Jun 17, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Kona Schwenke (93) and tackle Eric Fisher (72) run drills during the Kansas City Chiefs minicamp at University of Kansas Hospital Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Offensive Line
Making the Grade
Ryan Harris: +4.8 overall grade
Ryan Harris is currently PFF’s highest rated offensive tackle. Harris hasn’t had to face the elite first string defensive talent that Eric Fisher and Donald Stephenson have, but he’s been excellent playing with KC’s second string unit. Harris has been a successful starting tackle in the NFL before, it’s been injuries that have derailed his career more than his play on the field. For the life of me, I can’t understand why KC wouldn’t move Harris into the starting lineup with Stephenson out instead of sliding Jeff Allen over to RT and starting Jeff Linkenbach at LG. Neither of those players have performed as well as Harris has this preseason.
Eric Kush: +4.7 overall grade
If KC was going to bump any interior offensive lineman into the starting lineup while Stephenson is out the PFF grades point to Eric Kush being the best choice. Kush is PFF’s top rated center through three preseason games. Once again, you have to factor in that Kush has been facing second and third string defenders, but it appears that the late round 2013 pick is developing at a rapid pace. In 2013 Kush was actually the second lowest rated center in the preseason with a -6.5 grade. That’s a pretty impressive turnaround from one year to the next.
Missing the Mark
Eric Fisher: -3.0 overall grade
There is a lot of pressure on former first overall pick Eric Fisher to step up and produce in his sophomore season. While Fisher hasn’t been abysmal, his -3.0 grade does show that he’s still got some work to do. It appears that Fisher’s shoulder may not be back at 100% yet, and a young tackle that is still learning the game has it hard enough without playing with a bum wing. If KC’s passing offense is going to have enough time to produce, Fisher must step up his game as the season goes by.
Zach Fulton: -9.1 overall grade
Woof! A -9.1 overall grade is about as bad as it can possibly get for three preseason games. In fact, if you look at every player at every position in the entire NFL through three preseason games Fulton has the 5th worst grade in the entire NFL. There’s no way to put a positive spin on that bad of a grade. However, we are talking about a rookie 6th round pick going up against some of the better defensive fronts in the NFL. Most of Fulton’s bad plays have been the result of misdiagnosing the defense or miscommunication with his fellow offensive linemen. Those things can be improved with coaching and experience playing together as a line. Fulton looks good when locked up in the trenches, but his ability to engage on the move is almost nonexistent. There will definitely be some growing pains here.
Next up, the defensive linemen……