Are the Chiefs Set at Center?
by Joel Thorman on Apr 18, 2009 3:18 PM CDT
in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Offseason
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The Kansas City Chiefs continued their voluntary offseason program today. The drills performed today are all non-contact but that doesn't matter for our purposes here.
Today, we're talking Chiefs' offensive line, specifically the center position. Much has been made about a couple of the elite center prospects available in this draft, namely Alex Mack and Max Unger (Here's a link to some other centers entering the draft) but it's beginning to appear the Chiefs might already be set at center. At least for 2009.
Rudy Niswanger started fifteen games for the Chiefs last season at center. Things didn't change in today's morning practice when he lined up at center again. Here was how the line shaped up today (H/T Bob Gretz):
| Left Tackle | Left Guard | Center | Right Guard | Right Tackle |
| Brandon Albert | Wade Smith | Rudy Niswanger | Mike Goff | Damion McIntosh |
Niswanger has a history of playing guard as well but with Brian Waters out of the mix today the Chiefs replaced him with Smith, not Niswanger.
Niswanger offered a second round tender
Entering his fourth year, Niswanger was offered a second round tender by the Chiefs since he's a restricted free agent. This basically means that teams can make Niswanger an offer that the Chiefs can either match or let him go with second round compensation.
This tells me that the Chiefs like what they see in Niswanger. They chose to keep him. Why would they do that unless they had some plans for him?
Chiefs not sniffing centers in pre-draft scouting
Judging by our draft interests page, the Chiefs aren't spending much time looking at centers. They scouted Lawrence Lovell, a small school offensive lineman out of Stony Brook University. He played left tackle in college but projects as a guard or center in the pros.
Even if Lovell were selected to be the Chiefs center, how likely is it that he would be the starter on day one? Not very if you ask me.
Niswanger a 'Pioli guy'
By 'Pioli guy' I mean big and smart. He's 6'5" and over 300 pounds so he's certainly got the size to develop into a decent center. In addition to that, he's got the smart part down as he was going to enter medical school if he hadn't been picked up by the Chiefs and apparently "doesn't forget anything he sees, hears or does."
***
When you line these factors up, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if the Chiefs entered the 2009 season with Rudy Niswanger as the starting center. I don't know enough about the technical aspects of the center position to break down his play in 2008, but I've heard more than a few critiques of him from folks on AP.
No matter how you feel about Niswanger as the Chiefs' center, it appears the stars are aligning so that he'll be the starter in '09.
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It certainly looks as though
Rudy will be the starting center. And, even though I saw how he played last year (mediocre is probably an overstatement), I don’t have much of a problem with that.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think Rudy had ever played C before last year. Given that, I certainly believe he had his trial under fire, and should be better off for it. Also, Mike Goff is a major upgrade over Adrian Jones at RG, so that will help.
I know he was originally a guard
Which means he’s got experience across the line, which is always nice.
by Joel Thorman on Apr 18, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Keep Rudy
Like you said, he was coming in at a new position, and is seemingly smart based on the Chief’s action on him. If we can grab a RT in the 3rd/4th Rd (hoping Loadholt is still available), the upgrade at RG and with Waters at LG, that looks pretty solid, with both OT’s and C young. Then we can focus the 3rd rd pick (or mythical 2nd) on more D help.
I really thought Niswanger did a decent job at center, and have said that for awhile.
Of course I definitely agree his size would be better used as a guard. This is such a center deep draft that I’d be surprised if we didn’t pick one up at some point.
Rudy was so lost at center last year
he was shooting towards the right guy it’s just that he’s so slow off the snap opposing D linemen were making mince meat out of him. Maybe Bill Muir could change that.
Time is a great teacher... unfortunately it kills all it's pupils.
Being slow of the snap
probably had a lot to do with getting used to the C position as opposed to G. He’s probably taking extra care that he doesn’t botch the snap which would give him an extra delay coming off the line. I bet if we moved him to guard he’d be perfect.
as long as sackintosh isn't starting, our line should actually be respectable
for the first time in a few years..Damn it got bad fast
by CALIFAN1986 on Apr 18, 2009 4:07 PM CDT reply actions
Macintosh would do good playing at guard
where he belongs. He’s not quick enough to play tackle but he’s got all the necessary strength to play guard
Time is a great teacher... unfortunately it kills all it's pupils.
Im not sticking up.......
For sackintosh but he did only allow 7.5 sack’s, compare that to the bill’s peter’s who allowed 14.5 (and went to the pro-bowl i might add)! Do i think we need to draft a RT, yes but in the later rd’s !
Rudy did ok i guess, i really don’t sit and brake down o-line guy’s play, but i feel like he would be better suited to play RG or LG! I just think he is too tall for playing Center, it’s to easy for guy’s to get under him in short yardage play’s!
With all the good Center’s in this year’s draft , just think we need to give them a good hard look! We need a Center for the future, and IMO it wouldn’t be hard to find one in this year’s draft! Us Chief fan’s have been spoiled over the last 2 decade’s with a outstanding O-line, and it’s hard to deal with when you have a shitty one!
The Reason He Only Gave Up 7.5
Was because the Chiefs went to the spread mid-season, which made it easier for the QB to get rid of the ball quicker. If they’d run the same offense Herm ran to start the year (the one McIntosh was brought in to play in), he could very well have given up 20 sacks.
Basically, he’s just in an offense that hides his deficiencies, but they’re still there.
Predictions for 2009
1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.
2. The Lions will draft Matt Stafford, the Rams will draft Jason Smith, and the Chiefs will draft either Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe.
3. Maurice Carthon will be the most hated man on the Chiefs' coaching staff within two years.
And Jason Peters
Didn’t belong anywhere near the Pro Bowl. That line of Buffalo’s was not good…and mediocre play on Peters’ part was as much to blame as anything else.
Predictions for 2009
1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.
2. The Lions will draft Matt Stafford, the Rams will draft Jason Smith, and the Chiefs will draft either Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe.
3. Maurice Carthon will be the most hated man on the Chiefs' coaching staff within two years.
Once again
I agree and was just pointing out the sack #‘s! Peter’s going to the Pro-Bowl, was a joke in my opinion!
by CPT.Caveman on Apr 19, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Pro Bowl Voting For O-Line Overall Is A Joke
Once offensive linemen go to a Pro Bowl or two they often keep going, not because they deserve to but because Pro Bowl voters don’t really pay that much attention to linemen and they get in on name recognition.
Not only was Peters weak in pass protection, but he also missed games because of a holdout and was underwhelming in run-blocking (as any Marshawn Lynch owner last year was probably well aware).
Predictions for 2009
1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.
2. The Lions will draft Matt Stafford, the Rams will draft Jason Smith, and the Chiefs will draft either Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe.
3. Maurice Carthon will be the most hated man on the Chiefs' coaching staff within two years.
I agree
Like i said im not defending him,and i think he need’s go,but it wouldnt hurt to keep him for depth!
by CPT.Caveman on Apr 19, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions
If He's Just A Backup At RT
I’m okay with that. Although I’d rather the Chiefs found someone else, because he’s clearly in the decline stage of his career and he’s just not that good.
Predictions for 2009
1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.
2. The Lions will draft Matt Stafford, the Rams will draft Jason Smith, and the Chiefs will draft either Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe.
3. Maurice Carthon will be the most hated man on the Chiefs' coaching staff within two years.
Is there
Anytihing in my comment that’s good or do you just like find the negative stuff?
by CPT.Caveman on Apr 19, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions
I Agree That Rudy's Okay To Keep On The Line Somewhere
I wasn’t in love with him as a center, but he wasn’t horrible and there’s probably room for him somewhere. I just don’t think he’d be a starter on a good team and is probably more of a capable reserve.
Predictions for 2009
1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.
2. The Lions will draft Matt Stafford, the Rams will draft Jason Smith, and the Chiefs will draft either Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe.
3. Maurice Carthon will be the most hated man on the Chiefs' coaching staff within two years.
So I Like Your Idea Of Drafting A Center
Basically, if I don’t respond to something you write, you can usually assume that either I agree with it or I don’t have a strong enough opinion on it to dispute it…doesn’t mean I automatically dislike everything you said just because I disagree on a couple of points. :)
Predictions for 2009
1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.
2. The Lions will draft Matt Stafford, the Rams will draft Jason Smith, and the Chiefs will draft either Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe.
3. Maurice Carthon will be the most hated man on the Chiefs' coaching staff within two years.
ok.....
KOOL i was start to think you hate me :P
by CPT.Caveman on Apr 20, 2009 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions
I'd love to see us get a right tackle out of this draft somewhere who can come in
and start
by CALIFAN1986 on Apr 18, 2009 4:07 PM CDT reply actions
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy,
love that movie. Rudy will be there, our right tackle still concerns me.
Now hopefully this team is fun to watch again! Thanks Scott, Clark!!
Were drafting a tackle
It just makes too much sense at this point. Do you really think Pioli would put a guy out at tackle who has done nothing but regress in the past few years? Especially with his golden boy Cassel out there.
Time is a great teacher... unfortunately it kills all it's pupils.
I hope
if we cannot trade down, it is the safest pick, and best chance for an immediate impact.
Now hopefully this team is fun to watch again! Thanks Scott, Clark!!
I bet
even if we trade down Pioli sn’t going to want Sackintosh on the right side. While its not clear where, Kansas City will have a new RT following draft day
Time is a great teacher... unfortunately it kills all it's pupils.
...
There is going to be a lot of wheeling and dealing in the draft. If we find ourselves with a low 1st or high 2nd, after taking a LB/OT above that, we should really consider Alex Mack. Apparently, many feel that he is the Joe Montanna of Centers. If that doesn’t happen, and we are picking 3rd, we should consider Louigs with that 3rd.
In our situation
Eric Wood would make the most sense at C in the draft over both Mack and Unger. Wood has been proclaimed the best center going up against a NT in the draft. We have a bunch of 3-4 teams on our schedule and with Denver switching to the 3-4, we have two 3-4 teams in the division. The key to tearing up a 3-4 is having a center that can fare 1 on 1 with the NT, Baltimore showed us this last year with Jason Brown
Time is a great teacher... unfortunately it kills all it's pupils.
I so agree
He could be a big improvement in the middle of our line, but I am a little concerned that they haven’t looked at any of these centers as Primetime said. Not that he would be there by the time we pick in the 3rd anyway.
Beg to differ
I’d go for a late round gem by the name of A.Q. Shipley out of Penn St. He is pretty much a Jeff Saturday clone and from what they say has a hefty mean streak. I think Rudy is a decent center and will continue to improve, its obvious that he has work ethic and intelligence which are two things tough to teach grown men once they are on your team, you can always teach football.
"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."
We cannot fix every position in one draft
If Rudy can get us through this year, we can reevaluate the need next year and make a decision on the need at that time.
"But what do I know, I'm AP's new assclown and I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"
mabye not EVERY position
But… they can certainly fill Most of the immediate needs this year.
C is a position of need, and a mid/late rounder this year will be a solid starter for years in KC.
with 7 picks, if they make 5 of them really count (adding in a margin for error)
The Chiefs can get a C, RT, DE/OLB, ILB and RB or WR…
That fills damn near all of the major needs, the way I see it.
if there’s not a trade down, I could see something like this working out in an ideal scenario:
Monroe OT, Kruger OLB/DE, Brinkley ILB, Coffeee RB, Shipley or Cecil Newton C
RT
MacIntosh really “SCARES” me at RT. He is going to get our new franchise QB Killed. Mark it down you heard it from me first. If we don’t replace him with somebody a whole lot better, its going to be “INJURED RESERVE” for Matt Cassel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He got better
As the season went along he was better, I have no problem with him at RT. I don’t see our line as a problem area myself, this is why I don’t feel a LT is the best choice for the team if they stay at 3.
You see no problem at rt?
Really, only when we went to the spread did he look better. Bring in the stats, that is fine, but remember Bones cut down on the sacks with his mobility alone. When we go to a more conventional style offense, he will get Cassel hammered.
Now hopefully this team is fun to watch again! Thanks Scott, Clark!!
RT IS a problem
McSackintosh is done.
they should see if B Rich can step up, or draft someone.
Either way, there will be a new starter this year, and they will be better than what was there last year.
actually
we have heard that on here 194 times
"But what do I know, I'm AP's new assclown and I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"
Rudy
He’s smart and he’s tough, hr gritted out some games tjey were short and needed him and remember last year was his first getting significant time. I’d still like to see a Luigs in the mid rounds/
depth
even if Rudy starts again this year, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a C drafted on day 2. it’s great and all to have a good line, but we do need depth too. we have plenty of guards(or potential ones, sackintosh) now. RT and C. need depth.
I believe it was two years ago,
and BW went down with an injury and Rudy stepped in and i never heard about him, which is a pretty good sign, because it meant he wasnt getting beat at the guard position. Maybe the Chiefs are not showing us their cards and are going to be trading away Waters, grab a center in the draft, and move Rudy to right guard. This would be a good move in my book.
+1
I could definitely see Rudy being moved to guard in a Waters trade. I hadn’t thought about that.
this could happen
I’d take a couple of picks for Waters, and get a C in the draft, Rudy at LG… but then they’d need to draft another G.
I like the idea someone threw out on another post about trading with Buffalo for Parrish and a draft pick or two… that way, they fill a need at WR/KR and pick up an extra draft pick or two to get depth at G and a starting C.
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