K.C. Chiefs 2014 Draft: That’s What The Mock Says
By Laddie Morse
A. ILB Christian Jones, 6-3, 232, Florida State
B. WR/KR Odell Beckham Jr., 6-0, 207, LSU
C. WR Donte Moncrief, 6-3, 226, Ole Miss
ILB Christian Jones is… wow! Imagine a bigger, taller more athletic version of Eric Berry running all over the face of opposing offenses to make tackles everywhere on the field. Would you want a guy like that? ME TOO!!!! Jones played OLB last year but they found he was better against the run so he’s been slipped inside this year and it’s working out great. He didn’t follow team rules and so he’s been benched one week this year with a teammate but his on-field passion is infectious and if you ever wanted to see the Chiefs field four Pro Bowl potentials in the same season, adding Jones is the solution. Jones is not only willing to stick his nose in the hole but wants to blow it up.
Coverage skills? The first play I ever saw was of Christian Jones, was of him 25 yards down field covering a TE like a shower cap. NFLdraftscout.com lists his 40 time as 4.54 but he plays a lot faster than that because he gets from sideline to side line in the blink of an aye yei yei! Many NFL teams may be wanting to move Jones back to an OLB position in the 3-4 but it doesn’t make sense that if his college coaches didn’t find him to be a great pass rusher, what makes NFL brains think they can change that. Besides, Jones would get plenty of opportunities to rush the passer in Bob Sutton’s defense… in which everybody, including relatives, get to rush the passer.
WR Odell Beckham Jr., (5-11, 193), is another player that plays faster than his listed 40 time which in his case is, 4.38. I’ve seen Beckham Jr. take over a whole game. One of the big reasons for picking Beckham is that as of this time, it looks like the Chiefs need a wide receiving corp that looks more like the Packers crew than the Jags. Dwayne Bowe is good but presently is the wide receiving team’s “catch-22”… he very good but is on course to only catch 22 passes this year (my apologies to the metaphor).
In other words the Chiefs are in need of several top notch wide receivers next year. Actually, Bowe would make a fabulous #2. Since Bowe was also from LSU you could see him taking Beckham Jr. under his wing and grooming him for stardom because it’s obvious this year, Bowe wants to win more than he wants to shine his own star. Another reason Beckham may be on Dorsey and Reid’s radar is that his size (5’11”) weight (193) speed (4.38 40) and quickness fits within the parameters of the west coast offense and he resembles receivers Reid drafted in Philly (Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson).
I watched more of Odell Beckham Jr. on Saturday and he’s the true #1 the Chiefs have been looking for forever. If treh Chiefs can make an acquisition like Beckham Jr. next off season then I can’t wait to see how good Bowe can truly become. He’s already within striking distance of the most yards for a wide receiver in Chiefs history.
When I review how the Chiefs have played so far this year, it looks like they have:
1. Improved their coaching- no question.
2. Improved their player selection process.
3. Improved their defense dramatically- players and scheme.
4. Improved the special teams play dramatically- there isn’t a game where the Chiefs haven’t won the field position battle until the Titans game.
5. Improved their depth- Sean McGrath, the 4th choice TE (following what they started the preseason with: Moeaki, Fasano & Kelce), is excelling and that never happened under the Scott Pioli regime.
6. Improved QB play. Alex Smith has been “very good”, even “excellent” considering the conditions. Yes, I was watching Sunday when Smith was 20 of 39 with no TDs and an INT with several poorly thrown passes. However, that one game was an anomaly and his whole season should be considered. Also, the Chiefs as a whole (defense excluded) had a down game but won ugly and that’s a positive.
Which brings us to the units that haven’t made the “Improved” list this year, those primarily being, the wide receiving corp and the offensive linemen. Yes, there has been another competent player to step in on the OL, that being Geoff Schwartz, who wasn’t there a year ago. However, that is a depth issue and can not be counted as an upgrade to the overall quality of play on the the offensive line.
If you buy into this assessment, then you can see better the difference between Matt Cassel and Alex Smith. Smith is making the players around him look good. However, they are not returning the favor. Or, we should say, the GM has not yet returned the favor… so far. However, knowing John Dorsey, you can be sure he will rectify these offensive issues.
While you may be unwilling to accept that Alex Smith is a good QB, perhaps based in part on this past Sunday’s performance, remember that it was raining for much of that day and more importantly, Reid and Dorsey are committed to him for the long haul.
In any event, this coming off season the offense should be a priority. Specifically, the OL and WRs.
WR Donte Moncrief is a wideout with good moves, good hands, can get open and is big enough to not only make CBs pay when he catches the ball but can get over the top in the red zone. He might not have #1 potential like Beckham Jr. but would give Smith an excellent target, one who can get open and/or catch the ball in traffic.
Rob Rang of CBS Sports thinks Donte Moncrief many be a better player than either Marquis Lee of USC or Sammy Watkins from Clemson, currently the two top rated wide receivers in the 2014 draft at the moment. I say he has all the qualities you want: speed, separation, smooth routes, good hands, he catches them down low and up high over the top, over his shoulder, in traffic, running great routes, hitch, come-back, post and corner. He’s got it all. Perhaps you can see it best on tape.
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