Chiefs OL: Winning At Musical Chairs

Ryan Harris is a big man at 6’5” and 305 but is also athletic and has done a good job at right tackle since being inserted. Harris is not great and if he was he wouldn’t be on the street for the Chiefs to sign him this past summer. However, he’s filled in nicely and although PFF is panning him and his 2013 performance for the Texans I don’t believe Houston’s failures can be laid at Harris’ feet. Harris was an excellent high school wrestler, then went on to start every game he at Notre Dame and only a handful of players has ever done that before. In 2012 PFF had Harris graded positively as a run blocker and only a slight negative as a pass blocker. The Chiefs are lucky to have Ryan Harris and his depth of experience with quality teams (Denver, Philly and Houston) and when he was signed by the Chiefs many believed he would challenge Donald Stephenson for the right tackle position.

Donald Stephenson will not likely be handed a starting OL job the same week he returns. In fact, he may turn out to be too valuable as a swing tackle who also has experience playing guard. However, if the Chiefs, specifically coach Reid, do have definite plans to push Stephenson into a starting role upon his return, you have to ask yourself if right tackle is the best position for him to play.

The answer to what ails the Chiefs offensive line may be to insert Donald Stephenson where Mike “Holey Ghost” McGlynn stands. If Andy Reid wants to put the best five guys on the field then it’s hard to see how Mike McGlynn is better than either Donald Stephenson or Ryan Harris. Inserting Stephenson at LG should help to stabilize Eric Fisher because he knows all the calls for a left tackle. He could also help with blocking assignments because of his experience there. In OTAs last year Stephenson was slotted in at left guard and spent most of the off season there. So, he already knows the playbook for that position. Stephenson may not be a Pro Bowl caliber performer but he’s done a good job whenever he’s been asked to fill in along the OL.

Donald Stephenson is better than Mike McGlynn. Replacing McGlynn with Stephenson creates the least amount of disruption along the offensive line but the real advantage is stabilizing the game day performance of this group as a whole.

That would be music to my ears… and to win at musical chairs… first you have to hear the music. I’m just not sure if Mike McGlynn hears any music at all. Plus, I think it’s time for him to sit. For good. And for the good of all humanity. Well… at least for the good of all of Chiefs-dom.

What do you say Addict fans? What’s your ideal OL alignment considering what they’ve got to work with?

Go Chiefs!