Once again, we dive deep into the mailbag to pass the time of the offseason. As I write this, mandatory mini camp is going on so we've actually got "news" to look at. Just remember one thing; all the news you're hearing right now is as meaningful as a preseason win.
But we'll take any crumbs to sate our starvation during this time, and hey, maybe Jeremy Maclin and Alex Smith really ARE developing a nice rapport! Let's mailbag.
@RealMNchiefsfan @ArrowheadPride Whats the deal, is Nelson a future stud outside CB? Or is he forever doomed to be a nickle? In your opinion
— Chauncey Depew (@mitchdepew) May 18, 2015
It's way too early to tell one way or another what Steven Nelson is going to be in the NFL. Until we see him on the field in live action against starting-caliber NFL wide receivers, we just don't know.
I love his aggression on tape in college. He definitely appears to have the ability to mirror routes, shows some punch when he's pressing, and helps against the run better than most. The problem with him is a lack of top end speed, but Sean Smith has shown us that that isn't necessarily a career-killer on the outside.
The reason I've seen people say he's going to be on the inside is his height. I cannot describe how irritated that line of thinking makes me. It's the same type of thinking as "Albert Wilson must be a slot receiver since he's not over six feet tall." It's lazy analysis, and all too common in an age where we have more than enough information to leave lazy thinking behind.
Nelson is 5'10. That's taller than, the same height as, or within a SINGLE FREAKING INCH of Vontae Davis, Darrelle Revis, Alterraun Verner, Brandon Flowers, Orlando Scandrick, Jonathan Joseph, and about a hundred other corners.
Height is not the most important factor in a corner. it's not second either, or third, or fourth, or fifth. Revis was the absolute best corner in the NFL for years while being 5'11. Flexible hips, awareness, quickness, speed, ball tracking, strength, good footwork, and the right attitude are all significantly more important than height. Height is a bonus that can raise a corner's ceiling if he has OTHER good qualities.
I have no idea if Steven Nelson can play outside. But his height isn't going to hold him back if he demonstrates in the NFL the same mirroring, punch, and aggression he showed in college.
@RealMNchiefsfan KC's base defensive front (which we don't really see that often, since we face 3WR sets a lot) actually looks a lot like
— Gus Raymond Harmon (@34GusBus) May 27, 2015
@RealMNchiefsfan a 4-3 odd front (5-tech strong DL, nose guard, 3-tech weak DL, Hali rushing the backside) than it does a conventional 3-4.
— Gus Raymond Harmon (@34GusBus) May 27, 2015
@RealMNchiefsfan Do you think that this alignment contributes to the disruptive power of our defensive front? (I do, for various reasons).
— Gus Raymond Harmon (@34GusBus) May 27, 2015
I actually don't think that the alignment has all that much to do with it, really. My reasoning is pretty simple; under Romeo Crennel, the base defense lined up in a similar fashion at times as well with very different results.
The reason the Chiefs are disruptive is a lot more about personnel than scheme in my opinion. Yes, I think Bob Sutton has done a really good job allowing his players an opportunity to attack (something RAC didn't always do, to the detriment of certain types of players), but there's nothing particularly special about the alignment you're discussing.
At the end of the day it's a matter of Dontari Poe, Allen Bailey, and Tamba Hali being difficult to block. Even Jaye Howard (a guy to watch this year) flashed a nice ability to shoot gaps before offensive linemen could get set. When you're got guys like that, any alignment that doesn't handicap their aggressiveness is going to see some success.
Sometimes football is pretty simple in that it's just a case of "our guys are better than your guys, so we win." Especially when you're talking about on the line. And with the current guys the Chiefs are putting on the line of scrimmage (even without Mike DeVito, who hopefully is back in full force this season) are just BETTER than their opponents on the other side of the ball.
Is that overly simplified? Yes. But I'm of the opinion that the winning up front the Chiefs are currently experiencing is much more about personnel than scheme.
@RealMNchiefsfan mailbag? better future qb/WR combo murry/Conley or bray/Rogers since they r former college combos
— Phillip Mevert (@ChiefBrap34) May 31, 2015
I just wanted to include this to give a quick shout out to a short but fiery era on Arrowhead Pride ... the era of "Da'Rick Rogers is going to be an impact player for the Chiefs."
It was fun while it lasted. Rogers was a productive wide receiver in college, and that will ALWAYS lead people to believe he was going to do the same in the pros. Even after showing up in the pros and being less than impressive. People will always hold onto hope that it was situation, or mental, or some kind of bad luck when it comes to good college players who don't perform at the pro level.
But really, once again (as with the height discussion above) it's all about skillset. Rogers never showed an ability to separate while in the pros (and quite frankly, his college tape isn't impressive in that regard either), and he had a hands issue. It doesn't matter HOW much of a "physical specimen" you are if you can't get open and you can't catch.
Chris Conley's college tape is exponentially more impressive than Da'Rick Rogers's college tape. It's not close. He's got a significantly better chance of contributing in 2015 (and down the road) than Rogers ever did.
It was fun while it lasted, though. RIP, Rogers Era.
@RealMNchiefsfan Another common irrational debate I get in to: does mayonnaise belong on a cheeseburger?
— Chauncey Depew (@mitchdepew) June 5, 2015
The problem with answering this question is that I know ... I KNOW ... that it means the comment section is going to consist 95 percent of non-football comments about mayo and taste and ketchup and other things. But I can't let this go, I just can't.
You know what I think of mayo on a burger? I'ma let Bruce Willis go ahead and explain it.
If you want to argue with Bruce, be my guest. But let's be real here ... mayo doesn't belong on a burger. I'll take all kinds of different things on my burger. But mayo? That belongs in a sandwich, guys. A burger is only kind of a sandwich. It's sandwich adjacent. Keep your stupid mayo off my cheeseburger.
See you next mailbag.