Gosselin: Chiefs see promise in rookie class

[CosmicPal]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...n.2601512.html

06:15 PM CDT on Saturday, August 21, 2010

Column by RICK GOSSELIN / The Dallas Morning News
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Head coach Todd Haley of the Kansas City Chiefs knows what a quality draft looks like.

His father, Dick Haley, presided over a Pittsburgh draft in 1974 as personnel director of the Steelers that produced four future Hall of Famers: Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert , John Stallworth and Mike Webster.

His 2010 Chiefs have not played a down yet, but Todd Haley knows Kansas City may have already struck gold with its draft last April.

"This is a unique group," Haley said of his seven-player class. "Every one of these guys could be a big help this year. A couple years from now, you might say this [draft] was the catalyst for the Kansas City Chiefs becoming a good football team."

After a 4-12 finish in his first season as head coach, Haley needs this rookie class to have an impact.

First-round draft pick Eric Berry is a walk-in starter at strong safety for the Chiefs. Second-round pick Dexter McCluster gives Haley a Reggie Bush-type offensive dimension with his three-pronged ability to run, catch and return kicks. Third-round pick Javier Arenas will be the team's primary kick returner and nickel cornerback.

Third-rounder Tony Moeaki could start at tight end, and fifth-rounder Kendrick Lewis could start at free safety.

Third-rounder Jon Asamoah pencils in as the third guard behind Brian Waters, who has started in Pro Bowls, and Ryan Lilja, who has started in Super Bowls. Fifth-rounder Cameron Sheffield is making the transition from defensive end in college to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and could wind up in the nickel pass-rush package.

"It's the most mature and professional group of rookies I've ever been around," Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli said. "From the moment they arrived here, they're all about football all the time. They're not getting caught up in the hype. They don't think they have arrived in any way. That's critical for their development. Their work ethic is as strong as I've seen – on the field, in the classroom and off the field. It's a really interesting group."

It's also a high-character group. Six of the seven draft picks were team captains last season. Only Sheffield missed out on that college distinction.

It's also a high-achievement group. Berry was a two-time All-American. McCluster made All-Southeastern Conference twice at different positions, running back and wide receiver. Arenas also was an All-SEC selection and Moeaki the MVP of an Iowa team that finished 11-2, ranked No. 7 in the nation.

"They've all got skill and the other stuff as well – the mental toughness, the will, the discipline," Haley said. "They don't get flustered. You can dig at them, poke them, throw little barbs at them, but they don't rattle. You can't shake them."

Winning in the NFL starts in April. The Chiefs could be on their way.

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[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

God I hate preseason articles, well OF COURSE they see promise with them. If they didn't, they wouldn't have ****ing drafted them.

This.

Big plays aren't as difficult when you're playing vanilla offenses and defenses either...

[Goldmember]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I read a lot of crazy stuff here, and this has to be one of the strangest.

If you said that about last years draft I could say I understand.

No kidding, a blind chimp throwing darts at the draft board could have done better than Pioli in 2009.

[MMXcalibur]

I'm pretty excited for this year's rookie class. We have a lot of players in positions that can make an immediate impact on the field. I'm just hoping either Berry, McCluster or hell, maybe even Lewis or Arenas can take the bull by the horns and make a name for themself early on in their career. I can't recall any rookie the Chiefs have added that has made a real impact in Year One.

The only two picks I feel a bit iffy about is Moeaki (obvious injury concerns) and Asamoah. The latter only for the sole reason that, admittedly, I don't know much about him or how he's progressed thus far since being picked.

[Red Dawg]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I like the players, I hate the picks.

1. Berry -- zero complaints.

2a. McCluster -- reach. This is virtually the equivalent of taking McCluster with a first round pick. This is an embarrassment. Instead, I would have taken Clausen to provide us with some eventual hope at the most important position.

2b. Arenas -- reach. We drafted an iffy corner and a great returner with a second rounder. I mean, holy shit, the value's just not there. We could have picked up any number of nose tackles (Cody), passrushers (Worilds), wide receivers (Williams)...

3a. Asamoah -- decent value, but at a position we don't need. Who drafts a guard in the third round and doesn't start them? Are we reeruned? Why wouldn't we draft a great receiver from USC (Williams)?

3b. Moeaki -- two more picks for a tight end? Ugh. Mardy Gilyard was still available. Daryl Sharpton was available. Bruce Campbell was available. I mean, Christ.

5a. Lewis -- reach. Ed Wang was still around. Cam Thomas was still around.

5b. Sheffield -- no major complaints here.

What we basically did was reach all over the place for team captains. That's what we did. Which is no better than reaching all over the place for linebackers, or offensive linemen, or wide receivers.

This is my draft, if I knew how things would play out (I know):

1. SS Eric Berry, Tennessee
2. QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
2. NT Terrance Cody, Alabama
3. WR Damian Williams, USC
3. WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
5. OT Ed Wang, Virginia Tech
5. OLB Cam Sheffield, Troy

Are fugg'in high? You must be to think our draft was bad.

[jspchief]

Some people would rather have an accurate mock than actually see the Chiefs get players that appear to be promising.

[LaChapelle]

THey have a renovated stadium and need to sell tickets
the average ticket buyer wants the WOW factor
I wonder how tickets sales in the DV era vs the Marty era compare

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by LaChapelle

THey have a renovated stadium and need to sell tickets
the average ticket buyer wants the WOW factor
I wonder how tickets sales in the DV era vs the Marty era compare

Much tougher to get a ticket in the Marty era.

[mikey23545]

Originally Posted by jspchief

Some people would rather have an accurate mock than actually see the Chiefs get players that appear to be promising.

I can't even imagine who you might be talking about...