Chiefs Laurent Duvernay-Tardif figures in Chiefs' OL plans

FringeNC · 03-10-2015, 08:00 AM

( I know this is a little old, but I hadn't read it. Hope it isn't a re-post. The Chiefs must have seen something in him because they didn't even try to hide him on the practice squad.)

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post...hiefs-ol-plans

By Adam Teicher

INDIANAPOLIS – Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is a name that many Kansas City Chiefs fans have already forgotten. No reason to recall it last year, really. Duvernay-Tardif, an offensive lineman and a sixth-round draft pick last year, didn’t get into a single game for the Chiefs as a rookie.

Just don’t forget about Duvernay-Tardif as the Chiefs proceed through their offseason and get to training camp. The Chiefs haven’t. The medical school student who played at McGill University in Canada looks to be very much in the Chiefs’ plans this year, most likely at guard.

“Think of where he was," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said at the NFL combine, referring to what amounted to a redshirt year for Duvernay-Tardif. “We’re talking maybe a junior-college level of play and now jumping into the National Football League. So the improvement that he made, I just thought it was dramatic. Smart, strong, good athlete. He just needs to play more. I think he has a nice upside."

The redshirt year was part of the plan for Duvernay-Tardif, given the jump in level of competition, as Reid pointed out. But the Chiefs might not be able to wait any longer for him. On the offensive line, the Chiefs have under contract for 2015 tackles Eric Fisher and Donald Stephenson, guards Jeff Allen and Zach Fulton and a handful of developmental prospects, Duvernay-Tardif being the most promising.

Center Rodney Hudson is unsigned and the Chiefs could lose him in free agency.

Duvernay-Tardif had some interesting things to say last month in an interview with CBC in Canada. He revealed that he took some first-team snaps in practice last season because of injuries to other players. Despite that, the Chiefs were never tempted to utilize him in a game.

“[Chiefs coaches] basically told me they wish I would have been able to compete and play during the season, but they weren’t confident enough that I was not going to make a little mental error," he said. "But they told me I was strong enough, fast enough, athletic enough. That’s a big plus for me. Now I know I can play against those guys. It’s just up here [pointing to his temple]. This part, it got better during the season and it’s still going to get better during the course of the year. I’ve only been practicing [offensive line] for three years now. I’m going to get a lot better and I’m already a lot better than I was a year ago.

“Of course [not playing] is going to get a bit frustrating. You think you’re ready, you think you’re better than the guy in front of you but you don’t get to start."

03-10-2015, 08:00 AM	Topic Starter
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $-1733986	Laurent Duvernay-Tardif figures in Chiefs' OL plans ( I know this is a little old, but I hadn't read it. Hope it isn't a re-post. The Chiefs must have seen something in him because they didn't even try to hide him on the practice squad.) http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post...hiefs-ol-plans By Adam Teicher INDIANAPOLIS – Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is a name that many Kansas City Chiefs fans have already forgotten. No reason to recall it last year, really. Duvernay-Tardif, an offensive lineman and a sixth-round draft pick last year, didn’t get into a single game for the Chiefs as a rookie. Just don’t forget about Duvernay-Tardif as the Chiefs proceed through their offseason and get to training camp. The Chiefs haven’t. The medical school student who played at McGill University in Canada looks to be very much in the Chiefs’ plans this year, most likely at guard. “Think of where he was," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said at the NFL combine, referring to what amounted to a redshirt year for Duvernay-Tardif. “We’re talking maybe a junior-college level of play and now jumping into the National Football League. So the improvement that he made, I just thought it was dramatic. Smart, strong, good athlete. He just needs to play more. I think he has a nice upside." The redshirt year was part of the plan for Duvernay-Tardif, given the jump in level of competition, as Reid pointed out. But the Chiefs might not be able to wait any longer for him. On the offensive line, the Chiefs have under contract for 2015 tackles Eric Fisher and Donald Stephenson, guards Jeff Allen and Zach Fulton and a handful of developmental prospects, Duvernay-Tardif being the most promising. Center Rodney Hudson is unsigned and the Chiefs could lose him in free agency. Duvernay-Tardif had some interesting things to say last month in an interview with CBC in Canada. He revealed that he took some first-team snaps in practice last season because of injuries to other players. Despite that, the Chiefs were never tempted to utilize him in a game. “[Chiefs coaches] basically told me they wish I would have been able to compete and play during the season, but they weren’t confident enough that I was not going to make a little mental error," he said. "But they told me I was strong enough, fast enough, athletic enough. That’s a big plus for me. Now I know I can play against those guys. It’s just up here [pointing to his temple]. This part, it got better during the season and it’s still going to get better during the course of the year. I’ve only been practicing [offensive line] for three years now. I’m going to get a lot better and I’m already a lot better than I was a year ago. “Of course [not playing] is going to get a bit frustrating. You think you’re ready, you think you’re better than the guy in front of you but you don’t get to start."
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