SB Nation - Herb Taylor

Horse Tracks 12/10/09 - Dawkins practices, Bruton held out; Harris placed on IR, replaced by Herb Taylor on roster

Douglas A. Lee — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:43:30 -0000

Good MORNING, MHR Friends!! Mrs. Lee and I are back from Barcelona, and we had a great trip; belated thanks for all of your kind words and wishes. Frankly, I wouldn't mind eating like a Catalan for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, we weren't able to see the Broncos' whipping of the Chefs, and I certainly feel a bit out of the loop here. Thanks as always to John for filling in more than admirably. I missed you folks! Now, let's get to the news!

DB - Week 14 - Wed: McDaniels - Broncos TV

NFL Films Presents - McDaniels high school roots

DPP - Dawkins healthy enough to practice - Mike Klis

DPP - Colts' pass-rushing defensive ends provide challenge for Broncos - Mike Klis
"In a 10-year span from 1998 to 2007, Broncos nickelback Ty Law registered 11 interceptions, including playoffs, against Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. No other defender has more picks against Manning...Harris was replaced on the roster Wednesday by tackle Herb Taylor, who spent two seasons with Kansas City before he was released in training camp...Special-teamer David Bruton was held out of practice Wednesday with a thigh injury."

DPP - Broncos' Buckhalter better than ever at age 31 - Jeff Legwold
"I am faster, no doubt, but when I first came in the league I was 231 (pounds)," Buckhalter said. "Then I hurt my knee. After my first knee surgery, I got down to 225 for the next couple years. Then I hurt my other knee twice, so I wanted to get down some more. So now I play at 218." Remember all those alarm bells when McD said Buck was the fastest Broncos back?

LTC - The Linchpin - Brian Howell
"The Broncos’ trust in Larsen as a fullback has become evident the past few weeks. He lined up at fullback on 22 of the Broncos’ 40 runs against the Giants, and he was on the field just as much Sunday."

DB - Remembering The Barrelman - Jim Saccomano
RIP, Barrel Man. Our thoughts go out to the McKernan family.

DPP - Mailbag: A 'Barrel' of fun - Woody Paige
"A lot has been lost in the move to the new stadium, and (Barrel Man's) absence is one of those missing pieces. I thought about it today and feel the Broncos should honor Tim at the Oakland game (a natural) with a moment of cheering, not silence, and honor him permanently in some way. "

DB - Week 14 - Wed: Orton - Broncos TV

DB - Week 14 - Wed: Dawkins - Broncos TV

DB - Familiarity Breeds Respect - Gray Caldwell

DB - Stepping Back Into Starting Shoes - Chris Gentilviso

INDT - Broncos’ mission is clear - Hunter Ansley

DPP - Colts' Peyton Manning more accurate than ever before going into Broncos game - Mike Klis

DPP - Q&A: How much planning resulted in the trend toward the running game? - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Analysis: Colts tough to stop in second half - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Almost all of Broncos' roads lead to Indianapolis (again) - Woody Paige

DPP - Broncos' Barrel Man deserves some Rocky Mountain Thunder - Woody Paige

DPP - Numbers: Broncos hope upset bid doesn't flag

CSG - Broncos' hopes rest on veteran secondary - Frank Schwab

CSG - Broncos notes: Coyer succeeds - Frank Schwab

CBS4 - Buckhalter: December Is Critical For Playoff Run - Matthew Buettner

CBS4 - Broncos Ryan Harris Out For Season, Taylor Signed

KDVR - Hard to think Broncos can beat Indy - Chris Tanaka

Y! - Belichick's clan replacing loyalty with ugliness - Mike Silver
"So yes, Mr. Vrabel – McDaniels was most certainly trying to show you who your daddy is. Or perhaps he was telling Pioli, "I’m Bill’s best and brightest, not you." Or maybe it had something to do with retribution for the Cassel trade, which didn’t exactly play out the way the Broncos had hoped, at least at the time."

SN - Broncos vs. Colts Preview - Mike Chappell & Lee Rasizer

Colts News

IS - Orton delivers only stat that matters - Mike Chappell

IS - Painter now No. 2 QB after Sorgi goes on IR - Phil Richards

IS - Colts' defense dominates after halftime - Phillip Wilson

IS - Other Colts step up as defenses take away Wayne - Mike Chappell

IS - Winning formula for Colts? No errors - Phil Richards

IS - Ask the Expert: Colts - Mike Chappell

NYT - Don’t Ask the Colts About Going Undefeated - Greg Bishop

AFC West News

SDUT - Phillips still has players’ hearts and minds - Chris Jenkins

SDUT - Chargers keeping in focus - Kevin Acee

SDUT - LT expects an 'emotional' game against Dallas - Kevin Acee

SDUT - McNeill's got his gigantic hands full - Tim Sullivan

FH - Gannon: Gradkowski What Raiders Need - Nancy Gay

OT - Defensive assistant Randy Hanson returns to work with Raiders but at different job - Steve Corkran

SFC - QB Gradkowski making case that he is 'the man' - Ron Kroichick

SFC - Gradkowski is the bull in Al Davis' china shop - Ray Ratto

KCS - Chiefs' streak of sellouts appears doomed - Randy Covitz

KCS - Chiefs notes: Bills QB Fitzpatrick could have been a Chief - Adam Teicher

NFL News

NFL - Jets' Sanchez no fan of Ryan's decision to rest him, start Clemens

NFL - Lions QB Stafford will rest shoulder vs. Ravens; Culpepper to start

NFL - Patriots WR Moss, three LBs sent home for being late to meeting

NFL - Week 14 injuries: DeAngelo returns; many Vikes hurt

NFL - Now holding on Cowboys' kicks: Tony Romo?

NFL - Fat and sassy: Eagles' Reid jovial after signing three-year extension

NFL - Eagles' Westbrook practices, says he previously returned too soon

NFL - Rams place FS Atogwe on injured reserve, make other roster moves

NFL - Texans RB Slaton out for season after seeing specialist about neck

NFL Opinion

ESPN - Coming to grips with poor tackling - Jeffri Chadiha

SN - Five offenses get over the hump at midseason - Vinnie Iyer

FH - Dirty Dozen: Rookie(s) of the Year - Dave Goldberg

SI - How Tom Brady messed up; NFL helmet mandates coming? - Peter King
"I'd say Josh McDaniels will see how Orton plays down the stretch, and if McDaniels thinks he can significantly upgrade in the draft, he'd do it."

SI - Cincinnati Bengals use practice squad to their advantage - Ross Tucker

Y! - Tebow to Jags would be disastrous - Charles Robinson

FOX - The NFL's biggest bargains - Alex Marvez
Doom, BMarsh make the list

FOX - The NFL's biggest rip-offs - Alex Marvez

ESPN - Wild-card races not so wild - John Clayton
"The true value of the trade will be who ends up with the better quarterback. Orton is in the last year of his contract. Cutler has to change his game, but he has talent. You win in this league with quarterback play." Apparently, Clayton has rewritten history; not sure if you got the memo, but the Broncos traded Jay Cutler straight up for Kyle Orton awhile back.

NFL - NFC favorites are clear, but conference playoff picture is unsettled - Steve Wyche

NFL - Patriots have fallen from grace but not the AFC playoff race - Bucky Brooks

NFP - Should the ‘Skins bring back Clinton Portis in 2010? - Matt Bowen

FH - Could Clinton Portis Call It a Career? - R.J. White

NFP - Diner morning news: Should the ‘Skins keep Campbell? - Mike Lombardi

NFP - Rice misses the mark on Green Bay - Andrew Brandt

CBS - Rodgers moves into MVP neighborhood -- not that you've noticed - Mike Freeman
Rodgers is now a .500 QB and rising, with a 96.5 career QB rating. Still don't think he's great?

SI - Chris Johnson more than just speed for Titans - Lee Jenkins

NFP - Tavern talk: Quinn still needs improvement - Mike Lombardi

Picks/Previews/Stats/Power Rankings

NYT - Thursday’s Matchup: Steelers at Browns - Mike Tanier

PFW - Week 14 matchup tidbits

SN - Week 14 picks: Mannings home in on tough matchups - Vinnie Iyer

FOX - Cheat Sheet: Cliffnotes for Week 14 - Peter Schrager
"The Pick: Colts 34, Broncos 20"

NYT - Week 14 N.F.L. Game Probabilities: The Unluckiest Teams - Brian Burke

NYT - Week 13 QB Ratings: Rivers and Brees Entwined - Luis DeLoureiro

SI - Saints, Colts remain at top - Don Banks
"I don't see Denver making any real noise in January, but just getting into the Super Bowl tournament after the offseason the youthful McDaniels endured is no small accomplishment."

FH - NFL Power Rankings, Week 14: Best of the Rest - Josh Alper

ESPN - NFL Power Rankings Week 14

SI All-Decade Columns

SI - 2000s: The Decade in Sports - NFL: 10 signature moments

SI - Tom Brady, Patriots are tops in NFL decade; Lions at bottom - Peter King

SI - Patriots scored in decade with trades for Randy Moss, Wes Welker - Don Banks

SI - Peyton Manning, Randy Moss, Ray Lewis lead NFL All-Decade team - Peter King

Potent Quotables - Wednesday Ramblings from Dove Valley

John Bena — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:24:57 -0000

More photos » by Gail Burton - AP

8 days ago: FILE - This is a Nov. 1, 2009, file photo showing Denver Broncos offensive tackle Ryan Harris leaving the field after an injury in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, in Baltimore. Harris is done for the season. The third-year pro was put on injured reserve Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009, with an injury to his right big toe. (AP Photo/Gail Burton, File)

Browse more photos »

HEAD COACH JOSH McDANIELS

Opening statement

"We placed (T) Ryan Harris on injured reserve. We signed (T) Herb Taylor to the roster. Hopefully, everybody will be out there at practice."

On placing Harris on injured reserve

"His toe was too injured for him to be able to play without having a procedure. We're going to take care of that. After that happens, (with) the length of time that he would need to recover from that, it wouldn't make any sense for us to not make this move at this time on our roster."

On Harris' injury

"It was a toe injury."

On if Harris returned to game action too early against Kansas City

"No, he was fine. The previous injury was not the same injury. That has nothing to do with the new injury. It's the same toe, but it's not the same injury to the toe. It's kind of a fluke deal. He was playing well until the time that it happened."

On T Tyler Polumbus' improvement over the past five weeks

"I've seen a guy who's gained confidence because obviously, in this league when you're playing in the games, that experience is more valuable than the experience that you gain in the offseason and all the rest of it. He knows what we're doing. He knows our system. He communicates well with the other players. He's playing beside good players. We think that we have a guy who's getting better each week. He'll have a big challenge ahead of him this week."

On facing Indianapolis' no-huddle offense on Sunday

"We're just going to get lined up and play our call. That's it. We're not going to try to run a bunch of guys in and out of the game. Nobody does against this team. We're not going to try to do it either. You've got to line up and play good football. There's no more simple answer than that. That's what we need to do. That's what we're going to try to do."

On if the Broncos will use sub packages frequently against the Colts on Sunday

"We will not try to do something that is impossible to do, and that's impossible to do when you don't have the right time. If the ball hasn't been thrown down the field 40 yards, if there's not a timeout on the field, you don't try to do that and disrupt the entire flow of your game by allowing them to create situations where you have to call timeouts or you get five-yard penalties that keep the drive going and all the rest of it. We're going to play with the guys who are out there, and when we feel like we can substitute without issue, then we will substitute if we need to. If we don't need to substitute, then we're just going to play."

On Indianapolis Defensive Coordinator Larry Coyer's game plan

"I would say it's mostly the same philosophy, but you can tell that he's added a few different things that they haven't really done a lot of in the past. I'm not saying that that has taken over what they do. It certainly hasn't. The base things that they do, they're fairly simple in terms of the amount of volume of calls that they use, but they play faster than every team in the league. Everybody on this defense is fast. Their front is fast, they play fast, they stunt fast, they blitz fast (and) they cover fast. Everything that they do is about speed. That hasn't changed. He's added a few blitz-zones and some different coverage wrinkles here or there. They're playing as well as anybody in football on defense. They create a lot of turnovers (and) do a great job of stopping people in the red zone and on the goal line. Larry's done a great job with them."

On why opponents can't take advantage of Indianapolis' size on defense by running the football

"There's a quarterback on the other side who usually puts them ahead. I said the other day it's the best complimentary football team in the NFL, and it is. They play to each other. The offense tries to get out front. The defense rushes the passer and creates turnovers to give the ball back to the offense, which scores more points. Then you're behind by 14 or 21 points, and then if you hand the ball off three times in a row, you get booed. First of all, let me say this: they are not a bad run defense. If you could run the ball 40 times against them-that isn't going to be easy because again, the way that they stop the run is not the same way that we would stop the run, necessarily, or some other teams stop the run. They stunt and create disruption by picking people off or making two of your guys block one of their guys so that one of their fast players is free to the football. That's what they do. There are a lot of ways to skin a cat, and they do it a different way than some teams do, but they're really, really good at it and very effective. Everybody knows their job. They're extremely unselfish when they play run defense because there are a lot of people in that front who know, ‘Alright, I know I am not going to make the tackle on this play, but I'm going to go run in there and I'm going to take the guard and the center out, and now, somebody else is going to make the tackle behind me.' They have great trust and faith in their players."

On ranking Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning amongst all-time NFL quarterbacks

"I don't know where he stands in that. I'm not judging him or saying-I know he's one of the greatest of all time. He's unbelievable to prepare for. You can't beat him with a play call. You make the right call against some teams, and sometimes you have a better call than the other quarterback's coordinator made on their sideline, and hooray for you and you won one. With this guy, if he sees something or you show him something too early, it doesn't make any difference what the guy on the sideline called. He's going to make sure that he changes it to something that's going to hurt you. When he makes a decision to do that, usually, it ends up in a big play. There's a difference between him and everybody else because some other teams try to get out of a bad play and into a play that's a decent play. He tries to get out of a bad play and score a touchdown. He's an aggressive quarterback who gets rid of the football before you can get there most of the time. They've only (allowed) 10 sacks this year, and he's a great part of that. Their offensive line does a great job, but he does a great job, too. He attacks you at your very weakest point in every coverage, and that's what makes him so good."

On the Broncos secondary facing Manning

"When you play with a veteran secondary against him, that can help you. Certainly, we have to play well. The bottom line is when (WR) Reggie Wayne is out there, it doesn't make any difference who's on him. They're going to throw it to him. You're not going to put one guy out there on Reggie Wayne and say, ‘Okay, he won't throw it to Reggie today.' He's a great player. The two young kids who they have who are playing a lot, (WR Austin) Collie and (WR Pierre) Garcon, I don't know that I could imagine two young players coming into the league and then adapting to a difficult system and being able to work in pressure situations with a guy like Peyton Manning as well as those two have. It's remarkable what they've been able to do with those two kids. They're only going to get better. (TE Dallas) Clark is incredibly difficult to defend. You can try to take away some things, but ultimately, like I just said, he's going to throw it to the guy who you didn't take away, and you better be on him and you better be on him tight. You better try to get a pass rush on him because if you sit there and give him too much time and let him see what the coverage is, he's going to throw it to the right place."

On how Indianapolis TE Dallas Clark compares to Atlanta TE Tony Gonzalez or San Diego TE Antonio Gates

"(He has) great hands. I would say (he is) as good as a route runner as those guys you mentioned. He's one of those guys who has a knack for getting open. He can do things with his body. He has great body control when he runs routes. He can sell things and then do something different off of it. The thing about all of their receivers, including Clark, is they don't need much space. If he's from-me-to-the-microphone (approximately six inches) open, the ball is going to be ‘here,' and he's going to catch it because he's got great hands and he's got a good quarterback throwing him the ball. They've got so many weapons. You can't double-team everybody. We've got good players on defense, and we've got to play good defense."

On his decision to practice inside today

"It's sunny, it's zero degrees and we're playing indoors (at Indianapolis on Sunday)."

On how to beat Indianapolis

"I think there have been a lot of teams that have played them tough, and there have been a lot of close games. They've won seven games (by less than) a touchdown this year, which tells you that they execute in those pressure situations and have executed in those pressure situations better than their opponents have. It's not out of the question for you or for any other team to be close and to be in the game in the second half or to be ahead in the second half. You can't play 56 minutes. If you've played 56 good minutes, you might have a smile on your face and you're going to lose. If you play 58 good minutes, it might be the same situation. You've got to play 60 minutes or longer if it takes longer, and you've got to continue to come back to the sideline and say, ‘Alright, what are we going to do the next series?' and go out there and play well again. You've got to battle them, and you've got to play really, really good football down in the red zone, on third down and in two-minute (situations) because that's where a lot of their games have been decided in those crucial situations at the end of the game. They've made more plays than their opponents have, and that's why they've won 12 in a row and 21 straight in the regular season. If you can take care of the football and you can play your best football down there when it matters most, you've got a chance to be in the game and then to win the game."

QB KYLE ORTON

On T Ryan Harris being placed on injured reserve

"He's certainly a good player for us and brings toughness and a little nastiness to the line, so it's disappointing to hear about it. (T) Tyler (Polumbus) will step in. He's played before and he's played well for us, and he's going to need to the rest of the year."

On if the offense changed during the four weeks Harris missed

"No, I don't let it affect me. The guys have a job to do, and they're expected to do it. Tyler is expected to do it just like Ryan does. He's done a good job. I don't feel the pressure anymore. We have tough task this week, obviously. Everybody knows that, but we expect to go out and play well."

On if play calls are different when Polumbus is in the game

"No, I don't think so. We've kind of gotten away from doing some empty stuff, but I don't think that has to do with Tyler. I think that's just where we're at as an offense. I don't think we've done a whole lot to specifically help Tyler."

On being aware of each play's timing when facing Indianapolis' pass rush

"All 11 guys on offense have to be aware of it. Receivers have to have urgency getting open, I have to have urgency getting the ball out and the offensive line has to do a great job of running them by and giving me a chance to step up. Not just myself, but all 11 guys have to be aware of that."

On having to play well against Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning

"When you're playing a 12-0 team, I think you've certainly got to bring it, but Peyton is one of the best there is and one of the best who ever played. I'm not going to sit here and try to outdo him, for sure. We'll have to play smart football, and we'll have to play turnover free and mistake free on offense and try to hold the ball as long as we can and let him sit on the sideline and have fun over there."

On the term "franchise quarterback"

"That's all on the franchise. That's all on the organization. That's probably the only way you can decide that is if the organization thinks you're one, then you're one. I guess we'll just wait and see."

On if Manning is a franchise quarterback

"Peyton is a Hall of Fame quarterback. There are big differences between franchise quarterbacks and Hall of Fame quarterbacks. Peyton is a Hall of Famer, and there are not many of those around."

On Manning's star power in Indiana

"Well, he's the Colts. When you think of the Colts, not only in Indiana but across the country, you think of Peyton Manning. He's a premier player, and he has been for a long time. I know how important he is back in the Midwest."

On playing on the road late in the season

"There's a disadvantage going on the road, I would probably say, this time of year. We're playing good teams, and it's tough to win on the road. You go into a dome, and it's going to be extremely loud. They're a dome team. There's no question about it. They're built for the dome. They're fast. This will be the fastest defense that we see all year. We're going to have to handle the operation, have to handle the crowd noise and with all that, have to be able to handle the edge and everything with their (defensive) ends. It'll be a tough task."

On the challenges Indianapolis' defense presents

"They just tell their ends to go the quarterback, and everybody else rallies to the run. The ends really have no responsibilities other than to come back with the quarterback. They get there a bunch and cause a lot of havoc. Everybody else on that defense is extremely fast and they rally to the ball. There are usually five or six of guys there to make the tackle and try to strip the ball out."

On Indianapolis DE Dwight Freeney

"He's great. He's a great player, no question. He's done it for a long time. (DE Robert) Mathis is a great player. (LB Gary) Brackett is a great player. They've got young players-this is a younger team than when I played them last year, but their two secondary players are young and fast and they're not getting beat on the outside. We've got a lot of guys who we've got to account for this week."

On running the ball against Indianapolis' aggressive defensive ends

"A lot of draws are run against this team. A lot of screen passes, obviously, are run against this team, but like I said, they're so fast by the other nine guys who everybody rallies to the ball and they're there to make the plays. They play great team defense."

On scoring points against Indianapolis' defense

"We just know that we've got to go on 10-, 12-play drives. First of all, I think they've given up just a handful of plays over 15 yards, and that's in the run game and the pass game. To sit here and think we are going to have three-, four-play drives and hit big plays on them is kind of well wishing. We'll have to execute and take five yards and take five, six yards and take the backs and just know going into the game to be successful, we're going to have to drive the ball down, and when we get into the red zone, certainly, we're going to have to come away with touchdowns."

On the Broncos' offensive weapons helping him develop as a quarterback

"Everybody on our team has. This is the most talented offense I've played with, and obviously, it starts with the guys up front just giving me a bunch of time to throw and make my reads. I just feel that I'm a smart enough player that if I do have the time to sit back and read the defense, I am going to go the right place with the ball most of the time."

On if he has ever had to prepare for a defense that is playing as well as Indianapolis'

"Yeah, we've had to do it. Every year you've got to play defenses like this that are playing great. We feel like we're well matched with this team, and if we go out and do our job, we'll be just fine and win the game."

S BRIAN DAWKINS

On facing Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning

"A couple of times we've faced him, and they've won, I think, both of the times we played them. (It is a) very challenging preparation, as usual, for a good quarterback. This time is definitely no different with him having the weapons that he is using on the field right now."

On attacking Manning

"You can't let him know what (coverage) you are in. You have to do the best that you can to disguise what you are trying to do. From there, you've got to play football. Once the ball is snapped, you play football, and that is the end result in all the checks and all the things both sides of the ball that we will be doing defensively and offensively. When the ball is snapped, you have to make plays on the ball (and) you have to make tackles. We are in for a 60-minute game."

On if Colts' opponents try to disguise coverages

"You just do what you do. We have a veteran group in the secondary, obviously. We are going to do our best to make sure that we don't make the game easier for him than it already is for him. It is going to be, like I said, a 60-minute game of doing that, not getting tired of disguising."

On playing the undefeated New England Patriots in 2007 with the Philadelphia Eagles

"It seems like a decade ago as far as me playing with the Eagles and going against the Patriots in that situation. I just remember it was a hyped game. We were very jacked up because of the underdogs we were. I remember that, but that is a completely different ball team, completely different situation as far as I'm concerned, as far as where we are with this team and what we are looking to do. I don't think we are focused on that, to tell you the truth."

On if he will practice this week

"That's the plan. That's the plan: to practice and go out and be on the field with my teammates, doing what I can to help this football team this weekend. That is the intention."

On his physical condition

"I feel great. This is football. This is a contact sport. Things happen at different times. (You) may go through a stretch where you feel absolutely great, and then other times, especially late in the season, you are going to have to play through some things. This is nothing new for me."

On Indianapolis' winning streak

"What good is it going to do to be focused on somebody else's winning streak or what they are not doing? That is not what we are about. We are about this one game and what we have to do to see if we can pull out a victory (in) this one game. All those other victories and losses, whatever, even our losses, none of that stuff, means anything as far as this game is concerned. This is the most important game of our season right now at this point. That is what we need to focus on."

On where Manning ranks amongst all-time NFL quarterbacks

"I'm not going to tell you anything different. He is one of the best that I've ever faced as (far as) what he does with the football, his accuracy, his diagnosing defenses (and) him being able to put the ball where it needs to be to his receivers when he does check. I'm not telling you guys anything that you don't already know. He is one of the best to ever play this game."

On DL Vonnie Holliday's contribution to the defense

"Tremendous. Tremendous. He is a vocal guy. He is a guy that understands how to play his position in this defense. I think that has benefited some of the other guys who haven't played in this defense, allowing them to understand how to play their gaps and how to control different gaps and allow the linebackers to run free sometimes. He has been a tremendous, tremendous benefit for this team, and I'm so happy we were able to talk him into coming here."

On RB Correll Buckhalter's performance

"This is what I expect from Buck when he is healthy because this is what he did in Philadelphia when they gave him the chance. They didn't give him a lot of chances, having (Philadelphia RB Brian) Westbrook in front of him, but when he got in the game, he was one of the guys that gave us big plays. I remember last year in our stretch run, he was one of the guys that kept giving us play after play, even receiving the ball out of the backfield, giving us 50- and 60-plus yards after the catch. This is what I expect from him, and I don't think this is anything he doesn't expect from himself. I think he expects the same thing from himself. I'm just happy, and the Lord is blessing him to stay healthy."

On Buckhalter's comment that he may currently be faster than ever

"He is a blessed man of God. He is, and he knows that. He is a humble guy and throughout all that adversity, I was in his ear and I was always praying for him. Coming out the other end of that perseverance, he is a stronger person from it. You see the speed on the football field. Like I said, I'm just excited to be able to enjoy this with him the way it is happening right now."

Broncos place T Ryan Harris on IR; Sign T Herb Taylor

John Bena — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:51:51 -0000

The Denver Broncos on Wednesday signed free-agent tackle Herb Taylor, it was announced. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Denver also on Wednesday announced it placed tackle Ryan Harris on injured reserve with a toe injury.

Taylor (6-foot-3, 295 pounds) is a third-year tackle who entered the NFL with Kansas City as a sixth-round selection (196th overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft. He was waived by the Chiefs at the end of 2009 training camp. Taylor appeared in 18 games (1 start), including all 16 contests in 2008, with the Chiefs. As a rookie in 2007, Taylor played in two games, was declared inactive for 11 games and dressed but did not play in three outings for Kansas City.

At Texas Christian University, Taylor helped the Horned Frogs to an 11-2 record and a win in the Poinsettia Bowl as a senior. He earned first-team All-Mountain West recognition as a senior left tackle after garnering the same recognition as a junior right tackle. Taylor set a TCU record by making 48 consecutive starts. He was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team and received honorable mention freshman All-America accolades.

Taylor was a two-time all-district performer at Hightower High School in Houston, where he was also selected for the All-Greater Houston Team. Herbert Reginald Taylor II, who majored in advertising and public relations with a minor in social work at TCU, was born Sept. 22, 1984.

Last Minute Chiefs Offensive Preview: It Might be a Bumpy Ride

Jon Yoon — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:04:30 -0000

by Orlin Wagner - AP

View full size photo »

Yesterday, I commented on the Chiefs' defense. They're on the right track and I think they'll be surprisingly decent. Great? Probably not. Decent? Maybe. Be forewarned that I don't have the same glowing reviews about the offense.

The Good:

Todd Haley. Can we end there? Haley will make this offense better. He's a bright young mind, he knows how to make a system fit his players' talents, and he knows how to get the most out of his players. That's one of the reasons I believe Pioli made the right decision when he fired Chan Gailey, although many would argue that it should have been done sooner. Gailey will get hired again and will do well wherever he lands, but he wasn't really a great fit for Haley's offense.

I also like the decision to go after Matt Cassel, even if that meant sacrificing a 2nd round pick and a long-term contract. I've heard many critics complain that Cassel is just as unproven as a Matt Stafford or a Mark Sanchez, and that's simply not true. I'm not going to pretend that his first season of success with an ultra-talented team is a predictor of future success. The place where Cassel is proven where Stafford and Sanchez are not is in the mental aspect of the game. That's not just talking about smart quarterbacks making good decisions. That's talking about a quarterback playing with his head screwed on straight.

We know Cassel can handle the pressure of playing in the NFL (let alone in a tough football market like New England). We know that he is committed to the game and has a "Brady-like" work ethic. We know that he has the confidence to shake off a bad performance. Those sound like fluffy comments, but think about how many ultra-talented quarterbacks have failed because they couldn't do some of those things. How many young quarterbacks have failed because they couldn't handle the boo-birds and critical media stories, and instead started pressing on every play? How many young quarterbacks have failed because they were just plain unlikeable? How many young quarterbacks have failed because they put a social life above a football life, a restaurant over an offseason workout program, an XBox over a film room? When you think about your quarterback, to use a popular movie reference, is he a guy who puts the bare minimum amount of flair on his jersey? These are questions you don't have to ask about Cassel. Not to say that either Sanchez or Stafford are bad kids. These are questions that are asked of any young quarterback.

The Bad:

Here's news that Chiefs fans already know, will deny to the death, but probably understand beneath the surface: the 2009 Chiefs offense is not going to be very good. The offensive line is patchwork, Dwayne Bowe is the only receiver worth throwing to, and who knows what to expect out of the running game.

I mentioned yesterday that Pioli treated the offense like a second-class citizen in comparison to the defense and I stand by that statement. I agree with his decision to build the defense first. That's what he's good at and I would rather have a dominant defense than a dominant offense, but here's something to consider. If a Defensive Lineman blows his assignment, the offense can break through for a big play. It sucks, but you live, learn, and move on. If an Offensive Lineman blows his assignment, Cassel could end up on a stretcher. The Chiefs did a great job of bringing in and securing Matt Cassel. You would think they would place a higher priority on keeping him safe.

And yet, the Chiefs used the first three draft picks on defense and showed pretty much no urgency in free agency to at least bring in some bodies to compete for a starting position. I credit Pioli for showing some urgency late in the preseason, though. The good news is that the offensive line was at least upgraded to serviceable due to some last minute moves (trading for Ndukwe/Alleman) and some good fortune (snagging O'Callaghan off the waiver wire). Maybe the Chiefs also bring in John Runyan, which could vastly improve the line. So in Pioli's defense, he got it right eventually, but it should have been a bigger priority sooner and we can't pretend that the right side of the line is anything better than adequate at its very best. I trust and hope that Pioli's learned that lesson, so it's not something to dwell on.

I also don't understand Pioli's logic for keeping a lot of insurance at quarterback, but not keeping any insurance for the guys that protect the quarterback. The Chiefs don't have a true backup left tackle on the roster. Their solution is to switch over Ndukwe in case Albert falls to injury. Really? So the guy protecting Cassel's backside could potentially be a guy who is playing out of position? Sure, they have Barry Richardson on the practice squad, but they risked him not clearing the waiver wire and, much more importantly, if Albert gets injured during any games, the Chiefs can't activate him until after the game. Why not keep a roster spot open for Herb Taylor or Barry Richardson in case of an in-game emergency? It doesn't make much sense to me.

I also worry that Haley is becoming too possessive of the offense. I like Haley taking over offensive coordinator responsibilities, but why don't the Chiefs have a Quarterbacks Coach? The Chiefs have four young quarterbacks with limited NFL experience who could benefit from a good QBs Coach who can devote all of his time into making them better. I want a QBs coach who can spot a flaw in the quarterback the instance it happens. I want a QBs coach who can train the QBs to develop good habits, both fundamentally and mentally. And if you're going to keep Tyler Thigpen on the roster, which I like, you need a QBs coach who can commit to teaching him better mechanics, better footwork, and a better grasp of a pro-style offense.

When is Haley going to have time to do any of that? And for every moment he spends coaching quarterbacks, is that a moment that he should have instead spent on gameplanning or handling some other head coach responsibility? I think Haley underestimated how much work goes into being a head coach, not just on the football field, but off of it too. I'm surprised he didn't follow Whisenhunt's lead and hire a young offensive coordinator who would help prepare the gameplans, but not call any actual plays. Remember, that's how Haley got his job in Arizona. I'm doubly surprised that the Chiefs to this day do not have a Quarterbacks Coach.

I'm not terribly upset with the state of the Chiefs' offense now that they're making some moves to upgrade the offensive line. I do hope that they'll respond by adding some additional pieces to the offensive coaching staff. On the bright side, the Chiefs have a good, young quarterback with a good head on his shoulders, and given Haley's offensive mind, the offense will be a force in due time. I can handle the fact that the Chiefs' offense might limp through the 2009 season; I just hope that none of it comes at the expense of developing a guy Pioli seems to think is the quarterback of the future.

Poll

Do you approve of the Chiefs' offseason moves on OFFENSE so far?

Yes. In Pioli we trust.

198 votes

So-so. I think Pioli did okay.

282 votes

Disappointed, but it's not the end of the world.

153 votes

Hated it. Really? This is the guy who found Tom Brady?

26 votes

659 votes | Poll has closed

Tracking Where the Kansas City Chiefs Roster Cuts End Up

Chris Thorman — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:36:27 -0000

Over the last week or so, the Kansas City Chiefs have parted ways with 27 players. Three of those players were put on IR/PUP list, ending their seasons (in the case of the PUP list, delaying their season until Week 6).

Where will they all end up?

If history is any indication, a good portion of these players will not be playing on an NFL team ever again. Yes, some will make other NFL rosters and still more will be signed to other team's practice squads.

But, for the most part, none of these players are likely to make a splash on another team, save for a guy like Bernard Pollard who still has quite a bit of gas left in the tank.

Check out last year's cuts at this time. Two, maybe three of those guys are in the NFL right now.

After the jump, we've got a table where we will track what happens to each of the Chiefs' cuts. This should be interesting to see where they go, if anywhere.

Remember, some of these guys will end up on the Chiefs practice squad, which they can designate players for as early as today. We'll have a practice squad post coming up soon too.

If you guys hear about any movement by these players, please let us know in the comments and we will get the table updated.

Player	New Team	Signing Date
C Eric Ghiaciuc	?
CB Jackie Bates	Practice Squad
CB Londen Fryar	?
CB Travis Daniels	?
DE Alfonso Boone	?
DE Bobby Greenwood	Practice Squad
DE Dion Gales	Practice Squad
DT Derek Lokey	?
FB Jed Collins	?
G Darryl Harris	Practice Squad
G Tavares Washington	?
G/C Brian De La Puente	?
LB Vince Redd	?
LB Zach Thomas	?
OT Cameron Goldberg	?
RB Javarris Williams	Practice Squad
S Bernard Pollard	?
S Ricky Price	?
T Herb Taylor	?
TE Tom Crabtree	Practice Squad
WR Amani Toomer	?
WR Ashley Lelie	?
WR Rodney Wright	Practice Squad
WR Taurus Johnson	?

Poll

How many of the Chiefs 27 cuts will end up on other NFL teams by Week 1?

0

33 votes

1-5

674 votes

6-10

135 votes

11-15

19 votes

16-20

7 votes

21+

6 votes

874 votes | Poll has closed

With Roster Cuts Looming, Twelve Chiefs Don't Play Against the Seahawks

Joel Thorman — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:00:20 -0000

More photos » by Ed Zurga - AP

Todd Haley aggressively speaking. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Browse more photos »

On Saturday I said we should be looking out for the Kansas City Chiefs that did not enter last night's 14-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. I argued that, with five roster cuts having to be made by Tuesday, the coaching staff probably knew who was going to get the heave-ho. Things like injury settlements might preclude Todd Haley from sending an undrafted free agent into the game who was unlikely to make the team in the first place.

Well, 12 Chiefs didn't play against the Seahawks and it's looking like, at least for a few of them, this might have been their last game in a red uniform. Five were due to injury and seven were unexplained.

Brodie Croyle also did not play but I did not include him on this list. His scratch was a predetermined decision by the coaching staff to get Tyler Thigpen more time.

First, the ones we knew were injured and hadn't practiced all week:

RB Kolby Smith
LB Zach Thomas
TE Jake O'Connell

No explanation on any of those injuries. Smith will likely start the season on PUP, Zach Thomas will be ready by Baltimore and Jake O'Connell is an unknown as well.

Then the two surprise injury scratches:

LB Derrick Johnson
FS Jarrad Page

No explanation on either of these either. Derrick Johnson missed a little time late in the week. Jarrad Page practiced all week and there was no indication he was injured.

Now, here's the list of seven other players, a combination of recent draft picks and undrafted free agents, who did not play Saturday against the Seahawks:

WR Terrance Copper
CB Londen Fryar
RB Javarris Williams
OL Colin Brown
DE Bobby Greenwood
OT Cameron Goldberg
OT Herb Taylor

Three names that wouldn't surprise me if they were on the cut list: Fryar, Greenwood and Goldberg.

They're undrafted free agents so they were long shots to begin with. Combine that with not playing in the third game of preseason and their stay in Kansas City appears to be a short one.

Four names that would slightly surprise me if they were cut: Copper, Williams, Brown and Taylor.

Terrance Copper has been running with the first team and, since the inception of the first unofficial depth chart, has been listed as the No. 1 wide receiver. Javarris Williams would be less of a surprise but he's still a '09 draft pick. Same goes for Colin Brown, who was a fifth round pick. He's been seeing time at right guard, the same position to which the Chiefs added more depth with the trade for Andy Alleman. Herb Taylor was drafted two years ago and hasn't developed like many thought he would.

With Tuesday rapidly approaching, and the Chiefs with the rest of the weekend to evaluate tape, keep an eye on these guys. There's a good chance the names on this list will make the majority, if not all, of Tuesday's five roster cuts.

Chiefs Training Camp Update 8/12 AM

Chris Thorman — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:18:02 -0000

via www.uwrf.edu

View full size photo »

Updated 1:25 PM

Continuing to work in full pads, the Kansas City Chiefs' practice was cut short by 30 minutes today, presumably as a gift from Todd Haley to his players.

A few highlights from the updates we have in so far:

Herb Taylor is working with the 1st team at RT
Amani Toomer continues to be the team's standout receiver
Six Chiefs didn't practice this morning

More updates, after the jump.

General Stuff

DeMaurice Smith, who succeeded Gene Upshaw as the executive director of the NFL Players Association, is on the field watching the Chiefs practice. (Bob Gretz at CBS Sports)
Mike Vrabel was seen talking to Smith after practice (UWRF)
Chiefs coach Todd Haley gave his team a surprise this morning, cutting practice short by 30 minutes. It was the quickest practice in the two weeks the team has been in Wisconsin. (Bob Gretz at CBS Sports)
16 sessions deep and this team has yet to go a day without full pads (Josh Looney on Twitter)
Practice started at 70 degrees and ended at 81 degrees. 78% (!) humidity.
Former TE Mark Bavaro was helping TEs coach Bob Bicknell today. Bavaro will be with the team through Saturday. (UWRF)
This is why we love the UWRF staff: "After practice, linebacker Corey Mays dropped his mouth guard on the pavement on his way into Hunt Arena. He commented on how it was gross and talked to a trainer about the situation for a few minutes."

Offense

Herb Taylor is working at RT with the Chiefs' No. 1 offense in place of Damion McIntosh. (Bob Gretz at CBS Sports)
WR Amani Toomer drew some praise from Coach Haley yesterday and he made another two solid grabs this morning. (Josh Looney at the Mothership)
Red zone work continues as the team has devoted nearly 20 minutes to the red zone passing game. (Josh Looney at the Mothership)
RBs worked on catching low thrown balls (UWRF)
During the first set of 7-on-7 drills, Cassel completed six consecutive throws. Four of them to Copper and one TD (UWRF)
During the second set of 7-on-7 drills, Cassel completed four of six passes, including one to Darling for a TD (UWRF)
Croyle completed 5/6 passes during 7-on-7 drills (UWRF)
Thigpen went 2/4 with a TD in 7-on-7 drills (UWRF)
Between two QBs, three consecutive passes went to Toomer (UWRF)
Rodney Wright dropped an easy pass and heard it ("That's bull(crap)") from Haley (UWRF)
Thigpen completed a nice pass under pressure from the d-line (UWRF)
Albert said he has his hands full trying to stop Tamba Hali (UWRF)

Defense

Chiefs No. 1 draft choice DE Tyson Jackson continues to get extra work after practice with defensive line coach Tim Krumrie. Jackson is trying to make up for the week of practices he missed during contract negotiations. (Bob Gretz at CBS Sports)
Derrick Johnson knocked down a Cassel pass intended for Cottam during a blitzing drill (UWRF)
Alex Magee, Tyson Jackson and Corey Mays saw time with the first team (UWRF)
FA rookie alert: Londen Fryar and Jovan Belcher both knocked down passes today (UWRF)
On two of three plays intended for Terrance Copper, Flowers and Carr both knocked a pass down (UWRF)

Special Teams

We’ve seen onside kick work for the first time this camp…looks like the coaches are leaving no stone unturned heading into Saturday. (Josh Looney at the Mothership)

Injuries/Not practicing

Not participating in morning practice for the Chiefs: Gs Wade Smith and Tavares Washington, S DaJuan Morgan, RB Kolby Smith, ILB Zach Thomas and TE Jake O'Connell. (Bob Gretz at CBS Sports)

Presenting the 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Draft Class

Chris Thorman — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:09:38 -0000


DE Tyson Jackson	DL Alex Magee	CB Donald Washington

OT Colin Brown	WR/KR Quinten Lawrence	RB Javarris Williams


TE Jake O'Connell	K Ryan Succup

I want to preface this post by saying I'm generally pretty optimistic about the NFL draft and the Kansas City Chiefs' selections. I think the NFL draft is at best a crap shoot and to immediately label any player a boom or bust is simply not being patient. Although I may have preferred different players than the Chiefs drafted, I can see why they drafted every single one. This team has a plan and we owe it the coaches, front office and the players themselves to at least let them take the field for a few games before we proclaim them buffoons. You can be skeptical or angry but remember that at the end of the day, we all want these guys to be successful in Kansas City.

Yes, like many, I was surprised when the Chiefs selected Tyson Jackson at #3, among their other picks. But I see where he fits in the team's plans and how his presence will inevitably help one of the worst defenses in franchise history. I'm very open to giving new coaches and execs the benefit of the doubt and I hope you are too.

Why the patience? Because Pioli has shown he's a top notch personnel guy who selects players with a big picture mentality in mind. We won't always understand why this team will do some of the things it will do but Pioli's track record commands respect until he does something to lose it.

***

One late trade and that was it

Before Scott Pioli came to the Kansas City chiefs, he had the distinction of being part of the tradingest draft-day team in the league in the last decade. Between 2000 and 2008, the Patriots made 28 draft-weekend trades. New England traded up 12 times, and they traded down 16 times during that period.

Surprising most of us, the Kansas City Chiefs and Scott Pioli made only one very late draft day trade this year, dealing next year's 7th round pick to the Miami Dolphins to grab TE Jake O'Connell in the 7th round.

Pioli made exactly one trade while Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots traded down multiple times, seemingly controlling their end of the draft at will. Pioli received no serious calls about trading out of the #3 pick and without a second round pick, the Chiefs found themselves out of the trade talk as first round prospects fell into the early second round.

The Picks

Instead of trading out, the Chiefs found themselves reaching for the first player they wanted. Tyson Jackson was a late top ten pick by most accounts but that didn't matter to Scott Pioli and Todd Haley. Pioli feels like Jackson's versatility will allow the Chiefs much more flexibility in the defensive schemes they play. He's definitely a defensive foundation pick if I've ever seen one. A player you put "impact" players around.

Alex Magee actually went right around his projection when the Chiefs took him early in the third round. Same thing with CB Donald Washington, who was projected to go even in the third round and the Chiefs picked him up early in the fourth round.

Missouri OT Colin Brown was probably the Chiefs' biggest reach of the draft. Many draft boards had him as a 7th round, UDFA prospect. Clearly, Pioli and Haley saw something they liked in Brown so they took him in the fifth round.Perhaps Haley is contemplating a some version of the spread offense, which Brown played in at Missouri.

6th round pick WR/KR Quinten Lawrence is much like his 6th round predecessor last year Kevin Robinson. Lawrence looks to be faster than Robinson and like him will have to earn his keep on special teams to earn a roster spot. Just the type of guy you take in the 6th round.

RB Javarris Williams, the Chiefs' first 7th round pick, is a pick where Pioli and Haley saw a guy who was rated higher than where he was so they snagged him. This seems like a value pick to me more than a need. But with Larry Johnson's future in KC up in the air, the selection of Javarris Williams may mean one more running back will be added to the committee.

TE Jake O'Connell is a very curious pick. He was an undrafted free agent on most draft boards and doesn't fill a huge priority - so why use the draft pick on him? We'll have to wait until camp to find out but the Chiefs' brass likely sees him as a project as a receiving tight end. Considering the Chiefs just lost the greatest receiving tight end in the history of the NFL, I will give my approval to this pick.

K Ryan Succup is another interesting pick, especially considering he's now the fourth kicker on the Chiefs roster. Incumbent Connor Barth played well enough last season to be considered the favorite heading into training camp but we can be rest assured that the kickers will be in a full blown competition. Let the best man win.

Did we address our needs?

Like with most team's drafts, the answer is yes and no. I will say that through the combination of free agency and the draft that I believe the Chiefs at least have enough talent and addressed enough glaring needs to make it through this season but they're not set in a lot of positions for years down the road.

One point you can't argue is that the Chiefs' defense was the biggest problem with the team last season. Pioli and Haley attacked that need by going defense with the first three picks. And the first two picks were spent on defensive linemen. A smart but not necessarily sexy move, considering the Chiefs had one of the worst rushing defenses in franchise history last year.

I hear you on wanting a pass rusher. But who? You have to answer me that. Did you really want Brian Orakpo or Aaron Maybin with the #3 pick? Jackson's versatility makes him more valuable than this year's sub-par pass rushers. Taking one of those guys would be like rushing out to get the newest model of a car, even though there isn't anything particularly special about it. You just want the latest model, regardless of improvements.

One interesting thing is that we didn't draft a linebacker. For a team who was supposedly likely to take LB Aaron Curry at #3, Pioli and Haley seem to be content with the mix of veterans and rookies on the roster now.

How are we on the offensive iine now?

With the lone offensive lineman addition Colin Brown, this is how the Chiefs' depth chart currently breaks down on the offensive line (projected starter in bold):

LT Branden Albert, Herb Taylor

LG Brian Waters, Brian De La Puente, Edwin Harrison

C Rudy Niswanger

RG Mike Goff, Wade Smith, Tavares Washington

RT Damion McIntosh, Barry Richardson, Colin Brown

Look at that. If Brown is able to move into the starting right tackle position, that's not a bad offensive line. It won't last us ten years but it's not bad heading into the '09 season.

I think offensive line was less of a need to the Chiefs than we thought it was in our analysis. There is still work to be done but that looks like it will wait until next season.

It's (almost) over

The undrafted free agents will continue to come in and we'll be posting them, probably in FanShots unless there is a whole slew of them. This has sort of a mini-draft feeling for a few hours after the real thing.

What. A. Weekend. I honestly blogged and watched the draft for probably close to 20 hours in just two days.

Here's to understanding wives and girlfriends!

Click over for more info on all of these guys.

Round 1, #3 LSU DE Tyson Jackson

Selection post on AP
Approval rating: 40%
Video highlights
NFL Draft Scout: #1 DE, 7th player overall
Mocking the Draft Scouting Report
Chris' Draft Grade: B+

Comments:

Very disappointing

Last year we were getting great deals on players that fell to us. This just seems like an enormous reach for a non-pass rusher. -ChiefDJ

Lions are to WR as the Chiefs are to DL -Matt_Grbac

Everyone who wanted Curry needs to realize something.

Linebacker in the 3-4 is a very blue collar job. They are super important players but its a position that is popular and accommodates a lot of different people.

Look at the Steelers and how they draft their LBs. Ever heard of James Harrison? Defensive player of the year? Went undrafted and cut from the team twice before the steelers built him up into a great LB.

Curry wasn’t worth it. We are building our defense back up from line back. -Jux

YES!!!

I LOVE Tyson Jackson.

He is fantastically fantastic.

Next Richard Seymour, man. -rockchalk

Check out Tyson Jackson's player page for more info. The five players drafted after Jackson were:

LB Aaron Curry
QB Mark Sanchez
OT Andre Smith
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey
OT Eugene Monroe

Round 3, #67 Purdue DL Alex Magee

Selection post on AP
Approval rating: 35%
Video interview
NFL Draft Scout: 6th rated DT, #77 player overall
Mocking the Draft Scouting Report
Chris' Draft Grade: B-

Comments:

It's starting to look like Dorsey has no spot in the 3-4 -808NaNz808

DAMN.

That kid can play! I graduated from Purdue and I’ve seen him a bunch of times…maybe a reach, but, WOW… -thejesuslizard

I think it says more about depth.

The kid can play both positions in the 3-4 (on D-Line.) I think it says more about Hali than Dorsey that they’ve picked a DE and a DT/DE. -stlfan

To you haters

Pioli knows D lineman, and he had ALL night to think about this. This is HIS pick – they guy that he wanted.

In Pioli I trust. -Keyser Soze

The Chiefs are no where near great. Would I like to have more depth on our DL, of course.

I’d have been fine with this pick if we didn’t reach for Jackson #3 overall. If we’d have gone Curry or OT, and then made this pick, it’d have made a lot of sense. -kcsno56

Alex Magee

Are your kidding me? There were at least 10 different ways we could have gone that would be better than this pick.

This draft is shaping up horribly, most dissapointed I have been in Pioli’s tenure. -dyoung21

Click here for Magee's player page. The five players drafted after Magee were:

DE Jarron Gilbert
OLB Jason Williams
DE Michael Johnson
DE Matt Shaughnessy
DT Terrance Knighton

Round 4, #102 Ohio St. CB Donald Washington

Selection post on AP
Approval rating: 23%
Video interview
NFL Draft Scout: 13th rated CB, #95 player overall
30th ranked CB according to Mocking the Draft
Chris' Draft Grade: A-

Comments:

Good player

Doesnt really fill a need. -tdbowe

I'll say

this has been my favorite pick so far. I like where our defensive secondary is headed -KansasCityShuffle

He will be a great add

Being an Ohio State fan, and watching him over the last few years, I can tell you that this kid is a player! With this addition we can free up flowers to cover the quick slot receivers in a 3 wide receiver set and have two large corners on the outside. I am loving the way the defense is looking already! -vaup2106

Pioli

was obviously disgusted with the defensive talent pool across the board. He’ll probably draft a safety next. -ChiefsDude

Think about this on Washington

Nobody threw at Malcom Jenkins this year so they focused on Washington but he held up well. Also, if he had stayed at OSU he would be the next big CB out of OSU and probably would’ve wound up as a first rounder next year. -WesternChief

Check out Donald Washington's player page. The next five players drafted after Washington were:

DT Dorell Scott
ILB Kaluka Maiava
DE Henry Melton
C Jonathan Luigs
WR Mike Thomas

Round 5, #139 Missouri OT Colin Brown

Selection post on AP
Approval rating: 44%
NFL Draft Scout: 38th ranked OT, #477 overall
MU Bio
Chris' Draft Grade: C

Comments:

M-I-Z-Z-O-U but????

I love Mizzou but this pick makes no sense this guy would have been around later in the draft, why not go after a Duke Robinson here?? -doriang03

He may not have been highly toted because he was in the wrong scheme for his talents. -KCKing

Can anyone tell me why Colin Brown is a better pick than Jamon Meredith? From what I have read Meredith is a smart, versatile OL, who had a 3rd round grade. It seems like we could have waited and picked up Colin Brown later, or as a Undrafted FA -bradelli58

Click here for Brown's player page. The next five players drafted after Brown were:

WR Johnny Knox
WR Kenny McKinley
P Kevin Huber
CB DeAngelo Smith
WR Jarrett Dillard

Round 6, #175 McNeese St. WR Quinten Lawrence

Selection post on AP
Approval rating: 71%
Video highlights
NFL Draft Scout: 33rd rated WR, #250 overall
McNeese St. Bio
Chris' Draft Grade: B+

Comments:

This is the first pick I've liked

And its because its in the 6th round, and a good time to take a shot at someone like this kid.

I’d have rather had Ellerbe or Jennings, the RB, but we need a returner, good time to roll the dice on speed. -kcsno56

I was thinking

Poor man’s Desean Jackson (Phi)

undersized with great speed and ball skills… a threat anytime the ball is in his hands. -Ochophosphate

Holy balls! That kid is FAST! -SupremeChief

The next five players drafted after Lawrence were:

LB Spencer Adkins
CB Don Carey
QB Mike Teel
CB Morgan Trent
TE Zach Miller

Round 7, #212 Tennessee St. RB Javarris Williams

Selection post on AP
Approval rating:
NFL Draft Scout: 14th rated RB, #182 overall
#21 rated RB by Mocking the Draft
Chris' Draft Grade: B

Comments:

Insurance is a hope that you don't have to use it

But you better have it. -Steve_Chiefs

He might fit the Kevin Faulk profile. -WesternChief

Pfft!

All it’s basically saying is Williams is a bruiser RB. He’s small, not very fast, and likes contact. He will be used in short yardage situations if he’s used at all. -SupremeChief

The next five players drafted after Williams were:

OG Paul Fanaika
LB J.D. Folsom
RB Fui Vakapuna
CB Captain Munnerlyn
CB E.J. Biggers

Round 7, #237 Miami (OH) TE Jake O'Connell

Selection post on AP
Approval rating:
NFL Draft Scout: #29th rated fullback, Not rated overall
Chris' Draft Grade: C

Comments:

Why?

Why would we trade up to get a guy that you may convince to walk on as a UFA? I don’t get the logic. -TXChieffan

O'Connell sounds like a guy who could play special teams as well

with his speed, 4.6, could be very useful on special teams, even if he doesn’t contribute on offense. -Ken Harvey

The next five player selected after O'Connell were:

DB Stoney Woodson
OG Ryan Durand
RB LaRod Stephens-Howling
TE David Johnson
FS Nick Schommer

Round 7, # 256 South Caroline K Ryan Succop

Selection Post on AP
Approval Rating: 50%
Mr. Irrelevant selection video
NFL Draft Scout: 7th ranked kicker, #386 overall
Chris' Draft Grade: C

Comments:

66% accuracy? This is a joke. I am okay with the other picks in the draft but this one honestly had me stumped. There is probably zero percent chance this guy is gonna be on our team because we can only keep one kicker. We should have at least found an inside lineman to develop. -Vince D

Succop...

I run the SBN Gamecocks site. Here’s what you need to know about Succop. He had one of the longest legs in the college game last year, but consistency is a bit of an issue for him. He missed a bunch of kicks around the middle of 2008, leading to the questionable accuracy rating. Part of the problem seemed to have been some kind of pulled abdominal muscle, but part of it was also in his head, I think. If he can work out confidence issues, he’s got the skills to be a great NFL kicker. If not, oh well.

And yeah, your wives and girlfriends will want to leave you for him as soon as they see his picture. --Gamecock Man

***

I just want to say again how much fun I had this weekend on this site. It really is the community that is this site's strength and I want to thank you for it.

For the reasons listed before the fold, I'm going to give this draft a B for the Kansas City Chiefs. Make sure you vote in the poll below.

Arrowhead Pride rolls on through out the off season.

Poll

Grade the Chiefs overall draft, including the second round trade for QB Matt Cassel and LB Mike Vrabel.

A

76 votes

B

348 votes

C

184 votes

D

40 votes

F

15 votes

663 votes | Poll has closed

Dispensable Chiefs

Chris Thorman — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:27:39 -0000

via multimedia.heraldinteractive.com

I was day dreaming a few days ago about some of the players on the Kansas City Chiefs roster and their future with the team.

My thought centered around me thinking like Scott Pioli and Todd Haley, as in looking at the team from an outsider's perspective. When I did that, I came to the conclusion that there are probably a lot of Chiefs players that Pioli and Haley don't give a damn about but that as fans who have followed these guys for a couple of years, we think they're roster locks.

This is sort of related to the Bobby Sippio phenomena of 2007, where Chiefs fans put on their homer blinders and couldn't see past the fact that Sippio was in the Arena League and no other NFL team was interested in him. We saw the YouTube highlight video, the fact that he was Dwayne Bowe's cousin and we figured he's got to be pretty good, right?

Wrong. Sippio turned out to be exactly what he was- a street free agent who barely lasted on special teams. That is going to be the hard truth for some of our "favorites" on the roster now.

Here are the guys that I think Chiefs fans think are pretty decent but in reality they're as interchangeable as any free agent off of the street. Pioli and Haley probably haven't given these guys a second thought.

C Rudy Niswanger
WR Mark Bradley
CB Maurice Leggett
T Barry Richardson
T Herb Taylor

I don't want to destroy any optimism surrounding these guys. I just want to mention that we lived and died with these guys through their first seasons with the Chiefs, through the drafts, so naturally as Chiefs fans they're more significant in our minds than they may be in the mind of an outsider.

My point is this- when a few of these guys are inevitably cut in the coming months, don't flip out. They weren't that good to begin with. Don't let your emotional attachment to a player cloud your judgement.

*The next pick in the AP Mock Draft is ready to roll. Check back in a bit.

Recent Draft History: Kansas City Chiefs

Jeremy Bolander — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:00:10 -0000

2008 Draft:

1 (5) Glenn Dorsey, DT STARTER

With the Chiefs' move to a 3-4 in the works, and not a lot to go on with Dorsey, the big question is whether he might be a bust waiting to happen...I'll save you the suspense: Dorsey will be just fine. He quietly led the rookie class of defensive linemen with the most tackles, and as a penetrating, one gap 3-4 DE he should be able to take advantage of mismatches and make his LBs better. He may not "break out" in 2009, but the Chiefs should get a boost in production from a palyer who is already on track.

1 (15) Branden Albert, OG STARTER

Albert played well and outside of a few hitches in his gitalong, managed to give the Chiefs a nice, complete season. He should be a solid guard they can build around for a long time.

2 (35) Brandon Flowers, CB STARTER

My favorite player on the Chiefs, and quite possibly their best rookie performer, Flowers was a bright spot on a team with ZERO pass rush. How he did it is beyond me, but if the new coaching staff focuses on using him correctly, he will be on his way to being one of the stars in this league.

3 (73) Jamaal Charles, RB Backup

The Chiefs were hoping for a reason to devalue the vitriolic LJ, but Charles wasn't quite up to the task. In Herm's predictable offense he was hamstrung, and despite decent numbers, he couldn't quite "take over" when LJ was missing games. The potential is still there, and he needs to take advantage of any opportunities he gets this year.

3 (76) Brad Cottam, TE Backup

A non-blocking TE who is heir apparent to Tony-G, Cottam surprisingly was a useful blocker, and stepped in when asked. He has the right attitude, and a great mentor, so his future looks promising.

3 (82) DaJuan Morgan, FS Backup

Despite the pre-draft hype, Morgan was fairly a know-show for the Chiefs, with no significant defensive time and an underwhelming effort on STs. Under a new regime he will need to prove he can step and step out onto the field, or his "upside" won't get him to hsi next Chiefs' contract.

4 (105) Will Franklin, WR Backup

Didn't really make an impact in limited time. The Chiefs' will definitley be looking for him to step up and help out whoever wins the starting QB job.

5 (140) Brandon Carr, CB STARTER

Not too many teams can start two rookies at CB and not be burned, but Carr held his own, and fed off of Flowers' success on the opposite side. Carr looks to have a spot tied up, but will need to show that he can do this consistently. A better overall tackler, he can suffer some letdown in his coverage game if the Chiefs can get even better safety play behind him in 2009.

6 (170) Barry Richardson, OT Backup

Not a lot to go on here, but they haven't cut him yet... Spent most of the season inactive and the Chiefs are expected to have competition for the Tackle spots in camp.

6 (181) Kevin Robinson, WR/KR STARTER

Robinson looks to be the #1 kick returner going into 2009, and though he didn't wow to many people at the position, he was alert, shifty, and didn't make mistakes, which should earn him the right to keep the job. He will have a terrific opportunity in 2009 to try and work his way into the starting offense if he can stay consistent in the return game.

7 (210) Brian Johnston,DE Backup

A late season calf injury sent him to IR, but the switch to a 3-4 could reinvigorate him for 2009. As a possible OLB candidate, he could defintiely make an impact.

7 (239) Mike Merritt, TE Out of NFL

Merritt is a free agent, after being waived by the Chiefs after the season ended, and not seeing any playing time.

2007 Draft:

1 (23) Dwayne Bowe, WR STARTER

Bowe continued his second solid season for the Chiefs, and is likely to be their #1 for the indefinite future. A big, physical WR, he gets himself into great matchups all over the field and mangaes to produce.

2 (54) Turk McBride, DE STARTER

McBride will likely benefit greatly from being moved to a 3-4 DE position, as long as it is a one-gap, and not 2-gap responsibility. He has been solid for the Chiefs, but not a star. His flashes of quickness and his relentless motor should help him bring penetration to the end of the ends of the chiefs' defense.

3 (83) Tank Tyler, DT STARTER

A rotational starter on the Dline, Tyler has been adequate, and will need to get back to being an explosive, powerful block-shedder in a 3-4. If he can do that, he might hold up at NT, otherwise, he gets entered into the DE sweepstakes.

5 (148) Kolby Smith, RB Backup

Another young player who got hurt before finishing the 2008 season, Colby has been a long work in progress. He'll need a solid 2009 season to maintain his grip on the roster.

5 (160) Justin Medlock, K Out of NFL

After flaming out in KC, Medlock went to the Rams, where he looked to be able to take advantage of his talents on turf, in a dome, but in the end he was waived from there as well, and remains unsigned.

6 (196) Herb taylor, G/T Backup

At this point Taylor is little more than a replaceable part. He never looks prepared, and plays the same as he did when he was a green rookie. The Chiefs will want to see progress, or they will find some upside to take his place on the roster.

7 (231) Michael Allen, TE Out of NFL

Allen failed to stick at either TE or on the oline, and was waived early in 08.

2006 Draft:

1 (20) Tamba Hali, DE STARTER

Despite his starter status, Hali is anything but safe during roster turnover time. He will probably get a chance to prove himself as a 34DE, but so far he hasn't been even close to the pre-draft hype. He will probably be looking at trying to ressurect his career elsewhere in the next year or two.

2 (53) Bernard Pollard, S STARTER

Pollard has been playing well and may have finally earned the right to call the SS spot his own. While he still needs to work on the tackling, his efforts as an intimidator across the middle are going to start getting noticed.

3 (85) Brodie Croyle, QB Backup

It is hard to tell if a QB is any good when they play for Herm Edwards, so Croyle seems to have bought himself a little time, but with Cassel and Thigpen set for a roomba deathbot match, chances are Croyle's future is holding a clipboard. At best.

5 (154) Marcus Maxey, CB Out of NFL

After being cut byt eh Chiefs, spending 2 games with the Bears before being cut again, and later resigned by the Chiefs, Maxey was later cut for good a the beginning of 2007.

6 (186) Tre Stallings, G backup/Baltimore

After being waived from KC, he spent a year out of football, and was recently signed to a practice squad futures contract with the Ravens.

6 (190) Jeff Webb, WR Backup

A favorite of Herm Edwards, Herm's departure spelled the end for Webb. He will probably be let go before the 53-man roster is set, after two season of lackluster production.

7 (228) Jarrad Page, S STARTER

Page has been working his way into this role for a while now, and with the RFA tender being given to him, the Chiefs no doubt wouldn't mind trying to keep him around. He was a playmaker in 2008, and should keep on improving.