Merlin's Magic, Week Seven

I think part of the reason Carl held out for that 2nd rounder was because he knew that those offers would still be available in the offseason, and if you're going to get a draft pick for a player whenever you want it, you might as well do it right before the draft and not miss out on any more games.

As for the draft itself, I think we're in agreement that this team has more holes than we can reasonably hope to fill in one year. That being said, I think we need to take the best available talent at whatever spot we draft. Simply put, no QB that is definitely coming out (Stafford, Painter, Boeckman) impresses me much so I think we need to look elsewhere with our early pick. If McCoy, Bradford or to a lesser extent, Sanchez come out then I'll reevaluate. MLB is more interesting but I think Maualuga and Laurinaitis will be mid first rounders and would be better targeted if we could trade back into the first round like we managed to do last year to pick up Albert. Hali and Dorsey are a good start on the D line and I've been satisfied if not thrilled with Mcbride.

So in my mind, the only real option for that first pick (presumably top 5 again) is an elite O lineman like Andre Smith or Michael Oher or a WR. I wouldn't hate taking an OL but I think we need to at least consider both options.

aCalPF:

How do you know that Tony is leaving after this season? You are correct that we could use a second receiver to emerge. Perhaps Franklin could be that guy. You are also correct that keeping hyour opponent off balance is a key part of winning. However, you can not stretch the field without a QB that can get the ball downfield. Now that Brodie is gone, we no longer have that QB. Even with that QB, we can not stretch the field if our QB is on his butt because our line could not protect him. What yuo are looking at is step 3 or 4 in the offense rebuild, not step 1. Let's worry about building the O-line, D front 7 and QB before we worry about the second WR. You bring in a Crabtree with our current O-line and it will not make much of a difference. We need at least 5 players before we get to the second WR. Some of those 5 better already be on this roster or be vet FA pickups. If not, we could be looking at another long year next year.

While I do think the O line is our most pressing need (Would McSack even be a backup for a team with a decent line?) you guys are selling this Crabtree thing way too short. Let me list the receiving stats of our non running backs as proof:

Bowe: 34
Tony G: 27
Darling: 5
Webb: 4
Franklin: 1

I'm sure you all realize that we don't have good options after those two, but the way it is we don't even have bad options, we have nothing. Guys we have a STARTING WIDE RECEIVER who averaging less than ONE CATCH PER GAME!!!

Merlin mentioned that football is won in the trenches... well after Tony leaves this offseason, we'll have exactly 1 player to throw the ball too. Even if I'm generous and assume that he'll be double covered for the rest of life, I still see no reason why every opponent we face wouldn't stack 8 in the box all day. Merlin, I counter, the way you win football games is by stretching the field and keeping your opponents off balance. Not only will Crabtree step in as a true #1 (Don't try to tell me Bowe's a #1, I saw the New England game) but having those two together will open up running lanes for whoever we have back there next season.

Yet one more thing...

I think New England would be a wonderful destination for LJ. The powers that be in NE traded for the disgruntled Cory Dillon some years back.

Plus, much like Brodie Croyle, Lawrence Maroney is made of glass.

One more thing. Stafford is not good. I have watch three of his games this year just to watch him since I figured the Chiefs would have a shot at him. He doesn't read defenses, he relies soley on his cannon arm, he doesn't see wide open receiver and passes into double coverage waaaaaay too much.

I would like to see the Chiefs do with LJ what the Bucs did with Keyshawn Johnson before he left. Deactivate him for the rest of the season. That would make this season a little bit easier to swallow for me.

You guys have a good day.

LJ is a piece of crap both on and off the field. The sooner he can get out of KC the better off this team will be. He is not a team player, never has been and never will be. The only problem is now with all this crap coming out on him, the Chiefs will either not be able to get rid of him, or they will have to take a high round draft pick and suck it up.

Third round pick was more than enough to get Tony to another team. Tony said it himself and it's hard to disagree with, no team is going to give the same thing for a 32 year old TE they gave for Shockey. I think Carl screwed the pooch on this one, and when the season is over and they try to trade Tony again, I'm doubting they get a third. One year older, one more round in the draft gone.

Yea, it is pretty crazy really...but I have a feeling if we had a winning team or were in a bigger market this wouldnt have stayed under wraps quite as long...and the worst part is he KEEPS doing the crap...like, up into last week even...holy hell man

As closely as I follow the team I am shocked at how this LJ crap came out of nowhere, how can anyone keep a thing like this under wraps anymore?

I definitely support that draft strategy but not many people are willing to trade up so high...I think with as high as our pick will be a 2nd rounder is definitely a fine position for selecting a QB, many agree there is little difference in the players in this years class, and there arent THAT many who need QBs in the first round, so between McCoy, Tebow, Stafford and the others at least SOMEONE will be available for us to either trade up (like baltimore with Joe Flacco) or just wait there for him...

I think what makes the most sense is trading out of our first pick and try and pick up a mid first and a second or third. There is no qb worth taking early at this point. The team needs too much for one player to fix anything. If you don't like that idea, take a pass rusher early, and wait for a qb with the second round pick. But I know what will happen, a qb is going to get selected way too high because everyone is panicking. I hate to say it, because we are gonna get screwed in any deal with too little value, and LJ will be a pro bowler as soon as he changes scenery and has a line and quits sulking, but he has to go, a young team has to have character guys more than anything.

To comment on the Draft Watch section for a moment...I absolutely agree with you about Crabtree..I think if we take him in the 1st we would be pretty much following the exact blueprint that has made the Lions so pitiful. I want linemen and linebackers...all draft...with J.P. as a FA...that is my offseason...