Good morning Kansas City Chiefs fans.
We've got a brand new off season series beginning today. It's called Keep or Cut. And it's just as simple as it sounds (And yes, I'm aware that the word "cut" may not be accurate for some of these guys but you get the idea). I'll sporadically name a Kansas City Chief that ended up on last year's 53-man roster (or IR), give you some info about how his '09 went. Then you'll vote and comment on whether or not he should be on the Chiefs' 53-man roster come September 2010.
First up, we have the Chiefs center from the '09 campaign: Rudy Niswanger.
My opinion on Niswanger's 2009 campaign is the same since he became a Chief in 2006- the guy isn't bad but there are better, low cost options at center out there in free agency and the draft. His two bad snaps against San Diego in Week 12 were the last straw for me. If you have issues snapping the ball, how much can we trust you?
Here are some recent comments on Niswanger from the AP community:
- Lanier 63: "I have nothing against Niswanger as a player, but I dont think he best serves the team as a Center. I think we can find a more fundamentally sound Center this off season."
- JHWK: "Niswanger has performed poorly for a while now and would be a better fit at Guard where he can use his size more to his advantage."
- ChiefsFan1970: "Niswanger gets a D or maybe even an F from me. He is just not stout enough for that position and is getting pushed around way too much. We HAVE to upgrade that position this offseason."
- Started all 16 games at center
- 4 penalties (2 false starts, 2 holding)
- 2 sacks allowed
- Injured his knee in Week 12 but came back the next week
- Chiefs Re-sign Rudy Niswanger
- Six Chiefs Would Be Hit Hard With No Salary Cap
- Promising News on the Rudy Niswanger
OFFENSE
| WR | 11 Chris Chambers | 80 Bobby Wade | 14 Quinten Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT | 76 Branden Albert | 74 Wade Smith | 67 Barry Richardson |
| LG | 54 Brian Waters | 62 Andy Alleman | 66 Darryl Harris |
| C | 64 Rudy Niswanger | 74 Wade Smith | |
| RG | 74 Wade Smith | 62 Andy Alleman | 60 Ikechuku Ndukwe |
| RT | 75 Ryan O'Callaghan | 67 Barry Richardson | 60 Ikechuku Ndukwe |
| TE | 45 Leonard Pope | 85 Jake O'Connell | 89 Sean Ryan |
| WR | 82 Dwayne Bowe | 10 Terrance Copper | 17 Lance Long |
| QB | 7 Matt Cassel | 12 Brodie Croyle | 15 Matt Gutierrez |
| FB | 42 Mike Cox | 46 Tim Castille | |
| RB | 25 Jamaal Charles | 46 Tim Castille | 40 Javarris Williams |
DEFENSE
| LE | 94 Tyson Jackson | 92 Wallace Gilberry | 71 Alex Magee |
|---|---|---|---|
| NT | 95 Ron Edwards | 70 Dion Gales | 69 Derek Lokey |
| RE | 72 Glenn Dorsey | 71 Alex Magee | 70 Dion Gales |
| LOLB | 50 Mike Vrabel | 96 Andy Studebaker | 97 Pierre Walters |
| LILB | 53 Demorrio Williams | 56 Derrick Johnson | 52 David Herron |
| RILB | 51 Corey Mays | 59 Jovan Belcher | |
| ROLB | 91 Tamba Hali | 97 Pierre Walters | |
| LCB | 24 Brandon Flowers | 23 Mike Richardson | 34 Travis Daniels |
| RCB | 39 Brandon Carr | 20 Donald Washington | |
| SS | 30 Mike Brown | 48 Reshard Langford | |
| FS | 47 Jon McGraw | 35 Ricky Price |
SPECIAL TEAMS
| P | 2 Dustin Colquitt | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| K | 6 Ryan Succop | ||
| KO | 6 Ryan Succop | ||
| PC | 43 Thomas Gafford | 96 Andy Studebaker | |
| KC | 43 Thomas Gafford | ||
| H | 2 Dustin Colquitt | ||
| PR | 80 Bobby Wade | 14 Quinten Lawrence | |
| KR | 14 Quinten Lawrence | 25 Jamaal Charles | 17 Lance Long |