The next chapter...

by J_r0kk on Jan 2, 2012 2:35 AM CST

Okay, I will start by saying, "I know I know I know I know. We're one day past the regular season, 2011, so why are you already looking at next season, J?" Well, that's a very good question. I guess it deserves a two-part answer: 1) I can't sleep, and 2) I'm actually pretty jacked up about the opportunities that next year may bring.

So, without further adieu, let me give you a step-by-step approach that will never, ever happen... but I'm going to put it in words anyway. I'm not going to get into any kind of mock draft, although I will reveal who our first pick should be. Please feel free to blow the following scenario out the sky when you finish reading...

Step 1 - Trade Cassel to anyone who wants to take a flier on him for as much as the Chiefs can get in regards to a draft pick. I know this step will already give me grief with at least 50% of you, but I'm sorry. The guy has had his chance to develop into a $63 million QB and he just hasn't been able to get it done. Orton was picked up for pennies (well, NFL pennies: $2.5 mil) halfway through the season and even a blind man can see the offense has stopped sputtering and actually has some life.

Step 2 - Acquire Matt Flynn from Green Bay. It sounds so much like musical chairs with these quarterbacks, but short of outright cutting Cassel (which would be insane because, to the right team, he does have some value), this is the best way to get the right people in the right places. With any luck, the pick we get for Cassel can be traded to GB and we're not out anything at all as we pick up Flynn, except for excessive cap space that was eaten by Cassel and can now be spent elsewhere.

My reasoning for steps 1 and 2: In this years college draft, there are two potential franchise QB's: Luck and RG3. Both will be gone by the 10th pick. The Chiefs do NOT need to be reaching for another Brodie Croyle scenario, although Kelli is more than welcome to stay as long as she wants (hi Kelli). The solution is simple: don't reach. Instead, pick up a guy who is in the league now and has shown he's got plenty of upside.

Step 3 - Re-sign Orton. What we have now is a good ole competition and QB. May the best man win.

Step 4 - With the 10th/11th pick of the 1st round, the Kansas City Chiefs select Trent Richardson - RB, Alabama. I know everybody's thinking I'm crazy, but just keep reading and you'll understand...

Jamaal Charles is one of the best running backs in the NFL. That has never been a question. However, when JC went down at the beginning of the season, so did the Chief's chances of a repeat year. We have no plan B. So, I propose the following: instead of a plan B, how about drafting another plan 1-A to compliment JC. Could you imagine that two-headed monster at running back? If one goes down (quick, knock on wood so it won't happen), we're not near the predicament we were stuck with this year. Jackie Battle? Really?

Step 5 - In the second round, the Chiefs should draft the best offensive tackle on the board. It doesn't matter if the pick is a LT or a RT. Albert is getting better at his position so I don't have a problem with either pick. If I had input in the matter, I'd go with the franchise LT. According to the numbers I see from Bewsaf, Albert seems like he would be a better fit at RT anyway as much as he blows DE's off the line in his run blocking. I also think it's safe to say he'd be a slight upgrade over Richardson?

Step 5 is a very important step. If a LT is selected in the draft and that LT is good enough to be an upgrade over Albert, it strengthens the line significantly on both sides. New guy protects the QB's backside and Albert becomes the road-grater on the right side.

Step 6 - Draft an OG in the third round. Hudson will probably move to C and we need depth behind Lilja and Asamoah.

Step 7 - Draft a NT in the fourth round. Why isn't Powe playing? There's got to be a reason and it's obviously not looking good for him.

Other positions of need: TE, OL (depth), ILB (to compete against Siler/Belcher)

Like I said at the beginning of this post, the Chiefs will NEVER let this scenario play out. They've invested too much money in Cassel and Pioli will go the safe route by drafting a lineman... which is fine. He obviously knows more about football than I do, so if he goes that route, I'm good with it.

However, wouldn't it be cool if they use this approach? Instead of 1 slam dunk OT, they get:

1) a promising QB who has studied behind Aaron Rodgers for the last 4 years and will be able to compete for the starting job.

2) a very good rookie RT or LT

3) the number one RB on the board in Trent Richardson

Okay, I'm done. Start slamming this scenario.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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Comments

Some goood ideas...

…but, you realize Cassel’s on IR, & can’t be traded until he is back on active roster, as when camp starts; I’d take the OT in the first, NT in the second, and RB in the third round. If you insist on acquiring an additional pick, how about trading Dorsey? We’ve spent three years trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

by Special K on Jan 2, 2012 2:41 AM CST reply actions

Why does everyone think we need a nose tackle?

At the beginning of the year, Todd Haley said Powe was going to sit his first year and understand the defense. You have to understand he is very dumb. Powe struggles to read and write. So once he learns the defense, he will be a beast. Also, whats wrong with Allen Bailey? This guy has not played much but when he does he is a monster. He has 2 sacks this year and has had very limited playing time

Dexter McCluster

by DrewPorter on Jan 2, 2012 9:31 AM CST up reply actions

You need to research this a bit more. Not really accurate.

You have to understand he is very dumb. Powe struggles to read and write.

"An atheist is a man who watches a Notre Dame - Southern Methodist University game and doesn't care who wins." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

by electriclight on Jan 2, 2012 10:15 AM CST up reply actions

Powe is NOT "very dumb" ... not by any means

and NT’s don’t go around generating sacks … that’s a total non-issue

Twisted Lord of AP Color Commentary (H/T - Loco)
Winner: 2009 Nostradamus of Arrowhead Pride Award
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hi, Mo! 5 minutes!!!

by upamtn on Jan 2, 2012 1:58 PM CST up reply actions

Powe has a learning disorder

by michigan13 on Jan 2, 2012 3:00 PM CST up reply actions

Definitely

trade/release Cassel, dont trust him as a QB regardless if he comes on after our starter gets injured.

I used to argue that Cassel was too average for our team, but now its laughable to call Cassel average. He is one of the worst QBs in the league.

Horrible accuracy, terrible pocket awareness, not athletic, relatively little arm strength, can’t read defenses, terrible decision maker, prone to turnovers, cant convert on third down
Dont know why we should keep this guy

by andrew33 on Jan 2, 2012 3:50 AM CST reply actions

No to Matt Flynn

we’ve tried this lets sign backup QB crap for ages. it has rendered us nothing. Lets try get our own guy and build him up for once

KC Draft prediction: No OT taken in first round

by trentchiefsfan on Jan 2, 2012 4:31 AM CST reply actions

Just out of curiosity...

Who would you suggest? We just drafted Stanzi last year, Croyle before that. I’m with you on the whole backup QB scenario. I’m getting tired of the same retreads every year myself. TBH, I just don’t see anybody that stands out this year other than the two I mentioned. To add to my earlier point, read the scouting report on Flynn ( http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles?id=367 ) before you reply.

All posts are trademarked by J_r0kk. The unauthorized use or reproduction of the above opinions will result in a fine of 2 cents, because that's all this information is worth.

by J_r0kk on Jan 2, 2012 10:26 AM CST up reply actions

I agree

Flynn is another Cassel, another Kolb type player. He is protected by being in GB.

by kc_balla_89 on Jan 2, 2012 11:12 AM CST up reply actions

We've failed at building our own, too.

Croyle was supposed to be our big foray into building a QB. Now, we have Stanzi. Maybe he’ll be okay. Since J_r0kk advocated bringing Flynn in as part of a competition for the job, I would be okay with Flynn in that circumstance.

by etp_stl on Jan 2, 2012 11:29 AM CST up reply actions

Matt Flynn can make the throws and is pretty mobile.

I can think of worse things you could do with a 2nd- or 3rd-round pick.

OTOH, while I think the offense did SOME things a bit better with Orton, it’s not like points production really improved very much. Now, is Orton that bad, or are there some other things going on?

I can list Cassel’s faults, same as anybody else, but in those games where KC was winning in the trenches (on their way to 10-6 last season, especially), their points production wasn’t bad. When the OL fell apart, Cassel fell apart. I’ve seen many of the same faults in QBs who played decently well when picked up by better teams.

I thought Aaron Rodgers looked pretty ordinary in the Chiefs’ meeting with the Packers. Where was the highly-touted pocket awareness, when Hali closed on him from behind in the 3-man pass rush? Everyone chalked it up to his just not being sharp, but I would submit that the sharpness of a good QB has a lot more to do with protections than most folks will admit. I remember folks thinking Cutler suddenly “got it” in Chicago, when, for a span of a few weeks, they actually BLOCKED for him.

Not advocating FOR Cassel, so much as wanting to see this team get its shit together up front, with a proper offseason. I think Cassel would be an OK backup and I’d be willing to let him duke it out with Orton or Flynn. Main thing, to me, is to continue the team-build without going ape-shit over any one thing.

would of ≠ would've

by hmills110 on Jan 2, 2012 5:20 AM CST reply actions

I honestly

seen too many games where Cassel has less than 50 yards at the half, too many throws where Cassel put it out of the reach of his receivers, and too many times he throws for 4 yards when we need 8-10 for the third down.

by andrew33 on Jan 2, 2012 5:34 AM CST up reply actions

And yes, I think you're crazy to blow a 1st-rounder on a RB.

would of ≠ would've

by hmills110 on Jan 2, 2012 5:22 AM CST reply actions

Agreed

NFL teams have had great success finding RB in the later rounds

Dexter McCluster

by DrewPorter on Jan 2, 2012 9:33 AM CST up reply actions

Orton's salary was the main sticking point in the Miami trade

Orton’s salary was not “pennies” NFL or otherwise. I believe he made more than Cassel this season (could be wrong) and I also believe if he is re-signed and Cassel traded, there will be no improvement in cap space, probably the opposite.

"An atheist is a man who watches a Notre Dame - Southern Methodist University game and doesn't care who wins." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

by electriclight on Jan 2, 2012 7:52 AM CST reply actions

Orton only had 2.5mil this season for us, less than Cassel

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee

by BAMFSpecialOps on Jan 2, 2012 8:59 AM CST up reply actions

For us.

"An atheist is a man who watches a Notre Dame - Southern Methodist University game and doesn't care who wins." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

by electriclight on Jan 2, 2012 10:16 AM CST up reply actions

Oh, like...

LaDainian Tomlinson (5th overall), Deuce McCallister (23rd overall), Willis McGahee (23rd overall), Larry Johnson (I know he was a head-case, but there were some years in there… 27th overall), Steven Jackson (24th overall), Ronnie Brown (2nd overall), Cedric Benson (4th overall), Cadillac Williams (5th overall), Reggie Bush (2nd overall), DeAngelo Williams (27th overall), Joseph Addai (30th overall), Adrian Peterson (7th overall), Marshawn Lynch (12th overall), Darren McFadden (4th overall), Jonathan Stewart (13th overall), Felix Jones (22nd overall), Donald Brown (27th overall), Beanie Wells (31st overall), CJ Spiller (9th overall), Ryan Matthews (12th overall), and Jahvid Best (30th overall)?

If my math is correct, that’s 21 (at a minimum) moderately successful RBs in the NFL that have been drafted in the first round since 2001. To be fair, there were also 7 that were not as successful. However, I think I will take my chances with a 75% chance if hitting big with a 1st round RB pick. Just sayin.

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by J_r0kk on Jan 2, 2012 10:15 AM CST reply actions

sorry...

I was trying to reply to hmills and Drew. Don’t know what happened there.

All posts are trademarked by J_r0kk. The unauthorized use or reproduction of the above opinions will result in a fine of 2 cents, because that's all this information is worth.

by J_r0kk on Jan 2, 2012 10:17 AM CST reply actions

Im not saying the first round running backs are not successful

but i would rather spend a lower round on a RB that could be just as successful

Dexter McCluster

by DrewPorter on Jan 2, 2012 10:37 AM CST up reply actions

My question is ....

why would somebody trade for the QB of a team that so desperately needs a QB? How can that possibly garner any kind of value, especially with his salary? You would get a low round draft pick, if anything. I would rather have an open competition between him, Orton, Stanzi, and maybe another guy like a Flynn. Let the best man win, and jettison the ones that show no promise.

I don’t know that I would draft a RB in the 1st round, but it depends on the value of the guys that are there when we pick. As some have stated, you can find a terrific RB in the 3rd and 4th rounds without the investment.

I wouldn’t give up on a NT just because he isn’t starting yet so early in his career. Most DTs take a good 3 years to develop because of the drastic difference in the OLs they face in the NFL. I’ll give Powe a chance yet, but competition and depth never hurts.

I think this team is fairly thin in some key areas, so I think anyone drafted after the 2nd round should be more about best available than about need.

by etp_stl on Jan 2, 2012 10:57 AM CST reply actions

Wow great thoughts

I never really though about that question for Cassel. Also, i agree with just let all of them compete and may the best man win
I also agree not to draft a QB in the 1st and every year great RB’s come from the late rounds
I have been trying to tell people that they are not giving up on Powe but rather letting him develope
I have very similar thoughts to yours

Dexter McCluster

by DrewPorter on Jan 2, 2012 8:06 PM CST up reply actions

yanno, must be really cool to be a GM and do anything/everything you WANT regardless of what OTHER teams want or are willing to do ...

… just dream up a scenario and POOF! it happens … and while you’re at it, everything that want to happen down the road in terms of player performance and team results is just full of win!

wait … isn’t that called Madden 2011?

by upamtn on Jan 2, 2012 2:04 PM CST reply actions

Hey now,

At least in Madden, the Chiefs are successful EVERY year.

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by J_r0kk on Jan 2, 2012 3:08 PM CST up reply actions