What happened to Ben Niemann?
 

I haven't heard much talk about him around here...but wasn't he PFF's top rated pre-season LBer?

He was kicking ass then silence...

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nf...216582515.html

Regular, real season happened.

True...but grading out as #1 in the NFL has to account for something...right? You cant totally suck and pull that off....or maybe you can.

Considering it's an area of need for KC...nobody has mentioned him lately...but have brought up Pringle.

he's still a project for development. it would not surprise me either way if he became a plus player or JAG.

IIRC, he had a couple of picks and a touchdown in the preseason which likely vaulted his rating. I'm looking forward to what he can do in a 4-3 this season.

yeah. I don't think I'd count on him as a starter or anything but I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up as one.

He seems to have instincts; just a football player.

It'll be interesting to watch.

Is he better suited for the 4-3 or the 3-4? Which position does he best fit in the 4-3?

It will surprise me a little if he becomes a plus player. Nothing against him personally and I must confess that it’s not like I went back and studied tons(or any)Ben Neimann tape but the reality is that most of these “little engine that could” type, CP preseason hero guys usually end up as JAGs, at best.

That's kind of what I'm wondering too...was he a bad fit for Sutton's 3-4 or too green to handle the overly complex scheme.

He was the Chiefs best defender during preseason...which you take with a grain of salt but still look for young players to "show something"...and he definitely did.

It would go a LONG way if he actually turned into a quality player...

He'd be a better fit for the 4-3. he's a little light for a 3-4 backer. I don't think he's fast enough to play Will, but could be a MLB or possibly a SAM if he puts on a little muscle (not a lot, but maybe like 10 pounds or so.) Not sure if he's fast enough in general at all to be a starting type player, but he does seem to have good instincts and that can make a big difference, allowing a guy to play faster than he times. But he's a project, and we'll see how it shakes out. Just my opinion.

-about him playing SAM- The Sam has to take on a lot of lead blockers; so they've got to be more stout. I think your Sam type backer is going to need to be around 240+ to hold up physically. There are exceptions of course, but in general. Wills can be light, 225-230 is pretty common.

HE'S PROBABLY GETTING ****ED IN THE ASS

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/...20131208074814

You mean Boomer/Catapano/Scanlon?

My goodness people. He compiled his “stats” going against #3’s.

Let’s not get carried away. Cheap, young player who shows some savvy and instincts, but not exactly a top-shelf athlete nor phyiscal specimen.... not a fluid mover and needs to add strength. DEPTH AND SPECIAL TEAMER.

more than likely, yeah. But what they call 'football IQ' does often make a difference. There are gifted guys like Ford that don't really have it; and the HOF is full of guys that weren't special physically that had it.

He's probably a special-teamer. But...sometimes guys that really want it and are smart become more. It wouldn't surprise me, but I wouldn't bet on it.

AHHH BOB SAGET!!!:cuss::cuss::cuss::cuss:

Which people are you addressing?

I haven't seen anyone anointing him...only that he showed potential. It's a position where the Chiefs need to improve...nothing more, nothing less.

Will he amount to anything...who knows...but he did look good when he played.

I thought it was worth talking about...being that he graded out #1 in the entire NFL preseason.

When you have unheralded players like him...you look for them "to make plays" when given the chance...which is exactly what he did.

I was high on him during the preseason, but he seemed a little lost in a 3-4. If we move to a 4-3, I can see him having a chance. A year of strength conditioning along with some bulk could pay off. He seems to be a heady player and isn't afraid to stick his nose in to lay a hit on someone. Oldman likes guys that know how to hit.

Not every guy is "starter" material; but it great to have a solid guy as a backup. I think he fits that roll that Dan Sorenson once filled. A solid guy, with obvious weaknesses; off the bench.

Her caught a case of "Catapano" and that was pretty much it.

He wasn't that slow really. he ran a 4.78 40. Compare that to the players at the top of the OLB draft list this year, and the top guys are in the 4.63-4.68 range. That is not enough difference to be significant.

Will be interesting how he does after a year training and getting some experience under his belt.

Moving to a new scheme is going to bring some of these players that were 'marginal' before up a notch or two.

He seemed to play just fine when given opportunity. Didn't get alot of playing time is all.

Didn't he get hurt toward the end of the season? Not enough to be on IR, but I seem to remember him being nicked up.

In the 4-3, he's likely going to be a permanent backup at both MLB and WLB. Honestly, I think that may be where DOD is headed too.

He died of a heroin OD after he had a bad night on the kit at the Village Vanguard.

I'm ok with that, especially at this point in their careers. Solid special teamers, solid backups - every team needs those.

more than likely for Niemann, yeah. DoD? I don't think so. I think he's your penciled-in starter at Will.

Not if they draft someone like Devin Bush, I think he'll end up on the bench.

maybe.

But it seems to me that CB and S would be the targets in those first few picks; or maybe a true SAM backer in the 2nd or 3rd.

but maybe. who knows?