My Chief Concerns: Where Is The Safety Net?
By author
I have to say, as a long time Chiefs fan I have been impressed with the effort that the Chiefs have been making this free agency, both successful (Thomas Jones, Shaun Smith, Jerheme Urban, Chris Chambers, Casey Weigman) and unsuccessful (Anquan Boldin, Hank Fraley, Darren Sproles, etc.). Hopefully we can lock up Ryan Lilja soon as he was in on Monday.
The Chiefs are obviously trying to secure our offensive line without spending a high draft pick. We can also safely assume that we will not be spending a high draft pick on a running back with the addition of Thomas Jones and re-signing of Jackie Battle to go with Jamaal Charles.
The abovementioned signings help the offense but what about the defense? You know, the defense which Todd Haley repeatedly stated had to avoid “giving up the big play”. They signed Shaun Smith, and I am actually very excited about his addition, since he is a true NT and has shown some real talent under Romeo Crennel. But Mr. Smith is not going to stop the long ball, or big play. What will? Our safeties hopefully will, but not the safeties we currently have on our roster. History tells us that.
One thing that is abundantly clear is that, although a great need for the Chiefs, the Chiefs have made no apparent attempts to look at or bring in any safeties; period. Not one. No attempt was made to bring in Ryan Clark, no phone call was made to Darren Sharper, nor was a call even made to restricted Rams safety Oshiomogho Atogwe who is not really even tendered (Right of First Refusal). (They should make a play for Atogwe)
Our safety play last year was consistently inconsistent. I point to the break out game of one Miles Austin as proof and a few other games where our safeties gave up the big play? Our safety play was bad even before Jarrad Page got injured and the year before that as well. So what gives? It would be suicide to go with our current crop of safeties. McGraw is a special teamer back up, Mike Brown has seen better days and Jarrad Page is good but not great.
Well it is obvious that the Chiefs are going to have to select one, possibly two safeties in this years’ draft. If we don’t take one with our first pick, then we most assuredly will do so with one of our second picks. That is why, I am absolutely positive that one of the following safeties will be our starter for next year:
Eric Berry, Tennessee, 6’0, 211, Projected Top 7 pick
Earl Thomas, Texas, 5’11, 208, Projected Top 20 pick
Taylor Mays, USC, 6’3, 220, Projected Top 25 Pick
Nate Allen, South Florida, 6’0, 207, Projected Second Round Pick
Chad Jones, LSU, 6’2, 225, Projected Second Round Pick
Reshad Jones, Georgia, 6’1, 214, Projected Second/Third Round Pick
Darrel Stuckey, Kansas, 5’11, 204, Projected Second/Third Round Pick
Morgan Burnett, 6’1, 209, Projected Second/Third Round Pick
By doing nothing in regards to the safety position, the Chiefs have painted themselves into a corner. A play has to be made at the safety position and the draft is now the only spot. Wouldn’t you agree?