Rick Gosselin draft grade: Chiefs get A+

[dirk digler]

I was pretty down on this draft outside of Berry but maybe I am just stupid.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...s.3f4b050.html

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS GRADE: A+
The Chiefs drafted the NFL defensive rookie of the year in Berry – and a slew of other good players. Arenas was the best returner in the draft, and McCluster will give the AFC matchup problems at both running back and receiver.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I don't think there is a good one unless you count Romeo playing the white knight. But we have seen this act before back in 2004 and it didn't work then and isn't going to work now.

Or maybe I have different idea, they are going to run a 3-1-7 D

But I definitely would be interested in your thoughts Clay.

Think like the GM of a team who has an empty stadium and a quarterback who is being questioned.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Pioli values slot WR's and nickle CB's more than starting pass rushers and ILB's for a team that is dead last against the run.

That's scary.

We can agree to disagree here. I don't see things that way at all.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Who in their right mind wouldn't think that Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel won't be far more effective on game day than Pendergast and Haley?

Without talent, it's not going to make much difference, Dane.

If you haven't noticed, with rare exception, the guys that stand out at OC and DC also have a shit-ton of talent on their squads.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I'm far from pissed. I'm saddened.

I'll root for them, as always, but I won't be surprised when the guys we passed on become superstars and we need to score 40 points a game to win on a weekly basis.

Whoa. Easy there tiger. On average, about 5 players in every second round become pro bowl players. Probably a little over half become contributors. But the vast majority become average rotational starters at best. Let's not exaggerate here. The majority of the people we're yelling about not taking are going to be average rotational guys at best.

It's not nearly the same as Tyson Jackson, where you could easily argue that you passed up on a clear-cut solid starter.

[penchief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

In psychology and logic, rationalization (or making excuses^[1]) is the process of constructing a logical justification for a belief, decision, action or lack thereof that was originally arrived at through a different mental process. It is a defense mechanism in which perceived controversial behaviors or feelings are explained in a rational or logical manner to avoid the true explanation of the behavior or feeling in question.^[2][3] It is also an informal fallacy of reasoning.^{[citation needed]}
This process can be in a range from fully conscious (e.g. to present an external defense against ridicule from others) to mostly subconscious (e.g. to create a block against internal feelings of guilt).


Rationalization is one of the defense mechanisms proposed by Sigmund Freud, which were later developed further by his daughter Anna Freud.


According to the DSM-IV, rationalization occurs "when the individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by concealing the true motivations for his or her own thoughts, actions, or feelings through the elaboration of reassuring or self serving but incorrect explanations."

You're totally dismissing the possibility that a person's initial reaction may have been uninformed. If I hadn't taken the time to study Jimmy Clausen highlights I would have probably taken your word for it that he was worth the fifth overall pick. There is nothing wrong with checking one's self to make sure he or she is better informed before spouting off about a topic.

When I first heard the commissioner say "Dexter McCluster," I had a holy shit moment. I knew who he was and that he was highly regarded but I was totally caught off guard. After about an hour of investigation and further research I was very happy with the pick. But my contentment was not the result of rationalization as much as it was being pleasantly surprised once I took the time to educate myself.

As a defense mechanism, rationalization is a very real phenomenon. And when people employ it they are generally unaware they are doing so. However, you cannot randomly accuse people of rationalization simply because they reconsider their initial reaction. After all, the initial reaction may have been a knee-jerk reaction while a change of heart may have been based on a conscientious effort to gather further information.

Some might suggest that the manner in which you attack those with whom you disagree is a form of displacement. That said, by trying to be too clever you often do a disservice to your own arguments, IMHO.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Pioli values slot WR's and nickle CB's more than starting pass rushers and ILB's for a team that is dead last against the run.

That's scary.

I disagree with the notion that this is "scary".

Both positions were positions of great need. If the Chiefs had a McCluster and Arenas type player currently on the roster and chose players identical to those guys while ignoring the need at ILB and NT, I'd agree. But that certainly was not the case.

He made a decision that a QB/RB/WR would add more to the team than an ILB or NT at #36. He made the decision at #50 that a KR/Nickel Back was more important at this point in time than a ILB or NT.

In my opinion, neither choice is right or wrong. It's six of one, half a dozen of the other and I'm not going to rake him over the coals for adding dynamic playmakers.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

We can agree to disagree here. I don't see things that way at all.

Explain to me how you can see it any other way?

Last year he thought the OL would be just fine as is.

This year, he thinks the front 7 will be fine as is.

Nevermind that he used high picks on positions that he drafted just LAST YEAR.

More than likely, the results are going to be eerily similar.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

"Coaching alone will lead us to 7-8 wins."

-True Fan, circa April, 2009.

So what I'm getting from you and Mecca is that coaches really don't matter?

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I've been criticized for the past two months for saying you can get a fat guy to take up blockers later in the draft, so I know that doesn't apply to me.

But don't act like there weren't full-time playmakers available at OLB and ILB when we picked.

That's the argument, Frank. The board set up perfectly to get playmakers at a position of greater need, and we passed.

Pioli values slot WR's and nickle CB's more than starting pass rushers and ILB's for a team that is dead last against the run.

That's scary.

And the only guy we passed on that wouldn't have been a reach at 2a was an OLB with a legitimate injury concern.

You can't walk in with tunnel-vision and draft by need for the position you want. That's what got us in trouble by taking Tyson Jackson. The Chiefs took a guy that was on the top of their board and probably at the top of a lot of teams' boards.

You're arguing for a needs-based draft over BPA. You can have preference over one method or the other, sure, but taking BPA is usually the way to go beyond the first round.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

There are most likely only three offensive downs per down (I'm not counting fourth down).

McCluster will most likely be on the field at minimum, two out of three of those downs, putting it at 67% of the snaps.

He'll likely see time on first down as well.

The bottom line is that the guy will be constantly be on the field.

Well, something has to give.

The people defending the McCluster pick say he's always be on the field because we're going to be in a lot of 3-wide formations.

Those same people then defend the Moeaki pick by saying we're going to be in a lot of 2 TE formations.

Do the math.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Without talent, it's not going to make much difference, Dane.

If you haven't noticed, with rare exception, the guys that stand out at OC and DC also have a shit-ton of talent on their squads.

I'm beginning to think I'm one of only people that don't see this as a one year rebuilding program.

Quite honestly, I don't see anything special about Cam Thomas or Cody or Lee or Washington that can't be found in any draft, any year.

What I did see in this draft was a special guy like McCluster, who could line up and produce at any given skill position. I saw a cornerback that was also the nation's best returner.

He chose those guys because he believes that they're special players and playmakers and I have no problem with that.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Think like the GM of a team who has an empty stadium and a quarterback who is being questioned.

Ok.

Offense sells tickets so we are going to be putting up alot of points with no D?

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Explain to me how you can see it any other way?

Last year he thought the OL would be just fine as is.

This year, he thinks the front 7 will be fine as is.

Nevermind that he used high picks on positions that he drafted just LAST YEAR.

More than likely, the results are going to be eerily similar.

He used a high pick. Not picks. The only one affected by this was Donald Washington.

I see it as he wants playmakers on the field. I'm not going to cry about Sean Lee not coming here when he couldn't stay on the field at Penn State or Cody. I don't think either of those guys were going to make us a better front 7.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Well, something has to give.

The people defending the McCluster pick say he's always be on the field because we're going to be in a lot of 3-wide formations.

Those same people then defend the Moeaki pick by saying we're going to be in a lot of 2 TE formations.

Do the math.

I don't think anyone knows for certain how Weis will line his guys up week after week but I most certainly expect to see Moeaki and McCluster on the field for the majority of the time.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Ok.

Offense sells tickets so we are going to be putting up alot of points with no D?

If we're not putting up a lot of points, Pioli will look terrible.

In other news:

Ummm...we DID address the front 7. We got Shaun Smith. You can make fun of that statement all you wish but if you think I am joking about him being a significant upgrade over Ron Edwards then I would tell you to go and look at his stats under Crennel. HUGE UPGRADE. And I can also assure you that Edwards will play significantly better with better coaching and a year of 3-4 under his belt. And with better DL play comes better LB play. And we aren't even close to being through yet.