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

[RealSNR]

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?

[Rainbarrel]

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.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Doesn't matter have Mahomes.

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

[BossChief]

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.

[Oxford]

Originally Posted by BossChief

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.

[RunKC]

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

[DaneMcCloud]

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.

[Wallymo]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

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!

[Chris Meck]

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.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

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.

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

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

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.

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