SB Nation - Sen'Derrick Marks

The Titans Five Biggest Defensive Questions Heading Into 2009

Jimmy — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:20:46 -0000

More photos » by Alex Brandon - AP

Who you think gonna replace me?(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Now that free agency and the draft have ended, we can start to take a look at the 2009 version of the Tennessee Titans. Today we will look at the five biggest defensive questions for 2009.

1. How will the rotation replace the loss of Albert Haynesworth?

No one player is going to be expected to replace Albert. It will be done by the rotation. The question is how good is the rotation?

They know what they have in Tony Brown. He is a space eater that can get after the quarterback a little. Jason Jones excited us last year with his solid play early and stand-out game against the Towel Boys. He played defensive end in college so he is more of a pass rusher. Sen'Derrick Marks is probably the most athletic of the bunch and should be able to get after the passer. Jovan Haye is the wild card. He had 6 sacks in 2007 but 0 in 2008. Let's hope we get the '07 version. Kevin Vickerson, at the back end of the rotation, is a space eater that seemed to make huge strides last season (minus the performance enhancing drug suspension).

Obviously the Titans are hoping for the whole to be greater than the sum of the parts. The odds are it will be with Jim Washburn guiding the ship.

2. Who will step up to be the #3 corner?

Most of us would have liked the Titans to take a corner before the end of the 3rd round in this draft after losing so many corners in the offseason. They didn't, so that leaves a huge question in my mind. The Titans did sign DeMarcus Faggins in the offseason, and he is a nice player for depth purposes, but I am not going to feel really good if he has to be on the field for any extended period of time.

They obviously saw a lot of potential in Ryan Mouton, but he appears to be a project at best. I doubt he will be ready to step in and play if Cortland Finnegan or Nick Harper go down.

Cary Williams? Jason McCourty? That just isn't change I can believe in yet.

3. How much different will the defensive scheme look with Chuck Cecil at the helm?

The honest answer here is no one really knows. Jim Schwartz took a very statistical approach to the scheme (Think Moneyball meets the NFL). There weren't a lot of "risky" blitzes, and the secondary sat in zone coverage for the most part. I expect things to be different with Cecil calling the shots. We all know he played hard nosed football 100% of the time, so I just don't see him sitting around waiting for the other team to make a mistake like Schwartzy did. Of course we won't know how he will call games until they take the field at Towel Boy Stadium on opening night.

4. Is there a quality linebacker on the roster behind Keith Bulluck and David Thornton?

Bulluck will be 32 and Thornton will be 30 when the season starts, so the odds of both of them staying healthy for the whole season are not very good. (Not to mention the looming free agency for Bulluck) The Titans have not spent a high pick on a LB since they took Bulluck in the first round in 2000. This could be the year we find out if any of them are going to be quality NFL players.

5. Will the defensive ends hold up for the whole season?

Just as with the linebackers, the starting defensive ends on this team aren't getting any younger. Add to that the fact that Kyle Vanden Bosch missed most of last season with a groin injury and Jevon Kearse isn't exactly the Cal Ripken Jr. of football, and you can see why the depth question is important here. The front office obviously felt good about the sport since they didn't spend a draft pick on an end for the first time since the Lincoln Administration. It is easy to see why the would be comfortable with the depth when you look at the production they got from Dave Ball and Jacob Ford last season. Combine that with the portential they see in William Hayes, and they seem pretty set. The question then becomes how well those depth guys would play in expanded roles.

MCM Tennessee Titans Podcast: NFL Draft Recap Edition

Jimmy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:01:55 -0000

The newest edition of the MCM Tennessee Titans podcast is now available over at Pigskin Pundits. In this episode we recapped the first 3 rounds of the draft so head over there and listen.

As always the show was produced by Rodney at Pigskin Pundits, and is available for download on iTunes by searching Pigskin Pundits. Let us know what you think.

Tennessee Titans 2009 NFL Draft Grades

Jimmy — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:17:51 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

Browse more photos »

Let me start off by saying that grading a draft today is a little bit ridiculous. We have no idea how any of these guys will pan out, but there are still some ways we can grade this draft that aren't as ridiculous.

Right now we will look at what they did to address their need positions. I have to give them a B+ on that one. The only thing that keeps them from getting an A here is the fact that they didn't take a corner until the 4th round, and when they finally took a corner it was a very questionable one. Overall though I love the fact that they took a receiver in the first round. We have seen a parade of middle round receivers in here over the past decade that never amounted to anything. They took a flier on a guy that they were really impressed with, and I applaud them for that. All of the reports I am hearing is that they were really high on Kenny Britt and Clay Matthews. Had the Packers not traded up to get Matthews, there is a very good chance that he would have been the pick pick. I know they need depth at linebacker, but I am really glad that we ended up with Britt instead.

The Sen'Derrick Marks pick was an interesting one. Defensive tackle depth was a need, but I felt they had bigger needs that could have been addressed with the pick. Marks is an athletic guy with a lot of upside so there is a good shot he will end up a very good player under the guidance of Jim Washburn.

The first really questionable move they pulled was trading next year's #2 to the Patriots to move up and take Jared Cook. The move was questionable to me on two fronts:

If I were an NFL GM, I would never make a deal with the New England Patriots. In the words of August, "They always win."
We didn't have a need at tight end. We already have future Hall of Famer Bo Scaife there.

However, if Cook can become the player that we all hoped Ben Troupe would be, it will prove to have been a great move. Vandy fans will remember Cook because he torched them in that Thursday night ESPN game last season. He presents all kind of match-up problems and should open some things up for the running game.

Then comes the Ryan Mouton pick. This is one of those picks that I really don't understand. Mouton really only started for one season in college and had just 3 picks in his college career. He also has durability concerns. I am going on record right now that there is only a 20% chance that Mouton ends up being a better in NFL corner than D.J. Moore.

The Titans finally addressed their LB depth need in the 4th round when they took Gerald McRath. McRath played inside linebacker in college, but from everything I have heard should be able to easily make the transition to outside linebacker. I would assume the Titans took him because he was the best available linebacker on their board.

The next pick was Troy Kropog from Tulane. He appears to be Daniel Loper part two. He played tackle in college but will probably be the back-up at tackle and guard for the Titans. I have never heard of him, but Mike Munchak will coach him up. i have no doubt he will be a solid player.

I was shocked to see the Titans pick a running back because they just never do that. /sarcasm Javon Ringer was an All-American last season. It is never a bad thing to pick up one of those in the 5th round. Ringer is a horse. He carried the ball 635 times in his last 2 seasons at Michigan State and scored 22 touchdowns last season. That is a lot. He also catches the ball well out of the backfield. Ringer obviously will not unseat Crazy Legs, but he is a good insurance policy for when The Round Mound walks after this season. Say goodnight Chris Henry.

I like the Jason McCourty pick in the sixth. He is really fast, 4.30, and was a return guy in college. Sure he is a project, but a guy with that type of speed is worth picking up in the sixth round.

I alos really like the Dominique Edison pick in the sixth round. August rained all over my Edison parade when he responded to my text message with "Is he Filani part 2?" But hey, 6-2, 204, 4.45 in the sixth round is worth a shot. He may not pan out, but at least he is really, really fast.

I don't know anything about the guys picked in the 7th round, but I bet we eventually see Ryan Durand playing meaningful minutes for this team. I have that much confidence in Munchak.

With the exception of taking Mouton over Moore, I really like what they did with this draft. I love that they finally took a receiver in the first round, and they did a good job addressing the needs with the rest of the picks.

SEC Day 1 Draft Grades

Year2 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:54:37 -0000

More photos » by Frank Franklin II - AP

Light blue is so not his color. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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If there's one thing I've learned about NFL Draft coverage, it's that it's never too early to grade draft picks. Two seconds after the commissioner makes the announcement: was that a reach? Is he a good pick? What were they thinking?!

So in an attempt to embrace the insanity, here's your Day 1 draft grades for the SEC:

1. Matthew Stafford: F

The Lions are one of the worst franchises and have been forever. The city of Detroit is a mess, and it will only become moreso if the auto industry can't get itself sorted out. The worst of it? He doesn't look right in blue. He had it correct coming out of high school, when he chose to play for the red and black in Athens. Just a disaster all around.

3. Tyson Jackson: A

He gets to reunite with former teammates (and fellow first round picks) Glenn Dorsey and Dwayne Bowe. Plus, New England architecht Scott Pioli is running the show so there's actually hope for real improvement to the franchise. He chose not to go to New York because he thought he couldn't handle the business of New York, so KC is a good contrast to that. There's a lot to like here.

6. Andre Smith: D

Let's see... he's best as a run blocker and appeared to have maturity issues during draft season. So, he's going to a team with a brittle quarterback, no running game, and the most character issues of any in the game. You tell me how this makes sense.

12. Knowshon Moreno: C

It's always dicey heading into a franchise that has undergone a regime change, and it's only amplified if the new coach is only 32. At least the Broncos managed to replace their young quarterback Jay Cutler with a more experienced, veteran guy in Kyle Orton. That should totally take a lot of pressure off of the running game.

18. Robert Ayers: C

22. Percy Harvin: C or A

If the Vikings don't get someone other than Tavares Jackson by kickoff of Week 1, then this is no better than a C. If they pick up someone like Utah's Brian Johnson on day two of the draft and run some triple option with Johnson, Adrian Peterson and Harvin, then it's an unquestioned A.

23. Michael Oher: A

All sarcasm aside, it's great for Oher that he's a first round pick. Go read up on his backstory. It's a statistical outlier that he even got this far, and he earned everything he's getting. Plus, the Ravens tend to be one of the better run franchises. It's a good fit for a good guy.

24. Peria Jerry: B

The Falcons appear to be on the way up and Atlanta isn't that far away from Mississippi. This only gets a B though because the Falcons made the playoffs last year. As the franchise is cursed never to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons, Jerry will miss out on the possibility of a postseason bonus check in his first year.

50. Mohamed Massaquoi: B-

How big a role he'll need to play depends a lot on whether the Browns end up trading Braylon Edwards. It's a position of need regardless, so it's not a bad fit. Two problems: Cleveland is way too cold in the winter (it's not called the snow belt for nothing) and now he actually has to spend time around the Mangenius.

62. Sen'Derrick Marks: B

As long as Jeff Fisher is in Tennessee, defense will be the top priority. The Titans were one of last year's surprise teams, lasting the longest without losing. This season they should be good again, and Marks will get a chance to contribute. This will all work swimmingly until Kerry Collins breaks down in January.

The Tennessee Titans Select Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn

Jimmy — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:52:15 -0000

Well I was really hoping they would take DJ Moore with this pick, especially when you consider that cornerback depth is their biggest depth need after free agency, but alas they did not. Instead they took Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn. I will have to do some more research on Marks because he was not a guy that I thought they would be selecting today.

Click here to read the fftoolbox scouting report.

Finishing Up the ROTB Community Mock Draft

Andrew602 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:02:08 -0000

First off, we just want to give a big thanks for everybody participating and making this community mock draft so successful. It's currently crunch time and I think I can speak for everybody when I say, thank god the draft his tomorrow because all these mock picks are starting to become deflating. So with that said, I haven't received a response for the Giants, Colts and Titans picks and will therefore, make the selections so we can vote for the Cardinals 2nd round pick.

New York Giants - RB Donald Brown

He's somehow managed to last this long and the Giants would love to add a young multipurpose back to their team. He's current the BPA and would be a great value pick and #59. The Giants had that three headed monster attack last year that was one of the best rushing units in the NFL and was key to their success. Adding Brown would fill the loss of Derrick Ward.

Indianapolis Colts - WR Mohamed Massaquoi

Massaquoi will never fill the void of Marvin Harrison leaving this off-season but the Colts would benefit from acquiring him. He's got a nice frame and would be ideally suited in the slot due to his yards after the catch. He does need some work on holding on to the ball, but aside from that, the Colts do have two good receivers in Wayne and Gonzales that can allow Massaquoi to develop.(Thanks to IrishCardinal for making this pick)

Tennessee Titans - WR Juaquin Iglesias

The best defensive tackles are already off the board and the Titans need to establish a need they've had since Derrick Mason left, wide receiver. Iglesias provides a legitimate threat on offense and an all-around talented receiver. His only drawback is his speed but his natural ability excels in every other category.

And now on to the Cardinals potential second round pick------------------------------->

In the 1st round, the ROTB community voted and decided the Cardinals would take running back Beanie Wells to shore up their inept running game. With that being said, the Cardinals can now establish needs in other areas. At this point the Cardinals can very well go BPA(Best Player Available). Here are the nominees:

Duke Robinson G Oklahoma

Robinson has good straight-line quickness for a player his size, but is a bit stiff and shows just marginal foot speed working into the second level. He has great strength and leg drive to run through defenders and open rush lanes. His frame is also a great asset when he is asked to create movement off the snap. While he might struggle to mirror quicker edge rushers, he uses his arms well to engulf the smaller opponent. When he plays on his feet, he can do a good job mirroring vs. edge rushers.

Jason Williams OLB Western Illinois

Williams has great agility and athletic ability, playing with ideal quickness and speed. He shows fine balance closing on the ball and the ability to stay on his feet working through trash. With his flexibility, he is quick to redirect and work his way to the flow of the ball. He has the quickness of a safety dropping back in zone coverage and is an above-average player in the open field with suddenness to close. He shows good strength at initial contact and breaks down well on the move. His ability to quickly turn and run makes him an asset in pass coverage, as he has the foot speed to stay with most receivers through their routes.

Chase Coffman TE Missouri

He is explosive with his initial step off the line of scrimmage and shows the body control to easily adjust on the move. He demonstrates the wingspan and reach to adjust easily to the poorly thrown pass and looks agile and alert running his routes. Coffman has natural hands, above average lateral agility and does a fine job of getting open, displaying the power to break tackles and the leaping ability to hurdle over smaller opponents.

Cody Brown OLB/DE University of Connecticut

Despite the concerns about his size or strength, it's impossible to ignore 33 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks over the past two seasons, including five forced fumbles in 2008. Brown consistently made impact plays and was arguably the most explosive defender in the Big East Conference over the two seasons. He was a three year starter at U-Conn was the first true freshman to start a game on the defensive or offensive line in U-Conn's D1 era. He's got a ton of experience but he still must continue developing his game if he wants to be an every down player.

Eric Wood C Louisville

Wood would be a solid addition in the second round if he somehow slipped to the Cardinals pick. He's a dependable player who will keep his legs driving and plays with a mean streak. He's a straight line center that does a good job matching what the defender brings. If he can improve on his quickness and lower body strength, he can be an anchor for any teams offensive line.

Sherrod Martin FS Troy

Martin's a versatile player who should be able to help any team that drafts him in a variety of ways. He was a very effective gunner on punt coverage and could be a solid contributor on special teams early in his career. If he's left at his natural position, safety, his transition to the NFL could be a relatively easy one. Overall though he is an underrated prospect with a very intriguing skill set.

Sen'Derrick Marks DT Auburn

Marks has adequate timed speed, good balance and short-area quickness, showing the loose hips needed when changing direction. He can accelerate into the backfield to disrupt the plays and plays at a low center of gravity that he combines with his squat frame to slip under reach blocks, but fails to play with a consistent motor. He uses his hands effectively and gains leverage to jolt and stack blockers. His motor runs hot and cold and he needs to play with more consistent intensity. He is basically a short-area type of player with limited long speed.

Most of breakdowns provided are from Cbssports.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Again, thanks for everybody who participated and lets hope for a productive real draft tomorrow. I'll be on here for the draft and we'll post the Cardinals second round pick then as well.

Poll

Who should be the Cardinals mock draft 2nd round pick?

Duke Robinson G

14 votes

Jason Williams OLB

20 votes

Chase Coffman TE

14 votes

Cody Brown OLB

38 votes

Eric Wood C

38 votes

Sherrod Martin FS

3 votes

Sen'Derrick Marks DT

13 votes

Other

10 votes

150 votes | Poll has closed

Morning Update (Moving On Edition)

Chris Thorman — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:18:19 -0000

Donnie Edwards and Tony Gonzalez...end of an era (via media.kansascity.com)

Tony Gonzalez Trade

Arrowhead Addict: "From the start, the California Kid stuck out like a sore thumb in Kansas City. Tony G wasn’t like Larry Johnson, disliked from the start, or Jared Allen, beloved from the start. He was somewhere in between."
Bob Gretz: "What comes with change is pain. This one wasn’t easy for anybody to choke down, even Gonzalez who wanted desperately to have a chance to be part of a winning team again. Bittersweet is the word most often used."
KCChiefsFootball.com: "Honestly I understand this move, the Chiefs got a second round pick for a player that only has a few years left… but why do I still feel TICKED?"
WPI: Gonzalez Traded to the Falcons - More Brewing?
KCChiefsBlog.com: "Wait a minute… for the next three or four years?? It’s one thing if he only wanted to play two more years and really wanted to win a Super Bowl before he retired. But I don’t think it’s unrealistic to think the Chiefs could be a Super Bowl contender within three to four years."
Joe Posnanski: "The thing that struck me about Tony Gonzalez is that every time I saw him catch a pass — every single time, no matter if it was during practice, on the sideline during a game, or just goofing around afterward — he always tucked the ball away."

Kansas City Chiefs News

Sorry. Dwayne Bowe did not drop almost as many passes as he caught. I understand the point this person was trying to make but 13 is nowhere near 86.
Two former Chiefs realize their football dreams again -- in the CFL.

Draft News

NT Sen'Derrick Marks doesn't care that his stock seems to be falling.
Matty from the Phinsider gives us one of his mock drafts over at Mocking the Draft.
National Football Post: "In KC, the talk is all about LSU DE Tyson Jackson, but he’s not the type of player that should come off the board at No. 3. He’s a top 10 talent, but not top five talent. It’s going to be hard to move these picks."
VIDEO: Tamba Hali talks about Penn St. DE Aaron Maybin.

Throughout the day, check the FanShot section for more links.

***

We are one day away from the NFL Draft Chiefs fans. I'm so excited I'm about to call in to work to tell them I won't be in. Well, not that excited but you know what I'm saying.

Today, we'll finish up the final four picks of the Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft. I've gotten all but the final pick in for the Steelers so we should be ready to pump these out.

We've got a slight bug in our Friday blogging plans. I'm headed to Lafayette, LA, this afternoon and will be in the car for at least 6 hours (Yes, I realize how terrible this decision to go to Miss Arrowhead Pride's cousin's wedding. Yes, it's that far removed from me. I can't believe I agreed to this without thinking about the Draft.)

But...Primetime will be around today and this afternoon and I will be back later tonight. Tomorrow morning, we're starting bright and early around here.

It's the Draft baby! Get excited!

Meet the Chiefs Draft Interests (Trade Down Edition)

Joel Thorman — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:30:10 -0000

More photos » by Rogelio V. Solis - AP

8 months ago: FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2008 file photo, Mississippi State defensive end Tim Bailey (39) is shoved back by Mississippi offensive lineman Michael Oher (74) during the first half of an NCAA college football game. Oher is a top prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

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Yesterday, we broke down by position all the draft prospects the Kansas City Chiefs have been reportedly interested in. No surprise that offensive line and linebacker led the way.

Then we looked at the players the Chiefs have worked out that could be the third overall pick.

Today, we're perusing our Chiefs Draft Interests page and highlighting all the players the scouting staff has looked at that are projected to go in the second or third round. If you're watching the Draft on Saturday, and at 3:20 PM you hear the Chiefs have traded down, there's a likelihood they'll know who to pick considering they've focused heavily on players in this draft range.

The list of players below is one of the biggest reasons so many folks across the league expect Scott Pioli and the Chiefs to move out of the third overall pick and collect more picks in the late first to early third round range.

OFFENSIVE LINE

OT Michael Oher (Ole Miss, Rd. 1) - Spoke with at Senior Bow/Attended Pro Day (March 31)/Scouted in person in 2008

*Oher settles in at the tail end of the top ten range to the high teens. If the Chiefs are looking at him as a tackle opposite of Albert (right or left), then they'll need to likely target the Buffalo Bills 11th overall pick.

OT Eben Britton (Arizona, Rd. 1-2) - Private workout (Reported March 25)

*Could be a right or left tackle (6'6", 310 pounds) and could be taken as high as the late teens in the first round.

DEFENSIVE LINE/LINEBACKER

OLB Brian Cushing (USC, Rd. 1) - Spoke with at Senior Bowl/Attended Pro Day (April 1)/Scouted in person in 2008

*Brian Cushing is projected to be a first round pick and would be of interest to the Chiefs if they were able to trade down. He, along with his USC counterparts, could be a tremendous help to the Chiefs and a great value if they were able to drop into to the bottom half of the first round.

DE Connor Barwin (Cincinnati, Rd. 1-2) - Visited with the Chiefs (April 2)

*The Patriots are reported to have a lot of interest in Barwin as well. He's had arguably the best post-season workout run as any player in this draft class. Capable of playing as an OLB (1 year at Cincinnati) or a TE (3 years at Cincinnati), Barwin has been drawn comparisons to Chiefs' Mike Vrabel. He won't make it past the Patriots or Browns, early in the second round.

LB James Laurinaitis (Ohio St., Rd. 1-2) - Visited with the Chiefs (April 2)

*Came in on the same day as Brian Orakpo and Connor Barwin. It's strange...if Lauriniaitis have come out last year, he was projected to be as high as a top ten pick. Now, he's fallen to the tail end of the first round, possibly as low as the second round. He seems to have the Pioli mentality when it comes to football.

LB Larry English (Northern Illinois, Rd. 1-2) - Private workout (Reported April 8)

*English has been shooting up draft boards, possibly into the first round. He's been reported to have drawn the interest of the Patriots in addition to the Chiefs. He's projected as an OLB in the Chiefs' 3-4 scheme.

LB Clint Sintim

*Another interesting prospect as he's projected to go as high as 25th to the Dolphins and as low as the middle of the second round.

DE Jarron Gilbert (San Jose St., Rd. 2-3) - Private workout (April)

*Another guy gaining a lot of steam, maybe even into the end of the first round. Click the link above to see a cool video of him jumping out of a pool (Okay, that sounds weird. Just watch it if you haven't already).

NT Sen'Derrick Marks (Auburn, Rd. 2-3) - Private workout (March 30)

*Nose tackles are hard to come by but one of Marks' biggest knocks is that he's not big enough to handle larger defensive linemen. Not a characteristic a defensive lineman wants. He's likely to be available when the Chiefs pick in the third round.

DT Fili Moala (USC, Rd. 2-3) - Spoke with at Combine

*The Chiefs could be looking for another defensive tackle - though I would imagine they would prefer it to be a more traditional nose tackle.

DE Paul Kruger (Utah, Rd. 3) - Private workout (1st week of April)

*From Utah and is projected as an OLB. He's quick and has the frame to get bigger. The Broncos and Chiefs both worked him out.

SECONDARY

CB Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio St. Rd. 1) - Scouted in person in 2008

*I wouldn't read much into this. The Chiefs scouted him way back when we weren't sure if rookie Brandon Carr could handle the corner job opposite of Flowers (he can).

CB Mike Mickens (Cincinnati, Rd. 2-3) - Scouted in person in 2008

*Director of college scouting says he has the "temperament" to be an NFL corner.

CB Keenan Lewis (Oregon St., Rd. 3) - Spoke with at the Senior Bowl

*From Oregon State and had an interview with the Chiefs at the Senior Bowl. Haven't heard any news on him since that.

QUARTERBACKS

QB Chase Patton (MU, Rd. 7) - Rumored interest

*We just learned tonight the Chiefs have requested a contact number for Patton on Draft day so that's a good sign that he's on the Chiefs radar.

QB Josh Freeman (K-State, Rd. 1-2) - Attended local Pro Day

*Didn't even work out at the Chiefs complex. Nothing to see here. Move along...

QB Pat White (WVU, Rd. 2-3) - Spoke with at Senior Bowl

*Since the Senior Bowl meeting, we haven't been able to get a confirmation of Pat White working out with the Chiefs. He's been linked to the Patriots and Vikings, among other teams.

RUNNING BACKS/WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS

TE Brandon Pettigrew (Oklahoma St., Rd. 1) - Scouted in person in 2008

*The Chiefs could have been doing their due diligence last season when they scouted Pettigrew. Remember, last October, in the height of college football season, Gonzalez was publicly asking to be traded.

TE Chase Coffman (MU, Rd. 2-3) - Attended local Pro Day

*Coffman is an intriguing pick due in large part to the fact that he's local. Though Pioli has picked three tight ends in the first round while in New England, I expect him to hang onto Gonzalez in 2009 with Brad Cottam as his eventual heir.

WR Mike Thomas (Arizona, Rd. 2-3) - Private workout (March 24)

*Both the Chiefs (Pioli) and Broncos (McDaniels) set up a private workout with Thomas so maybe there's a bit of the 'Patriot Way' in him. His skill set is in a Wes Welker type mold, meaning he's a small and quick possession/slot receiver.

RB Andre Brown (NC State, Rd. 2-3) - Private workout (Reported April 16th)

*And here's my "Chiefs work out a RB...replacement for LJ?" post...

It can't be used as a legitimate clue into the Chiefs' front office because our Chiefs' draft interests page is ultimately incomplete, but only two offensive linemen that have been reportedly worked out by the Chiefs are expected to be in trade down territory.

Of these 20 prospects, nine of them were defensive linemen and linebackers. A sign that the Chiefs will be going defense in the even to of a trade down?

Taking the table from Chris' post yesterday where he broke down all the Chiefs draft interests by position, we can see the Chiefs are focusing their reported scouting efforts of defensive linemen and linebackers projected to be selected later in the first round to the third round.

Offense	Defense
OT (10)	LB (11)
WR (4)	DE (6)
QB (3)	DL (5)
OG (3)	CB (4)
RB (2)
PK (2)
FB (1)

Out of the sixteen reported DL/LBs on this list, nine of them would require the Chiefs trading down. That's quite the due diligence.

Chiefs Defensive Line Problems Won't be a Quick Fix

Joel Thorman — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:50:53 -0000

The Kansas City Chiefs defensive drafting woes have been well-documented. In a piece by DThomasReigns (that Dr. Z mentioned in his Sports Illustrated column) came this "terrifying" reality:

"In the last 7 years, the Chiefs have spent 4 of 7 First round picks on Defense, EVERY Second round pick on Defense, and 5 Third rounders on Defense."

Yikes! And that news isn't going to get much better next season, especially at the defensive tackle position.

The time it takes a defensive tackle to fully develop has also been well documented around here. With free agency pretty much done, it's becoming evident that (barring a trade) the Chiefs won't have a NFL-ready tackle to start the season.

Glenn Dorsey may be the best candidate to start at the nose tackle come opening weekend, unless the Chiefs pick up a tackle in the draft. But judging by the tackles the Chiefs have been looking at, there isn't one in the draft that will be ready to be a force on opening weekend.

Let's take a quick look at the defensive tackles the Chiefs have reportedly shown interest in and tell me if any of these guys can be the team's starter in September.

Jarron Gilbert (San Jose State DE/DT - 6'5" 288 pounds)

Technically a defensive end in college, Gilbert appears to have the build to pack on a few more pounds and take a run as a defensive tackle. Though that's unlikely, he's still a player the Chiefs will work out. Still, as a defensive end in college, it's unlikely Gilbert can or will make the switch to tackle by opening day.

Ricky Jean-Francois (LSU DT 6'3" 290 pounds)

Francois worked out for the Chiefs on March 17th in Louisiana. He's got the beginnings of the size needed for a 3-4 defensive tackle but as a likely mid-round pick (3rd-5th round), I don't see him being ready to start at defensive tackle to start the season.

Fili Moala (USC DT 6'4" 303 pounds)

Of all the prospects that we know the Chiefs have shown an interest in, Moala appears to be the most likely to be able to start opening day. He's been compared to the Patriots' Vince Wilfork and is related to Ravens tackle Haloti Ngata. Still, he was a junior college transfer because of academic problems coming out of high school which isn't the best pedigree for a tackle to start as a rookie.

Sammie Lee Hill (Stillman DE/DT 6'4" 329 pounds)

Hill has the most NFL ready size out of all the prospects the Chiefs have scouted for tackle. Unfortunately, we're not sure how his skills will translate to the NFL since his competition were all from small schools.

Sen'Derrick Marks (Auburn DT 6'1", 295 pounds)

I don't know a whole lot about Marks, except for his statistics which declined this year. He's only a junior so I don't like the chances of someone as young as him starting immediately. The knocks on him include lacking the "bulk and strength to handle anchoring against the double team" which doesn't scream opening day starter to me.

***

Since free agency is all but over as far as impact players go, I'm throwing my hat in the ring for Dorsey as the starter at nose tackle come the first week of September. With the exception of B.J. Raji and possibly his teammate Ron Brace, both of which I don't think are on the Chiefs radar, I don't see any lineman in the 2009 NFL Draft starting as a 3-4 nose tackle the first week of the season.

Tracking the Kansas City Chiefs' Draft Interests

Chris Thorman — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:04:48 -0000

*Updated April 22, 2009

Private Workout/Visit	Spoke with at Senior Bowl/Combine	Attended Pro Day	Rumored interest	Scouted in person during 2008 season	Local Pro Day Attendees
G Roger Allen (Mo. Western, Rd. 7)	QB Nathan Brown (Central Arkansas, Rd. 6)	OLB Jason Williams (Western Illinois, Rd. 3-4)	OG Marlon Davis (Alabama, Rd. 7)	T Michael Oher (Ole Miss, Rd. 1)	QB Josh Freeman (K-State, Rd. 1-2)
DE Connor Barwin (Cinncinati, Rd. 1-2)	LB Rey Maualuga (USC, Rd. 1)	University of Georgia	LB Jasper Brinkely (S. Carolina, Rd. 4-5)	CB Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio St. Rd. 1)	LB Mike Rivera (KU, Rd. 7)
WR Taurus Johnson (S. Florida, Rd. 7)	WR Mike Wallace (Ole Miss, Rd. 5)	Georgia Tech University (Likely)	FB Jerome Johnson (Nevada-Reno, Rd. 7)	LB Rey Maualuga (USC, Rd. 1)	WR Tommy Saunders (MU, Rd. 7)
DE Everette Brown (FSU, Rd. 1)	QB Pat White (WVU, Rd. 2-3)	LSU (Likely)	OG/C Lawrence Lovell (Stony Brook)	LB Brian Cushing (USC, Rd. 1)	LB Brock Christopher (MU, Rd. 7)
DT Ricky Jean-Francois (LSU, Rd. 4)	OLB Brian Cushing (USC, Rd. 1)	University of Tennessee	LB Derek Nicholson (FSU)	CB Mike Mickens (Cincinnati, Rd. 2-3)	K Jeff Wolfert (MU, Rd. 7)
OT Jason Smith (Baylor, Rd. 1)	CB Keenan Lewis (Oregon St.), Rd. 3	PK Ryan Succop (Univ. South Carolina, Rd. 7)	SS Bret Lockett (UCLA, Rd. 7)	LB Aaron Curry (Wake Forest, Top 5)	G Roger Allen (Missouri Western, Rd. 7)
LB Mike Rivera (KU, Rd. 7)	DT Fili Moala (USC, Rd. 2-3)	TE Rob Myers (Utah State, Rd. 7)	CB Vince Anderson (Webber International University)	T Eugene Monroe (Virginia, Rd. 1)	TE Darius Hill (Ball St. Rd. 7)
TE Anthony Hill (NC State, Rd. 5-6)	OT Alex Boone (Ohio State Rd. 5-6)	Ole Miss (Ole Miss) Rd. 1	DE Tyson Jackson (LSU, Rd. 1)	DT B.J. Raji (Boston College, Rd. 1)	TE Chase Coffman (MU, Rd. 2-3)
LB Aaron Curry (Wake Forest, Top 5)	OT Andrew Gardner (Georgia Tech, Rd. 5-6)	University of Iowa (Likely)	WR Quinten Lawrence (McNeese St., Rd. 7)	TE Brandon Pettigrew (Oklahoma St., Rd. 1)
DL Sammie Lee Hill (Stillman College, Rd. 5-6)	OT/G Cornelius Lewis (Tennessee State, Rd. 6)	USC	Chase Patton (MU, Rd.7)
OT Eben Britton (Arizona, Rd. 1-2)	OT Michael Oher (Ole Miss, Rd. 1)	Stephen F. Austin	WR Austin Collie (BYU, Rd. 4)
DE Jarron Gilbert (San Jose St., Rd. 2-3)	OLB DeAndre Levy (Wisconsin, Rd. 6-7)	University of Alabama	LB Mike Maresh (NDSU)
NT Sen'Derrick Marks (Auburn, Rd. 2-3)
OT Gerald Cadorgon (Penn. State, Rd. 3)
OT Cornelius Lewis (Tenn. St., Rd. 6)
OT Lawrence Lovell (Stony Brook U., Rd. ???)
LB Clint Sintim (Virginia, Rd. 2)
DE Paul Kruger (Utah, Rd. 3)
WR Mike Thomas (Arizona, Rd. 2-3)
TE Richard Quinn (North Carolina, Rd. 5)
DE Brian Orakpo (Texas, Rd. 1)
LB James Laurinaitis (Ohio St., Rd. 1-2)
K Robbie Dehaze (NAU, Rd. 7)
RB Javarris Williams (Tenn. St., Rd. 5-6)
LB Rey Maualuga (USC, Rd. 1)
LB Larry English (Northern Illinois, Rd. 1-2)
DB Vince Anderson (Webber International University, Rd. 7)
RB Andre Brown (NC State, Rd. 2-3)
CB Darius Butler (UConn, Rd. 1-2)

Good afternoon to you all on a beautiful (at least where I am) Saturday (It's Saturday, right?) afternoon. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the NFL draft is approaching.

The table above lists all of the Kansas City Chiefs' draft interests we've been able to dig up (This is not intended to be a comprehensive list), arranged by four different categories. I've linked back to the stories on AP citing those sources for legitimacy. Take the categories as seriously as you want. Obviously, the private workouts are probably the most legitimate, although you have guys like Mike Rivera from KU who are only going to the Chiefs little local Pro Day in mid-April that is for KC-area prospects.

After today, I'm going to feature this story and there will be a permanent link in the left sidebar to this so we can access it at anytime. We'll also be updating this list as new prospects connected to the Chiefs come up.

And one more thing, please let us know in the comment section if we missed anyone. Thanks!