Merlin’s First Look At 2009 Draft Needs
This is a good time to take a look at where our needs appear to be looking towards the 2009 Draft. For this exercise, I am going to set some ground rules for the discussion. A change in any of these ground rules wold force a reevaluation of the draft. 1. The current regime stays philosophically intact. That is, Carl, Herm, Chan and Gunther all stay in their current roles. 2. No trades. That means, no significant trades or retirements of current players (Tony G, LJ, Brian Waters) or trades of draft choices. Yes, you can trade Pat Surtain and no, you are not getting a fourth or fifth round pick for him. 3. No value arguments are allowed. By that I mean you can’t argue that that the value is not there for position X when we pick in the first round. We don’t know where we are drafting and we do not know who is in the draft. There is plenty of time for those discussions later. I will work under the assumption that we will be in the top five in the draft. Now, onto the positions.
Quarterback: The Chiefs are talking about using the spread next year and for years to come. That is a signal that they think Thigpen is their QB going forward. I think Damon is done and Brodie will be in camp next year. I like at least one vet QB on the roster, but I am not sure if the candidate we talk about (Losman) can run the spread. Look for us to draft a QB, but not until around round five.
Running Back: This position is pretty deep, so I don’t expect any additions here.
Tight End: Same as above
Offensive Line: Albert looks like a keeper. Waters is still playing fairly well. The rest is up in the air. D-Mac looks pretty done to me. RT is a big need, but not a first round need. I would like to see a RT drafted in rounds two or three with at least one Guard drafted later.
Wide Receiver: With Bradley emerging, we are fairly set here with D-Bowe, Bradley and Franklin. I could see a later round pick coming in here, but not in the first four rounds.
Defensive Line: Wow, what a disappointing group. Tamba showed he can not handle RDE, Tank has been pushed around and Dorsey is showing that he is a rookie. We need a RDE badly (major need, first or second round). We could also use another DT later in the draft. Who can we steal from the Ravens to do D-Line player evaluation? They seem to grow good lineman there.
Linebackers: Another area of need. Only DJ is safe. Donnie Edwards is not an every down player going into 2009, Pat Thomas has been a disappointment and Williams hasn’t impressed. MLB is another major need, and I can see an OLB being drafted later on.
Secondary: We could use a nickel CB. I can see a later round draft pick being used here. Hopefully another Carr and not a Marcus Maxey.
Special Teams: Barth looks OK on FG’s but not kickoffs. We should look at signing a rookie free agent to handle kickoffs.
So, to summarize, primary needs (rounds one and two) are MLB and RDE. Secondary needs (rounds two through five) are RT, RG, OLB. Tertiary needs (Rounds five through seven) are QB, CB, O-Line (again), DT, WR. Plus, you can add a rookie free agent for kickoffs.
OK Addicts, that’s my take, what’s yours? Reactions?
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If the Chiefs are gonna stay with the spread and make it the primary offense, then try to get Chase Daniels, no one does it better. But I only see the spread as a part of the over all offensive solution and I we need a QB that can manage multiple offensive sets.
This is how I see it for now.
1st - DE (Orakpo, Texas)
2nd - MLB (Laurinaitis Ohio, or Maualuga USC) if available
3rd - QB (Cantwell Louisville, Painter Purdue)
4th - OL (OT Tupou Oregon, OG WOuld love to get Robinson out of Oklahoma, but not likely this late so how about Perry out of Oregon State)
5th - OLB ( 7 or 8 good ones in the draft so this is easy this late, maybe later)
6th - OL
7th - CB
Rds 3-4 could be switched up depending on talent on the board, same goes for 5-6. I would try to get another Guard in FA or undrafted. There is at least one guard, forget his name, on the practice squad that is a monster athlete, but needed work on technique. He should have come along by now. I’ll look it up and maybe post back here. Also with a good RDE we can put Boone back inside next to Dorsey where he belongs. So I don’t really see DT as a major need in the draft, I think the front 4 with a new RDE supported by a beast MLB would make a world of difference. I like Thiggy over the last 4 games, but it was about this time that everyone started crying about how Croyle couldn’t win, turns out that was probably right. Can Thigpen win? Can he handle an offense other than the Spread? Remains to be seen, I certainly hope so. If so then I would make some changes, but for now and with the QB talent available and potentially available in this draft, we need to find someone to develop fairly early.
My summary: DE and MLB first, gotta get pressure and stop the run now that we are scoring points. Next QB and OL, gotta have somebody to manage the game and run the offense and that guy has to be protected. Then shore it all up. We are deep at RB and TE as Merlin stated, and WR looks very promising right now.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:35 pmI think we should try and fix our offensive line once and for all! Draft oline with our first and second picks! Andre Smith or Oher (righttackles) 1st pick, then Herman Johnson (rightgaurd) with our second Pick. These two are monsterous lineman who could manhandle the usually bigger, slighty slower side of the opposing D-line. Pickup a LB in the third, DE in the forth and then whoever in the later rounds. This half ass attemping to fix our O-line is ridiculous!!! By the time we replace each O-line position with really good plaers, Albert will be retiring!
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:44 pmRemember everyone, its really hard to run the football in a spread offense! the defense is spread all the field! Your running backs take full speed hits all game long!
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:47 pmMerlin your crystal ball is scarily accurate. I think your needs list is right on. Two things to be factored however:
1. If LJ is gone next year, we will draft a RB somewhere. Probably a thunder to Charles’s lightning.
2. I believe there is a 70% chance we will trade down in round 1 and acquire more picks.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:50 pmWe should use some of that 30million in cap money and sign Julius Peppers DE. Ray Lewis is gonna be a free agent. Sign Him to a 2 year deal and he could teach our LB how to play LineBacker!
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:54 pmSomething has to give. The Chiefs cannot keep running the spread offense with Herm as head coach.
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:17 pm1st round- George Selvie or Orapko from Texas
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm2nd round- Best MLB available but I think it will be Brandon Spikes (florida)
3rd- OT Phil Loadholt or Alex Boone
4th- Painter Cantwell or Chase Daniel if available (Qb)
5th- Corner or OL OR OLB
6th- BPA
7th-BPA
why has no one mentioned George Selvie as a DE, he is ranked much higher than Orapko
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:56 pmMaine Chief:
I hear you on your points. I ruled them out in the ground rules because it changes everything. A LJ trade would mean we should bring in another back. Now, trading down is a nice thought, but someone has to want to trade up. Trading a top five pick is very, very hard because of the contract given that pick. When we see where we draft and see who is in the draft, we can talk about how realistic trading down is.
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:56 pmThank you, Whir.
Giving Harm the spread offense is like giving Granny the Ferrari.
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:23 pmRay Lewis and Julius Peppers will not be leaving.
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:23 pmThe other thing is that it is almost impossible during this day and age to trade down from the top five. We need to consider that an extremely remote possibility, especially with this year’s likely QB crop.
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:25 pmthey would for the right price! we might as will spend the money somewhere!
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:37 pmIf they were to trade LJ, what could we get for him?
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:41 pmWhat about releasing LJ and throwing the piggy bank at Brandon Jacobs?
Also, they REALLY need to target a long snapper in FA if Darche can’t come back cause Gafford isn’t up to the task.
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:08 pmthey would never releas LJ! Theres alteast 25 teams that would give at least 2nd round pick for him!
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:48 pmI think if LJ proves that he is reformed then he will be fine. I still think he has the love for the game and the ability to be the big back he once was. I do agree we need to work on Defense with the first few picks and replace sackintosh with the third and a QB in the 4th. If Thiggy works out and by some chance gets hurt, what do we do? put Brokie in to back him up? For what one play? I think if we can get some pass rush from the outside it will help our inside guys 200%.
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:57 pmFor you all who don’t know, your ass betta call somebody. Its me, Its me, the CSMQB
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:59 pmgosh,
I think you’re overestimating LJ’s value to other teams, especially if those teams think KC is going to release him. From all reports they tried to trade him at the deadline for next to nothing and there was no interest. Absolutely none.
I’m not entirely sold on the fact that the Chiefs are done with him, this is more of a what if.
Jacobs is an absolute beast, and as would be a perfect compliment to Charles or vice versa. The kid is smart and impossible to bring down. A young version of LJ that blocks.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:14 pmI think L.J. has McGahee value — two thirds. A strong finish to the year might net us a second.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:19 pmCSMQB — love the new Cinco Ocho moniker. Awesome!
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:20 pmWhat I was saying is that BAL and CAR will not let them leave. Ray will get paid and Juice will get franchised if need be.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:21 pmWhat do you guys think about my guy Albert Young from Iowa? The guy is an animal.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:42 pmDamnit, im stuck in the past, lol. I meant Shonn Greene. lol
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:42 pmIf we cant trade LJ for at least a 2nd and a 3rd, then were best off keeping him and run him until his legs fall off. It would be way too foolish just to cut the guy and get stuck on the salary cap
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm