie center recently. Assuming he’s the starter, I don’t think it’ll take him long with a normal offseason.

If nothing else, I think the line starts out as good as it was for most of last season. By mid to late season, I think we’ll see this group start to stand out as one of the elite units in all of football.

I've got an un-gelled hemorrhoid, and can't gel it until I can get to the drug store in an hour or two. Is that dangerous? Is it more or less dangerous than an un-gelled OL?

My expectation is similar to the 2019 defense. Maybe sooner given its one unit within the offense instead of rebuilt parts at every level like the defense.

Either way, its resulting in a Super Bowl victory.

Its day to day

To be a truly elite unit, you have to have that cohesion and continuity. They won't have that right away, that's true.

But this is a well above average line, man for man. Early on, it will all be about winning individual matchups and they can do that.

It's kind of silly, they're really not mutually exclusive.

Exactly.

Goddamn, Teicher is a bundle of sticks. He should have to clean OBJ's taint with his tongue after every practice.

Even unjelled this Oline is as good as the shitty one last year. We should be able to win with it while the players get used to each other. I'd say 5 games in, it will be ready to go. It depends on how quickly the Chiefs decide on who is going to start. I hope they go young and ride it out.

2 weeks

Does ESPN not realize a large portion of the Chiefs' fanbase can't stand Teicher? I intentionally never click his stories in the hopes that they eventually make a change.

I like to read articles about the Chiefs because I like the Chiefs. You don't have to be a fanboy to be a good team reporter, but Teicher's negative angle on every story is exhausting. I just don't get it. For self-preservation if nothing else I would think Teicher would take a hint.

Completely overblown IMO

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cJIpjqh66J0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Doesn't matter have Mahomes.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QiQgPt8DI5Y" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Agreed.

You know what makes for good communication? Good communicators. You don't need to "gel" to communicate. You just need to know your assignments and speak. Mahomes will be calling most of the line adjustments anyway.

By the time the post season rolls around everyone will be on the same page anyway, assuming they aren't once TC breaks. And these guys are all vets/pros. My money is on this line being more than ready week 1.

Speaking of the o-line, are we all certain that Humphrey is going to be the starting center? Does Austin Blythe even have a chance?

They’re being coached by andy Reid and have Mahomes behind them


Seems dumb as a talking point they’ll be fine

Will the OL likely be better in Week 18 than they are in Week 1? Sure.

Will they be a noticeable improvement in Week 1 compared to what we saw in the Super Bowl?

Uhh...yeah. That's a virtual certainty.

Also, Brown, Thuney, Humphrey, and Long have all been praised on their football IQ and intelligence.

They’ve already started working together.

This is absolutely a non-issue.

Yep.

Teicher, as always, is a moron of the highest order.

I don't think anyone can be certain about anything yet.

My personal "dream" o-line this season would include Humphrey, Trey Smith and Niang. It would mean those three beat out the veterans and our o-line would be set for the next four years. The money saved across the three newcomer spots would pay for Brown's extension.

That line (along with Brown and Thuney), in my opinion, is the nastiest and most physical possible from the personnel on hand. It's not likely to come about until 2022, but it's going to be marvelous!

Typical Teicher dipshittery.

Brown, Thuney, Long, LDT, Blythe and Remmers are professionals with years of service time, so their knowledge of the line calls will not, in any way, shape or form, become a hindrance to great offensive line play.

By all accounts, Creed Humphrey is not only impressive on field but extremely smart as well, so I don't think it will take him any time to gel with the guys next to him. Morse had zero issues and I expect Humphrey will have zero issues.

The only person that should be even remotely concerning (and I'm stressing remotely) is Lucas Niang, but Niang has had the playbook and access to the terminology for more than a year. He hasn't been in full pads since October 2019 so his timing might be a little off to start Training Camp but I think he'll be fine next to a veteran, whetherthat's LDT or Long.

The bottom line is that no one should be concerned about whether or not the offensive line will "gel" come Week 1.

But the entire league should be concerned about whether or not the offensive line will gel come Week 17. ;)

14-26 months

The OL is week-to-week.

Probably depends on what the D throws at them. They’d have more trouble with that Cheatriots than the Jets.

But yeah. Color me not worried. If Remmers is at LT I’m worried. This does not worry me.

FORMAL REQUEST: Mods, please install a filter for Teicher the Dickless. Thanks in advance.

Hopefully youe life expectancy.

I would expect it to take getting at least into the second quarter of the season to "gel". But that doesn't mean they'll be bad at the start. It'll just take them awhile to become the awesome, punishing force that will be rampaging through the playoffs in January and February.

this is dumb.

A non-issue.

You've got some pro bowlers in there with talented youngsters, full OTA's and training camp. They'll be fine.

In 2019, the OL played just 56 snaps together (typically a game sees around 65-80 offensive snaps) before the injury train hit the Chiefs.

The starting OL didn’t play as a unit again until week 10. And they were a little rusty until the playoffs, but iirc, they looked like they were’gelling’ week 15 (CHI).

So my guess is about 4-6 weeks.

This. While they may not be at peak performance Week 1, woe be to any opponent come the 2nd quarter of the season.

The biggest risk to the OL not "gelling" is not even how many of them are brand new. It's how they get through the opening part of the season with regards to injuries.

If the Chiefs new OL gets through training camp and preseason uninjured, I think we'll see strong play over the first part of the season and dominant play as they hit the second quarter of the schedule.

Know the playbook. Know the protection calls. Communicate. Sprinkle in a dash of knowing the weaknesses of the guys next to you. That's all the gelling there is. Most of these guys are vets, they get it by now. The media acts as though you need a bunch of Einstein's out there to "gel." Just don't be a ****ing idiot that can't remember the playbook and that'll get you 90% of the way there.

30 seconds.

:thumb:This is the perfect explanation of when a coach says they gelled. This thread may be closed now.:clap:

Oh and don't ever read or listen to Teicher.

That guy asks the dumbest ****ing questions at every press conference.

I have no idea how he keeps his job. :doh!:

Does it take more than 5 seconds to rub gel on after a shower?

So you are assuming they have to go one at a time. They can only afford one can of gel or this is some bonding ritual?

:shrug:

The guy second-guesses every move the Chief's make with comments like "that is not what I would have preferred" everything out of his mouth has a negative tone.

The only way the Chiefs could lose 2 games in September in the next 15 years is if the personal conduct policy calls for a 4 game suspension if a player for a team in Missouri leaves the toilet seat up and the NFL installs spycams in every bathroom that a Chiefs player takes a piss in. And the league does not announce the suspensions until after the final cuts.

https://images.thdstatic.com/product...32-64_1000.jpg

As long as they don’t drink any of this it won’t be an issue.. I don’t know why anybody would read anything that dumbass Teicher writes anyway..

Main thing is them staying healthy till the season. I'd expect it to take a couple of games for blitz pickups and such to become more settled.

The center position will be key, they’re the anchor of the line. Could take awhile, crowd noise and gameplay is different from training camp.

Humphrey played at OU, in a regularly packed stadium and in the college playoffs 3 times i believe. I'm not worried with crowd noise, maybe game speed.

I think Blythe will compete at Center and RG.

Did Teicher seriously predict that they'll start 1-3 or 0-4?

Correct answer

Teicher is a ****ing douche. Dude is a glorified Arrowhead Pride writer and hes somehow convinced ESPN that he's the best option to give ground breaking commentary on the Chiefs.

It's like he's always trying to be a contraction, but he's so goddamn unoriginal and boring that the only thing he has is old sports cliches.

Waste of time to read his drivel.

Oh my bad. He didn’t say that. He says:

https://www.espn.com/blog/kansas-cit...her-fast-start

I would not be surprised at all if Andy goes with experience at the center position. The center position is where experience means the most along the Oline.

Honestly? The biggest question I have regarding the OLine isn't whether or not they'll operate well together, but rather....

...and it's a low key question...

but I wonder about, and will be watching to see, how Brown will handle multiple speed edge-rushes over the top all game long. And to pair with that, the inevitable stunts & counters they'll test him with inside while trying to stretch him on his deep kickstep drops.

He's a big boy, and it could be a smart defensive strategy to try and tire him out, since a hardcore passing offense is a new concept for him.

That said, it's a minor question and the dude is a 2x pro-bowl tackle, so I'm not super worried.

He played at OU, which has had a high flying passing offense for years.

Brown will be fine. I can't even understand why anyone would even question whether or not he'd be ready to handle the Chiefs offense Day 1.

The league has had bigger LTs than Brown before who played at Pro Bowl/All Pro levels. Size means jack.

Roaf had chicken legs and walked like an 90 year old man who had to really take a piss. He was great against speed, power, both at the same time, and everything in between.

I hear you on the OU days and being in a predominately passing offense, good call, I overlooked that. That said, Big 12 defenses are pretty sad, outside of the occasional Texas DE. He clearly adjusted well in Baltimore, with his two Pro-Bowl nods for both tackle spots. Again, not super worried about it, but will be something I'll be looking for in the first few games.

And yep, the counter to my earlier question/thought re: his adjustment from Baltimore to KC's offense is that his length will serve him really well. His wingspan is 85.13 inches, and ranks in the 96th percentile.

So even if a speed rusher runs upfield to try and go around him, his long ass arms will allow him to make that defender's loop even wider. Obviously the outlier is Mahomes' comfort and willingness to stay in the pocket, which should be better this year with a stronger/better interior.

It usually take about a half a season.

By mid-season they will be sticky. Like the rice used in the mortar of the Great Wall of China. The Easter Island Idols will follow them on Twitter.

we also have arguably best Coach in football that doesn't resort to cheating to win.

I know I almost always lean to the optimistic side, but I really don’t think there will be much of a period where this specific group of OL doesn’t come right out and play at a high level right away. All 5 line positions should be above average to best in the league.

I’m excited to see this group grow together because I think they play at a high level right away and by the time they gel, they will be the best OL in the league if Niang is as good as some of us think and someone out of the group of LDT/Long/Blythe/smith/Allegreti steps up.

Early I think they will be adequate (because of the experience and talent level), but they will be a better unit by week 6. By playoff time they'll be even better.

Probably about 6-8 weeks. Before some of you guys flame me, that means camp time. I would expect us to be pretty damn good individually early but more of a cohesive unit by October

The Chiefs had multiple guys on the offensive line, from Osemele to Wylie to Remmers at different spots, etc. and the Chiefs went 8-1 to start the season.

Veterans such as Brown, Thuney, Blythe, Long, LDT and Remmers, along with Humphrey and Niang, shouldn't have any issues to start the season.

And while they'll definitely improve over the course of the season, this is the best starting offensive line that Chiefs have had in terms of talent and personnel in probably two decades.

That Roaf / Waters / Shields line made everyone else on the offense significantly better. I'm positively giddy at the prospect of Jesus behind a similar line!

I think some people just really need something to bitch about.

They'll be fine to start with, better than anything we had last season, and will be great by mid-season.

Yup. That Patrick Mahomes guy makes the OL look pretty good too. I hear he does well outside the pocket

The gel will be visible by no later than the third possession in the opener.