Differing Views on Chiefs New Center Ghiaciuc

by Joel Thorman on May 3, 2009 10:31 AM CDT in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Offseason

I was out of the "office" on Friday when the Kansas City Chiefs signed former Cincinnati Bengals center Eric Ghiaciuc. Keeping with the theme of many of the offseason signings, I didn't know anything about the guy. Just that he was a center with the Bengals and has been a starter for nearly three years. 27 years old with 42 games started at first glance makes Ghiaciuc look like a steal for the Chiefs, right?

Wrong. At least according to the Bengals fans. Here's what a few miscellaneous Bengals boards had to say about him.

Bengals Scout.com message board:

I'll miss the guy. If getting pushed around and sucking were an art form, this guy would be the greatest artist of our lifetime.

I'd rather sign a beanbag chair for depth than Eric G.

SBNation's Bengals site, Cincy Jungle:

There's always been that cloud over our heads in which the Bengals could eventually sign Eric Ghiaciuc back if they felt neither of the replacing candidates, like Kyle Cook, Dan Santucci, Jonathan Luigs were a strong upgrade. That cloud was dark, gray and thick; a downpour is imminent...

...The cloud evaporates, the sweat off the brow is wiped clean and the anxiety has dissipated.

FanSided's StripeHype:

A surprised Greg can only note that, "watching Eric Ghiaciuc start and play all 16 games for the 2008 Bengals as their center was like watching a garden hose spray water at a screen door. Everything got through."

At least Bengals fans can stop worrying about the possibility that Cincinnati will re-sign Ghiaciuc now. At least until KC wises up.

WhoDeyRevolution.com:

Good riddance. WDR is glad that Mike Brown's Bengals won't be able to retain his "services", which included: getting knocked on his ass (earning him the nickname of Inverse Human Pancake Machine), failing to open holes for running backs, and screwing up the center/QB exchange. Some people call that, "the job of a center."

Uh guys?!?!?! Shouldn't it tell you something by signing a Bengals cast-off? What, the Lions didn't have a center you could have taken?

There were plenty of Chiefs fans, led by our own KansasCityShuffle, who did not like the signing one bit and predicted Ghiaciuc is just "camp fodder." But there was also a section of fans that loved this move.

BobGretz.com:

Excellent move! No reason to complain about this signing. This is just another example of the type of low-key, under the radar free agent that Pioli was always digging up in New England.

Kansas City Star:

Good pick-up, wide body, 27 years old, durable - But most important Coachable.

Everyone will love this move.

The reason the center position is becoming increasingly important for the Chiefs is because in 2009 they'll play HALF of their games against teams running a 3-4 defense. This means that a 300+ pound nose tackle (and likely strong as an ox) will be lining up in front of our center this season.

Ghiaciuc is 6'4", 300 pounds. His competition, Rudy Niswanger, is 6'5", 301 pounds. The size, at first glance, doesn't seem to be an issue considering Scott Pioli's last center in New England, Dan Koppen, was 6'2", 296 pounds. He's been a starter since day one when he was drafted in the 5th round of the 2003 draft.

My official take on it is this - Ghiaciuc does have experience, even if it wasn't necessarily a positive one, running against 3-4 defenses (every other team in the AFC North runs it). Niswanger moved to center last season. Do I think Ghiaciuc is the answer at center? Probably not. But he provides depth at multiple positions. If he's slotted to play the center position come September, then we've got another body who can play guard (Niswanger).

Taking a line from Herm Edwards, "Competition. It's a good thing."

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Comments

Just because...

We took the guy doesn’t mean he IS our guy. I like Niswanger, however, I question whether or not he can play the starting role. Depth is always a nice thing. I recently filled out what I thought was going to be the depth chart come September and I had Herb Taylor and Barry Richardson all over the place. Ghiaciuc atleast gives us a backup plan at C and maybe G.

If Nose Tackles are getting bigger does this mean Centers will be getting bigger? Must be…right?

by Dono on May 3, 2009 10:41 AM CDT reply actions

Not sure how that works with NT vs. C

But you’re right it doesn’t mean he’s our guy. Depth is depth, I guess. From my view, it looks like we’ve got two back up centers (and no starter to be seen).

We’ll see. Schemes can change some things.

by Joel Thorman on May 3, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Very true.

Look at what Casey Wiegmann was able to do in Denver last year after many thought he had lost his ability in Herm’s offense.

I don't have religion. I have Baduizm...and Billie Holiday...and Janet. Actually, just Janet.

by DThomasReigns on May 3, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions

Bengals fans

I look at what the fans that have watched him over the last few years, and well this signing might not work out. But than with so many distractions in Cincy, who knows. This whole offseason seems weird. Starting with the B. Waters thing and our somewhat confusing draft.

vajazz24

by vajazz24 on May 3, 2009 10:48 AM CDT reply actions

I dont know why people think

they know centers? What do the Bengals fans know? Nobody is watching the center whent he games going on.. What they see from him is a sample size of what he is, Not saying he could be amazing, but ….

by SayHeyWerd on May 3, 2009 11:41 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed

I think a lot of it is guilt or success by association.

by Joel Thorman on May 3, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions

yeahh +1

by SayHeyWerd on May 3, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Trust me..

It’s hard to ignore Ghiacuc’s play when he’s getting manhandled every play. The guy is a human blocking sled and was blocked into Palmer countless times during the season. He’s undersized and is unable to react to opposing defenses and making correct line calls. I hope, for your sake, that the guy is “camp fodder” as you suggested.

by Adam Morgan on May 6, 2009 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions

This guy won't make final roster cuts

Called it immediately after his signing. Hope he befriends John McGraw because this guy is gonna be looking for a job come start of the season

Attn Todd Haley: "DO U WANNA FIGHT ME!?"

by KansasCityShuffle on May 3, 2009 12:40 PM CDT reply actions

I think it's funny when the Bengals fan says:

“I’ll miss the guy. If getting pushed around and sucking were an art form, this guy would be the greatest artist of our lifetime.”
If this is true, then Cincy has been churning out a number of great artists for decades now! haha.

by jonnyu on May 3, 2009 1:10 PM CDT reply actions

Ghiaciuc Round 2

Ghiaciuc wasn’t hard to spot— he was the guy that the nose tackle was shoving back into the QB’s face on any kind of 5- to 7-step drop pass play. It happened a lot last year— even the Bungle’s radio announcers were commenting on it from the beginning of the season onward. Ghiaciuc certainly was not the sole cause of Cincy’s poor offensive performance. Their offensive line got much worse after they lost a starting guard to Cleveland in free agency a couple of years ago, and then Willie Anderson’s play dropped off a lot at tackle, Andrews got injured, etc.

I certainly hope that the signing was for depth during camp, and that KC can find a better backup by the start of the regular season. As I wrote before, I think if KC has Ghiaciuc as their starting center, the offense will be in trouble against any team with a good nose tackle.

by Wheatboy74 on May 3, 2009 2:07 PM CDT reply actions

A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link

When Big Willie Anderson got traded to the Ravens before the start of the 08 season because Mike Brown didn’t want to pay too much for a “backup” Lineman. Trouble is, they could have used that “backup” after some early injuries. Not a great way to save money Mr Brown.

That being said, Ghiaciuc has a hard time stopping nose-tackles from pushing him over, has a harder time picking up the blitz, and doesn’t have enough gas to move most D linemen during a run.

Have fun.

by UpStateMike on May 5, 2009 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions