Chiefs Why 3 rookies could start for the Chiefs - Page 5

**BossChief** · 06-19-2015, 09:44 AM

http://espn.go.com/blog/kansas-city-...id/12362/12362

NFL Nation reporter Adam Teicher assesses which rookies on the Chiefs could earn a starting berth this season.

Why Marcus Peters could start: The Chiefs are well-stocked at cornerback so they don’t need to rush Peters, their first-round draft pick, into the lineup. In Sean Smith, Phillip Gaines, Jamell Fleming and Marcus Cooper, the Chiefs have four players who started at least one game for them at corner last season. There could still be ample opportunity for Peters to earn significant playing time or a starting spot. Smith faces a possible NFL suspension for a violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy after pleading guilty to a DUI in Kansas City. If Smith is out for the first couple of games, his absence leaves a huge gap that Peters could fill. Beyond that, six different players started at least one game at cornerback for the Chiefs last season so there’s always a need. Peters missed most of offseason practice because his college academic term at Washington hadn’t concluded. He also was thrown off his team before his final collegiate season had ended because of a confrontation with an assistant coach. Peters might need more time to develop than most first-round draft picks.

Second-round pick Mitch Morse could find a home at center or guard sooner rather than later. Alex Menendez/Getty Images
Why Mitch Morse could start: As with cornerback and Peters, the Chiefs have enough bodies on their offensive line that they don’t have to rush Morse into their lineup before he’s ready. But unlike at cornerback, the Chiefs don’t have a lot of established offensive linemen, so Morse will be given an opportunity to start at either center or right guard. Morse, a second-round draft pick, started at center and tackle at various times in college at Missouri, but guard could be his best position in the NFL. Eventually, if not sooner, he will be a starter somewhere along Kansas City's line and if he isn’t an immediate starter, Morse could be the first player off the bench at either center or guard. The presence of Morse allows the Chiefs to investigate possible trades for one or more of their veteran offensive linemen. Jeff Allen, who can play guard or right tackle, might not win a starting job for the Chiefs but could be a valuable player for another team looking for line help.

Why Chris Conley could start: The Chiefs had by most statistical measures the worst group of wide receivers in the NFL last season. The Chiefs failed to get a single touchdown catch from a wide receiver last season. So any receiver with potential will get a long look, and the Chiefs gave a lot of work to Conley, a third-round pick from Georgia, in offseason practice. Conley ran a 4.35 40 at the combine, so he’s fast enough to be a big-play threat. He not only can get open deep but showed the ability to run after the catch in his month of practice with the Chiefs. Kansas City signed veteran Jeremy Maclin to be its top wide receiver and Conley was playing his position during the offseason. Conley took Maclin’s spot with the starting lineup for one day when the veteran was out with an injury. He’ll have to learn the other outside receiving position if he’s to get significant playing time as a rookie. That spot is occupied by Albert Wilson, but Conley could also make a claim for that position. In addition, the Chiefs plan to look at Conley as a kickoff returner during training camp and the preseason. That’s another spot where he could make an impact.

**mdchiefsfan** · 06-20-2015, 01:33 PM

The Diet Coke of trolling: not quite trolling enough!

OldSchool · 06-20-2015, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

Did someone just say that if every starter goes down then yeah the offense will struggle

Duh

Even with Maclin in the lineup, this WR core is still bottom 5 until proven otherwise. Our expect #2 is a UDFA and our big hope is a 3rd rounder. And there really is nothing behind Kelce unless Harris gets healthy quickly. The OL isn't exactly set either and it still consists mostly of trash.

Tombstone RJ · 06-20-2015, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

And how excited were Bronco fans when Heuerman was drafted?

pissed off, actually. Dude was injured to begin with and his final year in college was nothing special. Then he gets injured in some off season program bs. Oh well, he'll have a full year to heal his friggen foot, along with his knee.

Tombstone RJ · 06-20-2015, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

Denver is nothing without Manning.

I wish TT knew that...

TEX · 06-21-2015, 07:48 AM

I don't care who starts and why. I just want to beat Denver this year.

chiefzilla1501 · 06-21-2015, 08:04 AM

Everything I've read hints that Morse wouldn't be ready to start right away at Center. I also don't know how quickly Conley gets on the field. I know he's smart and run a pro offense, but lots of smart receivers struggle to grasp the Reid offense right away.

I would imagine the Chiefs give a trial run to Kush early but have Morse ready the minute they know Kush isn't the guy. And I'd bet the Chiefs start with test DAT out in the slot early with Conley getting reps as a #4 option. I'd also bet the Chiefs run a lot of 3 TE sets or 2 TEs + FB where you wouldn't need a slot option.

milkman · 06-21-2015, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Everything I've read hints that Morse wouldn't be ready to start right away at Center. I also don't know how quickly Conley gets on the field. I know he's smart and run a pro offense, but lots of smart receivers struggle to grasp the Reid offense right away.

Given his tools, I'm betting that they work on packages to get Conley on the field for as many snaps as possible.
I also believe that he will ingest the playbook relatively quickly, and have those packages increased substantially over the course of the season.

Quote:

I would imagine the Chiefs give a trial run to Kush early but have Morse ready the minute they know Kush isn't the guy. And I'd bet the Chiefs start with test DAT out in the slot early with Conley getting reps as a #4 option. I'd also bet the Chiefs run a lot of 3 TE sets or 2 TEs + FB where you wouldn't need a slot option.

I have to think the Chiefs are going to be experimenting with someone other than Morse and Kush at center.
It seems like I remember them tinkering with Allen at center a bit in last year's TC, so he might be a candidate this season.

I am not convinced that Kush isn't going to be a huge failure.

And who the hell are you going to trot out there for 3 TE sets?

Mr. Laz · 06-21-2015, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Everything I've read hints that Morse wouldn't be ready to start right away at Center. I also don't know how quickly Conley gets on the field. I know he's smart and run a pro offense, but lots of smart receivers struggle to grasp the Reid offense right away.

I would imagine the Chiefs give a trial run to Kush early but have Morse ready the minute they know Kush isn't the guy. And I'd bet the Chiefs start with test DAT out in the slot early with Conley getting reps as a #4 option. I'd also bet the Chiefs run a lot of 3 TE sets or 2 TEs + FB where you wouldn't need a slot option.

If we wanted to run multiple tightend sets we should have made more of an effort to get another quality TE.

like Maxx Williams in the 2nd round

06-19-2015, 09:44 AM
BossChief SuperBowl or bust Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: BF Iowa Casino cash: $1534088	Why 3 rookies could start for the Chiefs http://espn.go.com/blog/kansas-city-...id/12362/12362 NFL Nation reporter Adam Teicher assesses which rookies on the Chiefs could earn a starting berth this season. Why Marcus Peters could start: The Chiefs are well-stocked at cornerback so they don’t need to rush Peters, their first-round draft pick, into the lineup. In Sean Smith, Phillip Gaines, Jamell Fleming and Marcus Cooper, the Chiefs have four players who started at least one game for them at corner last season. There could still be ample opportunity for Peters to earn significant playing time or a starting spot. Smith faces a possible NFL suspension for a violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy after pleading guilty to a DUI in Kansas City. If Smith is out for the first couple of games, his absence leaves a huge gap that Peters could fill. Beyond that, six different players started at least one game at cornerback for the Chiefs last season so there’s always a need. Peters missed most of offseason practice because his college academic term at Washington hadn’t concluded. He also was thrown off his team before his final collegiate season had ended because of a confrontation with an assistant coach. Peters might need more time to develop than most first-round draft picks. Second-round pick Mitch Morse could find a home at center or guard sooner rather than later. Alex Menendez/Getty Images Why Mitch Morse could start: As with cornerback and Peters, the Chiefs have enough bodies on their offensive line that they don’t have to rush Morse into their lineup before he’s ready. But unlike at cornerback, the Chiefs don’t have a lot of established offensive linemen, so Morse will be given an opportunity to start at either center or right guard. Morse, a second-round draft pick, started at center and tackle at various times in college at Missouri, but guard could be his best position in the NFL. Eventually, if not sooner, he will be a starter somewhere along Kansas City's line and if he isn’t an immediate starter, Morse could be the first player off the bench at either center or guard. The presence of Morse allows the Chiefs to investigate possible trades for one or more of their veteran offensive linemen. Jeff Allen, who can play guard or right tackle, might not win a starting job for the Chiefs but could be a valuable player for another team looking for line help. Why Chris Conley could start: The Chiefs had by most statistical measures the worst group of wide receivers in the NFL last season. The Chiefs failed to get a single touchdown catch from a wide receiver last season. So any receiver with potential will get a long look, and the Chiefs gave a lot of work to Conley, a third-round pick from Georgia, in offseason practice. Conley ran a 4.35 40 at the combine, so he’s fast enough to be a big-play threat. He not only can get open deep but showed the ability to run after the catch in his month of practice with the Chiefs. Kansas City signed veteran Jeremy Maclin to be its top wide receiver and Conley was playing his position during the offseason. Conley took Maclin’s spot with the starting lineup for one day when the veteran was out with an injury. He’ll have to learn the other outside receiving position if he’s to get significant playing time as a rookie. That spot is occupied by Albert Wilson, but Conley could also make a claim for that position. In addition, the Chiefs plan to look at Conley as a kickoff returner during training camp and the preseason. That’s another spot where he could make an impact.
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06-20-2015, 01:33 PM	#61
mdchiefsfan Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Casino cash: $3263904	The Diet Coke of trolling: not quite trolling enough! __________________ 2017 Adopt-A-Chief:TYREEK HILL
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06-21-2015, 07:48 AM	#65
TEX Out Gunning CP's Fandom Police Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Laguna Beach, CA Casino cash: $2003127	I don't care who starts and why. I just want to beat Denver this year. __________________ "The CHIEFS, HAVE THEIR DYNASTY!"
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06-21-2015, 08:04 AM	#66
chiefzilla1501 In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $1744497	Everything I've read hints that Morse wouldn't be ready to start right away at Center. I also don't know how quickly Conley gets on the field. I know he's smart and run a pro offense, but lots of smart receivers struggle to grasp the Reid offense right away. I would imagine the Chiefs give a trial run to Kush early but have Morse ready the minute they know Kush isn't the guy. And I'd bet the Chiefs start with test DAT out in the slot early with Conley getting reps as a #4 option. I'd also bet the Chiefs run a lot of 3 TE sets or 2 TEs + FB where you wouldn't need a slot option.
Posts: 48,513