If he is there, I would bet Peterson takes Chris Long

[jjchieffan]

After reading this, and knowing Peterson, it is the logical choice.

Also remember this on Long: Gunther Cunningham considers him family. Gunther and Howie Long have a very strong relationship. Plus, Long’s agent is Marvin Demoff, a good friend of Carl Peterson and they share a connection with UCLA. Signability won’t be a problem with Long.

I found it in this story


Let the Picking Begin

This Saturday figures to be a very, very interesting day for the Chiefs and the team’s future. They have three of the 63 choices that will be used in the first day of the draft.

That’s three of the foundation blocks they are going to lay for the future of the franchise and its return to a position of AFC contender, not pretender.

The hard part of trying to guess who might make up that trio is this: the Chiefs have so many important needs, it’s hard to zero in on a single position.

Offensive tackle, cornerback, guard, center and now defensive end top the list. Some of those positions need more than one body.

Baring any more trading and with the NFL changes to the draft (just two rounds on the first day rather than three rounds) Saturday presents the opportunity to fill only three of those roster holes.

Here’s one man’s guess on what happens. Again, this is only a guess. Please, no wagering.

We know that OT Jake Long will be the 1st player taken; he’s already worked out a contract with Miami. It appears – one of those words that you’ll see a lot of in stories like this, appears, looks, might, could, possibly – that with the No. 2 pick, the St. Louis Rams are trying to decide between DT Glenn Dorsey and DE Chris Long. Management likes Long; the coaches like Dorsey.

With the third pick, Atlanta waits to see if the Rams take Dorsey. If they pass, then it looks like the Falcons will go with the LSU defender. If St. Louis drafts Dorsey, then where the Birds go remains a mystery. Possibly QB Matt Ryan.

At No. 4 it’s the Raiders and anything is possible when the final say belongs to Al Davis. Understand this: the relationship between Davis and Howie Long, Hall of Fame defensive end and the father of Chris Long, is not a close one. If Long was available, it would not be an automatic pick for Oakland. RB Darren McFadden makes the most sense, since he could pair with last year’s No. 1 choice JaMarcus Russell and give the Raiders a big jump on improving their offense.

Long, McFadden, DE Vernon Gholston, OT Ryan Clady; one of that group could end up going to the Raiders in that choice.

With the fifth pick, I believe the Chiefs will immediately draft Dorsey if he’s available or Chris Long if he’s there. Dorsey would simply be too good a player to pass up. Long would fill their need at defensive end. Also remember this on Long: Gunther Cunningham considers him family. Gunther and Howie Long have a very strong relationship. Plus, Long’s agent is Marvin Demoff, a good friend of Carl Peterson and they share a connection with UCLA. Signability won’t be a problem with Long.

If Dorsey and Long are gone, then the picture changes. They will probably consider Gholston, Clady and G-T Brandon Albert. This also could be the time they trade down. If Ryan, McFadden or Gholston are still available, there are teams that will start twitching. The Chiefs could probably drop a few spots and still have the chance to draft Clady or Albert.

At five, the likely candidates still available are Dorsey, Long, Albert, Gholston and Clady. It will be interesting to see who is still available to receive a ticket to Kansas City.

Where the Chiefs go with that first pick will play a part in where they go with the 17th choice they acquired from Minnesota in the Jared Allen trade. Given the talent that should be available at that time, there should be some options. Offensive tackle, cornerback and defensive end would all be likely considerations. But it all depends on who the Chiefs are able to get at No. 5. The perfect scenario would somehow see one of those choices at the fifth spot remaining on the board, but that’s probably wishful thinking.

Once the first cornerback goes off the board, somewhere between the 10th pick and the 15th choice, look for a run on that position. It always happens that way. Whether it’s Leodis McKelvin or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie first, the other will soon follow as will Mike Jenkins and Aquib Talib. It will be interesting to see who’s available.

Then 18 picks later, the Chiefs will go again with the fourth pick in the second round. That’s where they will zero in on the positions they didn't get in round one.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/589398.html

[Rain Man]

Carl's all about doing what's easy for himself.

[Hammock Parties]

Is no one concerned about the fact that Long had 21 sacks his entire college career? 14 came as a senior.

[Mecca]

I was about to say people love Chris Longs production until his senior year he really wasn't productive....

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by GOATSE

Is no one concerned about the fact that Long had 21 sacks his entire college career? 14 came as a senior.

Is no one concerned that Gholston went missing in games against lesser foes?

Is no one concerned that Matt Ryan threw a butt load of interceptions?

Is no one concerned that Dorsey has been injured alot?


It's freaking college man.....nobody is going to have perfect stats. If he had 10-12 sacks per year his entire college career...then he'd be a Dolphin right now.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I was about to say people love Chris Longs production until his senior year he really wasn't productive....

That's pretty much the point I was making in my piece last night...

http://kan.scout.com/2/749494.html

The Chiefs would likely thank the football gods if Chris Long dropped to the #5 spot on Saturday. A week ago, he was projected as a potential top overall selection.

Despite that, no one really knows where Long will go for sure. I’ve seen him projected to St. Louis, Atlanta, Oakland and yes, even the Chiefs over the last week. It’s not completely ludicrous to speculate that he might end up in red and gold.

As the top defensive end in the country last season, he’d seem a logical replacement for the departed Jared Allen. Reading Tom Marino’s scouting report of Long, it’s difficult not to think of a player just like Allen, in fact.

But forget about all those sacks and big-time plays at Virginia. What really stands out where Long is concerned are the rave reviews people have given based on his work ethic and character.

You won’t see his name on the “off-the-field problems” list in Saturday’s draft. No one is questioning his motor during the play or his attention to detail in the classroom. You can probably forget about any DUI citations, although anything is possible when someone hands a 22-year old a check for millions of dollars.

I don’t really need to list Long’s accomplishments on the football field or rave about his talent here. If you’ve paid any attention to the pre-draft hype, you know all that stuff. Truthfully, no one would complain if the Chiefs drafted him with the fifth pick and tabbed him to replace Allen.

Here’s what I don’t like. Despite his extensive collegiate resume – 43 total games and a whopping 37 starts – Long had only 21 career sacks. And obviously, 14 came as a Senior. Whoever drafts Long on Saturday is getting a player with only one year of elite college production.

The real troubling aspect is that it’s obvious why Long’s college numbers don’t stack up to some of the other big-time pass rushers that have entered the NFL recently.

Everyone knows he doesn’t have the burst of a Dwight freeney or the strength of a Reggie White. His first step? Wouldn’t beat Willie Roaf. His pursuit speed? Don’t compare it to fellow 2007 rookie Vernon Gholston.

Long’s abilities as a pass rusher are so suspect that some scouts have projected him as a defensive end in a 3-4 defensive formation, or even a defensive tackle in the 4-3. It was just a year ago that Adam Carriker, another big defensive end who was highly touted before the draft, went early in the first round. He was moved inside to tackle for the St. Louis Rams, and only logged two sacks as a rookie.

Just what would the Chiefs be getting with Chris Long? Is he truly capable of racking up 15 sacks, like Allen? Or is he just another solid player who won’t make an offensive coordinator stay up late designing protection schemes?

And can you imagine the immense pressure Long might be under as a Chief if he was tabbed as the “new” Jared Allen? With his huge first-round contract (the one that Allen didn’t get from the Chiefs) and elite-prospect expectations, there would be plenty of mental stress to handle from day one. You’d hope he would have the sense not to wear #69.

The final word:

Scout.com’s Tom Marino rates Long as the top defensive end in this year’s draft.

Quality individual and player. Finishes everything. Great playing character, tenacity and toughness. Good initial get off, sees things quickly, reacts, and shows excellent play range. Rare backside effort. Wasn't as nifty as I expected (bend and trim the edge). Great bend and core strength. More of a self-made player than a natural talent. Great leverage meeting and playing off blocks.The ultimate team guy. Top defensive player in the country.

[jjchieffan]

I think everyone except Rainman is missing the point of this thread. I was pointing out that Carl Petersucker would take Long because his UCLA buddy is the agent.

[eazyb81]

I hope not, he's probably the realistic target I'm least excited about.

[BigRock]

Everybody is Carl's buddy until it's time to start talking money. Carl was once the godfather of Ethan Locke's children.

[Tribal Warfare]

Well if they said that on the official website, that means KC is looking at Ellis/Gholston instead

[alanm]

He won't be so the whole story is moot.

[Mecca]

The agents aren't a big deal Tom Condon has 4 of the top 6 guys this year and he's never had a problem with Carl.

[KCChiefsMan]

If Long is there, you have to take him. Period. I'll be happy with Long, Ellis, Gholston or Ryan and I will be breaking things and cussing if we take Clady, Albert or any other reach.

[ChiliConCarnage]

I think we'll take Long if he's there. Herm loves effort guys

[El Jefe]

Im praying we take Gholston, maybe I will say a couple extra .