The Morning Fix: Chiefs Sign Lineman, Akeem Jordan To Washington, Alex Smith
By Ben Nielsen
Nov 24, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs fans show their support during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chargers won 41-38. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Many people need their coffee to get up and going in the morning. Here at Arrowhead Addict, we understand that for a Chiefs fan, coffee is simply not enough.
Here’s all that’s happening around Chiefs Kingdom today.
Welcome to The Morning Fix.
Good morning, Addicts.
Akeem Jordan signed with Washington yesterday.
"Akeem Jordan, a Harrisonburg native and collegiate standout at James Madison who played last season for the Kansas City Chiefs, has signed a contract with the Washington Redskins, the team announced."
Chiefs signed a reserve defensive lineman yesterday, according to Terez A. Paylor.
"Before Grissom’s arrival, the Chiefs listed four players (other than Poe) as defensive tackles on the roster, including Risean Broussard, Chas Alecxih, Jaye Howard and Vance Walker.Of those six, only Poe and Walker — who just signed a three-year deal worth a maximum of $13.75 million — should be considered sure bets to make the roster when the season starts."
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports Alex Smith was in San Jose yesterday watching draft prospect David Fales‘ workout.
"Also watching were a couple of ex-49ers quarterbacks, Alex Smith, who trains at San Jose State, and Trent Dilfer, an analyst with ESPN. Dilfer tweeted that he thought Fales resembled former Redskins, Rams and Chief quarterback Trent Green, who spent 15 years in the league."
Skip Harvey has a profile of draft prospect Zack Martin over at KC Kingdom. Harvey could get a long look for the Chiefs at 23 overall.
"Coming back for his senior year and a dominant performance in the Senior Bowl helped boost his draft stock up into the late-middle first round. He’s been evaluated as undersized, having short arms and not being strong enough to handle NFL-sized defensive tackles in the interior line. This would pretty much count him out as a guard.He is, however, quick, agile and possesses good body control, thought to pick up blitzers instinctively, and rarely loses position. Combine that, his performance on the outside in the Senior Bowl and his high football I.Q., and he can be considered an intriguing prospect at tackle."
James Dudko of Bleacher Report comes up with realistic expectations for each of the Chiefs’ early free agent signings.
"Losing players is a reality of free agency. But there is a difference between being a team that loses free agency and one that offsets its losses with smart, low-key moves."
Andy Benoit has a great piece at MMQB about how safeties have turned into weapons for defensive coordinators.
"Defensive coordinators rely on complex schemes to create pressure and, just as important, the illusion of pressure. This is often achieved by using amorphous and/or overloaded fronts, which requires a free safety with ample range to secure the middle of the secondary all by himself. Many of these front are most potent with a strong safety, who is faster than anyone else near the line of scrimmage and therefore able to reach the quarterback quicker when blitzing. Strong safeties are also adept in coverage, so dropping out of a pressure look is less difficult than it would be for a linebacker."
Washington is so bad at special teams they proposed a rule to move kickoffs up five yards to the 40-yard-line.
"The rule would also be viewed by many as a step toward de-emphasizing special teams. (Washington, which was terrible on special teams last year, was the team that proposed the rule change.) Eventually, if the NFL keeps moving kickoffs forward, it will make touchbacks so easy that it might as well just eliminate kickoffs entirely."
Herbie Teope takes an excellent look at the Chiefs’ roster situation over at Chiefs Spin.
"The most glaring position left unfilled so far is the starting left tackle slot. The closer the Chiefs get to training camp without signing a reliable left tackle, the greater likelihood that Donald Stephenson takes the starting position over Eric Fisher, last year’s No. 1 pick overall. A clear picture as to who lines up where should present itself in the coming weeks once organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamps get underway."
Two non-football stories:
– Jason Bateman talks “Bad Words” and “Arrested Development.”
– I consider this to be more about Andre the Giant than D.J. Fluker.