ChiefsFan90s with the pick...
Year one of the Scott Pioli era did not start out as well as plan. The Chiefs did not sign a head coach to replace Herman Edwards until February, and the coaching staff was not finalized until the middle of March. The 2009 draft class left a lot to be desired, and the 2009 free agency class was a complete fluke. The end result was a 4-12-0 record, and another top 5 pick for the third straight year. Obviously changes were coming, and the Chiefs have not disappointed.
Year two of the Scott Pioli era could not have started any better, as the Chiefs' coaching staff started looking more like the staff that reigned supreme during the Patriots' glory years. First Charlie Weis was hired as offensive coordinator to improve the 25th rank offense. Then Romeo Crennel was brought in to take the Chiefs' 30th rank defense to the next level as they began year two in the 3-4 defense. Free agency started looking like the "Patriot Way" too, as the Chiefs went for the unsexy, cheap, but very solid; effective players. Expect the 2010 draft class to be much of the same, the picks may not be sexy, but they all fit Pioli's "Right 53".
So with the 5th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft the Kansas City Chiefs select...
Eric Berry, defensive back from Tennessee. By now, there probably is not much that can be said about this player that Chiefs' fans do not already know about. Pioli's draft history would suggest that the Chiefs would more likely use their top 10 pick on a player along the front seven, Berry is the best player available, and more importantly fits in the "Right 53" that the Chiefs are looking for. So for the second time NFL history, Pioli will use his top 10 pick on a defensive back (The other being Antonio Langham back in the 1994 NFL Draft.).While some could argue that Dan Williams and Rolando McClain would make more sense with Scott Pioli's draft history. Neither player possesses the skills that Eric Berry can bring to the playing field. Berry is a fast; versatile player that could play FS or CB; he has...
- The agility to take an interception all the way for a touchdown.
- The shiftiness to cover the faster receivers in the game.
- Has excellent speed to close coverage, making it hard to beat him for a huge gain.
- Great set of hands for a DB, finishing with 14 career interceptions, making tons of plays; doing an excellent job securing the football.
- Good balance while dropping back into coverage.
- The ability to get good replacement on the football; even though he does the best leaping ability.
- The ability to play in "man-to-man", or "zone" coverage quite well.Excellent angles in his pursuit to the football.
- The ability to create plays in run support.
- Does not have the best size, but extra work building up his strength will make his 5'11" frame a nonissue.
- Solid but not great tackling skills, and never shys away from contact. He could use some improvement in this department.
The pressure will be on Eric Berry to succeed in the NFL, and while he will most likely never become the "god-like" safety everybody is hyping him up to be, but Eric will be a future Pro Bowler, who will keep his mouth shut, and will give it his all on the gridiron. With Flowers, Carr, Berry, and Page in the backfield, the Chiefs will have defensive backfield that will cause chaos for years to come.
Check out all of the picks so far at this link. We'll have a table up soon listing all of the picks.