How Long Will New Fullback Oliver Hoyte be a Kansas City Chief?

by Chris Thorman on Mar 3, 2008 10:57 AM CST in 2008 Off Season Comment 9 comments

You can tell by the way I phrased the post title that I don't think much of Oliver Hoyte. I'm not writing Hoyte off because that would be completely unfair. But when I read things like this from a blogger I highly respect, I get a little suspicious (The paragraph breaks are my doing).

Starter: Oliver Hoyte - I’m placing Hoyte in the starter’s role only because he was the starter at the end of the year. Personally, I don’t believe he will be the starter in 2008, that role will either go to Deon Anderson or a player currently not on the roster. Hoyte was a former ILB that was moved to the offensive side of the ball under the previous coaching regime and remained there for 2007.

Hoyte’s skills as a FB are limited to blocking; he doesn’t present a threat as a ball-carrier or a receiver out of the backfield. Even Hoyte’s main strength, blocking, has flaws. He’s a very willing and physical blocker, and when he hits a defender with proper leverage he can deliver a devastating blow. But too often he fails to find the correct defender to block in order to open a hole and he can also take a bad angle in his blocking that limits the effectiveness of the hit.

You have to credit Hoyte for switching positions and giving it everything he has but his limitations at the position creates problems for the Cowboys offense. I have no confidence that this experiment will last into 2008.

Hoyte sprained his neck last year, missing six games. Even with that minimal playing time, Hoyte was lucky. Cowboys' rookie full back Deon Anderson was out the entire season with a shoulder injury, prompting the Cowboys to fill in with Hoyte. Without Anderson's injury, Hoyte doesn't take the field in 2007. Don't you cringe at the idea of a fullback with a neck injury?

As much as I hate to say it, it appears that we've signed the Cowboys' version of Boomer Grigsby. If the Chiefs draft Owen Schmitt out of West Virginia, both Boomer and Oliver are out at fullback.

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Comments

First

Very good read on free agency and the Chiefs on Warpaint Illustrated.

http://kan.scout.com/2/733958.html

Next, has anyone given thought that Gunther might take Hoyte and switch him back to middle linebacker? I Googled his name and came up with this before the Draft in 2005.

STRENGTHS
Instincts
Tackling Technique

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
Pass Coverage Skills

Hard-working defender on the inside, Hoyte is an explosive tackler who can backup at middle linebacker or be used on the inside of a 34 system.

by Lanier63 on Mar 3, 2008 12:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Converting him back to LB crossed my mind

He could be a backup there I suppose.

by Chris Thorman on Mar 3, 2008 12:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I responded to a diary

with this YouTube video:

by Ilamuku on Mar 3, 2008 1:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

Kudos should go to Ilamuku first if the defense gets him as a LB. Good Work!

by Lanier63 on Mar 3, 2008 2:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hoyte

I think this is a "just in case" guy.

The Chiefs will probably be looking to draft a FB, but they may have set themselve a gamblers limit, maybe saying they won't draft a FB before the 4th or 5th round.

Owen, Hilis and Hester (in that order IMO) are all very viable options at FB and if one of those guys is there in the right round, I think the Chiefs will take them.

But if something happens and they miss out on one, they still have Hoyte to fall back on(Boomer did not get resigned).

If all else fails, maybe he's a good special teams guy.

by DJ on Mar 3, 2008 5:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Tony Richardson Vs. Hoyte

Here's a thought! Why not re-hire FB Tony Richardson? We all know that he's got the skills! And look at what he did for the Vikings, and for god sakes what he did for Priest, and Larry!

http://profootballexperts.Scout.com/a.z?s=211&p=9&c=12&yr=2008&nid=83&lnid=83&am p;rc=16&pid=13

by Phatcat on Mar 4, 2008 6:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs