Memorial Day Thoughts
Let me first start by wishing you all a save a fun Memorial Day, and since many of you won’t be reading this article until Tuesday let me also say I hope you had a safe a fun Memorial Day. All I ask is that you please don’t lose site of the true reason for this day and remember those that have made it all possible-Veterans.
All right, I’m going to keep this one short and sweet since I have a cook out and birthday party combo happening today. So here are a couple of thoughts to get the conversation going as the Chiefs have started up mini-camps and training camp is just around the corner (thank you God!)
I wonder who is going to step up in OTA’s or training camp and win the LE spot that will be vacated by Tamba Hali who will be moved to RE for the dearly departed Jared Allen? Herm mentioned when the Chiefs selected Dorsey with the first pick in the last month’s draft that Alfonso Boone could play LE. Was he serious? I hope not, surely someone will be able to win this position and be a true LE, not a DT filling in.
Is Larry Johnson 100% going into mini camp? Everyone in the organization says he is and that is why I am so cautious and speculative. They are all quick to point out that LJ is ready to go and eager to get started, however, when the Chiefs moved indoors on turf for a practice LJ wasn’t there. Why? He will have to play on turf sometime this season I figure. “They don’t want to take any chances.” “Why risk it.” I understand those comments and hopefully you’re right and I’m just reading too much into it. Hopefully.
And the last thought I will leave with you today before I head out the door and fire up the grill; Will Glenn Dorsey and Branden Albert get signed before training camp begins? Your friend Carl Peterson is notorious for not signing the 1st round draft pick and playing hard ball with player and agent until, in some cases, well into training camp. What in the world is going to happen with two, TWO first rounders? This could be extremely messy by the time it’s all said and done I’m afraid. Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise (WV saying, have you heard that one before?), CP and the gang will have Dorsey and Albert in camp and ready to go by the end of July…or there about.
Safe grillin’ and driving today folks and shake the hand of a veteran today if you see one and say; Thank You.
I have a pretty good ‘in’ on the LJ situation and the word is that he is just fine. I suppose the precautions are what they are – just let him ease ‘back in.’
As far as Carl and the Chief’s new Firsties, and whether or not they’ll be in River Falls on day 1, I have my doubts based on history…but I have my hopes based on nothing. Please, Carl, Please.
Hats off to all the vets that help to provide the freedom of doing this.
May 26th, 2008 at 7:50 amcan i give my two cents. and i hope the you AA guys look into this with abit more depth.
with this whole youth movement and building for the future. I just thought of something that really warms my cold chiefs heart. In terms of potential, i beleive we could have one of the best dlines in the nfl, in 3 years or less. If you look at the average age, of proball defensive linemen, i would say they peak at around 27-28. In saying this, and again, in terms of potential, i beleive we could have 3 to 4 of our line rising to elite status within 3 years.
If you look at our line as it is, and this is how i suggest we attack the new season:
RE, tamba hali, first round pick, powerful off the edge and an excellent moter.
DT, Glenn Dorsey, first round pick, very powerful, great penetrater.
DT, Tank Tyler, (3rd round, but was projected 1st round, but fell due to character issues, great steal from the chiefs organisation), naturally incredibly strong, and with more training could be great penetrater
LE, Turk McBride, 2nd round pick, good speed of the edge and good versitility, requires more training.
So, when you look at it, we have, 3 first round picks, and a 2nd rounder, for a defensive line, is that potential or what?
May 26th, 2008 at 8:34 amI think the jury is still out on Turk. Especially when they are talking about starting Alphonso Boone at DE. I think Tank really could be a stud, just depends on if he wants it or not.
I am headed out for a few days, but wanted to get on here and wish everyone a fun Memorial Day, but be safe. Thanks for everyone making this site what it is and the Troops serving around the world.
May 26th, 2008 at 9:08 amOn the defensive line, Im seeing it at: RE-Tamba Hali, DT-Glenn Dorsey, DT-Alfonso Boone, LE-Turk McBride; and tank tyler and ron edwards would pry be in the rotation. I really hope Herm wasnt serious about putting Boone at a defensive end spot, I thought you had to be somewhat fast to play end….
Larry Johnson should be 100%, I mean he’s been resting his foot since like week 8 or something. I think hes had plenty of time for it to heal. I think there only keeping him out due to precautions. Its not worth the risk of getting your star player injured before training camp.
I hate to say it but there is no way that Carl gets both 1st rounders signed before training camp. He didnt even get our 5th round kicker last year signed until like the first day of training camp-how hard could it be to sign a 5th round kicker. I think Branden Albert will holdout because the chiefs will want to sign him at the value of the 15 place, but he will want more because he thinks he was going to go in the 5th slot. I think Glenn Dorsey will holdout because Carl isnt going to want to sign him to a monster deal worth the value of the 5th pick, so he’ll try to squeeze out the lowest possible amount, which will take forever for Glenn and his agent to work with.
May 26th, 2008 at 9:19 amEveryone is always up on Tank Tyler and down on Turk. But in actuality Turk was the one that impressed the most in his rookie season. Tank looked slow with all his extra weight, and Turk was playing two positions (rotating at end and tackle) I think, like Tim said, that both will grow into starting roles. And while I’m not expecting an elite D-line, I AM expecting a GOOD D-line. Besides Jared Allen we’ve had a ‘decent’ D-line the last what, 10 years? Eric Hicks was probably one of the better ones, and he had good stats, but wasn’t anything incredible. Right now I’d have to say our defense as a whole looks very promising, with the only question marks coming at corner. And even there we had 3-4 young guys that could step up and be studs if they work at it hard enough. If the O-line comes along nicely (although it will probably take a year or two, or another addition in FA) then I have high hopes for this team in the near future.
For this year I still peg us at 8-8 or so. Give or take one game. I don’t see us at 10-6 or better. We COULD manage to squeak into the playoffs, but with all the teams that are up-and-coming, like the Jaguars and Browns, we will have a hell of a time making it. But optimism is best I guess. So let’s go Chiefs, bring daddy a playoff win.
May 26th, 2008 at 10:31 amthey say Lokey is having a great showing and i think the guy is a monster at DT so he may sneek right in there next to Dorseyand im hoping turk shows us something at DE otherwise we have a handfull of young guys that could take it…johnston, dingle, saint-dic, parker, we are not short of guys to fill the spot and boone is now listed as an end on our roster..that sux anyways lets hope the young guys show some shit and we get back on the road to glory, have a great memorial day and thanks to all of you who have served for our country
May 26th, 2008 at 11:03 amFrom WPI:
“DE Brian Johnston – Some NFL draft boards had him rated as a fifth-round guy, and after watching him today and talking with Cunningham, Johnston is a keeper and a steal in the seventh round. He looks like Jared Allen, not just in his build, but his three-point stance is similar. How every NFL team passed on him in the late rounds is mind-boggling. He has the goods this year to start for the Chiefs.”
Looks like he’s bringing it at the OTA’s. Possible starter?
If LJ isn’t 100% right now, I think he will be by at least training camp. Better to let him rest some now than to aggrivate the injury in some way and have it nag him all season long.
As far as the signing situation, I think both will be done by training camp…but just barely. I’m sure Carl will play the usual hardball (hey – that is the man’s job) but I’ve heard that both of their agents are good to work with and I’m sure there’s pressure from inside the organization.
Herm especially has been talking about playing time together for the offensive line. He wants to have the spots set in stone BEFORE training camp and preseason so the unit can work together as much as possible, which means at Albert needs a deal before then.
Finally, thanks to the veterans for everything you’ve done. As a civilian that works for the Missouri National Guard, I see how much the men and women currently serving have to sacrifice. It makes me that much more grateful to all those that came before them.
May 26th, 2008 at 11:45 amI have to admit a still have a red and gold boner from this draft, and like most fans still got a little chubby from last years draft. Yet, We have to be realists here. If in fact Alfonso Boone or ANYONE who isn’t named Turk McBride gets the nod for left end, then you have to honestly drop last years draft grade a full letter. If Herms really making a youth movement here then the 2nd round pick from a year ago HAS to step in when theres a starting vacancy at his position. Also real quick, we won’t be worried about LJ AT ALL come week 8.
May 26th, 2008 at 12:40 pmOne more thought… For some reason I see Dorsey’s deal taking on a Jemarcus Russel time frame. but after deciding that, I realized I’m sort of okay with it. Dorsey I really think Dorsey will be good to go even after missing time. The real issue is Albert. You’ve seen the way an O-line works especially if you’re a chiefs fan. You need continuity and chemistry among your line. So that brings up the million dollar question. Honestly Carl WILL NOT have both of them ready to roll day one. So, My question for you guys is: Who do you want to be there day one and who do you think will be there day one? My answer is Albert and Albert
May 26th, 2008 at 1:39 pmhey guys, i dont know if you all heard about the devastating tornados that went through iowa yesterday but that was about 20 miles from my home, parkersburg iowa, i built houses there just 6 months ago that are no longer standing today, 6 deaths so far, kinda gives you alil more to think about on this memorial day, my fiance has family members who lost their homes and all their belongings and i am going to be going over to help with clean up and everything else so ill be in and out for the next few days, keep up the good work zach and adam, us die hard fans appreciate all your work
May 26th, 2008 at 3:56 pmhas anyone read the post about brian johnson on arrow head pride? That is unbeleivable. He is a freak. He is my new starter. Period. Sorry, Turk. you are gone.
And come to think about it. I would Probly start him at RE rather than LE. With that kind of speed of the edge, we need him on the Qb’s blindslide. He doesnt even have to be that good. All he has to do is just roll the LT away from the the rest of the O-line and you have match up problems for the whole O-line.
Another fantastic pick from Herm and Co.
May 26th, 2008 at 4:48 pmTim:
How about waiting till the pads come on before you start elevating a 7th round draft pick into the starting lineup?
May 26th, 2008 at 10:46 pmI agree- if this guy lives up to the hype, then so be it; we’ll have 2 stud DE’s again. But he’s impressing in shorts. Some guys get better/faster/stronger when the pads come on, some guys stay neutral, and alot look worse. I hope he does look that good but still… He was a 7th round pick for a reason.
May 27th, 2008 at 10:06 amxxlp:
I agree. Who was that rb mini camp sesation several years back that did nothing when the pads went on? Haynes.. something like that?
May 27th, 2008 at 11:26 amxxxlp: I am not drinking the Johnston kool-aid yet, but “He was a 7th round pick for a reason.” Yeah – the reason is he went to Gardner-Webb
Seriously, though, it is hard not to get excited about this kid.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/brian-johnston?id=4259
here is an excerpt
“A converted outside linebacker, Brian Johnston continues to grow — physically and in the eyes of NFL scouts. A product of the Garner-Webb weight room, where he has added more than 45 pounds of bulk since his freshman year, Johnston is regarded as the premier defensive prospect below the Bowl Subdivision ranks….The Hendricks Award and Buchanan Award finalist continued to wreak havoc in the opposition’s backfield as a senior. He recorded 74 tackles (34 solo) with six sacks and ranked third nationally with 24 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also deflected three passes, caused a fumble and experienced every defender’s dream – playing on offense and catching a 3-yard TD pass.”
He can catch TD passes! That sounds like some other DE we used to have…what was his name again?
May 28th, 2008 at 11:44 amAdding to John’s comment –
Those 6 sacks he had his senior year.. seems a little low, right? Well I also read that he almost always faced a double team, which would explain that.
The more I read about this guy the more excited I get. I’m trying to contain myself but it’s difficult.
I really hope he claws his way from the 7th round into the starting lineup, or at least gets some good playing time so we can see what he’s really made of.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:09 pm