The To Do List per PFF

[kychief 239]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/01/19/pro-offseason-to-do-list-for-the-kansas-city-chiefs/

[kychief 239]

Despite a season-ending 27-20 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion, the Kansas City Chiefs had a very compelling season. Starting the year with a 1-5 record and a season-ending injury to starting running back Jamaal Charles (79.0 season grade), the Chiefs rattled off 10 consecutive regular season wins, as well as a postseason triumph against the Houston Texans, their first playoff victory since 1993.  Kansas City’s strength remains its defense, which finished the season as PFF’s fifth-highest graded unit, helping them place third in total points allowed.

Justin Houston (91.6 overall grade, 1–100 scale) and Tamba Hali (87.2) were PFF Pro Bowlers as edge rushers, while Derrick Johnson (86.7) and Eric Berry (87.7) returned from injury and significant ailment, respectively, to post Pro Bowl seasons in the middle of the defense. Jeremy Maclin (82.0) supplemented an offense sorely in need of playmakers coming into the season, hauling in 87-of-88 catchable passes in the regular season (the best drop rate in the NFL) and eight touchdowns. D.J. Alexander and Jamell Fleming led a special teams unit that finished in the top six in PFF grades at the conclusion of the regular season, despite jettisoning its top two performers (Kelcie McCray and Josh Martin) from 2014.

In this article, we explore three priority areas for the Chiefs moving into this upcoming offseason, as they look to build upon their third consecutive winning season and second playoff birth in three years:

Upgrades along the offensive line

While the Chiefs finished a respectable 16th in the league in run blocking grades, quarterback Alex Smith (71.9) was under pressure on 37.3 percent of his dropbacks during the 2015 regular season, which was 10th-highest in the NFL. In response, his accuracy percentage dropped from 74.4 (13th in the NFL) to 55.8 (25th) when under pressure. To give Smith and the passing offense more of a chance moving forward, upgrades to the offensive line are necessary.

Despite the Chiefs’ overall success during his tenure, offensive line has been an issue in all three of Andy Reid’s seasons as head coach, with 2013 first overall draft pick tackle Eric Fisher (67.9) failing to grade positively in any of his three seasons. In 2015, he ranked 31st among tackles with a pass blocking efficiency of 94.7 during the regular season, allowing four sacks, two hits, and 27 total hurries. The other tackle spot rotated mostly between Jah Reid (36.2 in 760 snaps) and Donald Stephenson (34.6 in 715 snaps), with neither playing well. Guards Jeff Allen (85.6) and Ben Grubbs (70.9) graded out positively, but neither played over 600 snaps on the season, and were often replaced by Larry Duvernay-Tardif (50.1 in 843 snaps), who’s play left something to be desired. Allen, an upcoming unrestricted free agent, finished tied for the fifth-best run blocking grade (89.5) among guards.  Rookie center Mitch Morse (72.2) graded out in the middle of the pack among centers, and figures to be in Kansas City’s long-term plans.

Getting Grubbs back from injury and re-signing Allen (the third-highest graded guard in free agency) should be sufficient at guard, as should the incumbency of Morse at center. Acquiring at least one starting-caliber tackle in free agency or the draft should be a significant priority this offseason. Solid options such as RT Ryan Schraeder (87.0) of the Falcons, RT Mitchell Schwartz (86.6) of the Browns, and LT Cordy Glenn (85.0) of the Bills exist in free agency, while first-round prospects Ronnie Stanley of Notre Dame and Jack Conklin (only 11 pressures allowed in 2015) of Michigan State will be within the vicinity of their draft position come April.  Manuel Ramirez (86.3) of the Lions, Amini Silatolu (78.3) of the Panthers, and Tony Bergstrom (76.4) of the Raiders are depth options in free agency for the interior of the line.

Retaining key free agents on defense

Berry, Johnson, cornerback Sean Smith (84.2), defensive linemen Jaye Howard (81.6) and Mike Devito (74.2), sub-package defensive backs Husain Abdullah (80.2) and Tyvon Branch (78.2) are all important contributors to the defense and will be unrestricted free agents this coming spring.  While the Chiefs have some cap space (between $25–$35 million) to work with, certainly not all of these players will be retained.

While all four of the safeties in the Chiefs’ rotation (Berry, Ron Parker, Branch, and Abdullah) graded positively in 2015, Berry is both young (27 years old) and a true difference maker. In four full seasons, he has 10 interceptions, three defensive touchdowns, six sacks, nine QB hits, 21 QB hurries, and 141 stops. His retention should be Kansas City’s top priority in the offseason. While the Chiefs used Branch and Abdullah liberally in 2015, much of this playing time can be attributed to the loss of second-year nickel cornerback Philip Gaines (67.9) in Week 3.  The return of Gaines makes Branch and/or Abdullah more expendable this offseason.

Smith has emerged as a solid cornerback since arriving in KC in 2013, finishing 11th and 12th among cornerbacks in cover snaps per reception the last two regular seasons. Smith’s 6-foot-3-inch length and reliability (he missed just two tackles and allowed only 126 yards after the catch in 2015) complement the gambling nature of the shorter (6-foot) Marcus Peters (73.8), whose nine interceptions as a rookie were often overshadowed by what he surrendered (1,057 yards and eight touchdowns) in coverage. The Chiefs’ struggles in coverage during his three-game suspension, along with the lack of similarly-skilled and obtainable options on their current roster, in free agency or in the draft, should put re-signing Smith a close second on the Chiefs’ offseason priority list.

Johnson (33 years old) is getting up there in age, but responded from a 2014 Achilles injury with his second-highest graded season as a pro, and is easily the Chiefs’ best inside linebacker. His 0.56 yards per coverage snap was the best amongst NFL inside linebackers in 2015. Ramik Wilson (60.3 in 130 snaps) and Josh Mauga (67.1 In 527 snaps) would probably take over if Johnson were to leave, with the former being inexperienced and the latter a liability in two seasons as a starter. PFF’s latest mock draft has the Chiefs taking Scooby Wright of Arizona, which would be another option to either complement or replace Johnson in 2016.

While Howard and Devito represent roughly 1,100 snaps of positively-graded play along the defensive line in 2015, the Chiefs play enough 2-4-5 nickel alignment to absorb the loss of one or both of them, especially with the presence of solid linemen Dontari Poe (76.7) and Allen Bailey (74.8) under contract for 2016.

Wide receiver help to complement Maclin

While the addition of Maclin helped the Chiefs put to bed their historic wide receiver ineptitude from 2014, more help is needed in order to move the offense forward in 2016. Albert Wilson (64.5) did force nine missed tackles on 42 receptions (on 69 targets), with just three drops, and while Chris Conley (60.0) caught 23-of-40 targets with two touchdowns and just two drops, their collective productivity would be better-suited for a third or fourth receiver role. Jason Avant (61.9) made some big catches in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, but he will be an unrestricted free agent this spring. While the best free agent option at wide receiver (Alshon Jeffery, 94.2 overall grade) will probably be outside of the Chiefs’ price range, options exist for potential difference makers in the draft, where Leonte Carroo (4.11 yards per route run) of Rutgers and Sterling Shepard (second-best receiving grade in the nation) of Oklahoma should be available in the vicinity of the Chiefs’ draft position in April.

The Kansas City Chiefs broke through in many ways in 2015. From fighting through a very slow start, to winning their first playoff game since 1993, the franchise proved that they belong in the AFC contender conversation moving forward. Upgrades along the offensive line and at wide receiver, along with retaining some of their key defenders, should help them continue to fulfill the promise present since the Andy Reid era started with nine straight wins to begin the 2013 season.

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[eraser 722]

OL is still an area of growth potential (is still sucks). There is light at the end of the tunnel (hope it is not a train). Fisher got better during the season. He had a penalty in the playoff game against New England, but that was the first one since game six (If memory serves me right). Anyway, he seemed to get better, and have a better attitude. Jeff Allen was significantly better than Grubbs, from my view. PFF seems to agree, although they indicated Grubbs was better than what I saw with my own eyes. Grubbs did not play up to his paycheck. However, the Chiefs do not save any money by releasing Grubbs, so they might as well hold a roster spot for him in 2016. Jeff Allen is a free agent. I hope they are able to sign Allen. He is a credit to the community. His only fault has been his inability to stay healthy. Morse was good, not great. He should be better next year. LDT was the best player, but definitely not good enough. Jah Reid was abysmal at RT. He was better than LDT, when he moved over to RG. Stephenson probably played his last season with Kansas City. Reid would be a better replacement for Stephenson. In my opinion, the Chiefs need to find a RT. That was the worst spot on the team. 

 

I follow, and occasionally tweet to Geoff Schwartz. He is an interesting guy. Schwartz is a smart guy, and likes to extol his opinions on the net. His brother, Mitch is better than Geoff. Geoff likes to promote his brother. I believe Mitch will not sign back with Cleveland. I would like the Chiefs to sign him as a free agent. He would not be cheap. Mitch Schwartz is very good. He has stayed healthy. He is 26 years old. He had a PFF rating of 87.2. He is a good run blocker, but even better at pass protection. http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland-browns/post/_/id/16207/profootballfocus-rates-mitchell-schwartz-the-nfls-best-right-tackle  Geoff Schwartz is politically correct when speaking of the Chiefs. Maybe I am reading something into it, but it seems he is not in favor of Mitchell going to the Chiefs. I have asked him about Mitch going to the Chiefs. His response is, "the Chiefs already signed Jah Reid for RT". Jah Reid's contract is not starting RT money, but that does not seem to matter to Geoff. Mitch is not Geoff, so even if Geoff has negative opinions about KC, maybe Mitch will feel different. I believe Mitchell Schwartz is the best fit for the Chiefs at RT. 

[artsy 1,137]

OL is still an area of growth potential (is still sucks). There is light at the end of the tunnel (hope it is not a train). Fisher got better during the season. He had a penalty in the playoff game against New England, but that was the first one since game six (If memory serves me right). Anyway, he seemed to get better, and have a better attitude. Jeff Allen was significantly better than Grubbs, from my view. PFF seems to agree, although they indicated Grubbs was better than what I saw with my own eyes. Grubbs did not play up to his paycheck. However, the Chiefs do not save any money by releasing Grubbs, so they might as well hold a roster spot for him in 2016. Jeff Allen is a free agent. I hope they are able to sign Allen. He is a credit to the community. His only fault has been his inability to stay healthy. Morse was good, not great. He should be better next year. LDT was the best player, but definitely not good enough. Jah Reid was abysmal at RT. He was better than LDT, when he moved over to RG. Stephenson probably played his last season with Kansas City. Reid would be a better replacement for Stephenson. In my opinion, the Chiefs need to find a RT. That was the worst spot on the team. 

 

I follow, and occasionally tweet to Geoff Schwartz. He is an interesting guy. Schwartz is a smart guy, and likes to extol his opinions on the net. His brother, Mitch is better than Geoff. Geoff likes to promote his brother. I believe Mitch will not sign back with Cleveland. I would like the Chiefs to sign him as a free agent. He would not be cheap. Mitch Schwartz is very good. He has stayed healthy. He is 26 years old. He had a PFF rating of 87.2. He is a good run blocker, but even better at pass protection. http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland-browns/post/_/id/16207/profootballfocus-rates-mitchell-schwartz-the-nfls-best-right-tackle  Geoff Schwartz is politically correct when speaking of the Chiefs. Maybe I am reading something into it, but it seems he is not in favor of Mitchell going to the Chiefs. I have asked him about Mitch going to the Chiefs. His response is, "the Chiefs already signed Jah Reid for RT". Jah Reid's contract is not starting RT money, but that does not seem to matter to Geoff. Mitch is not Geoff, so even if Geoff has negative opinions about KC, maybe Mitch will feel different. I believe Mitchell Schwartz is the best fit for the Chiefs at RT. 

I'll take any RT at this point. Jah is serviceable, and Stephenson sucks.

[kychief 239]

I'll take any RT at this point. Jah is serviceable, and Stephenson sucks.

 

 

truth.

[azchief21 5,278]

Interesting.....according to their grading system any player under 70 should not be a starter. Without my own own personal grading system, this is pretty accurate to what I saw with my own eyeballs this season. 

[Chiefmania 22]

I think that Wilson improved this year and will only get better.  I think that Conley showed glimpses of what he is capable of and will only get better. That being said, after watching highlights of Corey Coleman I think that is who we need to target at #28.  When the head coach at WVU, who had White last year, says that Coleman is the best player in college football then he is something special.  He has great hands, great feet, runs good routes, can break tackles, and has more moves than anyone that I have seen.  If we put him out there with Maclin, Charles, Kelsey, Conley, and Wilson then I feel that we have the weapons to compete with anyone in football.  Go OL in the 2nd and in FA.  Go DL in the 3rd and FA.  Do whatever you want, but to end up with Coleman would be incredible.  JMO

[liquidfriend 1,151]

Wilson is a 4/5 guy on a good offensive squad, and is a 2 here. Conley might turn into something, but he's more of a project at this juncture.

 

The offense suffered without a healthy Maclin. WR is a high need.

 

I think its timr for the Chiefs to find some balance on the team and not be heavy on D as much.

[Chiefmania 22]

Not sure if the post was agreeing or disagreeing, but just in case.  Maclin - 1, Coleman - 2, Conley - 3, Wilson - 4.  I would say that the Chiefs coaches are very happy with the progress that Conley made in Reid's offense, and all first year WR's come in and are considered projects.  The key will be what he does between year 1 and 2.  My point was that with the addition of Coleman, who is a lot like Maclin but seems to have a few more moves to make people miss, this WR group could turn into an explosive unit.  Add to that Kelsey, JC, and Harris (who is finally becoming a football player) and this offense could have as many weapons as any team out there. 

[West 6,714]

I give Conley and Wilson a  "B" for the season.

 

Conley because he really began to "show up" by the end of the season.  He has elite speed and is a VERY smart player.  I really think KC made a great draft choice.

 

Wilson because he continued to progress and was able to "flash".  I think he needs to improve plenty. He needs to grow "longer arms" or lay out for the ball. 

 

While I thought Dan Fouts was a jackass during he Patriots game, his comments about Conley and Wilson "finding open space and helping the QB under duress" was spot on.  That comes with reps and experience.

 

I like the progress several of the o-Line men made this year.  Morse & Fisher look to be around for many years to come.  Allen's return to the lineup was a big part of better O-line play.  KC has serious work to do here.

 

w

[eraser 722]

I'm not going to put players in any particular order. The Chiefs just need to keep adding another wide receiver, and continue developing those already on their team. So, what about the talent already on the team.

 

Conley has the speed and size to be a #1 WR in the NFL. He is intelligent. Why, then is he not? Well, there are numerous reasons, but the most important is he lacks experience. Conley also is not quick as much as he is fast. Quickness is why a receiver with 4.55 or 4.6 40 can still be effective, while a receiver with 4.3 straight-line speed may not. His upper body strength is lacking. He isn't that far off, but he needs to continue working to get stronger. The system is complex, and Conley, even though he is smart, needs to learn this offense better. His hand strength and ball tracking skills needs to improve. There are a bunch of other little details and nuances that he can learn from being around Jeremy Maclin, but he just isn't there yet. He was a rookie, who played at a school that did not feature the pass. What was he a 4th round pick? Give it time. http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/chris-conley?id=2552652 Notice the slower 20 and three cone.

 

Albert Wilson is fast, and is fairly quick. He was an undrafted player, and the Chiefs are developing him. He played for Georgia State in college. He was unheralded in high school, and that is why he played for a team in the Sun Belt Conference. In NCAA division I A football, there are ten conferences. The Sun Belt Conference is number ten. Its worse than C-USA, the MAC, Mountain West, American Athletic Conference, and the Atlantic Coast Conference. We aren't even to the point of disputing whether the SEC is better (yes they are) than the Big ten, or the Big 12, or whatever other major conference. There is an awful lot of bad football programs to go through before your get to Georgia State in the worst football conference in Division I A. So, no he was not highly recruited. Nobody makes it in the NFL from that level of football, except...well, yes they do. Jerry Rice played for one of the worst teams in one of the worst conferences of the NCAA Division I AA conferences. There are 127 member teams in the FBS -NCAA Div. 1 A. The next level is the FCS, and there are 125 of them. So, Rice played for a really small school in a very bad conference in college football. He also was a first round pick, so some team (SF 49ers) were aware of his talent, but that is just one situation, right? No. Tons of talent leak into small schools. Marques Colston, and Vincent Jackson are recent wide receivers from small schools. It happens. Albert Wilson needs to learn how to play in the NFL. This is only his second season. Do not give up on this kid. He is smart, talented, and dedicated to the game. 

 

The Chiefs have Frankie Hammond, Da'Ron Brown, Fred Williams, Kenny Cook, and although Jason Avant is a free agent, they technically have ties to him right now. However, for the most part none of these guys are likely to represent the future. So, for all practical purposes, the Chiefs have three wide receivers on  their roster with a NFL future. Maclin, Conley, and Wilson. They need more guys than that. Wilson may even be more of a return specialist if the Chiefs develop more depth. Having three solid receivers is not enough. 

[eraser 722]

The draft - 2016 wide receivers

 

1. LeQuon Treadwell - U of Mississippi - Top ten pick - not going to happen

2. Michael Thomas - Ohio State U - Top twenty pick - not likely to happen. Big receiver, but not explosive. Lacks pop. ideal #2 guy. 

3a. Corey Coleman - Baylor - late round 1, early round 2 player. 5'10 190 lb. tough player. plays bigger than his size. 4.4 speed, 45 in vertical jump. Explosive, quick

3b. Josh Doctson - TCU - late round 1 to mid or even late round 2. 6'4" 190 lb. 42 inch vertical jump. 4.5 40, more fast than quick, but good athleticism, and great hands. Will fight for the ball. high character. Josh Doctson is my pick for the Chiefs. He was hurt in the final 4 games at TCU. Did not do well in their bowl game, but he was recovering from an injury. 

3c. Tyler Boyd - Pitt - mid to late 2nd rounder, but may rise up to first round with good combine. 6'2" 185 lbs. 4.45 to 4.5 40  40 inch vertical jump. Freakish athleticism. Strong hands, and excellent ball to eye coordination. character issues may drop him lower.

6.  Kenny Lawler - California - mid to late 2nd round. 6'2" 185 lbs - 4.4 40 big hands, good catching radius. likes the fade off the shoulder pass. Well coached - his dad is a secondary coach - knows how to use his body to block out the defender on a pass. 

7. William Fuller - Notre Dame - 5'11" 170 lbs. slight build. D'Anthony Thomas clone. 

 

Jalen Marshall, Sterling Shepard, Leonte Caroo, Rashard Higgins, Braxton Miller, Thomas Duarte, and Pharoh Cooper are the next best seven, but will probably be 3rd round or lower. 

 

Right now I would be in favor of the Chiefs picking the right WR in either the 1st or 2nd round. I would want the Chiefs to select a defensive back in the first or second round that they do not use to pick a wide receiver. 

 

Corners Kendall Fuller, Will Redmond, or Mackensie Alexander in round one.

 

William Jackson III, or Darian Thompson in round 2. Thompson is a ball hawking safety, who has the athleticism to play cornerback.   

[kccrow 529]

The draft - 2016 wide receivers

 

1. LeQuon Treadwell - U of Mississippi - Top ten pick - not going to happen

2. Michael Thomas - Ohio State U - Top twenty pick - not likely to happen. Big receiver, but not explosive. Lacks pop. ideal #2 guy. 

3a. Corey Coleman - Baylor - late round 1, early round 2 player. 5'10 190 lb. tough player. plays bigger than his size. 4.4 speed, 45 in vertical jump. Explosive, quick

3b. Josh Doctson - TCU - late round 1 to mid or even late round 2. 6'4" 190 lb. 42 inch vertical jump. 4.5 40, more fast than quick, but good athleticism, and great hands. Will fight for the ball. high character. Josh Doctson is my pick for the Chiefs. He was hurt in the final 4 games at TCU. Did not do well in their bowl game, but he was recovering from an injury. 

3c. Tyler Boyd - Pitt - mid to late 2nd rounder, but may rise up to first round with good combine. 6'2" 185 lbs. 4.45 to 4.5 40  40 inch vertical jump. Freakish athleticism. Strong hands, and excellent ball to eye coordination. character issues may drop him lower.

6.  Kenny Lawler - California - mid to late 2nd round. 6'2" 185 lbs - 4.4 40 big hands, good catching radius. likes the fade off the shoulder pass. Well coached - his dad is a secondary coach - knows how to use his body to block out the defender on a pass. 

7. William Fuller - Notre Dame - 5'11" 170 lbs. slight build. D'Anthony Thomas clone. 

 

Jalen Marshall, Sterling Shepard, Leonte Caroo, Rashard Higgins, Braxton Miller, Thomas Duarte, and Pharoh Cooper are the next best seven, but will probably be 3rd round or lower. 

 

Right now I would be in favor of the Chiefs picking the right WR in either the 1st or 2nd round. I would want the Chiefs to select a defensive back in the first or second round that they do not use to pick a wide receiver. 

 

Corners Kendall Fuller, Will Redmond, or Mackensie Alexander in round one.

 

William Jackson III, or Darian Thompson in round 2. Thompson is a ball hawking safety, who has the athleticism to play cornerback.   

 

Bwhahahahahhahahaha hahahahah ahahahahahahahahahaha jesus fucking christ hahahahahaha

[Calichief 3,016]

I Trust Dorsey.

[kychief 239]

Bwhahahahahhahahaha hahahahah ahahahahahahahahahaha jesus fucking christ hahahahahaha

 

 

????????????????...

[SEMO 6,811]

????????????????...

2 experts going at it. Good TV.

[eraser 722]

Fuller is bigger than De'Anthony, but he is not that big. Some list him as 184 lbs. We will see. A lot of colleges hype their players by listing them bigger than they really are. . One thing the player can do is get weighed, and measured at the combine, but have some excuse as to why they cannot run. Then, at their pro day, they have lost the weight, and run. Its a crock, but I would suggest it if I were the player's agent. 

 

Fuller is small. I am not a fan. I could be wrong. I don't think so. We will see. 

[liquidfriend 1,151]

Being small doesn't make you a Day 3 guy. It didn't stop Andy from drafting DeSean Jackson in the 2nd round.

 

I can't see them going WR in the first though, unless they were looking at another Maclin. It's not what Reid and Dorsey typically do.

[kccrow 529]

De'Anthony Thomas was 5'8-5/8" and 174 pounds. Will Fuller is closer to 5'11-1/2" and 184 pounds. Even DeSean Jackson is a full inch taller than DAT. Fuller has a Phillip Gaines-type build. They aren't even comparable.

[kccrow 529]

Fuller is bigger than De'Anthony, but he is not that big. Some list him as 184 lbs. We will see. A lot of colleges hype their players by listing them bigger than they really are. . One thing the player can do is get weighed, and measured at the combine, but have some excuse as to why they cannot run. Then, at their pro day, they have lost the weight, and run. Its a crock, but I would suggest it if I were the player's agent. 

 

Fuller is small. I am not a fan. I could be wrong. I don't think so. We will see. 

 

This is respectable. Yes, he's not big. He's not DAT though in your prior comparison. Fuller is a little longer than D-Jax but similar player/build.  Not sure how you can't be a fan given D-Jax's success under Reid and the fact that Fuller is slightly bigger and has put up 2300 yards and scored 29 TDs the past 2 seasons at ND. Fuller is, literally, the type of bubble screen superstar Reid needs opposite Maclin to make his offense potent.

[Chiefmania 22]

If we do not go WR in the first couple of rounds, and we go in the 3rd say.  Will Shephard, from OU, be there and if so what is everyones opinion of him in our offense?