How to Fix the OL

[Chiefnj2]

Assuming KC can't reach an agreement with Hudson, how do you (realistically) propose fixing the OL? The potential loss of Hudson is HUGE. People are preoccupied with Houston and WR right now, but without a drastic improvement in the OL this team is going nowhere fast. Personally, I have no idea what to think of KC's current starters/depth of Stephenson, Allen, Fulton and Kush. What's your best plan to try to make the OL respectable?

[CleveSteve]

Originally Posted by Dicky McElephant

Our best hope is to surround Kush with veteran OGs that aren't going to **** up every other play.

But how are you going to do that already $6.6 Million over the cap? With all the picks you have you probably have a rookie pool allocation in the neighborhood of $6 million bucks, so at a minimum you still have to clear >$12.5 million before clearing more space to then sign veterans.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by SNR

Going OL with our two of our picks in the first three rounds is overkill and frankly, irresponsible given the other needs on this roster.

Without a solid OL the offense is nothing. Call it true fan or whatever you want, but without some big uglies opening up holes for Charles and protecting Smith who has big issues with pressure, the Offense will continue to suck regardless of who is at the WR position.

[kcbubb]

I think we should consider Cameron Erving at 18 (I'd rather trade back) at C because of his athletic ability, frame and ability to play multiple positions. He can step in and play C, G and has the ability to play RT. He performed well at the combine and is 6'5" with long arms and big hands. This gives us flexibility to put the best 5 on the field. The G/RT guys are very deep in this draft and we could pick a good one in the 5th.

I'd rather do this than invest multiple early picks on the OL. Losing Hudson sucks with a thin center class. Erving is the best center and has run a pro style offense at FSU.

Check his combine info here:

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profil...ing?id=2552240

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by CleveSteve

But how are you going to do that already $6.6 Million over the cap? With all the picks you have you probably have a rookie pool allocation in the neighborhood of $6 million bucks, so at a minimum you still have to clear >$12.5 million before clearing more space to then sign veterans.

Daniel and DeVito can go away.
Bowe and Hali can get a paycut.
Smith can restructure.
We can extend Sean Smith and Derrick Johnson.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Dicky McElephant

Daniel and DeVito can go away.
Bowe and Hali can get a paycut.
Smith can restructure.
We can extend Sean Smith and Derrick Johnson.

I'm not sure but what it's not just time to move on from the older guys, save Tamba if he will restructure.

Other wise, sign Sean smith and let the others walk.

[Chiefnj2]

People seem to have a lot of faith in Kush, Allen and Stephenson.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

People seem to have a lot of faith in Kush, Allen and Stephenson.

I think Allen can be average. Stephenson was there but after his suspension he just fell off....no idea what his problem is. And Kush is only there because I'm assuming that this FO is going to let Hudson go because they feel they can replace him with Kush.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by O.city

I'm not sure but what it's not just time to move on from the older guys, save Tamba if he will restructure.

Other wise, sign Sean smith and let the others walk.

Honestly....I'm starting to think that Bowe will be a June 1st cut. Tamba has already publicly said that he'll take a paycut.....the question is just how much.

Sean Smith deserves an extension though. And Berry is a big ? at this point. We need to be able to get his $8 million off of the books.

[CleveSteve]

Sorry, just to correct from earlier, the $6.6 number I gave already has the draft picks taken into account (via Spotrac) so it would just be $6.6 plus whatever you wanted to pay the vets.

[ChiefsCountry]

Just sign JAGS like they have been doing until they can draft replacements.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Without a solid OL the offense is nothing. Call it true fan or whatever you want, but without some big uglies opening up holes for Charles and protecting Smith who has big issues with pressure, the Offense will continue to suck regardless of who is at the WR position.

Rookie offensive linemen are hardly dependable. Especially when you're as bad at drafting them as Dorsey (going back to his days with the Packers).

We had problems all around the line last year, but where did well over half of them stem from? McGlynn and Linkenbach. Fix that hole and we'll probably reduce Alex Smith's total sacks on the year by 8-10. After that, whatever improvement we can get out of both tackles and the guard position is gravy.

We'll have a setback at C most likely, but I doubt we'll be witnessing a return of the flaming piece of AIDS that we had there with Rudy Niswanger or anything like that.

[gonefishin53]

Starting OL not a full start over as 4 of 5 have at least a year in Reid's system and Sherrod is experienced in WCO. Starters have good size, length, and athleticism.
Eric Fisher 6'7" about 325 lbs gets bigger and stronger with off-season work, good athlete for his size
LDT 6'5" about 330 lbs really smart, hard worker prepared to make an impact in his second year, very good athlete for his size
Eric Kush 6'4" about 320 lbs had a good camp in 2014, except for fixable long snap issues, very good athlete for center
Derek Sherrod 6'5" about 325 lbs kicks inside after tackle didn't work out in GB, better athlete than Fulton
Don Shephenson 6'6" about 315 lbs spends some off-season time with a sports psychologist, gets head straight, very good athlete for his size

Hudson leaves for greener ($8.5mil/yr) pastures. Jeff Allen for tackle depth, Zach Fulton for guard depth, sign Mike Pollak (3 yrs @ $1.5 mil/yr) for C/G depth, draft Donovan Smith in 3rd round in case Stephenson can't figure it out.

[kccrow]

I'm going to go with something more along the lines of what I'd expect KC to do.

I'd assume Fisher at LT and Kush at OC.

Signings on the cheap side:
Sign A.Q. Shipley from Indy as a backup G/C, push for starting center.
Sign Rob Sims from Detroit start at RG or backup
Re-sign Ryan Harris as a backup RT/push for starting spot

Draft:
Round 2 or 3: D.J. Humphries from Florida. A good blocker, had some health problems early in college career but was a beast when healthy. Probably best LT prospect in the draft when healthy. Should be solid at RT and could push Fisher for that LT spot in a year. With signings, could develop a year on the bench if need be.

Round 4: Mitch Morse from Missouri. Outstanding college RT, but his arm length is prohibitive to staying there in the NFL. Could back up the spot in a pinch though. Good athleticism and very good technique. Good immediately push for starting OG spot.

Round 7: Greg Mancz from Toledo: Very solid center, similar to Kush early. Developmental 2nd center.

What you get:

LT Fisher/Humphries
LG Morse/Allen/Shipley
OC Kush/Shipley/Mancz
RG Sims/Fulton
RT Harris/Humphries

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by kccrow

I'm going to go with something more along the lines of what I'd expect KC to do.

I'd assume Fisher at LT and Kush at OC.

Signings on the cheap side:
Sign A.Q. Shipley from Indy as a backup G/C, push for starting center.
Sign Rob Sims from Detroit start at RG or backup
Re-sign Ryan Harris as a backup RT/push for starting spot

Draft:
Round 2 or 3: D.J. Humphries from Florida. A good blocker, had some health problems early in college career but was a beast when healthy. Probably best LT prospect in the draft when healthy. Should be solid at RT and could push Fisher for that LT spot in a year. With signings, could develop a year on the bench if need be.

Round 4: Mitch Morse from Missouri. Outstanding college RT, but his arm length is prohibitive to staying there in the NFL. Could back up the spot in a pinch though. Good athleticism and very good technique. Good immediately push for starting OG spot.

Round 7: Greg Mancz from Toledo: Very solid center, similar to Kush early. Developmental 2nd center.

What you get:

LT Fisher/Humphries
LG Morse/Allen/Shipley
OC Kush/Shipley/Mancz
RG Sims/Fulton
RT Harris/Humphries

FWIW, Daniel Jeremiah has Humphries as his top rated OT. I'm not sure he won't go in the first.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by SNR

We don't need all of that shit, and we especially don't need that automatic bust of a fatass Ereck Flowers.

Kush will probably be fine. What we need is a cheap veteran G/C as insurance-- that's it.

Going OL with our two of our picks in the first three rounds is overkill and frankly, irresponsible given the other needs on this roster.

While I agree mostly with this...they have been decisive that they are going to try to win with Alex Smith... so IMO they probably should draft some OL in this draft. The guy needs a really good OL to be comfortable so I say give it to him.

Spend 2 of the first 4 picks on the OL and let the competition push the talent to the top. The line was obviously a weakness and strengthening it would not only help Alex get comfortable, it would help open up holes for Charles to be able to really take over ball games.

Another advantage of drafting the line is they will be coming into their own when we replace Alex Smith and the rookie will have a nice line to protect him.

Honestly, I wouldn't be pissed at all if they draft couple offensive linemen towards the top of the draft.