Friedrich Nietzsche’s concept of eternal return is that all life repeats itself in some similar form near constantly. Milan Kundera’s concept of the unbearable lightness of being is that each life lived is a discrete point and cannot be relived or even remembered in earnest. I like Kundera, but my hope is that Nietzsche has it right.
Twenty years ago, after two losing seasons and stunning displays of incompetency from a coach who should have never been made a coach, a new GM, coach, and coaching staff were brought in to do damage control. The dramatic shift in the team’s success distorts our perception of how much Carl Peterson and Marty Schottenheimer really changed the shape of the team (this supports Kundera’s premise). The reality is that they kept a lot of the starters from Frank Gansz’s staff. 1990′s 11-4-1 playoff team boasted 13 common starters with Gansz’s 1988 4-11-1 abomination, including QB Steve DeBerg, RB Christian Okoye, WR Stephone Paige, DL Neil Smith and Bill Maas, LB Dino Hackett, and all four DBs: Albert Lewis, Kevin Ross, Kevin Porter, and Deron Cherry. What Carl and Marty did was flush the LB corps (minus Pro Bowler Hackett), flush the right side of the OL, and switch starting tailbacks.
Twenty years later, my hope is that Scott Pioli and Todd Haley will flush the LB corps (possibly minus Derrick Johnson), flush the right side of the OL, and switch starting tailbacks.
Aside from gameday philosophy, the biggest change between 1988 and 1990 was defensive production. In Gansz’s final year the Chiefs were 15th (of 28, as there were no Panthers, Jaguars, Texans, or new Cleveland Browns at that time) in scoring defense and 26th in sacks. By 1990 they were 5th and 1st, respectively. It wasn’t Percy Snow or the Rocky Boiman-esque Chris Martin that acted as the catalyst for that change. No, it was two consecutive top five draft picks from ’88 and ’89 that started to pan out at about the same time–Neil Smith and Derrick Thomas.
Detroit has served as evidence to the football world of late as to how poor consecutive top five picks can sink a team for the better part of a decade. In the ’90s the Kansas City Chiefs showed how genius (or lucky, depending on your perspective) consecutive top five picks can do the exact opposite. Smith and especially Thomas kept a team mired in braindead mediocrity at the QB position above water, leading them into the postseason more often than not and keeping asses in the seats at Arrowhead to cheer on a team that had tremendous difficulty mustering even 20 points a game.
Flash forward to the present. Scott Pioli and Todd Haley have in their hands a top five draft pick. This is only the second time in team history the Chiefs have had consecutive top five picks, and we know what happened the first time. Neil Smith was an unexpected gift from the outgoing regime–a defensive lineman who underperformed his first year but seldom disappointed afterward. It would be nice if Glenn Dorsey developed a similar career trajectory. Better yet would be if this year’s top five pick turned out as good as the top five pick 20 years ago.
But I’m not holding my breath.
In this year’s draft there are three linebackers that by consensus are considered worthy of a top five pick: Ray Maualuga, James Laurinaitis, and Aaron Curry. I hope we take one of them. We have no need greater than linebacker, and, given last year’s performance, that says a lot. I think any of the three could and probably would be a cornerstone of our defense for a decade to come. Do I think any of them are on the same level as Derrick Thomas? Not a chance in hell. Thomas posted 27 sacks in his senior year. Maualuga, Laurinaitis, and Curry have 31. Cumulative. In four years. There simply isn’t a pass rusher of Thomas’s caliber in this year’s class, at linebacker or defensive end.
In fact, I’m not sure there’s a player at any position of Thomas’s caliber in this year’s class. I may be biased though. A piece of my heart broke nine years ago and it will never be unbroken. I will never shake that sinking feeling in my chest when I learned of his death. I, like many Chiefs fans, placed unrealistic expectations on Derrick Johnson on little more than a common position and a common first name. Derrick Johnson was our rebound girlfriend. He looked, sounded, and sometimes even moved like Thomas, and that was the cause of our infatuation as well as the source of our disappointment when he didn’t turn out to be as good.
Hopefully we’ll cut the new kid a little more slack.
Hopefully we draft Aaron Curry, Nathan. Overall, he is the best “playmaker” out there at the position and I can see him taking some pressure off of DJ in the linebacker duties. Their isn’t a DE worthy in this draft of Pick #3, and hell, J. Laurinaitis and R. Maualuga aren’t either, Top 10 though yes. I just think this Curry kid has shown what kind of a LB he is. He can do it all, has the strength and speed to give our LB’s a chance at making a play on the ball. DeMorrio Williams was a decent reserve at times, but we can’t live with Boiman, Pat Thomas, and Donnie Edwards anymore. That ain’t gonna cut it. Time to address a serious need Haley, I say bring in Curry.
Comment by Marques W. — February 16, 2009 @ 10:33 am
I think we should draft Andre Smith from Alabama if he is still there at the third pick. He has room for improvement but he has only gotten better every year I have watched him. Move Albert to guard where he would excel and we wouldnt have to worry about the QB getting killed every play.
Comment by Habanero — February 16, 2009 @ 12:49 pm
We need to take an O-Lineman or Crabtree with our first pick. We can get some OLB’s out of free agency. The Raven’s won’t keep their 3 studs and Bart Scott will most likely be the odd man out there. We definately should make a strong push for him as he is the youngest and would fit our team the best.
We should keep DJ and DW and thats it.
Comment by RedNGold4LIFE — February 16, 2009 @ 4:46 pm
Habanero: I think you’re underestimating how good of a rookie season Albert had. He allowed 4.5 sacks. Compare that to Cleveland’s Joe Thomas, who made consecutive Pro Bowls in his first two years–As a rookie, Thomas allowed 4.25, and this year he allowed 4.5. In essence, Albert is already playing at or very near a Pro Bowl level. Under no circumstances do you move a guy who gets those results as a rookie (with no preseason games to boot) off of the most important position on the team.
Comment by nathanKent — February 16, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
Well said nathanKent! We don’t need a left tackle. Albert was superb and don’t forget, he played 4/5 games on 1 leg when he was coming off his injury! However, we do need a right tackle and that should be Jordan Gross from Carolina. He wants out, only 5 yrs in the league and just went to the pro-bowl, hello!!! Let’s load up on D in free agency and pick Crabtree. He’s the next Fitzgerald and anybody could throw to him and Bowe!!!
Comment by DC Chief — February 17, 2009 @ 2:56 pm
It will be tough to get Gross and convince him to play RT. I’d love to have him, but it’s a pipe dream. We can’t afford to pay LT money to a RT.
Comment by nathanKent — February 17, 2009 @ 4:43 pm
Gross is a RT and he is not demanding big money but a long term deal and out of Carolina! After management releases the 2 or 3 veterans that they have, the chiefs will be 45 mill+ under the cap! The Chiefs need to get the fans back and it starts by building a great line like we used to have!!!
Comment by DC Chief — February 18, 2009 @ 2:15 pm
Nathan, I agree. I wonder if we will have a 4-3 or 3-4 Defense? I think we should take Curry. However, I won’t be disappointed if they take take Smith (OL).
Comment by Jeff in VA — February 18, 2009 @ 9:37 pm
I wasn’t knocking Albert or underestimating him he did well for getting thrown in at a different position in his rookie season, which is what I expected of him. What I am saying is I believe that getting Smith and moving Albert back to guard(the position he played at Virginia)could shore up the most important side of the line for a decade. Smith is Roaf like in his domination at both pass and run and Albert is so athletic and smart he could be great at guard (he would be an exellent pulling guard). I dont put to much into the stats last season. Though he did well I just know what I saw, which was every game. Our Qbs were getting killed the run was non existant. It would just be nice to see those two play that side and dominate.
Comment by Habanero — February 20, 2009 @ 10:19 am
Granted that’s if Brian Waters bolts.
Comment by Habanero — February 20, 2009 @ 11:35 am
Brian Waters isn’t going anywhere, thank God. He has the most reasonable contract of any 4x Pro Bowl offensive lineman in the league. His cap figure is around $5 million, but his contract was front loaded, so we’re actually paying him less than $1 million/year right now. It’s highly unusual for a lineman with no significant injury history to retire shy of 12 years, and Waters just finished his ninth (7 1/2 as a starter). We signed him to a 7-year extension in 2005, so he’ll stay here through the remainder of his most productive years.
DC Chief: Gross has periodically played RT during the years that Travelle Wharton was healthy, but he has spent the majority of his career as a starting LT. At this point the Panthers have permanently moved Wharton to LG, where he’s more effective and a little less injury prone, and assigned Jeff Otah the starting RT job. Regardless, even when Gross was playing RT he was really a LT, and his new contract with Carolina ($30 mil in the first three years, with the total amount undisclosed as of yet) demonstrates that. This is no different than when we had John Tait here. We had him at RT most of the time, but he was drafted to play LT and only moved to the other side because we acquired Willie Roaf.
Gross was at the top of my wish list, but I knew it was a virtual impossibility. Even if he had made it to the market, he would not have accepted a job playing RT. At this point we should look at Mark Tauscher and Jason Brown.
Comment by nathanKent — February 21, 2009 @ 10:35 pm
Nathan Kent: He started at RT in the pro bowl and that’s where I got a little confused. Also, I heard that he was’nt asking for big money on the NFL network but that was wrong as well! We still need a RT in a bad way!!!
Comment by DC Chief — February 24, 2009 @ 1:13 pm
I think we go defense! DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS! Lets go get Curry! OR TRADE FOR JULIUS! HE WANST OUT OF THE PANTHERS ORGANZATION. AND HE WOULD BE A GREAT FIT FOR THE 3 4 DEFENSE!
Comment by Jason Knipp — February 25, 2009 @ 9:47 am
2009 NFL Free Agent Offensive Linemen
By: Greg Davis
Matt Birk, UFA, Minnesota Vikings
Birk is a Pro Bowl center that has gotten the job done for the Vikings for the last decade. He’s fairly athletic for a lineman and was playing alongside another great lineman in guard Steve Hutchinson, making Birk’s life even easier on the field the past couple of seasons. He’s grounded in Minnesota, so the chances of him choosing to leave seem slim at the moment. However, Minnesota is grooming John Sullivan in hopes that he will eventually replace Birk.
Mike Goff, UFA, San Diego Chargers
While the Chargers would probably prefer to keep Goff, the franchise has been effective in drafting and developing linemen and might look for Goff’s replacement at a better price. Goff has been a leader who simply goes about his business and players like running back Ladainian Tomlinson have benefited from his level of play. Goff has played for a quality line for some time and he’s a big part of the equation when it comes to success.
Mark Tauscher, UFA, Green Bay Packers
Tauscher is a seventh round pick that became a success story. In his first season in the NFL, he was forced into a starting role because of an injury to another player. Tauscher isn’t an elite player, but he is solid in his role as a starter and hadn’t missed a game since 2002 until this season. Tauscher could be at the top of many team’s lists because he could come cheaper than some of the other free agent lineman, but could be nearly or equally effective.
Marvel Smith, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers
Smith may not be the most sought after offensive lineman during free agency, but he could be a bargain for a team willing to chance his health concerns by offering him a contract. He is a Pro-Bowl player with a Super Bowl ring, but back injuries have forced him to miss time this season and to be placed on injured reserve, thus impacting his potential value on the market. When healthy, Smith is one of the league’s best and Pittsburgh will attempt to keep him around because of the quality of player he has shown he can be.
Jahri Evans, RFA, New Orleans Saints
Since starting every game at the guard position in his rookie season, Evans has proven to be a quality lineman. He was drafted in the fourth round, but is in for a decent-sized contract this offseason. Any team in the market for a guard is going to consider Evans and the fact that he has helped protect for quarterback Drew Brees and an offense that has had plenty of time to operate and rack up yards. The Saints will look to keep Evans around, but there is bound to be a team willing to tempt him with a fair amount of money.
Jason Brown, RFA, Baltimore Ravens
A fourth round selection in ’05 for the Ravens, Brown played in all sixteen games in ’06, starting in twelve of those appearances, and has started each game during the past two seasons. He is a quick guard who can also play center in a pinch. Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco benefited from the protection he was afforded by the likes of Brown. Baltimore’s offense is asked to complement one of the league’s best defensive units and Brown’s stability on the line has been critical. Whichever team winds up signing Brown will be adding security at a guard spot.
Jeff Saturday, UFA, Indianapolis Colts
Saturday entered the league with little fanfare as an undrafted free agent. Now, he has become one of the league’s best centers and will command a decent contract for his experience and performance. Having already earned three Pro Bowl and All Pro selections and a Super Bowl ring, Saturday is crucial to the Colts offensive line and winning ways. While a handful of teams could make a run at Saturday, expect the Colts to do everything in their power to retain the veteran center.
Other Offensive Lineman
Stacy Andrews, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals
Khalif Barnes, UFA, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jordan Black, UFA, Houston Texans
Vernon Carey, UFA, Miami Dolphins
George Foster, UFA, Detroit Lions
Chris Gray, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Pete Kendall, UFA, Washington Redskins
Seth McKinney, UFA, Cleveland Browns
Jon Runyan, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Tra Thomas, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Fred Weary, UFA, Houston Texans
John Welbourn, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs
Comment by Jason Knipp — February 25, 2009 @ 9:52 am
Chris Canty, UFA Dallas Cowboys.
Comment by Jason Knipp — February 25, 2009 @ 9:53 am
Albert Haynesworth, UFA Tennesee Titans.
Larry Izzo UFA New England Patriots
Comment by Jason Knipp — February 25, 2009 @ 9:55 am
People I think we need to bring in. Maybe 2 much money for Haynesworth. But Canty would be a nice pickup and Izzo is from New England!
Mike Goff, UFA, San Diego Chargers
Larry Izzo UFA New England Patriots
Chris Canty, UFA Dallas Cowboys.
Bryant McFadden, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Curry Rookie
Albert Haynesworth, UFA Tennesee Titans
Comment by Jason Knipp — February 25, 2009 @ 10:04 am