Two OL notes.

[Direckshun]

Andy Reid said at the owners meetings that Donald Stephenson is the starting RT "for now" -- which is pretty interesting to me. I figured Jeff Allen would be your penciled in RT, due to the fact that he's basically been bumped by Ben Grubbs at LG.

The coaching staff also loves Jeff Allen, and I thought Stephenson landed in the doghouse for one reason or another. I really hope Donald returns to his 2013 form, because he's coming back from an absolutely terrible year.

Second piece of "news" (not really news to those who follow Arrowhead Pride or Terez Paylor) is that the Chiefs have been hunting for a veteran center, probably one to come in and start. The Chiefs are trying to hunt down Stefen Wisniewski right now -- an absolutely great get, if they can land it (several teams are hunting Wisniewski right now). Wisniewski is a very good center that they'd get for about 1/3 of what Hudson got -- talk about working the Fade over HARD.

Earlier this offseason, Paylor said the Chiefs talked to Tim Barnes, too.

Still hard to figure out what the Week 1 starting OL looks like.

If we had to guess now, I guess you'd have to say:

LT: Fisher, Allen
LG: Grubbs, Allen, LDT
C: vet TBA, Kush
RG: Fulton, Fanaika
RT: Stephenson, Allen

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by milkman

Maybe it's just me, but it seems that in an offense that features Jamaal Charles and DeAnthony Thomas as two of your most explosive weapons, finding guards that can work in space would be a must.

I'm willing to be corrected, but Reid did a pretty nice job for a very long time scheming guys into space in Philly without the benefit of nimble O-lines.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I'm willing to be corrected, but Reid did a pretty nice job for a very long time scheming guys into space in Philly without the benefit of nimble O-lines.

That success was due in some part to the fact that McNabb could get the ball downfield.

With Alex Smith, it becomes more difficult.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by kccrow

I'm in the insane asylum next to milkman.

I'm not comfortable with Pauliasi Fanaika nor Zachery Fulton starting at RG. I know it is HIGHLY probable that the Chiefs go into the season with both of those guys on the depth chart at RG, but I don't like it. I don't like the Fanaika signing at all. Perhaps some magic can touch down on these **** sticks before the season and they play out of their gourds.

I feel the same way about most every other position on the offensive line right now, and the Chiefs still need to develop a guy behind Grubbs.

O-line is a work in progress that is characterized by a rather feeble beginning.

You can't have vet depth AND draft a ****ton of rookies. Not unless you want 11 dudes on the roster.

We may as well cut Allen and Stephenson straight up if we are going to invest this much draft stock in the OL.

Just chill out. Teams don't get positions solved by signing dudes to multimillion contracts then cutting them in preseason for unproven guys who will only be question marks the next year, continuing the current problem we have

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by milkman

That success was due in some part to the fact that McNabb could get the ball downfield.

With Alex Smith, it becomes more difficult.

Here's the thing though, McNabb was a wildly inaccurate passer. Yeah, he'd throw it downfield but often to pretty shitty results. It wasn't until his early 30s that he was even a remotely tolerable pure passer.

I mean hell, if Reid wanted to, he could just tell Smith to huck a ball 40 yards incomplete 2 or 3 times a game and largely replicate McNabb's results on downfield passes.

It might actually not be that bad of an idea and it sure seems like it would be a better idea than using a first round pick on Cam Erving (damn you, Direkshun).

[milkman]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Here's the thing though, McNabb was a wildly inaccurate passer. Yeah, he'd throw it downfield but often to pretty shitty results. It wasn't until his early 30s that he was even a remotely tolerable pure passer.

I mean hell, if Reid wanted to, he could just tell Smith to huck a ball 40 yards incomplete 2 or 3 times a game and largely replicate McNabb's results on downfield passes.

It might actually not be that bad of an idea and it sure seems like it would be a better idea than using a first round pick on Cam Erving (damn you, Direkshun).

That would be a fine idea, just chucking it.

That would open things underneath enough to get by with stone feet at guard.

But unless that happens, in order to really get the most out of the weapons at hand, and to maximize Smith's efficiency, we needguards that can work in space.

Grubbs is one.

We need two.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by SNR

Then start him and find out if he can start.

Seems pretty obvious to me. It's a much better solution than spending $4 million per year on a dude that we KNOW sucks ass at C.

agreed

Originally Posted by milkman

Maybe it's just me, but it seems that in an offense that features Jamaal Charles and DeAnthony Thomas as two of your most explosive weapons, finding guards that can work in space would be a must.

good point. Especially being the offenses bread and butter are plays that require the guards to move and get to the perimeter and the second level.

Originally Posted by milkman

That success was due in some part to the fact that McNabb could get the ball downfield.

With Alex Smith, it becomes more difficult.

I've pointed this out before, but in 2013 Alex threw 36 passes that traveled 21+ yards IN THE AIR according to ESPN. Almost all of them came after the bye, basically half the year. That's with Avery being his only true deep threat.

Last year, that number dropped to 18 with a lesser OL and no deep threat besides Wilson.

I EXPECT that number to be above 40 in 2015 because the line will be much better and a full offseason with Wilson getting work along with the game changing addition of Maclin...along with them surely bolstering the WRs in the draft.

I honestly think that by years end we will see a completely different Alex Smith than we've seen to this point.

He has never had a receiver like Maclin that can consistently cut the head off defenses.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Mav

Completely disagree. The cowboys had one of the best offenses in the nfl. They used three first round picks. Their ability to run the ball protected their defense, and created monstrous lanes for Murray.

They had one of the best offenses because they beat up a bunch of outrageously bad teams. I get what you're saying. What I don't buy is that the Cowboys today are miles better than the Cowboys of yesterday because of their offensive line. They were a back of the playoffs team then, and they are now.

Two years ago, we had a dominant offensive playoff performance and an exceptional second half of the season offense behind... Jeff Allen and Geoffrey Schwartz. It's a nice luxury to have good guards. You obviously can't have atrocious guards. But you don't need pro bowl talent or even close.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

They had one of the best offenses because they beat up a bunch of outrageously bad teams. I get what you're saying. What I don't buy is that the Cowboys today are miles better than the Cowboys of yesterday because of their offensive line. They were a back of the playoffs team then, and they are now.

Two years ago, we had a dominant offensive playoff performance and an exceptional second half of the season offense behind... Jeff Allen and Geoffrey Schwartz. It's a nice luxury to have good guards. You obviously can't have atrocious guards. But you don't need pro bowl talent or even close.

I agree with that, but you can't have the amount of suck the chiefs had last year.

They had one good olineman, and he was a center.

[xztop123]

I don't see whats wrong with Jeff Allen and Grubbs.

Im more worried about Fisher, RT, and hoping we can grab Wisnewski for around 3 mill

[xztop123]

Originally Posted by milkman

Maybe it's just me, but it seems that in an offense that features Jamaal Charles and DeAnthony Thomas as two of your most explosive weapons, finding guards that can work in space would be a must.

we had probably the most nimble line in the NFL when it was Albert, Allen, Asamoah, Hudson and Stephenson.

I predicted that when we moved toward a slower O-line that Charles production would decline (namely the departure of B Albert, as he's as good as it gets at second level blocking)

A bigger slower O-line is probably better for passing pockets as they don't get bullrushed as easily on the interior(a big problem this team has had for years)

[Wilson8]

Some of the numbers as-far-as height, weight, age, NFL playing experience, and cap money.

Eric Fisher – 6-7, 306 pounds, 24 years old, 13 game starts at RT and 16 game starts at LT. $6,051,954 cap number. $2.5 cap loss if released. Current contract goes through 2016.

Ben Grubbs – 6-3, 311 pounds, 31 years old, 106 NFL game starts at LG and 12 at RG. Ben has a $2.4 MM cap number for 2015. Current contract runs through 2018.

Eric Kush – 6-4, 313 pounds, 25 years old, 3 NFL games and 1 start. $624,779 cap charge for 2015 and becomes free agent after 2016 season.

Paul Fanaika - 6-5, 327 pounds, 28 years old, with 30 NFL game starts, $1,383,333 cap number.

Zach Fulton – 6-5, 316 pounds, 23 years old, 16 NFL game starts. $544,055 cap number for 2015. Zach becomes a free agent after 2017.

Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff – 6-5, 321 pounds, 24 years old, 0 NFL games. $543,075 cap number for 2015.

Ricky Henry – 6-2, 310 pounds, 27 years old, 3 NFL games, $585,000 cap number.

Derek Sherrod – 6-5, 312 pounds, 25 years old, 20 NFL games, $585,000 cap number

Jeff Allen – 6-4, 306 pounds, 25 years old, 31 NFL game starts at LG, 1 at RT. 2015 will be last year of contract. Cap charge is $1,477,580 but KC would save $1,023,249 by releasing Jeff. At University of Illinois he played 47 games at left and right tackle. Jeff against the Tennessee Titans injured his triceps last year in first game of the season.

Donald Stephenson – 6-6, 312 pounds, 26 years old, 44 NFL games with 14 starts. Last year of contract with $844,375 cap cost. KC would save$685,000 by releasing.

I’d like to see the Chiefs sign a free agent center but probably not going to happen. KC would need to renegotiate more contracts for the needed cap money. KC needs to draft a center that could start if Kush is not the starting center.

We will also probably draft an OT that could possibly play either side.

So Fisher LT, Grubbs LG, Kush or rookie C, Fanaika and Fulton battle it out at RG, Stephenson, Allen, Sherrod, and rookie draft pick compete for the RT spot.

Kansas City’s probable 2015, 9 player line, Fisher, Grubbs, Kush, Fanaika, Stephenson, rookie center, Fulton, LDT, and rookie OT. Allen traded or released. Sherrod after not making the team, retires from the NFL.

[Sully]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

So you're saying that you're fine with having just a serviceable OL and not one that is actually good?

Yes.

Every day, yes.

[ChiefGator]

Originally Posted by Wilson8

I’d like to see the Chiefs sign a free agent center but probably not going to happen. KC would need to renegotiate more contracts for the needed cap money. KC needs to draft a center that could start if Kush is not the starting center.

We could easily fit Wisniewski under our cap if we signed him to a three year deal, with a nice signing bonus and low salary year one. That is what I am hoping for, honestly.

As soon as we wrap up the Houston contract we will have much more room under the cap (assuming we can wrap it up), since his contract will be more backloaded, like all contracts in the NFL.

[Frosty]

I'm surprised Allen is only 25. It seems like he has been around a long time.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Mav

I agree with that, but you can't have the amount of suck the chiefs had last year.

They had one good olineman, and he was a center.

For crying out loud.

We DON'T have the amount of suck we had last year.

McGlynn is gone. Harris is gone. And the Chiefs are obviously confident in Fisher and Fulton on making improvements.

And to round all that out, we've got Allen, Stephenson, Fanaika, and LDT. Four players as insurance for four positions. And all of them are extremely versatile-- some of them, like Allen, can even stretch across the line, going from RT to LG.

The suck is gone. What we have now, provided Kush isn't a barrel of AIDS, is an adequate line. That's exactly what we need. And as it turns out, ONE player (Cam Erving) will fulfill our insurance needs at the two most difficult positions.

We would therefore be set. Done. Wrapped up. We would have a perfect mixture of versatility among all the players combined with experience, youth, and potential.

None of this "Draft 1000 linemen and cut all the unknowns who probably won't be able to hack it!" bullshit.