Chiefs Preseason: Breaking Down The Back Up O-Line - Packers

Preseason Week #4

Chiefs vs Packers

The Kansas City Chiefs last preseason game usually means that a lot of back ups get a chance to show their stuff.  That is just what happened in last Thursdays game against the Green Bay Packers.

This week I decided to grade just the backups to shed a little light on why the Chiefs may have kept or cut particular lineman.  This was the first game during the preseason that I made the effort to set and grade anyone other than the starters.  I think I learned a lot about the Chiefs depth at o-line.

During the season I will review every game tape in an attempt to bring you the execution of each offensive lineman on every offensive play.  Each lineman will be graded on whether or not he got the job done.  Did he get the guy blocked or not?

OFFENSIVE GAME NOTES:

• Even though I fast forwarded over the 1st string I did notice that Albert did not have a very good game.
• Asamoah and Santucci played both right and left guard.  Ndukwe played right and left guard and right tackle. Jeanpierre played left guard left tackle and center. Richardson played both right and left tackle.
• It appears that the Chiefs are looking for lineman that can play on both sides of the center as a backup.  No more of this...I only play on one side of the line.
• Brown and Greenwood only came in on one series at the very end of the game.
• Both Niswanger and Ndukwe pick up great blocks on the goal line scoring run.

	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	00
Percent Scale

• Please refer to the Chiefs Preseason: Breaking Down The O-Line Tape - Primer at the bottom of this article for any inquiries into the method used to grade the lineman.

----------------------------------------------------------- Kansas City Chiefs vs Packers - Preseason Line Play -----------------------------------------------------------

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Percent Scale												Percent Scale
Asamoah												Asamoah
Santucci												Santucci
Ndukwe												Ndukwe
Richardson												Richardson
Jeanpierre												Jeanpierre
Brown												Brown	1 for 1
Greenwood												Greenwood	0 for 1

Run & Pass Blocking Notes:

• Ndukwe is the best drive blocker in the group.  However his second level skills and zone reach skills are sub-par, as can be seen below.
• Asamoah graded out pretty good on pass blocking.  He does need to improve his vision with blitzes and line stunts however.
• Ndukwe was driven 4 times, all in the passing game.  The guy can drive block but when it comes to pass blocking his feet need work and he gets to high.
• Jeanpierre just could not get it done in the run game.
• Santucci played both right and left guard.  Just could not get it done enough times.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Percent Scale												Percent Scale
Asamoah												Asamoaht
Santucci	1 for 1											Santucci	0 for 2
Ndukwe												Ndukwe
Richardson												Richardson
Jeanpierre	0 for 2											Jeanpierre	0 for 2
Brown	0 for 1											Brown	0 for 1
Greenwood	0 for 0											Greenwood	0 for 1

Graphic bars from draftboardinsiders.com

Second Level Blocking Notes:

• When the season starts I am going to do away with the "successful zone reach" and in its place I am going to put "Point of Attack" blocks.  A lot of times a lineman's grade can look better by picking up a lot of backside assignments.  But when the play goes their way...they cannot get it done block.  This grade will help clarify how affective the lineman is when the defender is fighting the most, play side.
• Asamoah and Richardson are the only ones that can really make second level blocks and reach blocks consistently at this point.  Of the two, Asamoah appears to have the most potential.
• Ndukwe just does not have the skill set to get second level blocks consistently.

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