There’s been a lot of chatter going back and forth on the Pros and Cons of signing Peyton Manning. What best way to get an honest opinion, but through the fans who have watched him as he grew up in the NFL.

There is an article written on Sports Illustrated by a Kerry Byrne titled "It's 'buyer beware' for the teams lining up to add Manning."

Here’s the link: >http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/kerry_byrne/03/07/peyton.manning/index.html?sct=nfl_bf3_a3

The article claims that Peyton performance has declined was his exact words, and that was a warning sign that teams should be aware of before signing him to a contract.

The careers of almost all quarterbacks follow a general pattern: They struggle when very young, hit their stride in their late 20s and early 30s, and then quickly hit a wall of production. Manning is clearly on a downslide in terms of production. His career peaked in 2004, with then-records in TD passes (49) and passer rating (121.1). Manning's performances have consistently declined, almost step by step, year after year since that signature 2004 season.

There are several other warning signs to observe some of which are obvious and others that seem more speculative than factual. Especially since human interaction its success and failures are not an exact science.

But what’s got my attention most on this article is this whole notion of QB’s after the age of 36 have shown a steady decline in production. The case study uses only Montana’s numbers when he was a Chief as an example. Far too little in my opinion to be a solid argument to prove a point. Montana also had a long history of injuries that had plagued him throughout his career as a Niner.

Peyton on the other had was an iron man compared to Joe in that he had played in 208 consecutive games before proving that he was human after all with his neck injury. Yes the Neck injury is significant, but even his doctors claim that he stands no greater risk of injury than any other player playing football. The concern is mostly on how the nerve regenerates.

Another argument used by the Nay Sayers is that Peyton chokes in big games. Now this is where I need the input most by Colts fans.

I’ve compiled some team stats over Peyton’s career as a Colt and found some interesting stuff. One of which shows that Peyton and the aerial attack was the only consistent threat in Indianapolis. Ranking high like in the top 5 every year in the passing category.

Here’s a listing of Defensive rankings. It shows the year, the defensive rushing ranking, the defensive ranking against pass, and the total defense compared to all the 31 other teams.

1999 Rush 18th Pass 19th Overall 15th

'00 Rush 25th Pass 18th Overall 21st

‘01 Rush 25th Pass 28th Overall 29th

‘02 Rush 20th Pass 2nd Overall 8th

‘03 Rush 20th Pass 4th Overall 11th

‘04 Rush 24th Pass 28th Overall 29th

‘05 Rush 16th Pass 15th Overall 11th

‘06 Rush 32nd Pass 2nd Overall 21st

‘07 Rush 15th Pass 1st Overall 3rd

‘08 Rush 24th Pass 4th Overall 11th

‘09 Rush 24th Pass 13th Overall 18th

‘10 Run 25th Pass 11th Overall 20th

From looking at the Defensive rankings of the Colts throughout Peyton’s career you can see the team was built around stopping their opponents from passing the ball. That’s how they got away with having undersized DE’s in Freeney and Mathis who are more for rushing the passer than playing the run. Would that be a correct assessment?

Also the Colts Defense needed Peyton to build a sizeable lead quickly so as to force teams into obvious passing situations just to catch up. Which would be playing into the Colts defensive strengths. Since the Colts pass defense ranked in the top 5 five of the twelve years Peyton played. ( For those wondering why I did not include years ‘98 and ‘11 was because ’98 was his rookie year and ’11 he did not play) Would it be correct to assume that if Peyton struggled to get an early lead the defense would have a tougher time to dominate the opponents offense? Since it played out of its strengths of rushing the passer.

I also looked at the lack of a rushing threat that could have led to the pressure for Peyton to have to put the game on his shoulders just to win the game.

In ‘99 the Colts ranked as 19th total rushing

‘00 it was 16th

‘01 7th

‘02 26th

‘03 19th

‘04 15th

‘05 16th

‘06 18th

‘07 18th

‘08 31st

‘09 32nd

‘10 29th

In short if Peyton had a more balance defense along with a better rushing attack he would not have been forced to make all the plays. Which leads IMO to a higher probability of making more costly mistakes. In the Playoffs team weaknesses will be exposed since your are now only playing against the best. Which I think led to more of the post season failures than Peyton chocking in big games.

So the question is...

1). Do you think Peyton Chokes in big games?

2). Do you think Peyton is washed up now being that he's turning 36 this year?

 

 

Was a Seminole, and now is a Chief!



First I would like to welcome Eric Berry to the Chiefs family.  I am looking forward to seeing him suit up, line up and smack a Raider silly.   I would also like to congratulate the entire Chief organization and its fanatical fan base.  This guy is going to make us better.

Continue reading this post »

"The beauty of it in my opinion was that there was a change. He (who should not be named CP) and I went to work together under Lamar's (Hunt) leadership and we put ourselves in a position where we kind of able to get things turned around. Clearly to me, without question, it was the most satisfying and gratifying part of my coaching career was to be a Kansas City Chief."  Former head coach Marty Schottenheimer

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HEIGHT/WEIGHT:      6'1" / 239lbs

 DOB:                        6/12/1980

 AGE:                        28

 COLLEGE:                Michigan

 

The defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers put an end to one of the few distractions they've had this offseason. The team granted veteran linebacker Larry Foote his release after he wanted out of Pittsburgh because of a reduced role.

 Steelers part ways with unhappy Foote.

 

Career Stats
			Tackles			Sacks			Interceptions			Fumb.			Misc.		KO Ret		Punt Ret
Year	Team	G	Solo	Ast	Total	Sack	Yds	Yd/Sk	Int	Yds	IntTD	Rec	TD	Frcd	Pass Def	Sfty	Yds	TD	Yds	TD
2002	PIT	6	11	7	18	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2003	PIT	14	5	1	6	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2004	PIT	16	53	17	70	3	20	6.7	1	1	0	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0
2005	PIT	16	76	26	102	3	20	6.7	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0
2006	PIT	16	62	29	91	4	29	7.3	1	11	0	1	0	2	3	0	0	0	0	0
2007	PIT	16	45	36	81	3	21	7.0	1	14	0	0	0	3	5	0	0	0	0	0
2008	PIT	16	34	29	63	2	8	5.3	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	0

 

 

The Steelers couldn't get anything for Foote in a trade, but he's only 29 and shouldn't have trouble finding a new home. The Colts and Lions are possible landing spots.

Larry Foote on Rotoworld

Pioli said that he's always looking to upgrade his roster, so Foote should be a strong consideration in the front office.  Whether or not Larry wants to sign with the Chiefs remains to be seen.

The Linebackers currently on the roster:

Jersey #          Name              Height / Weight          Age

50              Mike Vrabel           6-4            261             34

51              Cory Mays              6-1            245             26

52              Monty Beisel          6-3            244             31

53              D. Williams            6-1             232            29 

55               Zach Thomas       5-11          242             36

56              D. Johnson             6-3            242             27

57              Weston Dacus        6-1           232             24

98              Darrell Robertson  6-4           246              26

 

UDFA Rookies

Bobby Abare          6-2      220      Yale

Pierre Walters       6-4       265     E. Illinois

Jovan Belcher        6-1       229     Maine

Cory Smith              5-11    220     Cincinnati

 

 The Chiefs completely ignored the Linebacker position during the 7 rounds of the draft.  Strange considering that that was the weakest position we had on defense, and we will be putting 4 on the field instead of  3.  The only additions to the LBing corps were older veterans.   There must be concern of the availability of the older guys in regards to remaining healthy throughout the whole season. 

The only attempt to bring in younger Backers was after the draft.  It would seem almost like common sense that Pioli should pursue a veteran linebacker who is younger than Beisel, Vrabel, and Thomas.  Especially ones who are experienced in the 3-4 system which should be on the top of his priority list leading up to training camp. 

 

 

http://www.kansascity.com 

Brown was so huge there was no wondering why he’d been designated a "man mountain" at Mizzou. He had muscles you couldn’t have Photoshopped on the first two photos. He looked big. He looked strong. He looked like a different person.

"I put on 100 pounds to play football," he said with a laugh.

Here's to hoping that this guy becomes another gem that Don Pioli found in the fifth round.  I'm always optimistic right after the draft about our picks, especially since our offensive line was quite .....ahm...offensive! 

I look forward to seeing Colin develop and become another piece to the puzzle of our O-line.

 

Instead, everyone discovered some things in the long shot: Footwork and size, athleticism and the ability to be very, very good. Brown put on 100 pounds that first year. He saw some playing time his second year, including as a reserve left guard. He started all 13 games in 2007. He was downright great last year.

By the time he graduated, he was a 335-pound behemoth projected to go anywhere from the fifth round to undrafted. He’d seen bowl wins and Border War showdowns. He’d learned to battle with the best in the trenches and protect his quarterback. He’d long since given up basketball. He’d fallen in love with football.

This guy is HUGE!  Colin Brown is #61.  Plus that's Grunhards old number.

 

I'll take a line from one of my all time favorite movies Unforgiven, If you take away a person's HOPE  "you take away everything he's got and everything he's ever gonna have" ...  if you take away a mans hope what are you left with? 

The block qoutes are taken from the KC Star.

 

"Nothing is guaranteed from year to year," he said. "You look at Dallas, where I was last year. We were guaranteed to make the Super Bowl and we didn’t even make the playoffs. So nothing is guaranteed and teams change from year to year.

 

 I guess this is why a lot of people got worked up when Tony G. asked for a way out, hoping to get his shot at winning a Super Bowl trophy.  I can see both sides of the debate in which both sides have compelling arguments, I am left indifferent.  Ultimately Tony gave up all hope of our chances of ever improving quickly enough to make it to the big show, and for that I cannot forgive him.   Tony's hopelessness can only leave a negative impression on the chances of both teammates and fans alike.  Imagine working your butt off only to concede that we will never be good enough to make it to the Super Bowl. 

The loss of hope can only leave a hollow feeling of confusion, creating an almost self destructive nature within the consiousness of a teammate that the season would be lost even before it has started.  

Tony became the player who he is today not only through his hard work, but because he was blessed to spend his career on a team that would highlight him in its offense year after year.   Could you imagine if Tony had the misfortune of being on a team that did not utilize the TE position effectively?  Teams like Arizona and Pittsburgh  both appeared in the Super Bowl.  Both teams also do not feature the TE position as a first option offensive threat,  viewing the position as more complementary in nature to the WR and RB's. 

Now the question that needs to be asked is, How about if Tony did have the opportunity to play in a Super Bowl, maybe even win a Lombardi trophy?  Yet did not have the numbers at the end of his career to warrant a serious consideration in the HOF.  Will Tony be remembered in the history of the NFL as a good TE on a maybe Championship team? or will he be immortalized in the HOF as the greatest player to have ever played the TE position if not for his time in Kansas City.  

Tony no doubt would have been a good player on any team simply because of his work ethic, but he became GREAT because of his time as a CHIEF! 

 

"I was a little skeptical coming in at first, to be honest," Thomas said. "Once I came in and talked to (Haley) … he was straight to the point. He wanted to change the mind-set of the players. He really grabbed me right there.

 

 When Pioli came on board, I'm sure Tony quietly continued to pursue a trade.  Which went against what Pioli was saying in the beginning when he wanted to find players who wanted to be here, the right 53 not necessarily the best 53? 

How do you change the mindset of the team if individual players are only thinking about their needs versus the greater needs of the whole team? 

 

 

I’d like to be there for that transition, that change, kind of like Miami did last year. It can be done

Unlike Tony, Zach provides a positive role model for the younger players.  Both Zach and Tony are hard working, and extremely competitive.  The only glaring difference is that one chose to come to this team while the other was constantly looking out the window.   

 

"I have high expectations for this team. I’m excited to come out here and try to make a difference. I’m not coming to be a coach or help this team try to rebuild. I’m not here for that."

This statement of Zach is what does it for me when I think of Tony.  "I have high expectations for this team."  Tony didn't, that's why he wanted out.  He lost all hope in a team that helped make him great. 

 I don't blame Tony for thinking that the grass would be greener on the other side, but am always reminded that you better careful what you wish for ..... because you might just get it. 

I wish Tony only the best.  He left me with a lot of great memories, but the CHIEFS will have a better chance at winning a Super Bowl with Zach than we would with Tony's hopeless attitude. 

The Chiefs now plan to use Glenn Dorsey at defensive end in their new 3-4 alignment.

Dorsey played nose in pre-draft camps, but he's slated to start opposite Tyson Jackson with Alex Magee and Alfonso Boone other options outside. Tank Tyler is the nose tackle. This defense still projects to be soft against the run.

 

It looks like the Chiefs Management want to give Dorsey a look at playing DE.  He's kind of small to play the position in regards to his height which is 6-1 and change.  Ideally the Defensive End in a 3-4 should be taller in the range of about 6-4.  The weight of Dorsey is about right for a DE in a 3-4. 

We'll see if the position will best maximize his talents, or will it hamper his development playing in a position that he is uncomfortable.  Time will tell I suppose.

 

“Obviously, they’ve had a little trouble stopping people (last year), and I don’t think in this league you have much of a chance to win if you can’t slow the other offense down,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said about drafting defensive players with the top three choices. “Just the way it worked out I would say more than by design. But it’s something I’m happy about.”

Jackson and Magee can play a variety of defensive-line positions. Jackson will be starter at end but could move to tackle in passing situations. Magee’s role is less defined, but he probably will move around as well.

 

Kansas City Star

  

After the first day of the draft I'm always interested to find any listings out there for the other college prospects still available. Unfortunately, those other listings are always on the sites that you need to pay for, so for the cheap people out there like myself here you go.

 

There are several big names guys that are still out there that we have had discussions about here at AP. Day two should be the more interesting part of the draft, and were Pioli really earns his money. 

I hope that when the Chiefs make their pick we as a community will have known about these guys already, and not scratching our heads asking ourselves...we chose who?

 

DE Michael Johnson                Georgia Tech

TE Cornelius Ingram                Florida

WR Derrick Williams               Penn St.

OT Gerald Cadogan                Penn St.

FS Rashad Johnson               Alabama

OT Jamon Meredith                 So. Carolina

TE Chase Coffman                  Missouri

CB Donald Washington          Ohio St.

RB Andre Brown                       NC St.

OG Duke Robinson                 Oklahoma

WR Brandon Tate                    N. Carolina

TE Jared Cook                         S. Carolina

TE Shawn Nelson                    So. Miss

CB Coye Francies                   San Jose St.

WR Louis Murphy                    Florida

RB Glen Coffee                        Alabama

OLB Marcus Freeman            Ohio St.

WR Mike Thomas                    Arizona

TE Travis Bechum                   Wisconsin

SS Michael Hamlin                Clemson

TE James Casey                     Rice

DT Alex Magee                         Wake Forest

RB Mike Goodson                   Texas A&M

CB Asher Allen                        Georgia

WR Juaquin Iglesias              Oklahoma

ILB Jasper Brinkley                 N. Carolina

OT Troy Kropog                        Tulane

OG Kraig Urbik                         Wisconsin

DT Jarron Gilbert                     San Jose St.

CB Victor Harris                       Virginia Tech

CB DJ Moore                            Vanderbilt

RB Shonn Greene                   Iowa

ILB Darry Beckwith                  LSU

WR Austin Collie                     BYU

FS Curtis Taylor                       LSU

FB Tony Flammetta                 Syracuse

OLB Kaluka Maiava                 USC

CB DeAngelo Smith                Cincinnati

ILB Jason Phillips                   TCU

OT  TJ Lang                              E. Michigan

CB Ryan Mouton                      Hawaii

RB Cedric Peerman                 Virginia

WR Demetrius Byrd                 LSU

CB Jerraud Powers                  Auburn

WR Sammie Stroughter          Oregon St.

QB John Parker Wilson           Alabama

DE Lawrence Sidbury              Richmond

DT Ricky Jean-Francois           LSU

TE Anthony Hill                          NC State

CB Mike Mickens                      Cincinnati

OLB Jonathan Casillas           Wisconsin

WR Brooks Foster                   N. Carolina

CB Bradley Fletcher                 Iowa

RB Javon Ringer                      Michigan St.

WR Brandon Gibson               Washington St.

CB Cary Harris                         USC

ILB Dannell Ellerby                 Georgia

DE Henry Melton                      Texas

SS Nic Harris                          Oklahoma

DE Kyle Moore                         USC

ILB Scott McKillop                   Pitt

DT Dorell Scott                         Clemson

OG Herman Jonson                LSU

DT Corvey Irvin                         Georgia

FS David Bruton                      Notre Dame

QB Stephen McGee                Texas A&M

RB Rashad Jennings              Liberty

C Antoine Caldwell                  Alabama

RB James Davis                      Clemson

OLB Ashlee Palmer                 Mississippi

FS Courtney Greene                 Rutgers

CB Keenan Lewis                    Oregon St.

CB Chris Owens                      San Jose St.

FB Brannan Southerland         Georgia

WR Ramses Barden                Cal Poly

DE Brandon Williams               Texas Tech

QB Nathan Brown                     Central Arkansas

QB Rhett Bomar                        Sam Houston St.

OLB Zack Follett                        California

TE John Phillips                       Virginia

DT Darryl Richard                    Georgia Tech

TE Bear Pascoe                       Fresno St.

DT Terrance Knighton             Temple

CB Brandon Hughes               Oregon St

DT Vance Walker                     Georgia Tech

CB Gregory Toler                    St. Paul’s (Va.)

WR Johnny Knox                     Abilene Chrisian

OT Lydon Murtha                    Nebraska

QB Willie Tuitama                    Arizona

 

I'd also like to add that I like the Tyson Jackson pick at number 3.  Jackson has what you can never coach up....SIZE!  He's 6-5 298 lbs and can move, the average height and weight of our other D-linemen is 6-2 289lbs. 

Just wish there was more movement in round one for us.  Especially in making moves that would bring in additional draft picks.  Maybe day two will have more of that in store for us.

 

aPacificChief comes through yet again for us talking about college quarterbacks and the Kansas City Chiefs. If you're not familiar with aPacificChief's earlier QB FanPost, make sure you check it out.

So for this morning, we've got offense and defense to talk about, with Primetime's defensive coordinator post right below this one.

aPacificChief's full post is after the jump.

-Chris

Continue reading this post »

Well fellas it looks like another candidate if off the Usual Suspects list.  I actually liked this guy if Pioli thought that he would of been a good fit for us. 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3843174

  <!-- TOKEN_1232422733109_TOKEN -->
 via assets.nydailynews.com

The Jets are planning to make a formal offer to the Ravens' defensive coordinator and, barring an unexpected glitch in negotiations, they will announce his hiring Monday, multiple league sources told the Daily News Sunday night after the Ravens' 23-14 loss to the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.

Ryan, 46, has said publicly he will accept the Jets' offer, which may have been presented as early as Sunday night. He's expected to be introduced Wednesday at a news conference. The Jets will wait until then out of respect for Tuesday's presidential inauguration.

"If I get that opportunity, that would be fantastic," Ryan said after the game, responding to questions about the Jets' head-coaching vacancy.

  <!-- TOKEN_1232422733109_TOKEN -->

The man feels no pressure from outside influences.  The only pressure he feels is on himself to make a right decision and take out as much error as possible from making the choice on who will be the future head coach of Kansas City.

 

People could be all around Pioli reminding him hourly on the coaches that are no longer available, and the shrinking list of candidates the longer he waits to methodically evaluate Herman Edwards.

 

The Pioli's actions are speaking louder than his words.  Why rush the decision on the new coach?  I mean we could of signed the hottest coach on the market right now.  Like Schwartz or Spagnuolo right off the bat and have fired Herm immediately, but what would that have accomplish if the decision proves wrong again.  Can we guarantee that either of those candidates will be successful the next 3 years? or are we gonna find out the hard way that Spag's did in fact was a terrible head coach, and would have wasted those precious years of the careers of our few stars searching again for another head coach replacement. 

 

Whatever the decision Pioli makes on our next Head Coach I know it will be the right one.  Because Scott (stand back here it comes to all those Herman Haters another Herminism) is basing his decision on solid research and on the facts not on mere emotions.  I also stand behind him because I don't have much of a choice anyway. If he gets it wrong we all will suffer, but if he gets it right???  Wow....How about if he gets it right? 

 

I just the entirety of article and placed the post for our reading pleasure here at AP.  Enjoy Chief fans!

EAST TEAM

 

Quarterbacks

 

Hunter Cantwell: Louisville (6-5, 236) Projection: 5th Round

Possesses a big frame with the arm strength to make all the throws in the NFL. Needs more time to develop, but has all the tools to really climb up the draft boards.

 

Chase Daniel: Missouri (6-0, 225) Projection: Free Agent

An undersized quarterback prospect that lacks the arm strength to make all the throws. Displays good accuracy, but will struggle finding throwing windows at the next level.

 

Brian Hoyer: Michigan State (6-3, 215) Projection: 7th Round/Free Agent

Isn’t a real accurate passer and lacks the athletic ability to buy time in the pocket. Is smart with the football, but lacks the tools of a big time prospect.

 

Running Backs

 

Tyrell Sutton: Northwestern (5-9, 190) Projection: 6th Round

An instinctive runner with good vision and burst through the hole. Showcases some wiggle at the second level, but lacks the size to take the consistent pounding of being a workhorse back.

 

Kory Sheets: Purdue (6-0, 206) Projection: 7th Round

A high cut runner with smooth footwork and an explosive first step. Isn’t a real shifty back, but has the vision to see the cutback lane and attack up field

 

Javarris Williams: Tennessee State (5-11, 220) Projection: 7th round/ Free Agent

A solid, well built back that runs behind his pads and can wear down opposing front sevens. Lacks great speed, but has the quickness to make a man miss and accelerate into space.

 

Full Backs

 

Collin Mooney: Army (5-10, 247) Projection:  Free Agent

A thick, physical full back with the ability to push the pile and drive for tough yards. Displays good power and has the mindset to sell his soul week in and week out as a lead blocker.

 

Wide Receiver

 

Deon Butler: Penn State (5-10, 168) Projection: 6th Round

A frail looking receiver with an explosive first step and the ability to get vertical. Shows good ball skills down the field and will be able to create big plays from the slot.

 

Greg Orton: Purdue (6-3, 199) Projection: 7th Round

A big, well built receiver with good body control and awareness on the outside. Isn’t going to run by anyone, but uses his body to shield defenders well in traffic.

 

Darius Passmore: Marshall (6-3, 188) Projection: 4th Round

A tall, athletically gifted receiver with good burst and body control in and out of his breaks. Is a smooth route runner that showcases the ability to get down the field.

 

Aaron Kelly: Clemson (6-5, 190) Projection: 6th Round

A finished product that combines size, length and body control on the outside. Lacks any type of explosion to his game and will need to be a possession type receiver at the next level.

 

Tight Ends

 

Brian Mandeville: Northeastern (6-7, 253) Projection: 5th Round

A small-school tight end that possesses a nice sized frame and good athletic ability for his size. Is a smooth route runner that displays the strength to hold his own in the blocking game as well.

 

Anthony Hill: NC State (6-6, 265) Projection: Free Agent

Has struggled with injuries throughout his career (knee, chest), but has the size and frame to at least attract some attention in later rounds. Is a coordinated route runner with good body control, but his knee injuries have really caused him to lose a lot of his explosion.

 

David Johnson: Arkansas State (6-2, 270) Projection: Free Agent

A natural athlete with good ball skills and fluidity in the passing game. Lacks the size of a typical tight end, but has the versatility to line up at full back and H-back as well.

 

Offensive Linemen

 

Alex Boone: Ohio State (6-8, 312) Projection: 4th Round

A former five-star prospect out of high school, has never really lived up to expectations. Is a bit tight hipped and struggles with his lateral mobility, a right sided player only.

 

Ryan Durand: Syracuse (6-5, 303) Projection: Free Agent

A tall, natural bender inside with a quick first step and good athleticism in space. Lacks strength and doesn’t showcase much power or drive in any aspect of his game.

 

Ramon Foster: Tennessee (6-8, 325) Projection: 7th Round

A massive right sided prospect that lacks flexibility and isn’t real nimble in space. Showcases good length and when he gets his hands on defensive lineman, the battle is over.

 

Andy Kemp: Wisconsin (6-6, 316) Projection: 6th Round

A tall, blue-collar offensive lineman who plays with good grit and power inside. Isn’t the most fluid of athletes, but gets by with his technique and toughness.

 

Jamon Meredith: South Carolina (6-5, 301) Projection: 4th Round

A natural athlete with good bend and body control in space. Isn’t real explosive and lacks girth. Is more of a finesse blocker who might be best suited to play inside.

 

Cecil Newton: Tennessee State (6-3, 300) Projection: 5th Round

A physical, small-school center with good athleticism and power in the run game. Needs to become a little more polished, but has the natural tools to become a starter at the next level.

 

Seth Olsen: Iowa (6-5, 305) Projection: 6th Round

A typical Iowa offensive lineman that displays good technique and hand placement inside. A natural bender with good athletic ability, but needs to add more girth and strength to his base.

 

Augustus Parrish: Kent State (6-5, 305) Projection: 4th Round

Has the skill set and athletic ability to play left tackle in the NFL. Is still very raw and needs to polish his technique, but is one of the most athletically gifted tackles in the draft.

 

A.Q. Shipley: Penn State (6-1, 297) Projection: 5th Round

A technician inside that plays with good hand placement and understands angles. Lacks size but plays with good leverage and lower body strength off the snap.

 

Jamie Thomas: Maryland (6-4, 330) Projection: 6th Round

A thick, squatty guard with impressive lower body drive and power in the run game. Displays good length and has created big holes in the run game all year for Maryland.

 

Defensive Linemen

 

Lawrence Sidbury: Richmond (6-4, 265) Projection: 6th Round

A long limbed defensive end that exhibits the body control and suddenness to disengage from blockers. Lacks great burst around the corner, but re-directs and slips blocks well in space.

 

Stryker Sulak: Missouri (6-5, 250) Projection: 6th round

An undersized pass rusher with good closing speed, but lacks natural flexibility and burst out of his stance. Plays with an impressive motor, but isn’t the kind of athlete his 40 time (4.65) would indicate.

 

Ron Brace: Boston College (6-3, 324) Projection: 4th Round

A big, physical tackle with good body control and agility inside. Displays the ability too not only hold the point of attack in the run game, but slip blocks vs. the pass as well.

 

Terrance Taylor: Michigan (6-0, 319) Projection: 5th Round

A girthy nose tackle that plays with good leverage and power inside. Tough to move inside, but is limited as a pass rusher and is no more than a two down lineman.

 

Etienne Legare: Laval (6-4, 265) Projection: Free Agent

The Canadian standout is a tough, blue-collar defender that uses his hands well to make up for his average athleticism.

 

Orion Martin: Virginia Tech (6-2, 252) Projection: 5th Round

Played both defensive end and linebacker at Virginia Tech, but looks best suited to play in a three point stance. Has an explosive first step with the ability to get after the quarterback.

 

Sammie Lee Hill: Stillman (6-4, 329) Projection: 7th Round

A developmental prospect with great size and athletic ability inside. He displays a quick first step with the ability to eat up blockers inside. Will need to adjust to playing at a higher level.

 

Matt Shaughnessy: Wisconsin (6-6, 252) Projection: 3rd Round

A tall, athletic defensive end that coils up well in his stance and can fire off the edge. Isn’t real laterally gifted and lacks power but has the closing speed to turn the corner.

 

Darryl Richard: Georgia Tech (6-4, 290) Projection: 5th Round

A smart, hard working tackle that combines average size with good athleticism and technique.

 

Linebackers

 

DeAndre Levy: Wisconsin (6-3, 228) Projection: 6th round

An athletic sideline-to-sideline backer that chases the ball well in pursuit. Showcases good re-direction skills and coverage, but lacks consistent power inside the box.

 

Dannell Ellerbe: Georgia (6-1, 232) Projection: 4th Round

An undersized mike linebacker with good range and fluidity in coverage. Lacks great size and is washed out too easy on plays right at him.

 

Mortty Ivy: West Virginia (6-3, 236) Projection: 4th Round

A strong, explosive linebacker that flies all over the field and makes plays with reckless abandon. Needs to become a bit more instinctive, but has the tools and attitude to fill a variety of roles at the next level.

 

Jasper Brinkley: South Carolina (6-2, 275) Projection: 5th Round

A massive inside linebacker with good body control and power inside. Is a powerful tackler with natural pass rush ability. May be best suited to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

 

Robert Francois: Boston College (6-2, 235) Projection: 7th Round/Free Agent

A typical tough, instinctive Boston College linebacker with good athleticism and burst in space. Is a bit stiff, but has some upside and displays the ability to get after the passer off the edge.

 

Defensive Backs

 

Curtis Taylor: LSU (6-3, 204) Projection: 5th Round

Has the ideal build of an NFL safety with good straight-line speed and power at the line of scrimmage. Will bite on play fakes and needs to do a better job wrapping up in space.

 

Brandon Underwood: Cincinnati (6-1, 190) Projection: 7th Round

A natural cover safety with the frame and build of a corner. Is fluid in man coverage and has the ability to line up over the slot. A versatile athlete in the Cincinnati secondary.

 

Otis Wiley: Michigan State (6-2, 210) Projection: 5th Round

A physical, well-built safety with good instincts and ball skills in coverage. Loves to attack downhill, but has a tendency to over run plays and not take proper angles.

 

Trent Morgan: Michigan (6-1, 188) Projection: 6th Round

A tall corner with decent technique but lacks burst and explosion in and out of his breaks. Will really struggle in man coverage at the next level and is best suited for a cover two scheme, where he can use his instincts.

 

Jahi Word-Daniels: Georgia Tech (6-0 194) Projection: 5th Round

A tall, lean corner that showcases good bend and a fluid backpedal. Has the ability to go up at the highest point and break on balls. Is at his best in press coverage.

 

Courtney Greene: Rutgers (6-2, 215) Projection: 3rd Round

A well-built safety with good power at the line of scrimmage and straight-line speed in the secondary.  A bit “leggy” and struggles re-directing in space.

 

Specialists

 

Jake Richardson: Miami (6-1, 208) Projection: Free Agent

A strong legged punter who averaged 45.3 yards per punt in 2008.

 

Graham Gano: Florida State (6-1, 193) Projection: 5th Round

The Lou Groza Award winner was 24/26 on field goal opportunities and also averaged 43.6 yards per punt in 2008.

 

West Team

 

Quarterbacks

 

Tom Brandstater: Fresno State (6-5, 225) Projection: 6th Round

Showcases the prototypical build for the quarterback position with good arm strength and touch down the field. A lacking athlete that didn’t have the type of year many expected.

 

Mike Reilly: Central Washington (6-3, 212) Projection: 6th Round

A dominant small-school prospect that is a dual run/pass threat. Showcases good accuracy on the move and has the ability to buy time in the pocket.

 

Stephen McGee: Texas A&M (6-3, 207) Projection: 7th Round/ Free Agent

Displays a very intriguing skill set, he just needs time to develop. A good athlete with the arm strength to make all the throws, has some Tony Romo in him.

 

Running Backs

 

Ian Johnson: Boise State (6-0, 196) Projection: 7th Round

An instinctive runner with good lateral mobility and body control. Lacks a second gear and doesn’t showcase any kind of explosion to his game.

 

Gartrell Johnson: Colorado State (5-11, 230) Projection: 7th Round

A thickly built back with a powerful lower half and good “wiggle” for his size. Showcases good vision and lateral mobility at the line of scrimmage, but lacks the speed to out run anyone at the second level.

 

Aaron Brown: TCU (6-1, 196) Projection: 7th Round/ Free Agent

A tall, high cut runner with decent power and agility for his size. Has the ability to step out of tackles, but lacks body control and isn’t real sharp cutter.

 

Full Backs

 

Jorvorskie Lane: Texas A&M (6-0, 285) Projection: 7th Round/ Free Agent

A massive, thick framed full back that exhibits very nimble feet for his size. A natural runner, but needs to learn to become a more consistent lead blocker.

 

Wide Receivers

 

Ramses Barden: Cal Poly (6-6, 227) Projection: 3rd Round

A king sized wide out with good body control and hands over the middle of the field. However, he is a strider with below average deep speed, but showcases good suddenness out of his breaks.

 

Jarrett Dillard: Rice (5-11, 185) Projection: 5th Round

A frail receiver prospect with excellent hand eye coordination. Displays the ability to consistently go up and pluck the ball at the highest point.  However, he will struggle big time with bump coverage in the NFL.

 

Marko Mitchell: Nevada (6-3, 210) Projection: 5th Round

A physically imposing receiver with good burst and body control in and out of his breaks. Isn’t a burner, but shows some explosion and can separate on all levels of the field.

 

Mike Thomas: Arizona (5-8, 195) Projection: 6th Round

An undersized slot guy with good agility and acceleration in the open field. Is more quick than fast, but has the ability to uncover down the field.

 

Sammie Stroughter: Oregon State (6-0, 186) Projection: 4th Round

A bit frail framed, but showcases good footwork and burst in and out of his breaks. Displays an explosive first step and knows how to separate on all levels of the field.

 

H-Backs/Tight Ends

 

Mark Hafner: Houston (6-3, 235) Projection: 6th Round

A smooth, natural receiver in the passing game that does a nice job getting in and out of his breaks quickly. Lacks the size and power to play tight end, but can create mismatches at the next level.

 

Jared Bronson: Central Washington (6-4, 255) Projection: 6th  Round

A smooth, good looking tight end prospect with impressive straight-line speed. Lacks great change of directions skills underneath, but is a reliable pass catcher.

 

Bear Pascoe: Fresno State (6-5, 260) Projection: 4th Round

A tall, well built tight end that not only displays good hands and body control in the passing game, but showcases the ability to block on the edge and get good push in the run game.

 

Offensive Linemen

 

Travis Bright: BYU (6-5, 318) Projection: 6th Round

A tall, thick bodied lineman with decent pop and flexibility out of his stance. Plays a bit high, but showcases good fight and technique in 1v1 battles.

 

Jon Cooper: Oklahoma (6-3, 290) Projection: 7th Round

An undersized center that displays good quickness and technique inside.  Lacks the ability to hold the point of attack vs. bigger D-linemen and is best suited for a zone blocking scheme.

 

Rey Feinga: BYU (6-5, 331) Projection: 4th Round

A massive guard prospect with good power and quickness for his size. Is surprisingly nimble in pass protection and should become a solid in-line blocker at the next level.

 

Juan Garcia: Washington (6-3, 305) Projection: Free Agent

A 6th year senior that lacks power and lateral mobility in pass protection. Showcases good pop in the run game, but struggled like the rest of the Washington team in 2008.

 

Dan Gay: Baylor (6-5, 282) Projection: 7th Round/Free Agent

Was overshadowed by teammate Jason Smith this season, but Gay is an impressive natural athlete in his own right. He needs to add more girth and power to his frame.  However, he has the athleticism and length to be an intriguing late round guy.

 

Simeon Rottier: Alberta (6-6, 286) Projection: Free Agent

A tall, long armed prospect with average athleticism and an under developed frame.  Lacks the girth to be able to hold the point of attack on the outside.

 

Fenuki Tupou: Oregon (6-6, 322) Projection: 3rd Round

A right sided player with good length and body control on the outside. Is very coordinated and re-directs well in space for a man his size.

 

Sebastian Vollmer: Houston (6-8, 315) Projection: Free Agent

A tall, long limbed tackle that lacks flexibility and struggles with leverage on the outside. Showcases decent athletic ability, but is consistently walked backward vs. the bull rush.

 

Louis Vasquez: Texas Tech (6-6, 335) Projection: 7th Round/Free Agent

A massive guard prospect with good size and length. Lacks flexibility and struggles re-directing in space. Has never been asked to run block at Texas Tech and is not as powerful as his size would indicate.

 

Cedric Dockery: Texas (6-4, 315) Projection: 3rd Round

An underrated prospect with good bend and athleticism in all areas of his game. Showcases the feet to slide laterally in pass protection, but needs to do a better job staying on blocks.

 

Defensive Linemen

 

Michael Bennett: Texas A&M (6-4, 277) Projection: 5th Round

Displays an impressive first step with the power and suddenness to consistently shed blocks. However, he needs to learn to play with better flexibility off the snap.

 

Pannel Egboh: Stanford (6-6, 270) Projection: 4th Round

Possesses a nice frame with long arms, but doesn’t display any kind of explosion to his game. Might be best suited to add more weight and play the five-technique in the 3-4.

 

Jarron Gilbert: San Jose State (6-6, 280) Projection: 5th Round

A natural bender inside who coils up well in his stance and displays excellent first step quickness off the snap. Consistently gets up field and uses his length nicely to shed blocks. Will need to prove he has the power and girth to hold the point of attack inside.

 

Ra’Shon Harris: Oregon (6-5, 321) Projection: Free Agent

A tall, thickly built tackle with decent power and push inside. Lacks laterally mobility and struggles shedding blocks inside.  He doesn’t make many plays on his own.

 

Phillip Hunt: Houston (6-1, 260) Projection: 6th Round

An undersized pass rusher with good quickness and the ability to slip blocks outside. Showcases natural dip around the corner and closes quickly on the quarterback.

 

David Veikune: Hawaii (6-3, 250) Projection: 5th Round

A natural athlete with good body control and the suddenness to shed blocks. Lacks the burst to consistently reach the edge, but uses his hands and power well to make his way into the backfield.

 

John Faletoese: Cal Davis (6-2, 295) Projection: 7th Round

An explosive, quick twitch interior lineman who makes a living in his opponent’s backfield.  A one gap tackle who loves to shoot gaps and get after the quarterback inside.

 

Roy Miller: Texas (6-2, 295) Projection: 6th Round

A tough, blue-collar lineman that displays a good first step and powerful drive off the ball.  Isn’t physically imposing, but works hard and plays with good leverage at the point of attack.

 

Linebackers

 

Victor Butler: Oregon State (6-2, 238) Projection: 6th Round

An explosive defensive end at Oregon State who will make the transition to linebacker in the NFL. An ideal 3-4 outside linebacker prospect with natural pass rush ability

 

Anthony Felder: California (6-3, 235) Projection: 7th Round/Free Agent

A stocky, well built athlete with good power and stack and shed ability inside. A 3-4 middle linebacker at California and could be able to find a home there in the NFL.

 

Kaluka Maiava: USC (6-0, 230) Projection: 6th round

An under the radar prospect with good power inside and explosive sideline-to-sideline range. Like former USC linebacker Thomas Williams, Maiava should shoot up draft boards during the post-season process.

 

Jason Phillips: TCU (6-1, 234) Projection: 4th Round

An athletic looking inside linebacker with good straight-line speed. A bit slow to re-direct, but showcases good instincts and a nose for the ball.

 

Worrell Williams: California (6-0, 250) Projection: 4th Round

A shorter, powerfully built inside linebacker with good girth and lower body strength. Exhibits a good first step and has the athleticism to play any linebacker spot in a 3-4.

 

Jason Williams: Western Illinois (6-3, 237) Projection: 6th Round

A small-school prospect that has dominated his level of competition. Has a good sized frame with explosive sideline-to-sideline range. Makes a lot of plays in pursuit.

 

Defensive Backs

 

Kevin Ellison: USC (6-1, 230) Projection: 4th Round

Has the build of a linebacker and can really lay the wood in the run game. Is a bit stiff to re-direct in space, but displays good instincts in the pass game.

 

Cary Harris: USC (6-0, 180) Projection: 7th Round/Free Agent

A tall, long armed corner with good flexibility and instincts in zone coverage.  Lacks great range and struggles playing with his back to the ball.

 

Lendy Holmes: Oklahoma (6-1, 201) Projection: 6th Round

A former wide receiver and cornerback that is still adjusting to the safety position.  However, he is a good looking athlete that displays the instincts and ball hawking ability to makes plays in the passing game.

 

Brandon Hughes: Oregon State (5-10, 184) Projection: 7th Round

A smaller, undersized corner that relies on his technique and fluid hips. Showcases a quick, compact backpedal and is best suited to play in the slot at the next level.

 

Darcel McBath: Texas Tech (6-1, 197) Projection: 5th Round

Displays impressive closing speed in the secondary with a nose for the ball.  Has the range to cover the deep half and takes good angles in pursuit.

 

Ryan Palmer: Texas (5-10, 186) Projection: Free Agent

An undersized corner prospect with good deep speed and decent footwork in and out of his breaks. Lacks ball skills and will struggle in man coverage at the next level.

 

Ryan Mouton: Hawaii (5-10, 180) Projection: Free Agent

He has played well this year and displays the deep speed to consistently turn and run with receivers down the field. Lacks polish and gets too “long-legged’ out of his back pedal.

 

Specialists

 

Thomas Morstead: Southern Methodist (6-4, 220) Projection: 7th Round

One of the top punter/kicker prospects in this year’s draft.  Averaged 41.7 yards per punt in 2008 and also hit 11/15 field goals with a long of 49.

 

Nick Sundberg: California (6-0, 244) Projection: Free Agent

Has been the starting long snapper for California since his freshman year and was 128/129 on snaps in 2007.

 

David Buehler: USC (6-2, 225) Projection: Free Agent

A strong legged kicker who went 9/13 on the year with a long of 43. He was 7/8 inside of 40 yards, but only 2/5 from outside.

 

Source: National Football Post

From the FanPosts. Excellent work, aPacificChief.  -Primetime

 

I was doing some research on college QB's coming into the NFL, when I stumbled across something that might change the way we view college QB’s coming into the NFL.  We have all heard the terms of a “Franchise Quarterback,” or a “Product of the System (system QB).”  But I think I found a way to show the probability of a college QB being successful in the NFL regardless of the so called labels that he may be given coming out of college. 

Continue reading this post »

"I'm obviously disappointed," Asomugha said. "I don't agree with what happened. I don't agree with what's going on. But I am just a player so I can't speak on it. I don't make the decisions. All I can do is play but I don't agree with what happened at all."

I can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction watching the Raiders just toil in their own self inflicted misery.  I know about the argument of wanting a strong division to help elevate our play, but I grew weary of watching us beat each other up (AFC West) in the 1990's and having nothing left in the playoffs.  Plus we already have the Chargers and the Donkeys to keep us on our toes. 

"I've never been in a situation where you cut one of the best players," said safety Gibril Wilson, another of the team's offseason acquisitions. "That's strange to me. It's almost like we're throwing in the towel."

Haha......Gibril get use to it, you're playing for the Rayderzz....

Chiefs running back Larry Johnson is going through a period of transition on and off the field.

On the field, he is being held back from playing. Off the field, Johnson and his agent, Alvin Keels, have divorced.

A listing of player agents at the NFL Players Association website no longer lists Keels as Johnson’s agent. An NFLPA spokesperson confirmed that a change has been made, and had been as of Monday.

At a time when Johnson needs as much support as possible, he has parted ways with his agent. Before Johnson can file for a new agent, he must wait five days under the NFLPA’s mandatory cooling off period. But for now, Johnson has no agent and no chance of playing Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Adam Schefter

Hope this change is a mark for better things to come from LJ.

The question that has been bugging me for some time now,

What is the difference of this Cover 2 scheme with its one gap responsibility, and Greg Robinson's defense with covering their one gap?  I'm not asking about the responsiblities of the LB's or the secondary, but the run support part. 

I remember when Robinson was our defensive coordinator with Vermiel and his defenses also broke alot of big runs.  Similiar to whats happening now.  I can understand the long bombs breaking out in secondary where a corner or safety miss an assignment, but these long runs are making me sick, its like all 11 guys just blow it. 

Tony Gonzalez, prominent NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs, died last night from complications of losing chances of winning a Super Bowl Ring with the team that drafted him. He was thirty-two years old. Soft-spoken and obsessive, Gonzalez never looked the part of a hopeless romantic. But in the final days of his life, he revealed an unknown side of his psyche. This hidden quasi-Jungian persona surfaced during the Agatha Christie-like pursuit for his long, reputed Lombardi Trophy; an opportunity whom he spent an entire career searching for. Sadly, the protracted search ended late in the 6th week of the 2008 season.  When he was finally traded to a team who had a legitimate shot at contending for a trophy.  His pursuit with the team that originally drafted him out of California had ended in utter failure. Yet even in certain defeat, the courageous Gonzalez secretly clung to the belief that life is not merely a series of meaningless accidents or coincidences. Uh-uh. But rather, it is a tapestry of events that culminate into an exquisite, sublime plan. Ask about the loss of their dear friend, at the community of Arrowhead Pride, the Pulitzer Prize-winning (unofficial team Website),  described Tony as a changed man in the last days of his life. Things were clearer for him, aPacificChief noted. Ultimately, Tony concluded that if we are to live life in harmony with the universe we must all possess a powerful faith, of what the ancients used to call fatum; what we currently refer to as destiny.

Goodbye Tony, and win one for us....

I convinced that Chiefs did not go after some necessary free agent players, simply so that we could lose.  Yes, LOSE…that’s the harsh reality of it all.

It’s starting to look more apparent that this year in the minds of the brass is (for lack of a better term) a throw away year.  Purposely put together with the clear intent to simply evaluate the players (strengths and weakness)  we have on roster.  While we continue to add and subtract the players on the Active roster/Practice squad. 

 

We did not need to add free agents to masquerade  the fact that we virtually have no chance to compete for a Super Bowl, at least for another 2 to 3 years.  So why add players that would allow us to win a few more games, but miserably fall short of a Super Bowl birth ( i.e. Herm’s 1st season with KC in ’06)?

 

The way the NFL is designed, you cannot consistently add quality young talent if your winning 7 to 9 games a year.  Especially in positions of need, you ultimately are drafting in the mid range of the draft for the best available player.  So the plan for this year is addition through subtraction, by subtraction I mean wins.  So in order to get better we must first get worse, in short we must lose and that means like the 34 – 0 like last Sunday.  The talk is that the talent level on this team when Herm came on board was little to non-existent.  Whether it was through bad draft day decisions, or through retirements.  The result was we did get worse.  Although it is a convincing argument I cannot completely support that claim as being exactly right, but I believe there is some truth to it.

 

As we all can see the talent level is starting to assemble, and they are for the most part young.  Whether they improve to the level we expect them to remains to be seen.  In the last 3 drafts we had some 26 picks, and of those 26 picks 22 remain on the team.  The 3 previous drafts (’05,’04,’03) we had 25 selections of those 25 picks only 3 players remain (and only a few of those players released were ever picked up by other clubs).

Those 25 players that we drafted hopefully will be what we can continue to build on, provided we do a good job of resigning them to their second contracts.  We have at least  developed a mild level of success on scouting players who can contribute, albeit none yet have hit superstar status from those recent draft classes.  As Pele (Brazilian soccer star) once said, “I see a field of super stars, but not a super star team” (when asked about there chances of winning the World Cup in ’02)  This is a team sport, so if we can find players who compliment each other, production will follow and with production recognition (i.e. Pro-Bowl invitations) 

 

If we have another strong draft class in 2009 I think we should be in the playoff hunt again in 2010.  In the beginning of 2010 we should be starting to add quality free agents who are available, but not before then.  Otherwise we might start winning, and for a rebuilding team that’s the last thing you want to do. RIGHT?

That end up becoming pro-bowl players for us(Tony Richardson, Brian Waters) Now we have a young LB in Erik Walden who has looked good for us on Special teams.  Every time I look up he's either making the tackle or around the play. 

I'm hoping he develops into a great LB for us.  This constant shuffling of Free Agents, and the rotation of Practice Squad players may actually turn out some real gems.  Maybe we should sign Bartel if the trend is consistent....oh wait...Hoyte was released, so maybe its just luck....or is it?  

I was thinking about this when I was responding to another question, then it happened.........a moment of clarity.  From all the other posting that we've all contributed to these past few months. Of doing a favor to our most love player next to Derrick Thomas, and trade Tony Gonzalez to a team who has a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl. 

The Chiefs would in effect give back to the player  who has only given his best to the team.  A team which has not exactly done much to return their (Will Shields & Tony G.) dedication with a successful plan to not only advance to the playoffs, but further when in it.

Lets face it Tony's probably got 2 maybe 3 good years before he hangs it up, so he provides value to a team on the verge of making to the Super Bowl.   If we had a shot at a Super Bowl it won't be within the next 3 years.  By then Tony will be in the decline of his career. 

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but here i go..... how about trading a 4th round selection, and ……GULP…......and Tony Gonzalez to Green Bay for Brian Brohm. I hate this idea, but it gives Tony a legitimate shot at a ring.  Plus he still gives us value in trading him because of his productivity at the TE position, and being that the Packers are a west coast offense, TE is a position of importance to them. And we address our QB position with a back up plan if Brodie cannot carry the team on his shoulders(no pun intended).  Tony G. will be an upgrade at TE to the Packers over Donald Lee.  He would also threaten the middle of the field with Driver, Jennings, and Jordy Nelson taking the opponents Def. Backfield deep. 

HECK…IF Brett Favre can be traded…..and unlike Favre, Tony never openly spilled sour grapes on our coaches/management or even on the club for a lack of playoff appearances.