My Chief Concerns: Shuffling The O-Line

by My Chief Concerns

As depicted in this old photo, Brian Waters should be the Center of attention.

Some of you may have read Adam Teicher’s article recently suggesting that Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Todd Haley thinks that the play of Brian Waters is slipping.  (Maybe Waters made the Pro Bowl on reputation alone he suggests). Whether that is true or not is debatable.  But what is not debatable is that some changes to the O-line are bound to happen, if not this year, for sure next year.

Casey Wiegmann has not declared whether or not he is going to return for another year.  Even if he does, Todd Haley has reiterated numerous times, that every position is open for competition.  I have suggested this option previously, and will do so again.  We should Move Brian Waters to Center

Casey Wiegmann is a better choice than Rudy Niswonger at Center, but his play is slipping, as evidenced by the big nose tackles who pushed him around some last year.  Brian Waters play is debatably slipping at LG, yet he has some good years left on his plate, arguably at Center (where he gets some help form both guards).  At this point I do believe that Waters is a better option at Center than say both Niswonger or Wiegmann.  Please don’t forget that Jon Asamoah (G) played admirably last year in relief duty and by all accounts is a star in the making.

 More after the jump…

By moving Waters to Center we now have the option of going defense with the first pick, preferably a NT, secondarily an OLB/MLB.  Here is the reasoning:

If the Chiefs select no offensive lineman in the draft, then we could place Albert at LT, Asamoah, at LG, Waters at Center, Lilja at RG, and Richardson at RT.  That is, in my opinion, an upgrade at LG and at Center over last year and allows us the chance to improve on defense as well.

If the Chiefs select a LT in the first round, then he would take that spot (if signed on time and not a bust), Albert to LG, Waters at Center, Lilja at RG, and Richardson at RT.   In this scenario we are arguably only upgrading LG and Center with no certain help at LT and definitely no help on defense.  (Asamoah would be on the bench again in this scenario).

Shuffling the line in my first proposed manner makes the need for drafting an O-lineman less. The Chiefs have bigger needs at NT and OLB/MLB, even WR, than we do on the O-line.

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I have been telling people that Waters should become the center since I saw him shift all over the place during the Pro-Bowl. I think it would be a good idea to do it, but it probably won't be happening anytime soon.

I wanted the Waters to center move two years ago. At this stage in his career, I think it's too late to do it.

Teicher suggested something? Speculation! Uncalled-for! I'd be down with moving Waters to center. It makes sense to me. He still has the strength to handle a nose, but probably not the speed to pull. I would consider the switch to center a wise move.

If we do end up drafting a LT with the first round pick, why not have our line look like: LT: First round pick LG: Asamoah C: Waters RG: Lilja RT: Albert I realize Albert's real position is at guard, but if he's a mediocre LT, then he's a better than average RT. And that would give us improvement at C, LG, and RT, and possibly LT if the draft works out well. Am I just way out on a limb on this one?

No, not out on a limb at all. I like your porposal too. I just think Richardson is one of those players whose stock is rising and he deserves a spot. My main point is that Albert is a good LT, and we could use that draft pick in other places on the team and the LT is no guarantee.

The main problem I see is that from C to LT you have 3 guys who would all be pretty new to their respective positions. It would no doubt take some time to get that side of our line firing on all cyclinders. Seems a little risky.

Fair enough. Especially with this lockout, we lose all the valuable off-season time to allow those guys to learn their new positions and gel as unit. But I still thank that lineup possibly improves 4 of of the 5 line positions.

I like it. We definately could use more picks at other positions especially defense, moving Waters delays the need for a Center and would give a later round prospect like Barnes time to develope into a starter. I'm with you 100% on the need for a NT, but not so much at OLB. The reason is we still don't know exactly what we have in Sheffield and Studi. I think they show potential. The caching staff does know what we have and it could be that i'm wrong and it is a huge need. Another thought I had that i haven't heard mentioned (probably because it's ridiculous) Gilberry is a similar size as OLB's like Hali and Ware and is a promissing pass rusher. He could get his hand out of the dirt and play OLB. Of course this option would make both OLBs one dementional players which is never a great plan.

I think I like the idea of Waters to center but only if Wiegmann retires. If not, I think he should stay at guard.

Good read, i think most of the chiefs nation is thinking about this in there back of there minds, we tackle 2 bird with one hit...this will be a very wise chose for Pioli and the couching staff to do. Also we can make Wiegmann a line couch on the staff, and we will have a couch/player in Water. We also need to Draft another C/G ala Asomugha last year, maybe a John Moffitt from Wisconsin...

I agree Alex. This also is in line with my thinking that with the lockout, a NT/OLB will hit the ground running faster than an LT or C due to the complexities of the offensive playbook.

"Asomugha, at LG" He'd be crushed on a daily basis at LG :p

Why do you say that Lawrence? He did well last year. Am I wrong?

Because Asomugha is a CB for the Raiders whereas Asamoah is a guard for the Chiefs. He was just having a bit of fun.

ahhhhh nice. my bad. lol. I will edit it right now!! Thanks Lawrence.

Talking about OL look at this vid, and my favorite FB in the class is getting some love...

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-path-to-the-draft/09000d5d81eeed67/Inside-the-draft-room-OL-debate

I have been telling people that Waters should become the center since I saw him shift all over the place during the Pro-Bowl.

I think it would be a good idea to do it, but it probably won't be happening anytime soon.

I wanted the Waters to center move two years ago. At this stage in his career, I think it's too late to do it.

Teicher suggested something? Speculation! Uncalled-for!

I'd be down with moving Waters to center. It makes sense to me. He still has the strength to handle a nose, but probably not the speed to pull. I would consider the switch to center a wise move.

If we do end up drafting a LT with the first round pick, why not have our line look like:

LT: First round pick
LG: Asamoah
C: Waters
RG: Lilja
RT: Albert

I realize Albert's real position is at guard, but if he's a mediocre LT, then he's a better than average RT. And that would give us improvement at C, LG, and RT, and possibly LT if the draft works out well.

Am I just way out on a limb on this one?

No, not out on a limb at all. I like your porposal too. I just think Richardson is one of those players whose stock is rising and he deserves a spot.

My main point is that Albert is a good LT, and we could use that draft pick in other places on the team and the LT is no guarantee.

The main problem I see is that from C to LT you have 3 guys who would all be pretty new to their respective positions. It would no doubt take some time to get that side of our line firing on all cyclinders. Seems a little risky.

Fair enough. Especially with this lockout, we lose all the valuable off-season time to allow those guys to learn their new positions and gel as unit. But I still thank that lineup possibly improves 4 of of the 5 line positions.

I like it. We definately could use more picks at other positions especially defense, moving Waters delays the need for a Center and would give a later round prospect like Barnes time to develope into a starter. I'm with you 100% on the need for a NT, but not so much at OLB. The reason is we still don't know exactly what we have in Sheffield and Studi. I think they show potential. The caching staff does know what we have and it could be that i'm wrong and it is a huge need.

Another thought I had that i haven't heard mentioned (probably because it's ridiculous) Gilberry is a similar size as OLB's like Hali and Ware and is a promissing pass rusher. He could get his hand out of the dirt and play OLB. Of course this option would make both OLBs one dementional players which is never a great plan.

I think I like the idea of Waters to center but only if Wiegmann retires. If not, I think he should stay at guard.

Good read, i think most of the chiefs nation is thinking about this in there back of there minds, we tackle 2 bird with one hit...this will be a very wise chose for Pioli and the couching staff to do.

Also we can make Wiegmann a line couch on the staff, and we will have a couch/player in Water.

We also need to Draft another C/G ala Asomugha last year, maybe a John Moffitt from Wisconsin...

I agree Alex. This also is in line with my thinking that with the lockout, a NT/OLB will hit the ground running faster than an LT or C due to the complexities of the offensive playbook.

"Asomugha, at LG"

He'd be crushed on a daily basis at LG :p

Why do you say that Lawrence? He did well last year. Am I wrong?

Because Asomugha is a CB for the Raiders whereas Asamoah is a guard for the Chiefs. He was just having a bit of fun.

ahhhhh nice. my bad. lol. I will edit it right now!! Thanks Lawrence.