Chiefs are SET at OLB

On March 20th, I wrote the FanPost below in BOLD in response to the chatter about the Chiefs selecting an OLB in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.  My opinion was that the Chiefs should not use our first round pick on the OLB position (my favorite was NT Phil Taylor) and my reasoning was that Andy Studebaker had great potential/measurables and had played well when given the chance.  Little did I know at the time that my comparison below would feature 3 Chiefs OLBs now that we've drafted Justin Houston:

Many of the mock draft experts have the Chiefs drafting a "bookend OLB" to replace Mike Vrabel and add pass rush skills (Vrabel had ZERO sacks last year) across from Tamba Hali.  I personally think we should "reach" a little bit to grab NT Phil Taylor just like Pioli did in 2004 when he grabbed Vince Wilfork at #21 for the Patriots.

Thought you might like to see some “measurables” on some outside linebackers that you might find interesting.  I realize that measurables alone do not determine success in the NFL, but  I’m going to present the data to you anonymously first and then share the owner of each column of data at the bottom of this post.

                                                 Player A            Player B           Player C           Player D

Height                                       6’ 3”                  6’ 3”                   6’ 3”                  6’ 3”

Weight                                    246 lbs              255 lbs              270 lbs              275 lbs

40 Yd Dash                            4.53 sec            4.51 sec            4.68 sec          4.87 sec

Vertical Leap                            37”                    36.5”                 36.5”                 30”

Broad Jump                            10’ 6”                10' 7”                10’ 5”                8' 10”

Bench Press                          21 reps                NA                   30 reps            18 reps

As you can see, Player A and Player B are similar to one another in height, weight, speed and overall athleticism while player C is faster, stronger and more athletic than player D.

Player A is Von Miller who’s considered to be the best 3-4 OLB pass rushing prospect in the 2011 draft and will likely be drafted in the top 5

Player B is Andy Studebaker who led the entire nation in sacks (17.5) in 2006 during his junior year at Wheaton College, a Division III school.  In his first NFL start with the Chiefs in 2009 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he intercepted 2 passes, returning one for 94 yards.  In 2010, in very limited action as Mike Vrabel’s backup, he had 2.5 sacks.

Player C is Justin Houston who’s considered to be the second best 3-4 OLB pass rusher in the 2011 draft and will likely be drafted in the first round

Player D is Tamba Hali who was drafted with the 20th pick in the first round in 2006 by the Chiefs and led the AFC in sacks last year with 14.5.

I'll say again that I know that “measurables” are not everything, but Andy Studebaker is big, fast and athletic.  He’s an extremely hard worker and has proven, whenever he’s been given the chance to play, that he can affect the outcome of a football game.

I believe there’s a reason why a GM as intelligent as Scott Pioli awarded Studebaker a 3 year contract extension last fall when the NFL lockout was on the horizon.  I don’t believe he would do that unless he was certain that the Chiefs had a “diamond in the rough” and wanted to lock him up while he’s cheap.

Mark my words.  Watch for Andy Studebaker to blossom in 2011 as a 3-4 OLB for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Since the draft, I've been focusing more on the 10 yard dash as an important OLB measurable since it suggests the burst needed to rush the passer and is also one indicator of how well a prospect might be able to cover a tight end, slot receiver or back out of the backfield for a short distance.  I have to give credit to steve_chiefs as he posted some interesting charts that got me thinking about our LB corps.

Take a look at this eye-popping 10 yard dash comparison of some current star NFL 3-4 OLBs and some of the best prospects from this year's draft:

Clay Matthews 1.49

Brooks Reed 1.54

Brian Orakpo 1.56

Gabe Miller 1.56

Von Miller 1.57

Andy Studebaker 1.59

Cameron Sheffield 1.60

DeMarcus Ware 1.62

Justin Houston 1.62

Cameron Wake 1.62

LaMarr Woodley 1.65

Shaun Phillips 1.68

Four count 'em four Chiefs OLB prospects with ELITE 10 yard dash times.  I'm about to jump out of my chair!

Gabe Miller?  Are you kidding me?  2nd fastest time in the 10 yard dash of this year's OLB prospects (behind Brooks Reed), but under the radar because he wasn't invited to the Combine.  Same height and weight as DeMarcus Ware, but stronger (33 reps to 27 reps) and much quicker burst off the line.  Most draft experts are grading this pick as an F (or best case a C) because they didn't know who Gabe Miller was.  I admit, I didn't and was shocked when we selected him (I wanted Jerrell Powe since we passed on Phil Taylor and was THRILLED when we grabbed him in the 6th round).

Of course, Miller is as raw as they come, but how exciting is it to get this kind of potential in the FIFTH round and then hand him off to Romeo Crennel, one of the best practitioners of the 3-4 defense?  Who better to polish this rough stone into a polished jewel?

Couldn't this be an "embarrassment of riches" at OLB with one of the best in the game today, Tamba Hali, joined by a promising part-time player ready to start in Andy Studebaker, a beast of a "proven" prospect in Justin Houston, a promising prospect from last year returning from injury in Cameron Sheffield AND an amazingly athletic prospect ready to be taught in Gabe Miller?

I believe that the Chiefs are SET at OLB.

By the way, anyone want to know what my favorite Chiefs player, Eric Berry, ran in the 10 yard dash at last year's Combine?

1.54

Wow.