Arrowhead Pride

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Another Offensive Tackle For The Chiefs

2012-02-22T18:04:46Z

A month ago, Don Banks of SI.com put out a 2012 NFL mock draft that had the Kansas City Chiefs selecting DT Devon Still. Today, Banks' latest mock draft has the Chiefs selecting OT Jonathan Martin out of Stanford.

Here's what he said:

The Chiefs have to upgrade at right offensive tackle, and Martin is the most obvious direction to head with both Kalil and Reiff already gone. An inside linebacker like Boston College's Luke Kuechly or a defensive tackle like Memphis' Dontari Poe would fill other areas of need with players who will wind up with grades in the top 15-20 range.

In this scenario, both Matt Kalil and Riley Reiff are off the board, which leaves Martin (and Mike Adams out of Ohio State) as the next best offensive tackle.

This jives with Adam Teicher's suggestion this morning that the Chiefs should draft an offensive tackle. You'd get a right tackle for next season and some insurance for the season after that depending on how Branden Albert's contract situation plays out.

One interesting situation that presents itself in this mock draft is Texas A&M' QB Ryan Tannehill being available at the 11th pick. I'm not saying the Chiefs should take him but, in this scenario, the Seattle Seahawks are right behind the Chiefs. They very well could take a quarterback, which makes the Chiefs position one spot ahead of them potentially desirable for a trade down. Something to remember is that teams will trade up for a quarterback. Maybe not many other positions, but a quarterback they will.

Any strong feelings one way or the other on the Chiefs trading down?

One Possibility For The Chiefs QB Competition

2012-02-22T17:33:30Z

The Kansas City Chiefs are going to be looking for competition for QB Matt Cassel this offseason. We don't know what kind of competition it'll be but it'll be competition.

So where will that competition come from and who will that player be?

One interesting possibility could be QB Jimmy Clausen. He's with the Carolina Panthers at the moment and the Charlotte Observer reported this week that he could be a salary cap casualty.

Clausen was once thought to be a first round pick -- remember when we thought KC would take him at the top of round two a couple years ago? -- but his NFL career has been less than stellar.

There's really not a whole to evaluate with Clausen -- he hasn't been very good in the NFL. But he's young enough to still hang in that cloud of "potential" so perhaps there's some promise. He played for Charlie Weis, who has connections back to KC.

Interesting name to keep an eye on. The question I would have is, if the Chiefs believed he could make it, why didn't they draft him two years ago? Maybe not the best option but possibly an option if he's released.

What Is The Kansas City Chiefs Biggest Need?

2012-02-22T15:43:16Z

It's amazing how we can all watch the same Kansas City Chiefs games and come away with totally different theories on what's wrong with the team.

Some people say the Chiefs defense can't stop the run without a nose tackle. Others say it's the inside linebacker next to Derrick Johnson. Others say the offensive line is the position group in need of the biggest upgrade. The quarterback is always thrown in there as well. And who will carry the ball behind Jamaal Charles?

Lots of possibilities for the Chiefs biggest need. I'd be happy with a number of different selections in the 2012 NFL draft but we all have our thoughts on the one position that the Chiefs absolutely, positively have to fix. They'll have two big opportunities to make that fix -- free agency and the NFL draft.

I'm not really sure what the consensus is among the fan base. Offensive tackle, nose tackle, quarterback.... a lot of people are clamoring for different positions. So, to get a better idea of what the fan base is thinking about the Chiefs priorities, we're conducting a poll.

Vote in the poll and let us know: What's the Chiefs biggest need?

Poll

What is the Chiefs biggest need?

So Who Is The Chiefs Defensive Coordinator?

2012-02-22T14:20:14Z

Interesting tidbit from Stanford Routt's interview with Doug Farrar of Yahoo! Sports this week. The new Kansas City Chiefs cornerback was talking about meeting the KC coaching staff on his visit and said:

"When I went to Kansas City, I met everybody. I met Romeo, I met the GM, Scott Pioli, I met Otis Smith and Emmitt Thomas. I briefly met the defensive coordinator -- real quickly, because they were in meetings -- and from the moment I walked in there, they embraced me."

Hmm...he met Romeo Crennel and the defensive coordinator.

But...Romeo is the defensive coordinator.

I'd guess one of the Chiefs defensive assistant coaches has taken on more of a leadership role with Crennel having increased duties as the head guy. Maybe that assistant runs some of the day-to-day stuff while Crennel can tend to the offense, defense and special teams. You know how Crennel says there's a lot more you have to do as the head coach, like non-football stuff? I wouldn't be surprised if he has an assistant coach who is involved when he's doing head coach duties. I would also guess that assistant is Gary Gibbs, linebackers coach. He's a veteran coach and has been around for a while. He seems like a logical choice given the options.

It's either that or Routt just misspoke. I'm just guessing here.

2nd year Chiefs that need to step up

2012-02-22T13:23:32Z

2nd year Chiefs that need to step up

Good stuff here.

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 2/22

2012-02-22T13:10:49Z

Good morning! Today's Kansas City Chiefs news has more on Routt, Car, the salary cap, and where you can see Willie Lanier (if you live in Virginia). Enjoy.

It's unclear where negotiations stand between the Chiefs and Carr's representation since both parties have kept details close to the vest. If negotiations stall or end, the NFL has always had its methods for making that status public.

But if the Chiefs were able to retain Carr, it wouldn't just create competition at cornerback. It would give the Chiefs arguably the best cast of cornerbacks in the NFL.

Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel has implemented a heavy dose of nickel and dime personnel groupings over the past two seasons. Mixing three cover cornerbacks with Eric Berry's ability to play inside the box and Javier Arenas' ability to blitz off the edge would open the door for a number of new personnel groupings.

Chiefs Send Early Ripple Through Free Agency from The Mothership

So the Chiefs have been busy in the last few days trying to change public opinion about the team being cheap.

Over the weekend the Chiefs handed the Kansas City Star their complete list of salaries and salary cap numbers for the coming season. Normally, this type of information is guarded like nuclear launch codes, but when fighting to change perceptions - especially by the ticket buying public - out of the ordinary moves are often required.

Jumping Through The Cap... Wednesday Cup O'Chiefs from Bob Gretz

The bad bout Routt: He's sloppy; no corner had more than Routt's 28 penalties accepted in the last two years. He's a solid corner who could be very good with better coaching -- and he's coming to the right place. Emmitt Thomas, the secondary coach, was a Hall of Fame player and is a strong technique coach. His assistant, Otis Smith, was a marginal NFL player who had to do everything right to stay in the league -- and Carr and Flowers both benefited from his coaching. I think one of the big reasons Routt went to Kansas City is he's dying to be coached. And he'll be coached in Kansas City.

Monday Morning QB - Tuesday from Sports Illustrated

NFL free agency begins Tuesday, March 13^th at 3:00 PM (CST). With the Chiefs looking to improve depth and competition across their roster, KCChiefs.com will preview 30 potential free agents in the 30 days leading up to the start of free agency. Today's featured player is San Diego Chargers fullback Mike Tolbert.

30 FAs In 30 Days: Mike Tolbert from The Mothership

It is surely interesting to hear that the Chiefs haven't closed the door on bringing back Carr, but it would still be surprising to see that scenario play out.

Chiefs Tell Carr They'd Like Him Back from ESPN

Two weeks after the governor launched his Joplin Habitat Challenge comes word that 1,000 people have signed up to help...

...The joint project partners the State of Missouri with the Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity and seven pro sports teams like the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Progress Report: 1,00 Volunteers Sign Up For Joplin Challenge from OzarksFirst.com

Nearly 140 retired National Football League players filed lawsuits against the NFL in February, claiming negligence and failure to protect players from the risks and effects of concussions while playing in the league.

These players, who filed in Louisiana and Philadelphia, now make the total number of players filing against the NFL close to 550...

...The new players filing include former Chicago Bears kicker Louie Aguiar, who played from 1991 through 2000 for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.

Concussion Lawsuits Piling Up On NFL from Medill Reports

Films highlighted during the two-day festival include: The Thrillbillys, about a group that avenges the Yankee destruction of moonshine stills and The Black Six, a 1974 film considered to be the first all-black biker film. The latter film starred former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, and Viriginia native, Willie Lanier, who was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 1986. Lanier will be on-hand to discuss the film following it's screening.

Southern Film Festival Features Margaret Mitchell, Moonshine, And An NFL Hall-Of-Famer from RVA News

Third Shift Open Thread

2012-02-22T03:14:01Z

It's only Tuesday and again, I am beat. Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.

This is your open thread for the evening. Use it to talk about whatever you want.

Wrapping Up The Day In Chiefs News

2012-02-22T02:00:53Z

This is two straight days with quite a bit of Kansas City Chiefs. On Monday, it was the Stanford Routt signing. And on Tuesday it was GM Scott Pioli's interview with 810 WHB's Border Patrol. With so much stuff going on, here are a few links to the highlights of our from today:

Dwayne Bowe likely getting the franchise tag. This was me saying what everyone else was (and still is) saying. Bowe will be a Chief in 2012. I didn't realize the Chiefs GM would basically confirm that later in the morning.
Pioli: Stanford Routt signing doesn't affect Brandon Carr. The Chiefs still want Carr back, that I agree with. I also think the Routt signing is a good sign Carr is on his way out. You can't look at it independently, though. This is a combination of a lot of factors: Carr and the Chiefs not having a deal, Routt, a good player in the Chiefs mind, being available.

Routt on Chiefs: 'I don't see why we can't win'. Routt talked to ESPN's Josina Anderson after the signing. He also talked with Doug Farrar of Yahoo! Sports, which is all I know of so far.

KC Chiefs salary cap explained. Yes, the Chiefs have $63 million in cap space right now. But before the league year starts another $25 million will be taken up via escalators and incentives from current players. So the Chiefs real number is $37 million. Still a lot.

Don't forget about compensatory picks. Comp picks, something that doesn't get much air time in the NFL. Pretty interesting stuff though if you ask me (which you didn't).

Pioli: Chiefs want Bowe back 'one way or another'. In other words, whether it's the franchise tag or a longterm deal, the Chiefs want Bowe back.