NFL Draft Info - Kansas City Chiefs

With this article I will review the Kansas City Chiefs offseason moves as of March 9^th, 2010.  In doing so I am going to take into account players and personnel.  First, let’s start by addressing the additions and re-signings.  The Chiefs re-signed Chambers, Copper, Battle, Vrabel, Kolby Smith, Guiterrez, signed Tyler Palko and Thomas Jones and also brought in Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel and Emmitt Thomas.  Before I dig any further into the players and coaches brought in, let’s look again at needs.  Coming off of last season and going into this season there were several holes to be filled.

After letting Chan Gailey go last year and Haley going it alone as head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach, they knew they needed to bring in someone to take some pressure off.  Welcome Charlie Weis, arriving at just the right time and fitting in perfectly in personality and scheme he would seem to be the perfect fit for the Chiefs at this time.  Last year after being hired Scott Pioli tried to lure Romeo Crennel to Kansas City with him, at the time Crennel just had surgery on his hip and wasn’t in shape to coach.  A year removed and Kansas City got their man.  Romeo has his work cut out for him but he comes with experience and success as a defensive coordinator and would seem to have been the best one available.  Emmitt Thomas is an excellent addition to help bring Flowers into the shutdown corner he is becoming and should immediately help the secondary from the coaching standpoint.

In looking at the players, the Chiefs needed to re-sign Chambers and Vrabel, doing so automatically fills what could have been two huge holes.  Vrabel will help bring the young linebackers along and Chambers was a lightning rod for the Chiefs the second half of the season.  With them in the fold the Chiefs are a lot better.  Palko is indifferent at this point with Croyle, Cassel, and Guiterrez.  Thomas Jones is a huge signing at this point for the Chiefs.

Let’s break it down on each side of the ball.

QB-Cassel-Croyle-Guiterrez-Palko

RB-Charles-Jones-Smith-Williams

FB-Cox-Castille

WR-Bowe-Chambers-Copper-Long-Lawrence

TE-Pope-Cottam-O’Connell

LT-Albert-Richardson

LG-Waters-Harris

C-Niswanger

RG-Ndukwe-Brown

RT-O’Callaghan-Ndukwe-Porter

In looking at the offense in a breakdown the Chiefs still have a few holes to address.  They need a couple of lineman.  If they could find a right guard and a center they would be in a good situation.  A left tackle may solve both of those needs if Albert moved to left guard, Waters to center and Niswanger to right guard.  A fullback and tight end are also smaller needs that could be addressed.   A third wide receiver who can also return kicks is much needed.  Golden Tate could fit that role if available to the Chiefs.

Let’s break down the defense now.

DE-Jackson-Dorsey-Gilberry-Magee-Greenwood-Gales

NT-Edwards-Lokey

OLB-Hali-Vrabel-Studebaker-Johnson

ILB-Williams-Mays-Belcher-Herron

CB-Flowers-Carr-Leggett-Washington-Bates-Daniels

S-Page-McGraw-Morgan-Price-Langford

The defense could use some help.  As I am writing this article it is my understanding the Chiefs are close to signing Shaun Smith who would immediately help at nose tackle to platoon with Ron Edwards.  The Chiefs could use a pass-rushing outside linebacker opposite of Hali.  A solid inside linebacker could also help.  A corner opposite of Flowers would immediately provide depth and stability at the corner position.  The biggest hole on the defensive side would seem to be safety.  With Page coming off of injury and the rest lacking in experience and big play ability, the safety spot is hurting the most.

In closing, I think overall as of now that Scott Pioli has done a good job with the team that was left to him and is proceeding to take the Chiefs in the right direction.  Make sure to catch my next segment as I will cover the draft and what the Chiefs should look at and who might be available to fill these needs.