Chiefs Backdraft: Steals, Deals, Men With Wheels

C #75 Greg Mancz, 6-5, 307, Toledo, projects to the 6th or 7th round

With 38 starts Mancz started every game in his Toledo Rocket career. Mancz suffered a torn labrum in the Shrine game week practices. However, Mancz proved what needed proving during the season. He was named the Mid-America Most Valuable Player and as you can imagine that any kind of MVP honor rarely goes to a Center. When Mancz first heard of the award from his peers he believed it to be a joke. In the 33-year history of the award, no offensive lineman has ever received the prize.

Here’s some tape on C Greg Mancz vs. Arkansas State. Mancz is #75.

Greg Mancz carried a 3.7 grade point average and seems to meet the cerebral requirements for playing Center in the NFL. He was also Captain of his team and as you know GM Scott Pioli loves those captain types. What? Pioli is where? Oh dang, this Alzheimer’s is beginning to really tick me off.  The most important aspect of Mancz game is his ability to pull and get to the second level. Not all Centers have the skill and ability to make that happen so those responsibilities often fall to the Guards. Perhaps more important than that is, Mancz knows what to do, and can do it, once he reaches the second level! Blake Samanas of Hustlebelt.com has this to offer on Mancz,

"“Despite playing tackle and guard earlier in his career, Mancz featured as a center during his senior season, anchoring a line that produced the nation’s 12th-best running attack. The Rockets piled up 256 rushing yards per game on 5.79 yards per carry, a number that bested even national champion Ohio State’s juggernaut ground game. As a center, Mancz was asked to clear out inside lanes (often pulling) for Kareem Hunt and company, and he was able to win his battles more often than not.”"

While many Chiefs fans may be wanting them to choose an upper division Center prospect or to scour the free agent pool for an experienced Center, Mancz has a ton to offer in both on-field proficiency and team-wide leadership. Especially for a day three prospect. Especially for a young man turning 23 on the 23rd of this month.

~ ~ ~

DE #96 Caushaud Lyons, 6-5, 295, Tusculum College, projects to 7th round – UDFA

Caushaud Lyons runs a 4.85 40 yard dash. For a man of 6 foot 5 inches weighing 295 pounds that’s amazingly fast. When I watch the grainy tape of the Tusculum College Pioneers I see a taller than husky big man navigating the blocks thrown his way. Then he usually dives at a RB who clearly attempts to avoid him. One dive after another. At first I thought that perhaps he can’t keep his feet but then I realized he’s making a ton of plays many men his size would not be able to make… unless they dived at the RB too.

Caushaud Lyons’ body type reminds me of a young Antonio Gates. He would obviously need to bulk up in the lower half of his body to withstand the pounding of the pro game. However, Lyons looks like someone who will get an offer to camp from a team willing to take a shot on a guy who played against competition that was several levels lower than National Champion, Ohio State.

Now, I have to add one more prospect to my list. No, he probably won’t go in the last half of the draft, However, he won’t go on day one either although in my book he could. And that player is…

~ ~ ~

 RB #33 Terrell Watson, 6-2, 240, Azusa Pacific, projects to UDFA

Azusa Pacific once gave us the Nigerian Nightmare, Christian Okoye, and could once again supply the Chiefs with another monster back.. or at least mini-monster. When I watch tape of RB Terrell Watson he looks like he’s moving at half speed but his 40 time is 4.48. Now, a man who is 6’2″ tall and weighs 240 pounds, for him to run a 4.48 4o is not only rare but could be dangerous to the health of anyone who gets in his way.

Simply put, Terrell Watson runs to daylight. No, he doesn’t have a great cut back move but he does cut a lot of his runs back against the grain. In Div-II, Watson broke a lot of arm tackles when running up the middle but that won’t happen very often in the NFL. However, his size-speed combination will have some teams itching to bring him in to take him for a test drive. So, instead of becoming a UDFA, Watson may not make it past the second day of the draft, even though many project him as undrafted.

His numbers are off the charts. In 2014 Watson rushed of 2,153 and 29 TDs in 11 games played. In 2013, Watson rushed for 1,812 yards with 23 TDs in 12 games played. In 2012, he had 1.094 yards rushing and 11 TDs in 11 games played.

Terrell Watson broke most of Christian Okoye’s records, most notably, most yards rushing in a season (shown above) and most yards rushing in a game with 338 on Nov. 15, 2014. Watson ran the ball over 900 times in his four-year career. He served as the workhorse but hopefully he hasn’t used up the bulk of his carries and that the prime of this career is still ahead to him.

Terrell Watson tries to get a little too clever attempting to break free by juking or swinging a play wide that is designed for him to run up the middle. None of that will work against NFL defenses. When Watson makes one cut or lowers his shoulder to run over a defender, then he is at his best and he should find some success in the NFL if he focuses on that part of his game. In the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl the Nationals, Watson’s team, was coach by none other than Mike “The Greatest Show on Turf” Martz, who coached Watson and said,

"“He belongs. I don’t think there’s any question in my mind after seeing him all week. Somebody in this league is going to get a terrific player.”"

Terrell Watson was also named the Collegiate Bowl MVP in 2014.

~ ~ ~

What do you think Addict fans? What do you think about these prospects from The Backdraft? Do you have someone in the back half of this draft who you are hoping the Chiefs will be burning and yearning for?