_2.gif "Time.com 50 Best Websites 2008")
The rebuilding effort in Kansas City has included, surprisingly, a third-round draft pick being devoted to the running back position.
Specifically, the Chiefs have selected Texas running back Jamaal Charles with the 73rd overall pick, which was one of the selections obtained from the Vikings in the Jared Allen trade.
The knee-jerk reaction is that maybe the team thinks Larry Johnson isn’t the long-term answer at the position. Our guess is that they’re hoping to develop a solid two-back approach, in order to limit Johnson’s touches and extend his career.
Whether Johnson agrees with that approach when it means he’ll be taken out of games when he’d otherwise remain on the field remains to be seen.
April 27th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Don’t forget about Kolby Smith coming off the bench with LJ’s injury who had a lot of success. they could trade LJ and still develop a “two-back approach”
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
April 27th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I wouldn’t look to deep into the thinking of Peterson or Edwards. I think they employed a system of drawing their picks out of a hat for the 3rd round. That’s the only logical excuse I can see for passing on Early Doucett TWICE when you desperately need a #2 WR and then taking a RB and a TE (the ONLY 2 positions that are solidified on your team). Good thinkin fellas!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 27th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Larry got his money and then disappeared. Too bad we couldn’t have traded him for some picks with that huge contract. Kolby filled in nicely and showed some heart and ran with some fire. Seemed like Larry lost his passion after he found his $$$$.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
April 27th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
There are no long-term answers at RB, there are only 3-4 season answers. Teams don’t need franchise backs to win a Super Bowl but you do have to have the QB and that should be what the Chiefs and their worry about.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
April 27th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
The Chiefs OWNED this year’s draft. Sooooo solid! They really nailed the top end of their draft.
I’m a Longhorns fan, and know what Charles is capable of; and believe me Chiefs fans, you boys got something to look FORWARD to! Wait till you see this kid blow past people, he’s awesome.
The Chiefs look like the big winners of the draft, followed by Pittsburgh…
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
April 27th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
BillyGoat:
First of all, you are just another nay-sayer like those that are a blemish on real Chiefs fans. secondly, you are an idiot.
Jason Dunn departed this off season. He was a big blocking tight end we used all too often on running downs. He was like a 6th O-lineman on the field who was also a large target for a Trent Green checkdown. He left. In comes Cottam from Tennessee. Guess where Cottam fits in??
and the picks of Morgan and Charles are an example of taking the best player available. Morgan was the 2nd rated safety in the entire draft for many analysts, and Charles is a great value in the 3rd round. Both were value picks to continue to rebuild a foundation for our franchise. its a shame you cant see that.
and as far as passing on early doucet: He is small and had bad workouts. and Franklin from Mizzou will probably be a better pro. Its well known Herm likes big WR’s the help block for our power running game, and also because they make for big targets as match up problems for smaller cb’s (Herm played cb, remember? he should know a thing or two about that match up outside the hashes). Franklin is much bigger, ran a 4.3, and had a stellar college career for a pass-first, pass-always offense (lead the big 12 in all purpose yards i believe).
Florio, you can post this as a disclaimer for all naysaying Chiefs fans. Or just for its literary excellence. That will be all.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
April 27th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
LJ didnt disappear as much as age and injury caught up to the Chiefs. Their offensive line couldn’t block, they had a very limited passing game, and they were playing catch-up in most of their games. I will say that I wish KC would have picked up some more help on o-line, but Albert could be an anchor next to Waters and LJ may have all kinds of room to run off the left side next season. Even great RBs need someone to clear the way. I think he’ll have a huge bounceback.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
April 27th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Arrowhead:
We picked up some quality players in the 3rd round of the draft, no doubt about that. But we didn’t pick up players we NEED, and that is the problem. One very good blocker on the O-Line in Brandon Albert (some have rated him as high as the no.1 for his versatility) does not solve our problems there. There were still some very good o-linemen and cornerbacks to be taken, arguably the weakest parts of our team. Instead we picked up a RB who has a problem with holding onto the ball(though he is very, very fast), a TE who is injury prone and will NOT be the runblocker TE (that would be reserved for our 7th round pick) and we also got a safety who is good, but we already have two good ones. We drafted good players but not ones which we NEED!!! And is it too much to ask for a Blocking Fullback? Owen Schmitt would look great clearing holes for LJ. Great first day, bad 3rd round, good rounds 4-7.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
April 28th, 2008 at 11:27 am
in the wake of all the OL issues, prior vermeil comments came back (he’s a baby), along with priest holmes saying lj needed to get inventive to get yards if the regular way didnt work anymore. vermeil wasnt referring to lj’s age so much as his temperament. i take the draft as an indication that herm is going to experiment if things dont get working soon.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated