Defending the Okung Pick

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Addicts, welcome to the Twilight Zone.

I am getting bodyslammed across the Chiefs blogosphere for my selection of Russell Okung with the #5 overall pick in AA’s 4.0 mock draft. Many of the people doing the bodyslamming, I would imagine, didn’t bother to read the notes I left with the Draft pick, which clearly stated that virtually all of AA has protested this, and that this was a pick trying to co-opt Pioli’s brain more than it was an AA wishlist.

I mean, seriously, let’s examine the evidence:

We’ve spearheaded the entire Chiefs blogosphere’s effort to dissuade Pioli from selecting a tackle with the 5th overall pick. Not a single Chiefs website has pushed this theme harder.
I called considering replacing Albert but not Cassel with the fifth overall hypocritical.
Paddy called Albert at left tackle “probably fine” and didn’t single out LT as a need, not once but twice.
Not a single one of my Mock Mondays have taken tackle fifth overall.
In the cited mock getting under people’s skin, we poo-poo’d the idea.
We’ve even dramatized, SNL-style, our hatred of going tackle.

Having spent plenty of time tonight checking our archives, the only time that AA’s even said this would be a good idea was when our resident Draft expert, Merlin, came out saying that Okung was the best pick for positional value — and even that’s not a ringing endorsement.

So let’s call a spade a spade here. Give us a fair shake.

That said, the Okung pick is being targeted by virtually the entire Draft-o-sphere here on the Intertubes for reasons that, while AA has consistently disagreed, nonetheless do follow a line of logic. Let’s examine some of the reasons that Okung could quite conceivably be Pioli’s pick with the 5th overall.

1. This team had no problem fitting 2008′s other first rounder into a new situation. The idea that Pioli should hold Brandon Albert in some sacred esteem because he was a vaunted first round pick should be dashed. Pioli had no problem shifting Dorsey into an unnatural position to serve the greater interest of the team. New regimes rarely hold much of an esteem for old regimes’ personnel selections, and Pioli is no exception.

2. Pioli favors positional value. Few positions are truly, purely worth the #5 overall: quarterback, wide receivers, defensive line, passrushers, and left tackle.

3. Okung may genuinely be the highest rated prospect at that point. While I may disagree with them, Okung has been called the consensus best at his position in this Draft, is a unanimous Top 10 pick, and only two other players that remain fit that description: Sam Bradford and Joe Haden.

4. Albert’s contract is actually a pretty good bargain. Albert’s contract is good for a few million, but not tens and tens of million. In other words, if we did move Albert inside, or to right tackle, his paydays would still be about what you’d expect a first-round guard to make.

5. Cassel benefits immensely from an improved offensive line. One could argue that the fifth pick should ideally be able to help out Cassel as much as possible. If that’s the argument we’re clinging to, I’d actually go with CJ Spiller, but you could make worse decisions than picking up the best tackle in the entire Draft.

So there. AA does not endorse going LT with the 5th overall. But we can’t pretend like any logic behind the selection simply doesn’t exist.

That said, don’t Draft left tackle, Scott. Just, don’t.

Richard

The Chiefs should draft Offensive Line and Defensive Line players and go after WR's TE's so on in FA, don't draft DE's just focus on the lines.

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Douglas

Really? Anthony Davis does not fit the zone blocking scheme at all. His biggest question mark is his slow feet and lack of agility. He would do good in a man blocking scheme, but I guarentee KC and SEA wont take him if O Kung or Cambell are on the board. He just doesnt fit. Unless the Chiefs plan on switching their scheme which I dont see at all. Also, I beleive this is from the other thread but ill just say it here. Do you honestly beleive Reggie bush would be worth the 5th pick right now? I dont. He is a situational player at best, just like Spiller. Spiller is not an effective runner up the middle. JC is actually better at running up the middle than both of them. I dont see a need for either of those two over someone like Anthony Dixon or even that dude from GT. Like I said though, Im not down talking the O Kung pick as much as im talking about the words you use to defend it. I would stand on the battle field under a barrage of cannon balls holding up that O Kung flag with you (Then I could buy you that beer). I just dont agree with the way you describe Pioli. It was a good mock. People just dont want to go with the O Kung pick because they think McClain is the better Pick (Which isnt true, some GMs look at him as a 20th-30th pick). O Kung would be a good pick, or even Bruce Cambell who is probably more Ideal for our scheme. Imagine LT-Okung LG-Albert C-Pouncey RG-Waters RT- O Callahan with JC running behind that. Im would be all for spending the first two picks on O Kung and Pouncey.

slackjaw

Crocker is thinking straight on one thing ,If the Chiefs trade with the Falcons at 19 they better be getting one hell of a lot in return...

tommyhawk

Andrew - maybe i missed the original point of the discussion. i thought the point was the difference of opinion regarding OT or skill player in the first round. i am not necessarily a proponent of Okung. i love the thought of trading down in the first round and picking up either one of your guys and another pick in a later round.

Let me ask you this, isn't Albert's natural or original college position either RT or LG?

tadwoo

In reading many of the draft comments, there is been little or no mention of the centrality of the need for a consistent pass rush. Remember how Neil Smith and Derrick Thomas set the tone for the defense for years. The Chiefs defense has been terrible over the last few years because there has been no pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Hopefully Tyson Jackson can supply this along with Tamba Hali, however, if not Scott Pioli is likely to fix this problem in the upcoming draft. A pass rush, whether that comes in the form of a DE, OLB or penetrating NT, it does not matter, but this will be essential for the Chiefs to improve.

Andrew Crocker

tommyhawk,

No negativity towards Okung. We just think there are better ways you can go about protecting Cassel that perhaps don't cost the Chiefs as much.

I'd argue that picking up Spiller would relieve tons of pressure off Cassel.

Douglas would probably argue that Albert's doing a fine job and that what we need is to spend later picks on other OL positions.

Etc etc. It's nothing against Okung. I think he's a project that will take some work, but I love his ability and he'll probably end up being a 10-year player for somebody.

dubldug,

It's possible to trade out of the #5 overall. But you won't be trading all the way down to #19, that's for sure.

There's really no point in "guaranteeing" anything here, Douglas, unless you've got something to offer us. (You would owe me a beer if you were wrong?) St. Louis as a franchise and their new coach specifically love defensive line with their first picks (Chris Long, Adam Carriker), and I just don't see them passing on the most exciting DL prospect in years. Not even for a QB they sorely need. But I'm certainly not guaranteeing that!

I'll agree with you about Okung -- in the 4.0 Mock's comments I actually came to your thinking that there are a couple OTs I bet Pioli would rather have than Okung. Bruce Campbell is your call, Anthony Davis is mine. I think they'd both be a lot closer to what Pioli prefers than Okung, a spread tackle who could be a project. If Pioli's going to bother reaching for a tackle, I actually now don't think it would be Okung.

the above plan leaves all kinds of selections available for defense - go crazy - get some guys - but build a fort around cassel with Okung and also maybe get back to an offensive line that can pull and be mobile!!

I guess I don't understand the negativity attached to Okung as our first pick. We need help there bad and this sounds like a guy with some chops; "That effort was the second time during his career he has not allowed a sack against the nation's leader at the time." (wikipedia, after the 2009 OSU - Texas A&M game). Okung and Weiss would completely change the personality of that offense, we might not recognize it. We have some weapons we just need a couple more and bang!! We got something.. Pick Okung, Pick up a chunkier running back to take the heat off of Charles. Retain Chris Chambers, teach Bowe how to catch and get a young wideout that can learn and we may be good to go.

dubldug

i watched okung play a few games and was not impressed.a pro bowl lt is what okung is expected to be as the 5 pick, and i haven't run across anyone suggesting that is what he'd be. another thought on trading partner, dem falcons. they have a desperate need for a corner, pioli and the gm have a history, and maybe the chiefs end up picking at 19.

I really disagree. Also, before I get into this, im not taking a shot at your mock. I dont know who he will take. I dont even have a problem with him or the pick. I would be fine with moving Albert insiide to LG and shifting Brian Waters to RG or C. However, Pioli's draft history shows a significant pattern of selecting OL in the middle rounds. He also shows a huge pattern of going Defense or TE in the first round. You can look at his draft history and definitly see a pattern in that. Maybe not a pattern of 1.2.1.2.1.2.... But he definitly tends to favor defense. Also, I would never argue against the fact that he needs to protect Cassell more than he has ever had to protect anyone. But, Bledsoe was under alot of pressure as well. Instead of taking OTs early, he waiting til the middle rounds and it worked out for him fine. Why wouldnt he imploy the same strategy that worked for him in NE? He already started that pattern with the drafting of Tyson Jackson. I want him to go Eric Berry, Joe Haden, or Bruce Cambell (Bruce Cambell fits the ZBS better than O Kung IMO) but i would be fine with O Kung. However, I dont buy your arguement of berry being off the board one bit. I guarentee by draft times things will be shaken up so much and a QB will be taken 1st overall. If a QB isnt taken 1st overall than its almost even better for the chiefs, This means someone will probably jump up for bradford or clausen ahead of SEA. Chiefs have alot of options, we will just have to wait to see how Pioli plays his cards.

That's a fair argument.

The experts who believe Pioli should go tackle tell us in response to that that Pioli's never had this particularly desperate need to protect a QB. So that would create the exception.

Really the only thing proved by the list of players you presented is that Pioli doesn't follow any definitive pattern with the 1st. So there's really no reason why it couldn't be OT on that basis.

Again, Pioli hasnt ever drafted a LT in the 1st 31 picks. The worst part is the way he always drafts them. There is a pattern, he takes them in the 2nd and 3rd. Tell me this, Was Tyson Jackson a value pick? Jerod Mayo? Ben Watson? Vince Wilfork? No. Even Richard Seymour wasnt a "Value Pick." Brandon Merriweather was the only value pick and thats because he had character issues.