Mock = Must

by Lanier63 on Nov 30, 2009 9:06 AM CST

I have been watching the Fanposts recently at all the activity, which some could argue is a little premature on the Mock Drafts people have been posting. I love the enthusiasm that our fellow fans put into these posts and you have to give the guys a pat on the back for taking the time to do the research on this subject. I am probably the worst at doing the research necessary for mock drafts but I felt I needed to address an issue that ironically has come to haunt the Chiefs this year.

I dont believe anyone that has taken the time to become a member of AP wanted to see Tony Gonzalez traded, but I also believe most of us understood what was taking place and why and have come to accept it for our future. Now with the next Chief HOF member playing for another team, I believe yesterday exposed our worst problem on offense, the Tight End position. Now while some who know my humor may be thinking of the tight ends on the sidelines in those white boots and red, white and gold outfits, thats not what I am talking about...lol.

I believe the worst position on our offense and the main problem is the lack of tight end production. Let me explain; While many players can become good tight end blockers, I believe its those special few that become good tight end blocekrs and pass catchers, in other words the whole product of what the tight end position was intended for. We may have a good blocker in Leaonard Pope and an average pass cathcer at best in Sean Ryan, but we are missing that one guy who can do it all and do it well.

The good teams have, Dallas Clark, Antonio Gates, Jason Whitten, Jeremy Shockey and so on. What could have made our team better yesterday was a good tight end. When the blitzes are coming, its easy to dump off to a tight end to keep the linebackers on their heels. When there is nothing open deep you can rely on your tight end for a shorter route and depending on the person (Tony G) you may find him deep also.

The reason I say all of this is, I woke up this morning thinking that the key to our success next year starts with the tight end position and I think it is a must have that we find the best one available in the first round. I understand everyones logic in the Saftey and Offensive Line positions, but being able to get rid of the ball quicker may make our ofeensive line better by itself. Dont get me wrong, two positions have got to find new personnel next year on the O line. Please Lord let us find a great center and right guard! The best right guard we have now is what we found on the grocery store shelf next to "AXE the other deodorant."

So with that being said I think the first round we should be looking hard at: Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma.

However, if we could get a good prospect in free agency, I would like to take a look at Owen Daniels of Houston. Currently he is 10th rated overall and he is a free agent after this year looking for his second contract.

Ok guys what do you think? Let the dogs loose!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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Definitely a weak point

but Im not sure that its our biggest problem. Obviously we could use good tight end though. Look what Gates did to us yesterday.

by skychief on Nov 30, 2009 9:45 AM CST reply actions

I would love Gresham, but I would hate for us to draft him in the 1st at our current spot.

If we were able to trade down enough times and load up some 2nd and 3rd round picks and draft him in the 20’s that would be great.

by Helmets on Nov 30, 2009 10:44 AM CST reply actions

dude....

Gresham is no where near a top ten pick, hes probably a fringe first rounder right now

by SayHeyWerd on Nov 30, 2009 1:59 PM CST up reply actions

It's an incredible weak point

I’d even say blocking at TE is a bigger problem than receiving production. That being said, I don’t think I’d draft on too high. We should just look for an NBA power forward :)

Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur!

by Buck'O on Nov 30, 2009 11:06 AM CST reply actions

Can you imagine Cole Aldrich at Tight End?

What’s Sasha Kaun doing these days?

"The way this works is you string together some good games, some good practices and you get momentum and you gain confidence," linebacker Mike Vrabel said. "It can be a real positive for your team. It builds on itself."

by cpa913 on Nov 30, 2009 11:50 AM CST up reply actions

I know, right?!?!

lol

Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur!

by Buck'O on Nov 30, 2009 2:19 PM CST up reply actions

Alot of TEs this year

I have don alot of searching for what the answer is here and there are alot of TE comming out this year who can do it all.

I don’t see us going TE until the fifth but maybe we go ther in the third.

Here is just a few of the all around TE expected to be in this years draft as I am going to leave out the pure blocking TEs ok I will mention one Moeaki from Iowa.
Gresham who I believe to be overrated,
Hernandez from Florida will abe a good TE,
Epps from Miami has all the tools,
Quarless from Penn State has the make up of possible pro-bowl talent some decipline ? though.
Anthony McCoy USC.
Ed Dickson Oregon could be a stud,
Dennis Pitta from BYU ? on his blocking at the next level but could easily be the next Dallas Clarke as he is vary similar body wise.

With all those possibilities and the # of wholes on the team we should wait until atleast the 3rd to get our TE.

by kcchiefstd on Nov 30, 2009 11:11 AM CST reply actions

Colin Peek from Alabama in the 5th round

I’d take the best TE available in the 5th round, unless Gresham or McCoy falls to KC in the 2nd-2nd round pick

* "I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
* the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009
* The OL is NOT as bad as you think it is... give it time, and you'll see improvement this season
* Stats are for losers

by stagdsp on Nov 30, 2009 12:56 PM CST up reply actions

Owen Daniels is the next great TE

And I’m not kidding. Before he was injured, he was leading the league in TE receiving. It’s no coincidence that Houston can’t get out of their own way after his season ending injury. My guess is that Daniels will break the bank next year, becoming close to the highest paid TE in the league. I say that because several teams will be fighting for his services. Will KC pay 30 to 35 million to get him for six years? They’ll have to. It would be a great addition, and we can always dream.

TE in the first round? Meh. The TE is also the LOWEST avg. paid position. Kickers get paid more. We can find one that we can plug in until we get better parts surrounding him.

by Ozarks on Nov 30, 2009 11:15 AM CST reply actions

Owen Daniels is on his way to being GREAT

by stagdsp on Nov 30, 2009 12:55 PM CST up reply actions

The thing is that Haley has said as much that he doesn't use TE's a lot in his schemes.

He didn’t use them a lot in AZ or here. It’s not a huge thing for him. He likes TE’s that can block because that’s going to be 90% of ther job responsibilities right there. He likes quick tough receivers to get his work done for him.

So it depends a lot on who our OC is next year. Cause again NE doesn’t lean on their TE’s to save them. Their a secondary tool, whereas they rely on speedy quick receivers like Welker and Moss with strong route running abilities. So I don’t see that as a huge priority at all for this regime.

It’s a good point, and on a different team with a different approach, you’de be correct. I just don’t see it being huge here in KC.

Let’s get an O line from hell and one awesome way above average pass rusher and we’re on our way instantly.
Plus we need a strong power back with big play potential like Lindell White from Tennessee.

by krayfish on Nov 30, 2009 11:35 AM CST reply actions

Going to have to disagree with you on this one

Your assertion that great teams have great TEs is flawed. Lets look at Super Bowl winners over the years and their TEs.

2008 Steelers – Heath Miller. A good TE but hardly great.
2007 Giants – Shockey? Nope he was hurt. They won with Kevin Boss.
2006 Colts – Ah here we go right? Dallas Clark. No, wait, he hadn’t become great yet. Only had 30 catches all year.
2005 Steelers – Heath Miller as a rookie.
2004 Patriots – Leading TE Daniel Graham…30 catches
2003 Patriots – See above

You have to go all the way back to the 1998 Broncos with Shannon Sharpe to find a team winning the SB having TE play a major role. That same team turned around on 1999 and won again with Sharpe only catching 23 passes.

TE does need upgrading and there are some interesting FAs out there. Taking a TE in round 1 when this team has some many holes in critical positions would be a reach.

This is my signature line. It is full of awesome and win.

by KCSatchmo on Nov 30, 2009 11:44 AM CST reply actions

Ed Dickson

TE- Oregon. Would look very sharp in red!

I'd rather die on my feet than be living on my knees

by ArrowDread on Nov 30, 2009 11:58 AM CST reply actions

TE in round 1?

Really the more I think about it, the more I don’t know about round 1.

If we pick 7th (we’re sitting at 7th right now), to me Bryant isn’t worth the pick, you don’t go S or ILB or even guard that high. You can, to me the 7th pick is reserved more for a great DE, or DT, LT, a freak WR, a freak CB, or a QB.

Mays is a freak S, but Berry looks like he has more of a nose of where he should be.

There isn’t really a freak corner or WR in this draft, Cassel is a serviceable QB, Croyle is capable, Okung will be gone.

Suh or McCoy will probably be sitting there, but it could go like this Suh could go #1 to Cleveland, McCoy could go #2 to Tampa, Locker #3 to St. Louis, Okung #4 to Detroit, Bradford #5 to Washington, Mays #6 to Oakland.

That leaves us Berry he’s good but is he big enough or physical enough to take away Shockey, Heap, Gonzo, or Gates? ILB I don’t care who the ILB is he’s not going to take away Gates or Clark, or Gonzo. I’d go for a DE/OLB if I were picking at #7 if I had to pick there. I can see ILB or S at #7, but I think there’s more value in trading back if at all possible. IF Suh or McCoy falls to us this year, and we take him it gives us a valuable bargaining chip this year or next. I just don’t like where we’re sitting in round 1.

The more I think on this draft, our earliest draft pick on the O-line would be round 2, is it going to be RG, T? Nope it’ll be center the more I think about it. Fox would be nice to back up O’Callaghan, or Albert even and eventually take over, but O’Cal has been fairly solid, Albert is serviceable, we have Waters under contract one more year, and Brown is coming back and they’re going to give him his chance at RG, all we’re doing to the o-line early in this draft is C round 2 or 3.

Round 1 DE/OLB
Round 2 Golden Tate
Round 2 Wisniewski
Round 3 Williams I think his name is NT
Round 4 ILB
Round 5 TE
Round 5 S
Round 5 or 6 or whatever it is now, CB or WR that can return kicks

by mcclanahanman on Nov 30, 2009 12:02 PM CST reply actions

Gresham

is the best TE in the draft and will be as good as any TE in the NFL. His speed and talent is unmatched by any other college TE and he is much stronger. Great receiving ability as well. He would be well worth a first round pick, but could fall into the 2nd due to his injury, but highly doubt it. K.C. is going defense in round 1 though.

by chief66 on Nov 30, 2009 1:13 PM CST reply actions

Klopfensteim

Joe klopfenstein was just cut by the bills. He was a 2nd rd pick in 2006. He is 6’5 255lbs runs a 4.5 forty with a 27 on the bench press of 250. Very fast and strong. Still very young and could be a diamond in fa.

"Its going to be a challenge, its going to feel like forever, and there will be difficulties. But we will emerge on the other side of it stronger than we were when we entered." ~ Sudden

by Matt_Grbac on Nov 30, 2009 1:42 PM CST reply actions

I like that guy pretty well

but, I do like Pope, too.

Ryan is the one that has to go, IMO.

Cottam has been invisible… so I can’t tell if he brings more to the table than Klopfenstein or not

by stagdsp on Nov 30, 2009 2:26 PM CST up reply actions

Ed Dickson or Rob Gronkowski > Gresham

Beware of inflated Big 12 stats.

"What?!?! I aint no Obama for the weed!"
-Turk McBride

by HIV 2 Elway on Nov 30, 2009 2:31 PM CST reply actions

Stats can be misleading

Not basing the evaluation of Gresham based upon his stats, but the OU offense as a whole. Murray was able to gain much of his yards last season because of Gresham’s downfield blocking as well as his ability to destroy LB’s and DE’s. He was able to get yards after the catch because he is powerful and LB’s had a difficulty tackling him. Gresham drew so much attention in coverage OU’s other receivers were able to put-up big no.s. In short, he made the entire offense better because of his abilities. Gresham is a better FB player than any TE mentioned in these comments.

by chief66 on Nov 30, 2009 4:09 PM CST up reply actions

I would hold off on the draft pick and just pick up Benjamin Watson...

And Vince Wilfork at that.

I know that you're afraid... you're afraid of us. You're afraid of change. I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin.
'09, a new era begins in Kansas City.

by R2J_24 on Nov 30, 2009 4:08 PM CST reply actions

Pioli hasnt given us a reason NOT to believe that he wouldnt go after those 2....

And Logan Mankins at that.

by R2J_24 on Nov 30, 2009 4:09 PM CST up reply actions

All THREE a position of need.

by R2J_24 on Nov 30, 2009 4:09 PM CST up reply actions

I'd be crazy happy if KC got all 3 of those guys

by stagdsp on Nov 30, 2009 5:42 PM CST up reply actions

Nice post Lanier

If I remember right MU had two stud TE’s recently. I think the one drafted in 2008 is now a FA and the other drafted in 2009 has not stood out.
Martin Rucker
Chase Coffman

I would think TE is a big swing at the ball in the 1st round :)

We Will kick at least 4 Teams Asses in 09. Almost there :)
And Succop will be the Key in two of them. Skins & Raiders! Pittsburgh Sweet!
" Think and talk positive football off the field." Hank Stram

by Steve_Chiefs on Nov 30, 2009 4:58 PM CST reply actions

Actually Martin Rucker is on the Philly practice squad right now

We Will kick at least 4 Teams Asses in 09. Almost there :)
And Succop will be the Key in two of them. Skins & Raiders! Pittsburgh Sweet!
" Think and talk positive football off the field." Hank Stram

by Steve_Chiefs on Nov 30, 2009 5:02 PM CST up reply actions