Chiefs Have A Few Emergency Centers On The Team

by Joel Thorman on Jul 13, 2010 2:51 PM CDT in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Season

A lot of us have been wondering who will come out the winner in the center battle between Casey Wiegmann and Rudy Niswanger. There are reasons to keep and to cut each player and that's something that will be figured out during camp.

Could they keep both?

Looking at the Chiefs roster, I'm not sure they would need to. Josh Looney of KCChiefs.com has been interviewing the Chiefs undrafted free agents and I noticed there are a few of them with experience at center.

Andrew Lewis spent some time at center in college and he talked about emulating Casey Wiegmann.

I’ve been watching both of them, especially Casey since he’s played in the league for so long. I just kind of watch him to see how he does everything. My thoughts are that you have to be doing something right if you’ve been able to stay in the league for as long as he has been.

Similarly, Lemuel Jeanpierre, another Chiefs undrafted free agent, talked about becoming accustomed to the center position.

Actually, going into my junior year I was at guard and we had another center who had been there for a while. I ended up getting hurt in the Tennessee game playing against (Eric) Berry and the boys. So, going into that next year it was brand new fight for me. We had a brand new offensive line coach and nothing is given to you. I understood that and I had to fight, fight, and fight.

Going into that junior year I was already the backup center, so that got me used to playing multiple positions. I could play both left and right guard, and then also center. I was in a position where I had to get in there any way that I could if I wanted to play football. So that’s how that ended up coming about.

Brian Waters also has some experience at center but that doesn't seem to be a likely scenario considering they'd then have to find another guard.

Of course just because you have a bunch of mediocre backups doesn't necessarily mean they would only go with Niswanger or Wiegmann but I'd still put my money on them keeping just one of those players.

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Comments

Didn't Asamoah have some time in practice playing also?

by Helmets on Jul 13, 2010 3:07 PM CDT reply actions

Not sure about with the Chiefs

But, yes, I believe he was also experienced at center in some capacity.

Arrowhead Pride
SBNation.com/NFL

by Joel Thorman on Jul 13, 2010 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Some players may be the "Center" of attention on this team.

Versatile players do get the attention of Coach Haley. Maybe the center position is open for the back up position. Good Point Joel.

Scott Pioli's star will shine in 2010.
Win or lose, the Chiefs scare the bejesus of all opponents in 2010

by ChiefsChance on Jul 13, 2010 3:15 PM CDT reply actions

I think if they only keep one of them it will be Rudy.

Weigmann’s best years are behind him. We don’t know that about Rudy, however I am starting to suspect that we are close to his ceiling. I don’t think that we are looking at enough legit center experience from other team members to let that basket be filled by only one egg.

Left Tackle is Brandon Albert's natural position.

by Idahochief on Jul 13, 2010 3:18 PM CDT reply actions

Seems to me, though...

That Casey and Rudy both have a better chance at both making the roster, than the undrafted FA’s do. I could be wrong.

I’m thinking we’ll keep them both. But, I could be wrong about that too. I had just envisioned the “old dog” trying to teach the “new dog” a few tricks this year.

10 + wins in 2010. Chiefs SHOCK the NFL!!! Mark it down.

by Scott B. on Jul 13, 2010 3:22 PM CDT reply actions

I remember last year being excited that we picked up Zach Thomas for that very reason.

I have since learned to beware of the twilight veteran FA.

Left Tackle is Brandon Albert's natural position.

by Idahochief on Jul 13, 2010 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't under estimate

The value of a veteran olineman…especially one that has many years experience playing beside our starting LG…Center’s seem to be able to perform later in their career easier than line backers

by groundedchevy on Jul 13, 2010 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Of course Wiegmann did just get his first ever Pro Bowl last year.

And centers can be a little older because they do a lot of double teams when matching up against a 4-3.

Niswanger is just too tall. It’s too easy for DTs and NTs to get under him and drive him back into the QBs lap. He’s almost a liability at that position. I like him better as a guard.

"You can't be fat and fast too; so lift, run, diet, and work." ~ Hank Stram

by citadelchief on Jul 13, 2010 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Well

The UDFAs could play multiple positions — both those guys can play guard as well — so I think if they were backups it would make more sense to keep them.

Arrowhead Pride
SBNation.com/NFL

by Joel Thorman on Jul 13, 2010 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions

I see both of them being practice squad this year.

Give them some time to learn from Wiegmann and the rest of the line. At least one will make the active roster next season.

"You can't be fat and fast too; so lift, run, diet, and work." ~ Hank Stram

by citadelchief on Jul 13, 2010 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I disagree

I think you title says it all…Chiefs have a few emergency backups at center….Not a backup able to hold down the line for half a season or a full season (if the starter went down week 1)….I think we will see both Rudy and Casey on the final 53….I’ve been wrong before tho

by groundedchevy on Jul 13, 2010 3:28 PM CDT reply actions

There's no way the Chiefs won't keep a solid veteran backup

at Center. The reason I say this, is because Center is a more of a skill position and the Center touches the ball every play. One bad snap or missed connection during a game can cost you the game. Because the Center touches the football on each and every play, the Chiefs won’t risk putting that responsibility in the event of an injury in the hands of an “Emergency” Center. It’s just too risky. If they wanted to free up a roster spot, they can designate one guy to back up two line positions, which by the way, they’ve already done, by designating Barry Richardson, the depth for both O’Callahan and Albert.

There is zero chance that both Rudy and Casey won’t shoulder the load at Center all year long.

Who starts….imo it will be Niswanger.

"If I'd written all the truth I knew for the past ten years, about 600 people - including me - would be rotting in prison cells from Rio to Seattle today. Absolute truth is a very rare and dangerous commodity in the context of professional journalism."

~Hunter S. Thompson~

by TheK-man on Jul 13, 2010 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions

You make good points.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
Go Chiefs!

by ARROWHEADSHANE on Jul 13, 2010 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Wasn't it great that Niswanger was the 12th man on defense for the Chargers last year...

Go Chiefs!!!!

by ravenhawk on Jul 13, 2010 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Probably both Wiegmann and Nieswanger

will remain on the roster. To my way of thinking, the thing to remember with Wiegmann is that he was not cut by Denver for poor play. He was let go because they were moving away from the zone blocking scheme which had served them well (go figure). Nieswanger’s play last year was only mediocre. That opens the door to the possibility that Wiegmann (who is used to a zone blocking scheme) could slide into the center spot and improve the play of the offensive line even is he is getting up there in age. Mike Webster served us (the Chiefs) well in the twilight of his career and guess who he mentored? Tim Grunhard. I think the starting o line will be Albert, Waters, Wiegmann, Lilja, and O’Callaghan. Waters and Wiegmann have played together before. Albert and Waters should have gotten to know each other last year playing side by side. The o line should be much improved this season.

"The Hammer"

by G.L. on Jul 13, 2010 3:41 PM CDT reply actions

Andrew Lewis

is from Joplin so Ive got to pull for the local guy!

by tomahawk44 on Jul 13, 2010 3:47 PM CDT reply actions

you bet!

I really think (and hope) he’ll at least make the practice squad

this should be the most exciting Chiefs team in years! Most major needs filled with playmakers, and the league's best coaching staff... 10-6 a possibility?

by stagdsp on Jul 13, 2010 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions

WIGGLEMAN AND NICEWANGER!

In case you were wondering this is their undercover porno names! t is so fun to be completely immature and nonsensical sometimes.

by CHIEFDOM22 on Jul 13, 2010 5:37 PM CDT reply actions

Brian Waters said so himself

that he has NEVER played center in his life. So why do people keep claiming that he has???

Eric Berry + Brandon Flowers = a pissed off Phillip Rivers

by fivehead on Jul 13, 2010 6:22 PM CDT reply actions

When did he say that?

Brian Waters was the center for the 2000 Berlin Thunder team before earning a spot on the KC Chiefs….http://www.footballdb.com/nfl-europe/teams/2000/berlin-thunder/roster

by groundedchevy on Jul 13, 2010 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Just to make it a little easier...

http://www.footballdb.com/players/brian-waters-waterbr01

Brian Waters C — — 02/18/1977 North Texas

Go Chiefs!!!!

by ravenhawk on Jul 13, 2010 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions

thats his birthday FYI...

but i think most people get the gist of it/

by desertKING on Jul 13, 2010 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions

yup that was from the first link...

;)

Go Chiefs!!!!

by ravenhawk on Jul 13, 2010 9:40 PM CDT up reply actions

they will keep both because

neither is all the good

Wiegmann has a weight problem(or lack thereof) he can’t keep enough weight on so by the end of the year he is down to 260+ and it becomes a problem.

Niswanger just isn’t very good

Wiegmann starts at the begginning of the year while Niswanger learns … when Wiegmann starts “shrinking” then an improved(hopefully) Niswanger takes over.

by Home skillet on Jul 13, 2010 6:32 PM CDT reply actions

c play

The last two years Denver (with Wiegmann) was ranked 5th and 6th in the league with an average of 4.51 and 4.41 yards per cary when rushing up the middle.
KC, over that same period, was ranked 30th both years. Averaging 3.55 and 3.33 yards per cary.
I know that guard play is very important in the middle rush stat but we added Lilja and Waters has always been a stud. I don’t think there is any reason to think Wiegmann doesn’t win the start and improve the line.

by Chewyadg on Jul 13, 2010 7:31 PM CDT reply actions