The Kansas City Chiefs Running Back Question

Yes he broke a long td run, but on the short yardage he was stuffed up the middle more times than not. Lacy on the other hand seems like the bruiser that we need. Granted Eddie Lacy probably won’t go into the draft for a couple more years.

I’m thinking O-line

The guy spent a lot of time on the bench to finally get his shot this year, only to lose it to a rookie the following year.

I don’t think he is all that expensive. Although I think we have greater needs. I just don’t know if they will be able to pass on him if he is available.

And it’s nothing against his skills at all. I think he’ll be great. But give me a demolishing offensive lineman to open up holes first, and pick up a talented RB in the 3rd or 4th round. There’s probably at least a 75% chance that Richardson doesn’t wind up as the best RB in this draft class, just looking back at previous draft classes.

Big bruiser… 5’11" 222 lbs. Played for a bad team in a strong defensive division. Looks like he has the smarts and will to succeed.

“Grandson of former Chiefs RB Frank Pitts. Brandon has worked hard to keep his grades in line and has shown maturity during his years in Oxford. Is a tough, reliable and consistent football player with a teams-first mentality. Confident individual.”

“Above average height and bulk. Well-proportioned frame. Also has good top-end speed for the position, especially for a bigger back.”

out of Baylor in the 5th. It’s a spread offense, so he doesn’t get as much credit as a running back with a horrible QB like Bama. He’s a big boy. Enough with the smaller quick backs…DMC. Where’s the beef?

He’s a perfect fit in a ZBS, as A&M runs a lot of that, so he’s got the experience in it. Also, he should fall due to a relatively minor injury (stress fracture in shoulder) sidelined him at the end of the season. We should be able to get him in the 3rd/4th round.

Another one to watch is Bobby Rainey from small school Western Kentucky. He’s built like MJD, short and stocky, but has very good quickness and lateral agility that should allow him to excel in a ZBS.

a QB or a Running back is fine at 11/12 spot. Fix that OT, and get some tight ends in here damn it.

Think about the O line we had in the early 2000’s. Anybody you put behind that line put up AP like numbers. Look what happened to LJ when our O line started to breakdown (LJ wasn’t really as good as many of us initially thought…apparently Vermeil thought little of LJ either even with a good O line but that’s another story). Point is, if Richardson is the next AP, that’s hard to pass up. A stout RB brings so much excitement to the field…but how long will that excitement last? Look what happened to AP during his last game of the year – it’s what happened to our JC (Charles not Christ haha) early on. If you’re O line is mediocre and you’re RB goes down, the season is over.

Now proponents of Richardson would say, well at least we would have insurance with both he and JC. True! But if you have a solid O line that can keep lanes open and you use Pioli’s “knack” for scouting talent (Oh please improve that knack God) then you could conceivable come out on top with late round, unknown who blows it up AND you would have insurance. Some people reference Arian Foster as an undrafted standout, but I’d like to point out Priest Holmes :)

we need to build th OL to open up holes for a RB and protect whoever we have as a QB. DRafting a RB First is like hanging drywall before you build a house.

It’s obvious based on Pioli’s interview with Fescoe on 610 Sports that he’s still behind Cassel and that the Chiefs likely will not make any moves to snag a QB (cough, cough RG3) with their first pick. Anything can happen between now and draft day, but it appears any questions surround the QB situation have been answered and that other key positions will be addressed in the draft, starting with O line.

Again, this is just reading between the lines during Pioli’s interview this morning.

On a side note, Pioli did address the fact that he feels maybe he should be more public and responsive with the KC fan base. I hope this is a sign that he is beginning to understand the relationship between the Chiefs and the Kansas City fan base as compared to fan bases of other NFL franchises.

But after key positions are addressed with early picks, I wouldn’t mind picking up another solid pass catching TE with SIZE. I don’t think Moeaki is the lone answer at the position based on how TE’s are used in the NFL now – Yes I know that TD catch in his first season was stellar and it excited me too. But he is better known for his blocking skills and we know he can be clutch as a pass catcher when needed. Likewise, Moeaki can’t dominate double team matchups with his size alone like the other top TEs in the NFL. So if we can get an additional TE with beastly size and athletic ability, I would love to see the Chiefs make that happen too. It would only add to the potential we have toward building a more powerful and intricate offense.

That said, this may be slightly off topic since I’m not talking a first round pick here but just a thought I had to get out there.

It should be…

Give a man a fish and you’ll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you lose a good business opportunity.

It seems relatively easy to find a big bruising running back relatively late in the draft. You get a good to great line and you can put pretty much anybody behind it and they will be at a minimum productive. With a few exceptions, the o-line makes the running back.

Sign some FA OL and it can happen. I think we could use another stud LB though. Vontaze Burfict anyone?

I understand the whole teach a man to fish thing; but my grandfather showed me how to fish in one day. We have been teaching Jackie Battle to fish for the lst 3 years and he hasnt learned yet. not so much as a bluegill

You give them fishing poles, lures and tackle boxes and then you teach them how to fish this offseason.

Wait, I think I got that wrong…

Yeah, Isaac Redmon is starting for the Steelers in the Playoffs this season, but you can’t ignore the fact that first round pick RB Rashard Mendenhall is undoubtedly their starter, and a big reason why the Steelers were in the playoffs with the record that they had.

Running Backs are a dime a dozen. The only reason Larry Johnson did well was due to the great offensive line KC had. We have the chance to draft either, Jon Martin, or David DeCastro, Offensive Guard, or Barrett Jones from Alabama if he declares for the draft. There are lots of fast and tough running backs we can pair with Charles. We need a great offensive line that can pass block and run block. Anyone that is advocating Richardson, should be reminded what a terrible mistake it was to give Larry Johnson that big contract. He should have been traded, and we should have kept Jared Allen. Imagine Jared Allen on this team and a couple of good Offensive linemen draft picks for Johnson. Hell, I bet Herm Edwards might even still be HC although I am not sorry to see Carl Peterson replaced.

Draft Offensive linemen, that is the number one need and priority. Who ever heard of James Stark of the Packers? I rest my case.

Richardson would be amazing to have but we just have other needs. We do need to get a bruising back to compliment Charles and I would personally love to see us go after Mike Tolbert , Peyton Hillis, or Earnest Graham. All 3 are good backs and the important thing with these guys is that IF Charles was injured we could potentially still have a run game. We also have to think about Le’Ron McClain…maybe he is the answer. He can catch and run the ball effectively, i just think he needs more action besides blocking. Of course we have Battle and McCluster and we could still potentially use them in the right situations. Bottom line…our running game next year NEEDS to be dominate. I hope every thing works out for that to happen