We interupt this regularly scheduled program–Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Brodie Bashers vs. Brodie Believers–to bring you Fear Factor: Boone or Jones?
Does heading into another season with some combination of Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard and Tyler Thigpen scare the absolute bejesus out of me? Yes, everybody knows that by now. But we’ve gone round and round and round about our quarterback situation, and it’s clear that nothing is going to be resolved on that front until well into this season. Hell, it might take even longer.
While not everybody is worried about Brodie and his back-ups, there are two presumptive starters that seem to have all Chiefs fans frazzled:
RG Adrian Jones
DT LDE Alfonso Boone
Is it just me, or is heading into the season with these two penciled in as starters the worst idea since, say, the Chiefs started the season with Chris Terry/Kyle Turley and Samie Parker as starters last season? It’s like everybody but the Chiefs already knows they aren’t going to work out.
I don’t think my cynicism is over the top either. Jones has only started 16 games during his career, all at tackle–none at guard. Yikes! Then again, he started all 16 games during the 2005 season, Herm Edwards‘ last season as the New York Jets head coach. Either Herm knows something everybody else doesn’t, or yo, Adrian, you’re in over your head. Unfortunately, I’m betting that he’ll be another in a long line of castaway flops we couldn’t mold into productive offensive lineman. I think this is a blind leap of faith.
On to The Bear. Boone was pretty good last year, for half the season at least–at defensive tackle. Boone is extremely strong, and he’s agile for a big fella, but I wouldn’t describe him as fleet of foot. I simply don’t think he’s fast enough to be a 4-3 defensive end. Maybe on rushing downs, but on third and longs? Forget about it. I still have a hard time believing that Turk McBride won’t end up at LDE before the year is over, at least on obvious passing downs.
This position move seems to come from the same school of thinking that birthed the Kris Wilson-fullback experiment. Before last season, Boone never started even half a season at DT. Suddenly, we think we can count on him for 16 games at a position he’s never played, and one that’s paramount in Gunther Cunningham’s blitz-happy defense? It’s a huge stretch.
I’m also not at all sold that Brian “The Annointed One” Johnston is the second-coming of Jared Allen. Some of us need to slow our roll on our expectations when it comes to that guy. If you ask me, it’s in Turk we trust. If he doesn’t end up playing well at the LDE spot, I expect it to be a major problem for us all season long.
Which fear factor has you more spooked: starting Jones or Boone?
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I’m not really spooked by either guy starting… at least for the time being – it’s possible Herm has always had a notion Jones was better suited to play guard than tackle and he only ended up at tackle due to necessity in NY. I’m willing to let Herm experiment a bit to figure out who is best suited to play which position across the line…
I think all of us need to take a BIG DEEP breath and relax. No matter who is starting where on the line in game one – it’s going to take seven or eight games for the line to jell, and let’s not forget that was true even when the team traded for Mr. Roaf, and there were two other Pro Bowlers on that line. Olines have to learn to play as a unit, so it’s pretty asinine to critique the individuals in a line until they’ve had a chance to acclimate.
As to Boone, the word is he’s lost some weight which should improve his speed and footwork considerably – and while he may start, I fully expect the standard dline rotation to replace him with Turk or Johnson on third down passing situations. The key with how effective Boone will be on the end is managing how many snaps he plays. I think if they can keep his workload down to 30 snaps a game, he could well be a the solution at LDE… at least until they can develope Johnson or Turk into the starter.
Let’s also remember standard dline rotations in great lines have at least one ‘utility’ guy who can play anywhere, and that’s ultimately the role I see Boone playing once the youth on the line comes of age.
So in the end, I’m not terrorized by any of the changes on defense – or the team at large for that matter. If anything, I’m really intriqued by all the stories and possibilities and what-if’s. I have to say this year’s squad is more interesting and holds more potential for greatness than any we’ve had in awhile.
Yeah, I actually have to agree with CurtMerzFan here. Nice comment. Though if I HAD to choose which one scares me worse it would be Adrian Jones. We at least know that Alfonso Boone is a competent player. Also, the rotation will be key this year — I don’t really think it’s going to matter a whole lot who technically starts the game.
On another note, I find it laughable that Adam would mock Johnston hopefuls/believers by referring to him as ‘Brian “The Anointed One” Johnston’ while at the same time putting Glenn Dorsey on the AA banner before the guy has ever even signed an NFL contract.
I do the headers. Thank you very much…
Curt…great point about Boone being the utility guy. I think we have 2 of them right now in Boone and Turk…the problem is I want a starting left end, and a utility guy. My hope is that Turk steps up come training camp and takes that role, but only time will tell. I am pretty confident in the d-line as a whole. There is some talent there, enough to be a solid unit from day 1 this season IMO with either turk or boone at starting lde.
I think last years absolute horridness at o-line kinda has me a little crazy about the O-line this year. I should probably be way more concerned about Jones at guard, or Albert at left tackle. My mind hides under the “it can’t be any worse” mantra, even though its scary to think that yeah it actually possibly could be. I think I am resigned to the fact that the beginning of the year will be a hard time for the Offensive line. At the same time, this coaching staff and line needs to get the offensive side of the ball in sync and going by the middle of the season and build from there. The one thing this line has going for them over last years is I don’t think they are going to self destruct towards the end of the season as we did last year.
Oh, sorry for the two posts in a row, the Chiefs are putting unproven rookies and young players in the lineup everywhere this year, and the fact that the AA banner reflects that by having a player that isn’t even signed….I think its cool.
Good job Zach, you should just make 5 or 6 banners with the different rookies and unprovens the team will be relying on this year and have it randomly load one….that would be even better! Heck put KC wolf in there too…..He stepped up for us last year with the belly flop on the streaker!
NO banner for KC Wolf (that actually looks more like a giant rat than a wolf)! Sorry guys, I really hate our mascot. Reinstate Warpaint!
Wow, actually find myself agreeing with you on Turk and Johnston. While I secretly hold out hope that Johnston will become a great DE, theres a reason he went in the 7th round. He’s got work to do. I’m really pulling for Turk.
I don’t think they are deluding themselves with Boone, they know he’s not going to be able to put as much pass pressure on (unless they are looking for him to use his strength to bull rush a lot), but he should be MUCH more effective against the run than the standard DEs we’ve had there up to now and that was a huge weakness on the team last year.
I’m not terrified over Jones. Guard isn’t nearly as technically difficult a position as Tackle and Damion McIntosh’s veteran presence at RT will help him out. He’s a “see how it goes” guy. Just hope we have someone reliable standing by if he doesn’t work out.
BARY BARRY BARRY, LOL
I’m as concerned as anyone about the Oline in game 1, but the one redeeming quality they have over last years line is at least they’re younger, faster, and more athletic – will they make more mistakes than last years crew? Probably. But it’s also possible those mistakes won’t cost us as much because the rest of the Offense is going to be better.
I’m not completely sold on Page, but he’s made strides every week in the league and he could be ready to really impress. I’m real excited about Franklin, LJ’s bounce back, Charles making catches out of the backfield, the two tight end running game with Cottam, and Chan Gailey calling the plays.
Gailey’s offensive teams go to the playoffs about 80% of the time – I suspect he’s going to be a much bigger asset than anyone knows yet. I’m not predicting the playoff’s this year, but I do think KC is going to win some games NOBODY thinks they should win right now.
and I’m with ComeSackMyQB when he sez: BARY BARRY BARRY, LOL
Zach, I think the banner looks really nice. It was just an example of some fans’ premature love affair with Glenn Dorsey and/or other rookies who have yet to play a snap.
No its really just to show the rebuilding process we are going though. I am not going to put up a 7th round pick or a guy who couldn’t beat out Damon Haurd in the header. Dorsey was arguably the best defensive player in college last year so I figured it would be a good fit for the site.
(Again I am not for or against Brodie at this time, but I just want to state the facts about him)
To be fair to Brodie, Damon Huard is a veteran who has performed phenomenally well for us in the past.
OK sorry back to the topic at hand
I think it’s about time we got Adam to make his case against Brodie and for the rest of us to throw rocks at his arguments… and Zach can give us a ‘is he a man or a mouse” graphic for the header… lol
Boone is the one that has me scratching my head a little, but I imagine he will play mosting “running downs” and they will bring in McBride or Johnston for passing situations.
Jones was a tackle and now is projected as guard, he will be all right I think. Leonard Davis was first round pick for the Cards at LT and didn’t do to well, Dallas signed him and moved him to guard and he was dominate. Obviously every player is different, but Jones is still young and if he had the feet to be drafted as a tackle in the NFL, he should be able to handle the guard position.
CurtMerz,
I don’t think Matlock could make a much better case than I have already. We’re not opening that can of worms again at least until camp starts. I’ve been getting scathing comments that are usually reserved for Jason Whitlock at the Star. I’m not sure if Brodie’s good, but he’s definitely popular.
I’m not terribly concerned about either.
RG – What I see above all is healthy competition at RG. That can only be a good thing. At present, Adrian Jones, Herb Taylor, Anthony Alabi and maybe even Tre Stallings are in the mix. My guess is that Jones earns the initial nod because he is most experienced of the group. He also has pretty good hands which can be a valuable attribute in a lineman – particularly in goal line situations.
Both Taylor and Alabi have potential value as well, especially as run blockers. Based mostly on what I saw towards the end of last season, my gut tells me that Taylor will ultimately win the job – it’s just difficult at this point to guess when that might transpire.
LDE – Above all, I have complete faith in Krumrie’s ability to understand his players strengths/weakness and especailly his ability to coach them up – that alone should alleviate considerable concern. Like I guess pretty much everybody else, I would prefer to see Boone paired up with Dorsey on the inside but I get why, for now at least, he may be the best fit at LDE. Similar to Jones at RG, he brings the most experience to what is probably our most vulnerable spot on defense. And until somebody else steps up, I see no other solution. Because of the competition and the fact that he is now in his 2nd season (i.e. presumbably more comfortable with Gun’s complex schemes) I think Turk will be more apt to play rather than think, and thus ultimately emerge as the starter at LDE.
The best thing that can be said about the situation with both positions is that they are creating opportunity through healthy competition. Given where each the various players – those vying for a starting spot – are in their careers, I see real potential for us to identify and develop a couple of solid performers at both positions and perhaps even some quality depth there as well.
Double D:
It’s early, but what I’ve read from official sources is that Adrian Jones is the starter and, so far, no one is stepping up to challenge him. Even kcchiefs.com made Jones’s position with him playing it sound like a problem area. That’s why it worries me.
But it is early, so we’ll see what happens.
Maybe Jones is excelling in ways the fans cannot see – as in grasp of scheme, intial foot placement mistakes, etc.
Double D makes a great point about Krumries ability. If he thinks Boone is going to be OK on the end… the rest of us need to shut our yaps and concur.
It’s OK Adam… I was just seeing how much you liked jumping from the frying pan into the fire…