The needs are clear up front
Before Sunday’s game, the offensive line was always discussed as a patchwork effort, but it was often couched in a positive light. Imagine someone afraid of public speaking giving a nervous speech and that’s about the tenor with which we’d refer to the Chiefs offensive line.
“Way to go, guys-who-should-not-be-playing-together!”
The Chiefs made it all the way to the finish line with their sixth man starting at left tackle, their third left guard starting instead, their backup right guard covering right tackle, while their new backup right guard took over the starting role. If that all sounds convoluted, it is.
That the Chiefs could make it as far as they did with the patchwork offensive front is impressive, but perhaps it speaks more to Patrick Mahomes’ ability to elevate the offense than we originally believed. Either way, any romantic notion that the Chiefs were so good that they could skate by in the trenches is now gone. Long gone.
That’s good news, at least with the offseason having arrived. If Brett Veach was planning to just allow Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to come back and see if the tackles heal up, he is now abandoning that plan. What’s clear is that the Chiefs have serious issues up front and protecting Mahomes must be the offseason’s emphasis.
Yes, Eric Fisher might come back ready for another run. Yes, Mitchell Schwartz has been an ironman until Week 6. Yes, Lucas Niang is coming back after opting out, and LDT has already stated he’s excited to return in 2021. That’s four starters, right?
Let’s not kid ourselves. The tackles are injured and 30-ish. Niang has never played a snap and will be out for a year. LDT will attempt to leap back from the same span of time away. And let’s not forget the Chiefs tried to replace Austin Reiter at midseason with Daniel Kilgore and it feels safe to assume they just didn’t like the results.
Basically, this line needs an infusion of talent and youth to give them starters and security. If the old guys earn their jobs back, that’s great, but the Chiefs need significant hurdles in place for each of them to do so. That much is now clear.
My guess is this: Brett Veach will make certain his prized quarterback never has another professional game like the one he just had.