The Kansas City Chiefs have many needs but I decided to take a look at 5 areas I think the Chiefs must improve this offseason to increase their win total next year.
1. Center
Whether it be via the draft or free agency, the Chiefs must replace Rudy Newswanger. While I like Rudy he simply isn’t good enough. He is very often driven into the backfield while pass blocking and he gets little to know push up front run blocking. The Chiefs need a big, nasty presence up front that can protect Cassel and open up running lanes up the middle for Charles.
2. Nose Tackle
Anyone who knows anything about the 3-4 defense will tell you that the most important position is the big man playing the nose. Ron Edwards has worked his tail off this year but he is not the answer moving forward. They need a big man who can help Jackson and Dorsey eat up blockers to make room for the linebackers to make plays.
3. Safety
The Mike Brown experiment has failed. The Chiefs need a Troy Polamalu type safety that can be a game changer for their defense. I like Page and think he will look even better playing along side a Pro Bowl level safety. A more reliable presence over the top should also help the Chiefs young corners take their games to the next level.
4. Left Tackle
I have been on the fence about this one for some time. I like Brandon Albert but he is giving up way to much pressure. If the Chiefs offense was more explosive and had more pieces in place, then I think it would be OK to give Albert more time to develop. As things stand, however, they can’t afford that luxury. I now am in the camp that the believes the Chiefs should take the best LT available with their first pick in the 2010 Draft. They need help up front and they need it now. They can move Albert to the other G position opposite Brian Waters or to RT, although I think O’Callahan has played well enough to keep the job. By picking up a center and a left tackle the Chiefs will be solid up front on offense. This should greatly help Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassel move the offense.
5. Linebacker
The Chiefs need to upgrade over the middle of the field. While I think Mays and Williams have done a nice job at times, they are not very good in pass coverage over the middle. KC needs a leader in the middle of the field that can rush the passer and intimidate in between the hash marks. Williams and Mays are smaller, faster LB’ers who can be useful in certain situations but the Chiefs need their very own Ray Lewis.
There are other areas of need but I think these 5 are the most glaring. I really wanted to put WR on here and I think the Chiefs will get more help at that position even if they do resign Chris Chambers. However, if the Chiefs find impact players at the 5 positions listed above they will be a drastically different team with a drastically better record this time next season.
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Pat:
Are these in order of importance? By and large, my list is close to yours. It’s pretty telling that most of your needs are right in the center, not perimeter needs.
what
yeah I agree with these at the top needs, will be interesting to see what happens with NT…heck…the entire team…should be a fun offseason.
so you dont think we should take eric berry with our first pick?
They are not in order of importance.
You are right youngace, I did say the Chiefs should take a LT with the first pick…but if Berry is on the board I would amend that.
It really depends on what the Chiefs can get done in free agency. If they can fill the offensive line holes there I would prefer it. I’d rather have vets up front than rookies.
As I have said here many times before, move Waters to Center. Move Albert to LG, and draft a LT.
Pick up a 320 pound plus NT in FA or second /third round for our 3-4 so that Dorsey and Jackson can thrive.
Replace all of the LBs. Add Kerry Rhodes Safety from Jets, since he hates the jets.
Easier said than done.
We also need a big brusing running back. a la Brandon Jacobs.
The fact of the matter is we need help everywhere. We need to pick up some good FAs this year.
DO NOT DRAFT A SAFETY THAT HIGH. The draft is rich with safeties in the 2nd, 3rd and beyond.
Your list speaks highly of exactly what is wrong in the chiefs, they are weak up the middle. I never understood why the Chiefs passed on Raji for Jackson. It is much tougher to find a 3-4 NT than a DE. There were also LTs left on the board at that point.
For Chief fans you better hope Pioli doesn’t keep trying to be the smartest guy in the room and just get good players.
I think Charles can be an offensive weapon to build around. I think he can give Chief fans some hope.
Justin:
I think the Chiefs should get a NT in free agency if they can. Then the safety pick would be ok with me. I agree that you have to start up front.
I also disagree with this idea of moving Waters to Center. Why take a Pro Bowl G and and move him to C? Waters probably has another Pro Bowl season in him if surrounded by more talented. The Chiefs can get a solid Center in the later rounds of the draft or in free agency. guards aren’t as easy to come by. They should stand pat with Waters at G and move to replace him in the 2011 draft. I like keeping O’Callahan at RG and moving Albert to the other G position.
Pat:
I agree with the idea of moving Waters to center. He is no longer a pro bowl guard. He could be more effective and his career could get extended a bit with a move to center. If we draft a left tackle high, I would slide Albert to left guard and Waters to center.