SB Nation User Blog: Vince D

"OLB Tamba Hali read a running play in the teamwork portion of practice and almost grabbed the...

Vince D — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:01:10 -0000

"OLB Tamba Hali read a running play in the teamwork portion of practice and almost grabbed the handoff from Cassel to Battle. It was one of the better defensive plays of the off-season."

Anyone else getting a little excited about Hali's good reports lately?

Bob Gretz

Brad Cottam, our new starter.

Vince D — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:04:44 -0000

via static.nfl.com

I just wanted to make a quick FanPost about my excitement for Brad Cottam taking over as our new tight end. He has been mentored by the greatest TE in NFL history for a full year now, and was already quite skilled coming into the league. Here is what Sports Illustrated had to say about his strengths last year:

POSITIVES: Large and athletic tight end with an unpolished game. Fluid releasing into routes, adjusts to the errant throw and makes the reception in stride. Moves well about the field, runs above average routes and uses his frame protect the pass. Catches the ball well and a solid intermediate range target. Strong at the point and handles opposing defensive lineman as an in-line blocker.

ANALYSIS: Cottam offers rare measurables and a tremendous amount of upside potential. An intelligent prospect, he has been commended by the coaches at Tennessee for his work ethic. Cottam offers potential as a number one tight end at the next level if he remains healthy and takes his game to another level.

He's 6'8" and weights 270 pounds... a real beast.

One of his biggest knocks coming into the NFL was that he had an extensive injury history in college. He tore ligaments in his thumb in 2004, had shoulder reconstruction surgery and was in a car accident in 2005, and tore an abdomen muscle and dislocated his left wrist in 2007. He ended up only playing 5 games as a senior. But his obvious skills landed him a 3rd round projection anyway.

Lets also not forget Primetime's post a few weeks ago about the success many NFL players have had coming out of the University of Tennessee.

Here's a YouTube highlight video for Cottam his senior year. Obviously it's short, but you can definitely see the potential.

The next day he accepts an invitation to attend the Detroit Lions’ rookie camp, however, the Kansas ...

Vince D — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:01:15 -0000

The next day he accepts an invitation to attend the Detroit Lions’ rookie camp, however, the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that had Holtzclaw rated highly as a free-agent prospect, also currently are in the mix.

Chiefs had Holtzclaw highly rated as a free-agent prospect

Former University of South Florida WR Taurus Johnson has agreed to a contract terms with the Kansas...

Vince D — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:00:39 -0000

Former University of South Florida WR Taurus Johnson has agreed to a contract terms with the Kansas City Chiefs, Scout.com has confirmed.

Scout.com

Draft interest chart hits again - Chiefs had a private workout with him.

Why Pioli will draft Raji or Jackson.

Vince D — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:48:54 -0000

This is just gonna be a short post since there are already way too many speculative posts. I believe that regardless of where the Chiefs pick in the first round, we will draft either B.J. Raji or Tyson Jackson. Why, you ask?

Look at our positions of need before Pioli came: QB, WR, OL, LB, DL

Now look at our trade/free agent acquisitions since then: QB (Cassel), WR (Engram), OL (Goff), LB (Vrabel, Thomas).

And what free agent did we not sign? NT Albert Haynesworth. Oh, we tried to... but Washington pretty much had the deal done. So Pioli wants a nose tackle. Sure, Tank Tyler could work, but if Pioli had that much faith in Tank, he wouldn't have made a play for Haynesworth. Raji would be the anchor on our defensive line, leaving Dorsey, Tyler, Boone, Edwards, McBride, and Johnston to compete for the DL positions.

Tyson Jackson is also a possibility, though. We had the cap room to make a run at Chris Canty, Igor Olshansky, Julius Peppers, or any other defensive end in free agency, but as far as we know, none of those guys were brought in for a workout. That means that either Pioli thinks we already have enough talent on the team, or he plans on addressing that need in the draft. Jackson can play DE in either the 3-4 or 4-3, so he seems like Pioli's type of guy. Perfect fit for our team IMO.

Now, some of you will still call for Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe. While possible, here's why I believe they won't be picked. Right now our linebackers will probably line up like this: Johnson, Thomas, Vrabel, Hali/McBride. There is no room for Aaron Curry on that line unless he splits reps with someone. It seems a little overboard to sign two veteran linebackers and then draft another one #3 overall.

Eugene Monroe, while he's an excellent player, is unnecessary. We drafted a great rookie LT in the first round last year, and the argument that we should slide a first round left tackle to right tackle is silly when you can pick a very good right tackle later in the draft and when we already have two young right tackle prospects in Richardson and Taylor. We have the longest tenured OL coach in Bill Muir to develop them too. So why would we want to waste a top pick on another lineman? Does that seem like something Pioli would do? You decide.

Poll

Regardless of where we draft, what position are the Chiefs most looking to address?

Defensive line

51 votes

Offensive line

19 votes

Wide receiver

3 votes

Linebacker

18 votes

Other

1 votes

92 votes | Poll has closed

"In another draft none of these guys would be top five," Seattle Seahawks scout Charles Fisher...

Vince D — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:56:09 -0000

"In another draft none of these guys would be top five," Seattle Seahawks scout Charles Fisher said. "They're good players, but I wouldn't consider any of these guys as pure franchise cornerstones. Branden Albert is more athletic than all these guys."

LTs in this year's draft are good, not great.

Wide receiver Jeff Webb, a restricted free agent, signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs worth...

Vince D — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:17:16 -0000

Wide receiver Jeff Webb, a restricted free agent, signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs worth $1.01 million.

KC Star

Lions sign Curry

Vince D — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:33:54 -0000

Lions sign Curry

WR Ronald Curry, that is. How many of you guys' hearts stopped when you read that just now?

NFL.com thinks Kellen Winslow Sr. was a better tight end than Tony Gonzalez

Vince D — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:56:43 -0000

NFL.com thinks Kellen Winslow Sr. was a better tight end than Tony Gonzalez

NFL.com reviews the best selections for each spot in the first round of the draft. At #13, they chose Kellen Winslow over Tony G.

Chiefs Sign WR Rodney Wright, LS Tanner Purdum

Vince D — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:46:52 -0000