Expectations vs Hype: Chiefs LT and ILBs
By Ryan Tracy
The hype has been building since players reported to training camp. Some is legitimate and some is setting the Kingdom up for disappointment.
Good investment or Doubling Down?
Some may feel that John Dorsey is merely backing up his initial decision to draft Eric Fisher. Some think his progress is with the investment for the long run. Truthfully, the case for Fisher is preemptive but real.
His new contract extension pays him as a top-10 offensive tackle. Fisher’s performance to this point in his career is not that of a top-10 tackle, but the team is banking on his continued development to grow into that echelon. Had the team waited for his current deal to expire, they may have found themselves in the same position they’re in with Eric Berry. This deal gets the Chiefs bookend tackles for a 3 year run at a championship.
I talked about that with Chris Clark this week on the Check With Me Podcast. Here’s the show:
Easy on the Hype
No single Chiefs position group has had more rampant hype since camp opened than the competition over the inside linebacker position opposite Derrick Johnson.
The incumbent Josh Mauga has been productive, recording 161 tackles over the last two seasons. The 29 year old linebacker peaked in 2014 playing in place of Derrick Johnson. 2015’s 58 tackle total calls into question whether his on-field value equals his $2.7M cap figure. If not, the team would get $1.95M in cap relief with his release. (cap figures per OverTheCap.com)
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The hype is squarely centered over 2nd year undrafted free agent linebacker Justin March. The fanbase and some media have begun to theorize that March could be the starter next to Johnson this season. March is certainly athletic for the position and has shown some instincts that serve him well in his limited NFL experience.
And that’s the rub. As the 2016 season starts, March brings exactly zero regular season experience with him to training camp. Performance in the preseason can be misleading and that is all the film there is to go on with March. OTAs are important to building a young player, but do not transform them into starters.
Its not whether March can win a competition with Mauga. Its whether or not March can be a good enough backup to let the team release Mauga and reclaim some cap space.
The real beneficiary of a Mauga release would likely be Ramik Wilson. Wilson has played in 11 games as a rookie in 2015. In his two 2015 starts while Mauga was injured, Wilson produced 20 total tackles. He knows the defense and has proven game experience. At this point in camp, Wilson can play on first and second down in in regular season games. Despite his athletic ability, that can’t be said of March.
As March makes a push to be one of the four inside linebackers to make the final 53-man roster, particularly if he can maximize his performance on 3rd down; it makes the prospect of Wilson being 2nd on the depth with March #3 all the more likely.
What do you think Addicts? How much cool-aid are you drinking?