The State of the Chiefs: Grading Kansas City's Defensive Line

I know I’m probably not in the majority on this by any stretch, but I think people are going to be very pleasantly surprised by Kelly Gregg. I think a lot of people are underestimating him due to not having seen much of him first hand, his age – or both.

I know it’s hard to take much of anything out of preseason – but just from focusing in on individual matchups, it hurts me to say it because I love the guy, but Dorsey looks like the least of our D Line right now. TJax is showing signs of great improvement, and Kelly Gregg looks like Kelly Gregg, which is pretty cool. Hopefully it’s nothing more than conditioning after the lockout caused a lot of guys to be sluggish, and Dominant Dorsey will go back to playing like he was last year. Which, right now, I’m pretty confident he will.

Still, hate to see him look a little sluggish and get directed around by the O Line at times.

Powe looks every bit the part so far. Dunno about Toribio, but Powe has been an absolute beast. Great hustle, and he’s got some OK speed for a big guy too.

I’m excited to see what happens with T-jax this year, and have a good feeling about Gregg. I agree getting rid of Smith seems like a hasty decision considering our NT depth, but that is what it is. At this point the regular season can’t come fast enough.

He isn’t up and down at all he’s more average or really really high see SD and Bal games. He doesn’t really have games where he get’s blown up other than maybe his first games back from what i’d say was a pretty bad sprain

The folks over at Baltimore Beatdown were sad to see him and go and they said he was still playing at a high level last year. Yes he’s a year older but I don’t think his skills and talent will fall off a cliff either. We’ll have to see how Powe does this year but hopefully he’ll be ready to take over next year, physically he is probably ready but mentally he probably needs more work (not a dyslexic joke). After next year of course it would be wise to get another NT as a backup

that taylor was god awful so far?

Phil Taylor has been awful

Who at the time, was considered a huge reach. While Tyson Jackson has been solid at times in Kansas City, he hasn’t gave many fans third overall pick hype.

Phenoms?

Fans expect greatness from a pick that high, and rightfully so. A top five pick should be fulfilling… (see Eric Berry.) However, Tyson Jackson is going into his third year and he has looked pretty good thus far. In fact, I am really pleased overall by what I have seen by the entire front three. Plus Jerrell Powe as a sub, he looks awesome.

Though, it is the preseason and the preseason will mislead you, give them and “F” and they perform like an MVP player come time for game one. Given them an “A” and the team cuts them, and they are selling you fries at McDonalds six weeks later at the drive-thru. What do they say about the drive-thru Leo Getz?

Bottom line.
The Chiefs have looked strong up front, but I think the best thing for this team was that we moved on past Ron Edwards. Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson weren’t leaders on the line before (like they could’ve been), and even with the addition of Kelly Gregg, they have to show a little leadership during the games. That is the best thing for this line, and why I thought Ron Edwards needed to be replaced. Even though Gregg is a leader too, he is still a newcomer to this scheme, Dorsey and Jackson will grow with him.

Ideally, Jackson and Dorsey will run free more with Gregg and Powe so adequately pushing the pile. Though, I don’t expect that. I expect them to all eat up blockers while the LB’s go to town on the QB and ball carriers. The way Dorsey and Gregg can get away from blocks is phenomenal. Can Jackson do that to? I’d say maybe so, in his couple seasons he hasn’t missed very many tackles that have come his way (this has been proven.)

We shall see, but it won’t be this Friday against the defending champs. It will be on September 11th, 2011. That is when we will find out some of the truth about the Chiefs and be able to deliver them a quality grade for the first time in months.

Dorsey: Beast at eating blocks and run stopping. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

Gregg: Love the pick and will help but who knows what he really has left?

Jackson: I saw him up close in camp and you can tell he put in A LOT of work on the offseason. Haley also seems to think highly of him. Hopefully, he can put it together because honestly he hasn’t looked all that bad this preseason.

Gilberry: He is what he is. A depth player who will get his sacks in pass rushing situations.

Powe: Is going to be a beast.

The others on the line I’ll wait to give my full judgement.

One thing to keep in mind as far as Powe is that he is a bit older then your typical rookie, so it’s more along the lines of seeing a player entering their 2nd year in regards to physical maturity, as opposed to a rookie.

Jackson is a wild card. Let me start by saying he’s not as bad as some people want him to be. He will likely never live up to the #3 pick used on him

When we consider that normally defensive linemen start to live up to their draft status in year 3 and that Jackson missed so much of year 2 with injury, I think your choice of the term “likely” is unjustified.

the defensive line is not very good at all against the run on the right side mark it down now teams will be running right at the weakness TYSON JACKSON!!!! he got manhandled the time he was in there i am going to say this defensive front is a C- at best this will along with cassel and right tackle on offense is going to make the chiefs or break them . we have a pass rush but in stopping the run teams will run right on that right side at Jackson i hope they just decide to release him or put him in rushing the passer. i am starting to give up on him BIG TIME!!!!

You state that Gilberry “bulked up”. This was addressed long ago in a press conference. Gilberry came in within 2 lbs of his playing weight last year according to Haley. Although he acknowledged what reporters had seen. The weight had moved from his gut to muscle in his body. I don’t see how being the same weight and stronger will slow someone down.

yes jackson is not a run stopper he just does not have it what i am saying is that in order for this football team gets to where it needs to be three areas has got to get better 1. the right side of the offensive line richardson he has got to play better2.matt cassel he just looks for one hot read during passing downs and he does not alternate his reads i’m sorry i just think cassel is nothing more than average a lot like trent dilfer 3.tyson jackson he has to get better against the run these three areas is the key for this team to succeed everything else is pretty good except those areas.that’s what i’m saying