Why Pioli will draft Raji or Jackson.
by Vince D on Apr 21, 2009 3:17 PM CDT
24 comments
This is just gonna be a short post since there are already way too many speculative posts. I believe that regardless of where the Chiefs pick in the first round, we will draft either B.J. Raji or Tyson Jackson. Why, you ask?
Look at our positions of need before Pioli came: QB, WR, OL, LB, DL
Now look at our trade/free agent acquisitions since then: QB (Cassel), WR (Engram), OL (Goff), LB (Vrabel, Thomas).
And what free agent did we not sign? NT Albert Haynesworth. Oh, we tried to... but Washington pretty much had the deal done. So Pioli wants a nose tackle. Sure, Tank Tyler could work, but if Pioli had that much faith in Tank, he wouldn't have made a play for Haynesworth. Raji would be the anchor on our defensive line, leaving Dorsey, Tyler, Boone, Edwards, McBride, and Johnston to compete for the DL positions.
Tyson Jackson is also a possibility, though. We had the cap room to make a run at Chris Canty, Igor Olshansky, Julius Peppers, or any other defensive end in free agency, but as far as we know, none of those guys were brought in for a workout. That means that either Pioli thinks we already have enough talent on the team, or he plans on addressing that need in the draft. Jackson can play DE in either the 3-4 or 4-3, so he seems like Pioli's type of guy. Perfect fit for our team IMO.
Now, some of you will still call for Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe. While possible, here's why I believe they won't be picked. Right now our linebackers will probably line up like this: Johnson, Thomas, Vrabel, Hali/McBride. There is no room for Aaron Curry on that line unless he splits reps with someone. It seems a little overboard to sign two veteran linebackers and then draft another one #3 overall.
Eugene Monroe, while he's an excellent player, is unnecessary. We drafted a great rookie LT in the first round last year, and the argument that we should slide a first round left tackle to right tackle is silly when you can pick a very good right tackle later in the draft and when we already have two young right tackle prospects in Richardson and Taylor. We have the longest tenured OL coach in Bill Muir to develop them too. So why would we want to waste a top pick on another lineman? Does that seem like something Pioli would do? You decide.
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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Rajii is the same as Eugene Monroe for me
If Pioli thinks he’s the right guy, I’ll be fine with the pick. It may come down to who he likes better between the two. Both have some red flags. Curry could still be an option, but I think in a perfect world he would love to come out of this draft with a dominant NT.
by RedNose on Apr 21, 2009 3:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree with you
I think we are better off going with defensive line here. I live an hour and a half from Wake Forest, and I am not impressed with Curry. I also got a good look at Monroe and was completely underwhelmed.
by NCChiefs on Apr 21, 2009 3:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The key is what trades may happen
If Waters gets traded, I think they’ll draft LT and drop Albert to LG (where he played in college) and form a dominating left side of the line. If they keep Waters, then they go defense with #3 and probably Raji . . .
by Dallas Chief on Apr 21, 2009 3:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
In that case,
I think the question is if Waters will be traded before draft day, before the #3 pick, or after the #3 pick.
by Vince D on Apr 21, 2009 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good point
All of the variations become a swirling storm! I wish we could find out afterwards what offers/proposals were actually out there.
by Dallas Chief on Apr 21, 2009 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like Jackson
over Raji. Raji’s got “character issues” written all over him. I think the reason we didn’t take on Haynesworth was that, as you stated, the ‘Skins had him pretty much locked before anyone else had a chance (some experts even accused Washington of inadmissible contact with Haynesworth’s agent due to how quickly the contract was tabled and agreed to) and that Pioli/Haley had virtually no chance to evaluate the level of talent on our roster at the time. Our DC wasn’t even finalized at that point so saying Tank has already been written off as a project because we showed some interest in Haynesworth is a bit hasty.
Tyler has the leverage and strength to take on double teams and, as an earlier fanpost noted, he’s excited about moving from DT to NT. Considering that NT is the less glamorous of the two (never thought I’d actually call a DL position “glamorous”, even by comparison), that’s a good sign because it shows he is comfortable playing the Nose. He was the strongest man at the combine when drafted (correct me if I’m wrong), based on his reps at 225, and could put on another 15-20 pounds of muscle before September, meaning his impression of a boulder would be all but solidified.
Pioli’s apparent inattention to the NT slot, which is so crucial to the function of a 4-3U or 3-4, seems more related to Tyler winning the confidence of our coaching staff than our intention to draft a NT early. There are at least a few guys that could come in and provide immediate competition at Nose that will be available on day 2 whereas talent at 3-4 DE drops off considerably after Jackson is off the board though.
Bask in the glory that is Kwame Harris. Poor Alex...
by JHWK on Apr 21, 2009 4:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm of the opinion
That we won’t base our #3 and most important draft pick hopefully of the next 10+ years on the signing of 35+ year old FA that will be here likely for one season.
I think its ridiculous to look at the signings of Zack Thomas and Bobby Engram or the trade for Vrabel and think we’ve ‘addressed’ those positions.
I’m not sure we’re taking Curry…he’d be my pick, but if we don’t, I think we’ll go with Monroe or J. Smith.
Could we take Raji? Yeah, it could happen.
Jackson would be a fine choice if we’re able to trade down, I like pretty much everyone else would love to trade down, I just don’t think anyone should get thier hopes up, b/c it just doesn’t happen anymore.
by kcsno56 on Apr 21, 2009 4:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree......
Thomas and Vrabel are here for 1 maybe 2 yrs at the most, it would be foolish not to at least pick a guy to replace them in the future! I’m not just talkin Curry either, to me we need a MLB more than a OLB, unless we get a DE/OLB with just 1 pick! I would rather have R.Maualuga, C.Barwin, or A.Maybin! Wouldn’t it be nice to get C.Barwin and R.Maualuga,with those 2 pick’s we are done on the D-fensive side of the ball and could go Offense with the rest of our pick’s!
by CPT.Caveman on Apr 21, 2009 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am completely, 100% in agreement
That Thomas and Vrabel won’t be here by the start of the 2011 season (Thomas probably will be done before 2010). What that doesn’t mean is that we can view those positions as still in need of help. The draft won’t stop after 2009 and it’s not like there’s going to be a sudden shortage in talent at LB in future drafts either.
The point you’re overlooking is the one I’ve been trying to make for far too long now: Vrabel and Thomas are in no way long-term solutions like we hope Curry would be. That does not, however, mean that he is worth more than TJ who would be playing a position that is currently little more than an enormous void. SO we can either take the player that fills an immediate need from day one (TJ) or we can take Curry and give DJ/Thomas/Williams/Beisel some more competition.
You can’t fix everything in just one draft and Pioli has gone through this off season attempting to narrow down the positions we most need to fix before August. In order to do that he signed players like Vrabel, Thomas, Engram and Goff to play for 1-3 more years while we fix other holes.
Bask in the glory that is Kwame Harris. Poor Alex...
by JHWK on Apr 21, 2009 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only reason
I say to draft a LB is because of how many good one’s there are in this draft, and that there might not be anyone as good in next yr’s draft! This year IMO is one of the best for drafting LB’S in a long time, if ever!
by CPT.Caveman on Apr 21, 2009 9:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is a good point...
Good fresh argument in such an exhausted debate lol…
by woodman212 on Apr 21, 2009 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jackson is Dockett
It strike anyone else that we may be “in love with” Jackson because he is a very similar player to one of the few truly reliable players on the Cardinals defense which is Dockett. He is a high motor “tweener” that can be a force both in a 3-4 and a 4-3 Under formation. He may not get to the passer himself as much as a true pass rush end but the guy is a major disruption in the offensive front who helps to open lanes for other rushers and is solid in the run d.
by fixitquick79 on Apr 21, 2009 5:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Plus Jackson and Dorsey worked in tandem in past
So the learning curve is 0
you don't have to win and you don't need to fight. Supertramp
by Steve_Chiefs on Apr 21, 2009 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh .........
Almost forgot T.hali is not and will not make it as a OLB!
by CPT.Caveman on Apr 21, 2009 5:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
K if you're gonna make a statement like that
please explain why. Just because you say it, it doesn’t make it true.
by Vince D on Apr 21, 2009 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1000
Bask in the glory that is Kwame Harris. Poor Alex...
by JHWK on Apr 21, 2009 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with Caveman here
I really don’t think Tamba is fast enough to play OLB. From what I’ve read (somewhere I cannot find the site again sadly) but they said he runs around a 4.8 closer to 4.9 from what I recall. I would think that a decent OLB would have to be faster than that to be better than mediocre.
I hope we don’t draft Raji though I really feel he will be another Ryan Sims with us. I don’t see him being apart of “The Right 53”. He has a ton of issues and character flags that scare me. If we traded down and picked up Tyson Jackson I’d be cool with that, but I think that drafting Curry would be in our best interest. The kid is a run stuffer, and teams ran all over us last year. Which I think helped somewhat in our futility on sacks this year. Think about it if you’re killing a team by running the ball down their throat why pass. Please don’t think I’m saying he’ll solve that entire problem but he’ll definitely help. With us signing Zach Thomas, and getting Mike Vrabel, Curry has 2 guys he can learn from. Vrabel could teach him different techniques on rushing the passer as well as how to prepare and Thomas could mentor him if we were to move him to ILB and help mold him into the leader of the defense in the future which we need.
by scharny on Apr 21, 2009 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
T.Hali.......
IMO will only be good at rushing the QB from the OLB spot, he’s not agile enough to do anything else! So if he’s moved to the OLB position he’ll be sitting on the bench half the time! I say trade him if you can, maybe even throw him in with L.J in a trade for pick’s! The only way i think we should keep him is if we are staying 4-3, which we are not!
We have drafted guys that fit in to the 4-3 shceme over the last 3 yr’s why is everyone so shocked that they won’t fit in? We have to draft at least one good LB, that can come in and start if one of these guy’s goe’s down with a injury or we will be in the same boat we were last yr!
by CPT.Caveman on Apr 21, 2009 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some LB's later in draft to be on-field coached by Thomas and Vrabel
Would answer the Million $ puzzle of why Pioli brought in these stopgaps.
McKillop, Brinkley etc. would learn from the VETS
you don't have to win and you don't need to fight. Supertramp
by Steve_Chiefs on Apr 21, 2009 5:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
True story
Bask in the glory that is Kwame Harris. Poor Alex...
by JHWK on Apr 21, 2009 8:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like jackson
If we trade back but if we stay at 3 it has to be curry or monroe
by cassel4prez on Apr 21, 2009 6:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Understand the sentiment
But I would take the 1st rounder that I want wherever I had to take him if I can’t trade.
If you made a decision that you wanted 1969 Camaro and had the opportunity why trade for Vette
if that isn’t what you wanted. The DE is more important to Chiefs going forward since Allen trade.
Than best LB when others are servicable and we have all positions staffed at least temporarily.
you don't have to win and you don't need to fight. Supertramp
by Steve_Chiefs on Apr 21, 2009 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think...
that Pioli is thinkin Dorsey at least addresses DT for now…DE or some sort of pass-rusher is the missing thing in what we have signed I guess..
by woodman212 on Apr 21, 2009 9:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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