Breaking Down the O-Line - Season Review
by Bewsaf on Jan 12, 2010 9:30 AM CST
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At one point in the season the Chiefs offense was so bad fans didn't know what to think. Some laid blame at the feet of the QB, others the RB, and yet others the Receivers. The offensive line received the worst ridicule.
That's when I decided to start reviewing the offensive line tapes and grade them. Why not? It seemed like I did it 24/7 when I was a football coach. I think I used to get some sadistic pleasure out of breaking down film. Maybe that is why I found pleasure in doing it again. Hope those of you at AP have gotten some value out of it.
In general I am confident when I say that the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line got better as the year went along. In addition to each of the starters making progress, the line as a whole was more of one cohesive unit. Is it good enough? No, and I think Haley would agree.
In this post I have gone back and reviewed all the notes I took after reviewing film. The result is my 2009 season review of each lineman.
Here are the reviews for the Kansas City Chiefs starting lineman...
| Branden Albert |
LINE AWARD | Game Grades After a Review of the Tape | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1 |
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Strength after reviewing the tape: Very athletic. Has potential to be a complete player. Has ability to zone block (reach block), make second level blocks (blocks on linebackers), pass block, and zone block during run plays (as apposed to a mauler). If he does not end up at left tackle...has all the abilities to be a great guard in a zone blocking scheme. Weakness after reviewing the tape: May or may not be a left tackle. Looked awkward with footwork and punch in first 2/3 of the season. Is not a road grater that some teams want out of their tackle. He is to inconsistent at this point to be considered a lock at left tackle. Reviewer's Summery: Albert is defiantly an NFL starter. It remains to be seen whether that is at left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs or left guard. There was a lot of improvement with his footwork, balance, and punch the last few games. If the Chiefs draft a lineman with the number one pick in the NFL draft then Albert could remain at left tackle or may move to left guard. |
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| Brian Waters | LINE AWARD | Game Grades After a Review of the Tape | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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4 |
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Strength after reviewing the tape: Veteran leadership. One thing most Chief fans know is that Brian Waters is very loyal. Add his experience with playing with some of the best lineman in NFL history and you have a great teacher. Waters may be in the last quarter of his career but he still knows how to get the job done. Weakness after reviewing the tape: Waters was beat a lot more than his percentages indicate. But being the veteran he is...he found a way to hold, sling, punch, cut, or anything else he could do to get the job done. Veterans do that. Zone blocking and pulling into space may come into question as Waters gets older. As it did in the last couple of games this year. Reviewer's Summery: Waters still has a few years left in him. His abilities as a veteran to guide younger players and promote line continuity is priceless. Former KC center Tim Grunhard suggested on a popular radio broadcast that Waters might look good if moved to center...I might agree. If the Chiefs take an offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL draft then we might see Waters move back to the position he came into the league playing, center. |
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| Rudy Niswanger |
LINE AWARD | Game Grades After a Review of the Tape | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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0 |
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Strength after reviewing the tape: Versatile lineman. Rudy can play center or guard. The more a player can do the more valuable he is to a team. He is athletic enough to zone block and pull (if he played guard). Weakness after reviewing the tape: Niswanger has trouble with the big nose tackles, but who doesn't. He was "driven" the most out of all the lineman this season. Sometimes plays to high for a center which allows those defensive beasts, the NTs, to get under his pads. Still needs work sealing the deal with blocks at the second level. Reviewer's Summery: Niswanger has made himself into a valuable asset. He continued to improve during the season so if he does end up playing center next year he will come in better than he did this year. He played very good in the last game against Denver. If things shake up due to the drafting of some lineman...then look for Rudy fight for a starting job or be a quality backup. |
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| Wade Smith |
LINE AWARD | Game Grades After a Review of the Tape | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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0 |
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Strength after reviewing the tape: Versatile lineman. Smith played left tackle and center before settling in at right guard. Like Niswanger, Wade is a valuable asset with his ability to play multiple positions. He has a good understanding of when to pass defenders off and good vision when picking up loop stunts. He is athletic, can zone block, and can get to the second level. Weakness after reviewing the tape: Has trouble in the run game. This is not really a surprise because his trouble in pass protection, which is his strength, is the bull rush. Not sure Wade has enough "mauler" in him to be a multiple year starter...we will see. Reviewer's Summery: Wade Smith made good strides at the end of the season. If he continues to start at right guard next year he will have to continue to get better. If there is a shake up in the line through the draft or free agency...look for Smith to be another valuable Chiefs backup. |
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Later, I will be coming out with a review on the zone blocking scheme and how the line-play grew more complicated as the season went along.
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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Comments
Great post!
I loved these grades all season. Awesome insight into the O-Line play.
LOTS of people say Waters is old and might play better at Center than Guard.
LOTS of people say Niswanger is too tall to play Center and would be better at Guard.
WHY wouldn’t Haley make that change during the season? Or is that an adjustment that needs to be done in the offseason and the transition worked through in camp?
I think this line gets a LOT better with some additional interior linemen. Also where do we anticipate Colin Brown playing? He came out at RT, but I’ve rumbling of moving him to Guard as well.
Thier is 'chemistry' that is supposed attained...
from a center and a QB. During the middle of the season if that ‘chemistry’ is disrupted you get mis-snapped balls and such.
Unfortunately during this season we saw Niswanger snapping the ball over Cassel’s head, and other stupid stuff. Hopefully we upgrade the Center position in one form or another.
Maybe...
They just didn’t want to block for LJ?
Never know.
Heck, I might just have taken shots at him myself if I was serving on the KC line when he was around.
good point, I would have zero respect for him, and would much rather block for a guy like charles who appreciates it.
Haley is the right coach who just needs good people around him, much like Cassel
Vince Wilfork will be Scott Pioli's top offseason priority and will be a Chief.
KC Will Trade Derrick Johnson this offseason, and try to deal for Boldin
LJ's dumbass...
Couldn’t find the hole if you threw flour on it and flagged the wet spot.
"The first step to penetration... must not be lateral"
-Confucius, in contrary to Glenn Dorsey lining up in the 2-tech
by ArrowSpread on Jan 12, 2010 10:04 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Actually, when LJ was moving pretty well behind a blocker,
he’d regularly push the guy out of his way with a hand to one shoulder or the other. Lead blocking for LJ means you’re likely to be TACKLED from behind.
Prediction for '09: Chiefs are looking like a .500 team, especially considering Denver's inattention to D-Line, Chokeland's disarray, and a San Diego team that looks like it's on the decline. With a weak schedule, Chiefs steal a few and win between 7 and 9 games, and if .500 or better, will contend for supremacy in a weak division.
Great post, Bewsaf.
Anxious to see the followup regarding the complications of zone blocking.
I fully believe the change in scheme was a large proponent of the mass amounts of sucktitude displayed over the first half of the season.
Rectified!
"The first step to penetration... must not be lateral"
-Confucius, in contrary to Glenn Dorsey lining up in the 2-tech
Great work!!!
Enjoyed it all season. Look forward to next post on zone blocking scheme.
Good stuff as always Bewsaf
From a coaches standpoint, how much improvement do you think there would have been in th OL if Weis had been here last season?
Bews, a most excellent post, in-depth and great stuff ... and ty for all your stuff all year long
wondering about the numbers/rating system … is that a scale of 1-5 or what? ie, the Line Award thing …
Arrowspread: I agree, the change in offense (when Chan was canned) had to lead to a lot of crap all around, including … especially … line play
as complicated a system as we run now, including zone blocking for a system that wasn’t really DESIGNED for that, it takes time for players to learn it, and more time for it all to “gel” … OLine is a unit, and they have to play together AS a unit for awhile to really be effective
breeder: I don’t think Weis being here will change anything … he runs the same system and should use the same terminology, etc … the thing is, what hurt us, was the whole system being changed just before the season began … had Weis come aboard right then, you’d still have seen the same mess
hi, Mo!
5 minutes!!!
I don't know there would have been as much mess
No doubt the line play probably would have been just as horrid, but I think the way Cassel reacts to all the hits, pressures, hurries… All that changes. Cassel is less hesitant, more focussed on getting the ball out early, not holding the ball as long… The WRs maybe get more on the same page as far as checks at the line, spotting blitzes, hot reads…
I think with a QB coach and/or a dedicated OC like Weis, more of those things come together.
It definitely could have been better than it was, IMO, but would have still been below expectations.
"The first step to penetration... must not be lateral"
-Confucius, in contrary to Glenn Dorsey lining up in the 2-tech
by ArrowSpread on Jan 12, 2010 10:19 AM CST up reply actions
The line award
Was an award I gave out each week for the lineman the earned a 90% in both run blocking and pass blocking, e.g, O’Callaghan achieved that 3 times.
I agree, good o-line play takes time.
Bewsaf
ty for that explanation ... got it
so yeah … O’Call, Albert, Waters and I think Rudy somewhere (RG?) … coupla pickups in offseason (draft draft draft!) should look decent in 2010
should
hi, Mo!
5 minutes!!!
well, I figure it cant be worse than chris terry
Haley is the right coach who just needs good people around him, much like Cassel
Vince Wilfork will be Scott Pioli's top offseason priority and will be a Chief.
KC Will Trade Derrick Johnson this offseason, and try to deal for Boldin
It looks like if we simply switched Niswanger and Waters
Around we could see significantly improved line play. I’d prefer to draft a center and/or guard, but having this option gives us valuable flexibility.
Check out my blog on software development:
http://www.turnleafdesign.com/
by Scaryclouds on Jan 12, 2010 10:21 AM CST via mobile reply actions
I think Waters could be a great center
but if Rudy can’t protect Cassel’s blind side as well as Waters then maybe not such a good move.
agreed
having Waters there to help Albert seems important, too, at least until Albert gets some more experience
Conversation b/t Special baseball operations consultant Zapp Brannigan and GM Dayton Moore: "...but paper covers rock and rock crushes scissors...we have a conundrum. Get me some paper, a rock, and some scissors."
by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 12, 2010 12:59 PM CST up reply actions
I think it's too early to say Waters is "no longer a mauler"
Based on the end of season talk, he’s been battling a bad wheel all season. I look forward to him having a big season next year.
I also agree that the line got a lot of grief for poor play by 2.7 (who has, I believe, proven he’s done, though he’ll probably get a gig for some desperate team next year), and overall problems in getting accustomed to the new scheme.
I hope to see new faces starting at C and RG next year (or if Waters moves to C, LG). I think C is the most critical since that position is responsible for calling protections.
Bewsaf, I’ve enjoyed these posts this season and I hope to see them next season, with better grades!
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then give up. There's no use in being a damn fool about it." ---W.C. Fields
When you get up in age like he is
Bad wheels are a commonplace.
"The first step to penetration... must not be lateral"
-Confucius, in contrary to Glenn Dorsey lining up in the 2-tech
by ArrowSpread on Jan 12, 2010 10:24 AM CST up reply actions
Granted
I can say with confidence that he did not demonstrate that he was a mauler this year. Whether that is due to injury, age, loss of weight, or what ever…I do not know.
I don’t think saying someone is not a mauler is an insult though. Some great lineman in the NFL are not maulers (especially those that excess the a zone scheme)
and thanks Big Chief
Bewsaf
Nice work Bewsaf--good read and very educational.
With this system in place for an entire season, this line should be much improved next season.
I was pleased to read about Rudy Niswanger’s improvement—I’ve always been a fan of his from a personal standpoint (smart guy who loves the game of football and plays any position to get on the field). But I’ve had issues with his performance in ’08 and ’09, and feel that his lack of physical strength and height really bring him down as our starting pivot. Does he have the body/strength for guard, in your opinion?
"You've only got 10 fingers to stick in the dike. Is there a breaking point that pushes you over the edge?...Where's the limit?"
-Marty Schottenheimer
BTW--rec'd also.
"You've only got 10 fingers to stick in the dike. Is there a breaking point that pushes you over the edge?...Where's the limit?"
-Marty Schottenheimer
by go_saleaumua on Jan 12, 2010 10:26 AM CST up reply actions
Rudy looked really good in the last game against Denver
Is that a one game thing? I don’t know. But he did get better at the end of the season in the number of times he was driven and showed he was athletic enough to reach block a defender or get to the second level (although he still needed to improve and finish the block after he arrived).
I think he has, and can, play guard. Although I have not seen him play guard.
Bewsaf
Thanks for the reply.
And that’s encouraging, b/c Ronnie Fields is a solid NT. If Rudy was able to get some work done on him (which he was), perhaps that bodes well for 2010. Of course, as Gretz has pointed out…the rising JC tide lifts all OL boats…
Niswanger backed up guard in either ’06 or ’07…and played some of it in college. In fact, he played a little of every line spot in college if memory serves me.
"You've only got 10 fingers to stick in the dike. Is there a breaking point that pushes you over the edge?...Where's the limit?"
-Marty Schottenheimer
by go_saleaumua on Jan 12, 2010 10:48 AM CST up reply actions
Great stuff as always
I’m curious about decision making. As I understand your grading system, the focus is on success/failure once a block is engaged. This is, of course, the core component of OL play. However, there is also a component of decision making…who to block and where to try and puch them. In a zone blocking scheme, the hole is often not predefined. The decisions made by the OL often determine where the RB will find daylight. I’m wondering how much improvement you saw during the season and is dome players improved more than others.
This is my signature line. It is full of awesome and win.
by KCSatchmo on Jan 12, 2010 10:58 AM CST reply actions
jesus I can't type today
“and did some players improved more than others?”
This is my signature line. It is full of awesome and win.
by KCSatchmo on Jan 12, 2010 10:59 AM CST up reply actions
Yes, I focus on getting the job done or not getting the job done.
I did not focus on tech or dominance. There are a number of ways of doing things…and since I can’t talk to Haley (or he won’t talk to me) then I try not to grade philosophy driven things .
The direction and general location might be known but the exact hole the back will run through is not known (by the line or back)…as you stated. The hole the back runs through is generally based on how successful the line is at scooping the defenders. If all the defenders are reached and the outside is sealed then the play might go outside. If all but one is reached…then the o-lineman that did not reach his defender just drives him where he wants to go…and the back reads that…and cuts back.
So the line just performs and the back reads that performance.
As far as what you are asking, I am not completely sure, but the o-line did get better at knowing more of what to do when they did not reach their defender (things they do on the fly).
I can say, however, that a lot of the production (the final yardage result increase) was more from Jamaal being just the right fit for that scheme. But I don’t want people to think that the line did not get better by saying that, because they did.
Bewsaf
omg, Bews, you're kidding!
… I can’t talk to Haley (or he won’t talk to me) …
Haley, you FOOL!
hi, Mo!
5 minutes!!!
The Chiefs would be better off if Haley would talk to more fans. :)
Bewsaf
by Bewsaf on Jan 12, 2010 12:30 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Is that....yes it is...the list guuuy...wow...didn't you make the list?
I want to have your baby
Bewsaf
sounds like the solution is
shift the whole line a slot to the right. Leave o’callaghan, and draft a top LT
Top LTs don't grow on trees.
Best Player Available at Position of Need, especially at Left Tackle, can lead you right back to the well the NEXT year, doing the same thing at the same position, with everybody playing in an unfamiliar position, while you’re figuring out that you did NOT find an upgrade at LT.
But it was cool the way Michael Oher came in, started at RT, and was waiting in the wings to play LT, when the Ravens needed him to do so down the stretch.
Prediction for '09: Chiefs are looking like a .500 team, especially considering Denver's inattention to D-Line, Chokeland's disarray, and a San Diego team that looks like it's on the decline. With a weak schedule, Chiefs steal a few and win between 7 and 9 games, and if .500 or better, will contend for supremacy in a weak division.
as always, I'm with mills on this one
That 2nd round RT/possible LT of the future sounds “real nice, Clark”
Ciron Black is my favorite candidate, I think.
You're either growing or you're dying, there ain't no third direction
-Big Tom Callahan
Geaux Chiefs
"For what we are about to see next, we must enter quietly into the realm of genius." Scott "Young Frankenstein" Pioli
by Steve_Chiefs on Jan 12, 2010 5:56 PM CST up reply actions
Rec'd as usual
Do you have any more copies of these games?
If you mean...
film – no (I burned all proof that the Chiefs actually had a season in 09)
notes- yes (but I claim executive privilege – what? Bush did it)
past posts on AP – yes (that is public record)
Bewsaf
Haha
Yeah I meant film. I meant to record some games at the end of the year, but I upgraded to Windows 7 and I guess my TV tuner isn’t compatible.
rec
Thanks Bewsaf
looking forward to that scheme post:)
"For what we are about to see next, we must enter quietly into the realm of genius." Scott "Young Frankenstein" Pioli
OK, so who gets the ax?
The line still needs to improve. If it were up to you, who would be replaced or how would the line be reshuffled?
From your review, I see two main possibilities. 1. Draft an LT with our top pick and move everyone to the right except O’Cal and have Smith and Rudy battle for the RG spot (or draft a new one). 2. Spend the first draft spot on another position (safety), leave Albert at LT and draft a C and/or RG later in the draft. I guess it all boils down to if you feel Albert is going to get the job done at LT.
I intended to show that there are a few ways the Chiefs can go.
I just don’t think there is one “right” way to go about this.
I think Pioli is a “win in the trenches guy”. So I would not be surprised if he goes Okung in the 1st if he is available. If he is not, or Pioli does not, then that can be ok also (per your #2 example).
In all scenarios, I would guess that Wade Smith is on the bubble. Although I have not seen Niswanger at guard…I have doubts that Wade Smith can beat Rudy out if they were the only two battling for the job at RG.
Bewsaf
I wana throw something at you guys...
I have been going over the draft and seem to think that the 1st 2nd 2nd 3rd might be best to draft defense. It just seems to be the way this draft is falling for BPA and where we are picking. Ill get into my ideas on 1-3 in another post. But what do you guys think about this….
4th Ciron Black – RT – come in to compete with O’Cal for the right takle position
5th Mitch Petrus – RG-come in to compete
2011 draft
1st or 2nd Kristofer O’dowd C
Stefen Wisinwiski C
Cause im just looking at were chips are falling right now..and if we dont grab Okung all the top picks seem to be a No-brainer for D
Pioli demonstrated last year that philosophy trumps player ranking
I see him taking at least one lineman in the first three rounds…unless he gets a top quality free agent (teams don’t let those go that often).
Bewsaf
thanks for all ur hard work!
this is by far always one of the best posts on AP.
by MountainManMike on Jan 12, 2010 7:54 PM CST reply actions
Bewsaf...
Yah I agree about the position over BPA. Last year I really wanted Curry and fell over backwards when I saw the pick. And, you might be absolutely right again this year. Where I think you can heavily weight PIoli’s decision to what he did last year….I don’t think you can pigeon hole him. On that note, I’ve been recently converted to wanting Berry more than Okung. I think he could pick Berry.
by MasterBlaster7 on Jan 13, 2010 12:41 PM CST reply actions
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