Worrisome things: Offensive Line

[OldSchool]

While we were already one of the youngest offensive lines last year, we got even younger this year:

First our Starters:

Eric Fisher (23)
Jeff Allen (24)
Rod Hudson (24)
Rishaw Johnson (25)
Donald Stephenson (25)

Backups (not all of these guys will make the roster obviously, but these are the main ones including the new picks):

Rokevious Watkins (25)
Jeff Linkenbach (26)
Eric Kush (24)
Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff (23)
Zach FUlton (22)

Holy Shit! I don't think I've ever heard of any team in the league running with an offensive line that is this young and this inexperienced. With the defensive front 7s that we have to face next year (Rams, Seahawks, Niners, Jets, Cardinals, Bills, Steelers, Patriots), how do they expect this offensive line to hold up well against that? I really hope that they are going to sign a veteran or two to help these younger guys develop and also serve as quality depth or even starters at OG or something.

Here is a taste of the pass rushers/DLs we will face next year:

SF:
Aldon Smith - Justin Smith - Ray McDonald - Ahmad Brooks

St. Louis:
Robert Quinn - Michael Brockers - Aaron Donald - Chris Long

Arizona:
Sam Acho - Calais Campbell - Darnell Dockett - Daryl Washington (MLB blitzes) - John Abraham

Buffalo:
Mario Williams - Marcell Dareus - Kyle Williams - Jerry Hughes

Here are two guys that are still out there who can help.

1. Uche Nwaneri, 30 - He's a solid NFL guard who still plays at a sufficiently high level. He shouldn't cost too much at this point and would go a long way towards improving this OL.

2. Daryn Colledge, 32 - At this point of his career, he's good as a back-up with starter ability and the ability to play either guard position. He offers position versatility and a good amount of NFL experience.

I just think that Dorsey and Reid are playing with fire if their goal is to have our OL learn and develop through trial and error without a single solid veteran presence to help guide the younger guys a long the way.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think that we'll be fine against the schedule that we have?

[Hoover]

I'm kind of excited about the Chiefs OLine. I'm glad its young. I'm glad we don't have a bunch of guys on their way out of the league starting.

Our LT was the first pick int he draft. I think having a year under his belt will make a big difference. Our RT was a project, and there is no reason to think he can't get it done.

The only reason we have a hole at guard is because Jon Aasomoah didn't really develop into the player we thought he would be. That said, he still got a hell of a pay day. I'm glad we didn't step up and play big money to he or Schwarz. When you look at who this team needs to pay, those two guards were not a priority.

Of all the bitching about Pioli, the one thing I really liked about his is that he always used a 2nd or 3rd round pick on a lineman. I think that's a smart strategy.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by SPATCH

Not really worried about the OL. You don't need a world beater OL in today's football. Just need something solid.

Fisher - Allen - Hudson - Johnson - Stephenson

Solid enough to me.

*some of you guys are sleeping on my dude Rishaw.

I don't think that's that solid enough for me. But agree 100% that we don't need world-beaters. At least we know we're getting away from a world where we are going to reach and overpay for offensive linemen. That's uncomfortable right now, but over time will be a good thing.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Hoover

I'm glad we didn't step up and play big money to he or Schwarz.

Big money to Schwartz? 4 years - $16mil. How on earth would they have been able to swing such a gigantic contract?!

[Hoover]

4 million a year

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by jd1020

Big money to Schwartz? 4 years - $16mil. How on earth would they have been able to swing such a gigantic contract?!

You know how many players on Denver's roster were paid $4M or more going into this year? 4.

These small contracts add up.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

You know how many players on Denver's roster were paid $4M or more going into this year? 4.

These small contracts add up.

Exactly. You start throwing around 4 million here and 4 million a year here and the next thing you know signing guys like Houston, Poe, and Berry become difficult.

This isn't baseball.

Teams have to be creative where they spend money. Look at the Seahawks and 49ers, they are able to build impressive teams because they don't have pay big money to their QB's YET. This is why building an offensive live through the draft is smart. Teams need rookie contracts to be able to pay their star players.

[jd1020]

Schwartz would have been the straw that broke the camels back, yet Joe Mays...

[Hoover]

He didn't sign a 4 year deal worth 16 million.

Mays signed 2 years for 6 million.

We can get out of the Mays deal without much pain, Schwartz not so much.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Hoover

He didn't sign a 4 year deal worth 16 million.

Mays signed 2 years for 6 million.

We can get out of the Mays deal without much pain, Schwartz not so much.

Mays' cap # is a whopping 400k less than Schwartz this year and has a whopping $2mil less in guaranteed money. The savings are just insane!!!! Especially considering you get a guy as good as Joe Mays. He's sure to finish the year and not cause 50 penalties a game.

[SPATCH]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I don't think that's that solid enough for me. But agree 100% that we don't need world-beaters. At least we know we're getting away from a world where we are going to reach and overpay for offensive linemen. That's uncomfortable right now, but over time will be a good thing.

I might be in the minority when I say this, but I expect the line to be just as good as it was last season. Maybe better.

[nychief]

Young guys have to step up, that is what happens with good teams.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by jd1020

Mays' cap # is a whopping 400k less than Schwartz this year and has a whopping $2mil less in guaranteed money. The savings are just insane!!!! Especially considering you get a guy as good as Joe Mays. He's sure to finish the year and not cause 50 penalties a game.

yeah, because he has a two year deal and Schwartz has a 4 year deal. You can't just look at the 2014 cap hit, you have to look at the entirety of the contract.

You sound like the dumb ass that goes into a car dealership and negotiates a deal based entirely on the monthly payment and not the total price of the car.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Hoover

He didn't sign a 4 year deal worth 16 million.

Mays signed 2 years for 6 million.

We can get out of the Mays deal without much pain, Schwartz not so much.

That's the way I see it. If you look at the Chiefs' free agency strategy, they seem to be looking for a lot of stopgaps. Fasano, Avery, DeVito, Daniel, Mays, Sean Smith... he seems to want free agents who can fill in for a year or two, but who can ultimately be replaced when the draft or bargain bin finds a replacement. That means he doesn't really care if they're great, just solid enough to not be a complete liability. Over time, I'd expect to see a lot less Joe Mays type contracts.

You're absolutely right. Joe Mays was brought in purely as a stopgap. It wouldn't surprise me if we canned him next year. If we signed Schwartz, it would be intended to be a long-term contract.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by SPATCH

I might be in the minority when I say this, but I expect the line to be just as good as it was last season. Maybe better.

Eric Fisher HAS to be better.

If he plays better, they'll be ok.

If he plays anywhere near his potential, they could get VERY good.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Hoover

yeah, because he has a two year deal and Schwartz has a 4 year deal. You can't just look at the 2014 cap hit, you have to look at the entirety of the contract.

You sound like the dumb ass that goes into a car dealership and negotiates a deal based entirely on the monthly payment and not the total price of the car.

Joe Mays' cap hit next year will only be 900k less. Keep trying to act like Schwartz got a monster deal and we couldn't have possibly fit him in the budget.

Cut Mays next year, save $3mil. Cut Schwartz next year, save $2.5mil.

Just already.