Looking At Kansas City Chiefs Needs Heading Into 2011 Season

by Joel Thorman on Jul 14, 2011 11:59 AM CDT

Earlier this week Pat Kirwan of NFL.com took a look at the needs of the four teams in the AFC West, including the Kansas City Chiefs. As usual, I agree with a little bit of what Kirwan said and disagree with a little bit, too.

Here are Kirwan's needs for the Chiefs and my thoughts following them.

Find a nose tackle: I think the Chiefs have their nose tackle. In fact, I think they've had him since the 2006 season. Yeah, I'm talking about NT Ron Edwards. At 32 years old (Happy belated birthday, by the way, Big Ron), Edwards isn't the future but he's fine for 2011. The Chiefs likely hope that rookie NT Jerrell Powe moves into that spot at some point but with the lockout and all I don't see that happening in 2011. Kirwan suggests signing someone like 49ers NT Aubrayo Franklin, which I agree would be nice, but I think that's unnecessary right now given the amount of money he would attract plus what the Chiefs have coming through the pipeline (Powe).

Sign a right tackle. The Chiefs may have their starting right tackle on the roster -- OT Barry Richardson -- when the 2011 season opens but they do need someone else considering there's like two other tackles on the team. Ideally, that someone else is a veteran who is capable of challenging for the starting job and not a developmental, Bobby Greenwood-type of tackle. This is a position I wouldn't mind pumping some money into if it means fixing it for multiple years. Doesn't it seem like right tackle has been a problem since John Tait left?

Go slow on Waters and get Wiegmann re-signed: Keep both of these guys. The "rumors" about G Brian Waters being done is just some speculation from a Pro Football Weekly report. Waters is in for 2011, if you ask me. After that, G Jon Asamoah can scoot on in for a relatively seamless transition. As for C Casey Wiegmann, his role in 2011 becomes a little more critical because of the lockout. The Chiefs coaching staff doesn't have a great idea of what they have in rookie C Rodney Hudson yet because there haven't had any offseason workouts so I think in the best case scenario Wiegmann doesn't retire and remains in KC.

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tackle depth will be key, has to be someone who can battle b-rich but not really take his job

but, I like b-rich.

with no time, I do wonder how much that will effect the waters/weigmann situations…almost seem like a must keep now.

Im all for finding a NT, but im not on the overpay franklin bandwagon…we could use that money to pay a few of our own guys instead of the possible 60 some mil it may take for franklin. so I totally agree with you about franklin’s contract probably being a bit much. That said Im sure there is some NT out there, maybe NE is willing to move brace since hes been out of positiion since moving to end

Team Pioli/Haley. Decade of the Chiefs.
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jul 14, 2011 12:26 PM CDT reply actions

I think I would pay 60 million for 6 years for A. Franklin

A. Franklin seems to be one of those guys who dips his performance when he is being plucked with…aka franchise tag.

…..not the kinda guy that get paid and drops off the map…chambers cough cough.

….60 million would put us 30 million under the cap for 6 years…im ok with that.

…we should be able to pay all our keepers and get a few new….Harris maybe Breston.

…so I say pay the man and play the man…we might get 6 years of his 09 performance if we make him happy.

Team Berry
Team Burfict or Team Te'O
...if I cant have the next Ray Lewis...ill settle for the next Junior Seau

by MasterBlaster7 on Jul 14, 2011 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Why do people not want Casey to retire?

He was horrible in games against good D lines last season and can only get worse another year older. Chiefs schedule is a lot tougher this year too. I’d rather see Hudson learn on the fly than watch an old man on his last legs getting pushed around all afternoon.

by Chiefs_KC on Jul 14, 2011 12:50 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

It isn't that we want him to stay forever...

It’s that we need his wits, for at least 4-8 games if not longer. We’ve got no shortage of guys who can fill the bill on or around the roster (Rudy Nize, Asamoah, Daryl Harris, even Waters) but his knowledge of the zone scheme and of technique are invaluable—especially since the mostly likely young candidates (Hudson, likely Harris) have spent little to no time at the NFL level snapping the football.

Is he getting near the end? Definitely. But he’s not dead yet, KC.

"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 Jul 14, 2011 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm already having nightmares seeing Weigmann line up againsy Suh and Fairley in week 2

by Chiefs_KC on Jul 14, 2011 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Im not sure it will matter who we line up against those two...

It is what it is and we are who we are.
Sober (again) since January 10th, 2011.
Not all those who wander are lost. /////// I dont mind stealing bread.

by nateforchiefs on Jul 14, 2011 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Mostly worried about Suh

Fairley will eventually be very good, I think. But he hasn’t played a snap in the NFL ever. Plus no rookie camp / OTA’s / etc.

He never faced crafty NFL vets in the NCAA like he will in the big show. Not everyone can come out and make an immediate impact like Suh. That guy is an anomaly.

I’m actually glad we’ll be facing Suh / Fairly early in the year and not toward the end when our older interior line will be worn out, and the young D Line guys for Detroit will be that much more experienced (and have that much more gas in the tank compared to our older interior line).

Chiefs - back in the playoffs in 2011.

by TRSChief on Jul 14, 2011 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep

Maybe Achilles is available

by Steve_Chiefs on Jul 14, 2011 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Nothing (tear)

I like you just that way you are Kansas City (more tears)

Big Gulps EH????? All right.....Welp....See Ya Later!

by XtaC69Chief on Jul 14, 2011 12:53 PM CDT reply actions

Bring in Jared Gaither, the money shouldn't be too outrageous since he's coming off an injury

"Reject a woman, and she will never let it go. One of the many defects of their kind. Also, weak arms."
-Dwight Schrute

by severn58 on Jul 14, 2011 12:54 PM CDT reply actions

Can he handle zone? And handle the RT spot? Those are my concerns.

I’d love to have him, but I’d rather see KC snag a healthier player who can make it work on the right side (looking at you, Ryan Harris) in a zone or zone-combo scheme.

Then, have them fight it out with B-Rich. May the best man win—and the backup turn into an above-average swing tackle.

"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 Jul 14, 2011 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Zone-Unknown, Baltimore has always just mauled dudes off the line

However, I would say that with him playing LT exclusively for his career, he has the athleticism, more so than Richardson.

RT-Basically see above, always much easier to slide from LT to RT, and he’s always had the size to switch, I’d probably wonder more about the Zone switch then the position.

I like Harris too, I just think Gaither may come at a cheaper price. I see the biggest hurdle being if Jared wants to stay at LT, where there’s more money, which would eliminate him as an option.

"Reject a woman, and she will never let it go. One of the many defects of their kind. Also, weak arms."
-Dwight Schrute

by severn58 on Jul 14, 2011 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions

i just love

the way this team is coming together and how quickly it has come is amazing! Go Chiefs!

Winner of the 2010 Arrowhead Pride, "Beat The Insiders"
On the Sign Aubrayo Franklin Bandwagon (once NFL and FA is open) Thanks to Bajah07!

by KC Nate on Jul 14, 2011 1:13 PM CDT reply actions

The team's biggest need is a playoff win.

*"You know what? I can already tell that I don't like you. And I'm probably not gonna like you no matter how many pull-ups or push-ups you do. All right, anybody who wants to pick on anybody in class, aim for him, because I ain't watching."
-Kenny Powers
*When we blitz, have the LB's do a KC Strip. Do this in remembrance of DT.
*Dear David Glass, as a lifelong Royals fan, I beg you to please sell the team. You have always been the problem; you will never be the solution.

by mistamic on Jul 14, 2011 2:13 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I want winners! (singletary voice)

by KCinIL on Jul 14, 2011 3:26 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

I don't know

Our defense was probably a stronger point of the team last year than the offensive line, but not by a huge margin. Remember how everybody freaked out when we didn’t replace 90% of the front seven? Franklin could tansform a growing, improving defense into an absolute force. Imagine being able to shut down the run and turn Berry, Lewis, Flowers and Carr lose on the passing game under duress. That my friends is a scary good thought. Just that one player in the middle makes so much of a difference.

The offensive line struggled against solid defenses last year and we will only see more of them this season. The lockout has thrown yet another curve at Muir and Crennel because younger players will not get time to learn. That really hamstrings offensive line improvement without spending money in FA. What to do? It is arguable that no matter which way Pioli goes, if he makes a good choice he improves the team. He used the draft to shore up the offense, so in a way it would make some sense that he goes for someone like Franklin. It’s going to be difficult for several teams out there to adjust to a lack of camp and preseason games. That just might give the Chiefs a bit of an advantage since a large number of our players are returning and are familiar with the program. I want to see the Chiefs avenge Bowe’s drop in Indy. Mr. Football is finally falling apart and it will be time to take advantage of his neck problems. I really hope we get to see it.

"You gonna pull them pistols...or whistle Dixie?"

by Aiken_Drum on Jul 14, 2011 5:45 PM CDT reply actions

Watch out

talking about Mister Football. He may go off and throe 40 td’s and 10 picks this year with 4500 yards. He got a little more protection and he can make Good wide recievers look like all pro’s. But I would love to see Tanba drive his ass into the turf

"You guys line up alphabetically by height."
--Bill Peterson

by Big_Chief on Jul 14, 2011 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions