With the 11th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected defensive tackle Dontari Poe from the University of Memphis.
Poe (6’3″, 350) was a second-team All-Conference USA selection after finishing with 33 tackles – eight for loss – and one sack in 2011. He started all of Memphis’ 24 games the last two seasons. Poe also made the C-USA all-freshman team in 2009 and was an honorable mention all-conference selection in 2010.
Poe put up a spectacular showing at the NFL scouting combine where despite his imposing size, he was able to run the 40-yard dash in an official time of 4.98 seconds, with some claiming his unofficial time was 4.87 seconds. Additionally, he put up 44 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press, the most of any prospect who attended the combine.
Not sure if I like this, shouldn’t we of been looking at the offensive line, and getting someone like David DeCastro??
Comment by Ernie Hardman — April 26, 2012 @ 9:31 pm
Here is one assessment:
Unbelievable……Poe…..Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane….How do you draft a player that has never played at a high level with a #11 pick?
Even if he becomes all-pro for 15 years and makes Canton, this is a horrible pick…Now if football was only played in the weight room or on a 40 yard dash track without any pads or contact, this would be a great pick….If this guy was only graded on his on field performance, he would be a fourth to fifth round pick….Every coach seems to think they can “coach up” an under performer…Leoards don’t change their spots and lazy college athletes don’t become hungry after they become instant multi-millionaires….Betting this is a bust….
Comment by Ernie Hardman — April 26, 2012 @ 9:32 pm
What the…. Poe is not a first round pick. Come on. Reaching with the 11th pick?
Comment by ChiefJ — April 26, 2012 @ 9:42 pm
Should have been DeCastro. We have almost nobody for the O line. Damn I hope I’m wrong, but this one has bust written all over it.
Comment by Chris — April 26, 2012 @ 10:58 pm
I’m not excited about this pick either. However, there are four good OT left. If we get one of those, this risky pick may pay off. Also, Romeo needs to jump all over this guy from day one. He can’t start off as the player’s coach towards Mr. Poe like he has with other players on our team. Remember, a few major publications have Dontari slightly rated below Haloti Ngata from the Ravens with more upside. If he lives up to 75% of that, we are a top 5 defense for 5+ years. To Chris, we will have one of the better O-Lines in the league next year. We just need depth. Finally, Nose Tackle was our biggest need and that’s filled.
Comment by DC Chief — April 27, 2012 @ 12:24 am
This is not the next coming of Ryan Sims. Mark my word, he is going to help out the D. For YEARS the Chiefs have not been able to stop the run up the middle. And to run a 3-4, you FOR SURE need a big strong guy who can plug up that middle. He is a monster and strong as a horse and he is going to dominate the middle just like Wilfork does in New England. I REALLY like this pick for sure, and there are a ton of talent out there we can grab. Yes I know a lot of you fellow KC fans do not like the pick, but MARK MY WORD, he is going to be a beast and you will be like, WOW that was a smart move to make. Who else do we have that is going to play the nose? Powe is pretty much still a rookie and watching him last year, im really not sold on him, and we have him for depth so this is a good move. BE GLAD Chiefs fans.
Comment by D RoKK — April 27, 2012 @ 6:35 am
An just because a player does not play for a big conference or “AT A HIGH LEVEL” does not mean they are going to be a bust. Look at Dorsey, he played in the best conference in college football and dominated. What has he done since he as been in KC? Same with Tyson Jackson, he came a long last year a bit, but hes not raising pure hell. I mean didnt he just restructure his contract? Just bc they didn’t play at a high level doesnt mean they will be a bust.
Comment by D RoKK — April 27, 2012 @ 6:38 am
@ D Rokk. ” is going to dominate the middle just like Wilfork does in New England.” Seriously? He didnt, or wouldnt dominate at a smaller school. How can you say he will be the next Wilfork? Like I said, I hope he proves me wrong, but I’ve always believed you cant polish a turd.
Comment by Chris — April 27, 2012 @ 9:02 am
Well we will see won’t we Chris. And when he does, you will be on his bandwagon just like all the other haters he has. Im calling it, that he will not be a bust.
Comment by D RoKK — April 27, 2012 @ 12:22 pm
Regarding O-line don’t forget the Chiefs signed OT Eric Winston as a free agent back in March.
BTW who coached Wilfork his first few years in NE? (hint RC)
Comment by Just sayin' — April 27, 2012 @ 12:47 pm
And also, all a 3-4 defense ask is to Stuff the run up the middle and during a pass take on two blockers to free up an LB, while not allowing the QB to step up into the pocket. In college, they asked him to do many things on the DL. Here, all we ask him to do is one thing and to play one position and do one job. I bet he can do that. I trust Romeo’s judgment on this pick. I really believe he is going to dominate. Hate to say this, but when the chiefs picked Doresy, I knew for sure, he was not going to be what he was in college. And he didn’t even pan out to be what everyone said he was going to be, and that was before they even moved to the 3-4 and he played a 4-3 in college. I was not happy about the Doresy pick like a lot of fans are about Poe. I wanted Ryan Clady and guess who has him, those DAMN DONKEYS. I really believe he will be a force in the middle. Lets pull for him to do great instead of already judging him. Look at Foster down in Houston. Was not even drafted and had a bad last two years and Tennessee. Look at him now. Lets give him a shot before we say hes another coming of Ryan Sims. Besides, Sims lived off of Peppers in college, until he got exposed when he went pro, and Peppers was not there to bail him out like he did at NC.
Comment by D RoKK — April 27, 2012 @ 12:51 pm
kind like whats happening…. Allen (ILLINOIS) and Stephenson (OKLAHOMA)…. with Winston and Poe…. Draft looking good….. KC did lose Kelly remember that…. Poe is perfect for this position, sure DeCastro would have been nice…. BUT a NT is what KC needed for real
Comment by Dave — April 27, 2012 @ 9:21 pm
4th round pick who do u think we get? i hope QB kirk cousins from michigan state? is he good?
Comment by scott — April 28, 2012 @ 1:16 am
Thank you Dave, my point I have been trying to make. And I think allen will fill in perfect at the guard position. He has REALLY good foot work if you look at his film and can block very well.
Comment by D RoKK — April 28, 2012 @ 11:41 am
I believe one has to be skeptical — being All-Conference USA is being among the best of the mediocre, and a NT has to be dominant to be good. How would he do in a top-tier college team, let alone the NFL? Hoping for the best, I’ll keep my fingers crossed, of course.
Comment by Charles — April 28, 2012 @ 3:40 pm
THIS IS MY MINDSET……YOU HAVE A RAW GUY IN POE THAT IS GOING TO ONE OF THE BEST DEFENSIVE MINDS IN THE NFL. I LOVE IT. HE IS LIKE A BIG ASS BALL OF CLAY THAT CAN BE MOLDED HOWEVER RAC WANTS IT TO BE. POE SEEMS LIKE A STAND UP GUY AND I AM EXCITED TO HAVE HIM AS A CHIEF!!! TRUST PIOLI. WELCOME TO THE CHIEFS DONTARI. ALL OF THE PEICES ARE IN PLACE TO BE THE KC D OF THE 90′S!!!
Comment by eplueg — April 28, 2012 @ 4:43 pm
BTW…..NFL NETWORK GAVE THE CHIEFS DRAFT A B+ SO FAR AND THE FAIDERS A C.
Comment by eplueg — April 28, 2012 @ 4:44 pm
The way the Chiefs 3-4 plays, Poe will just need to take up blockers and fill a hole. He can do that. The LBs shine in this defense, the line doesn’t. It was the biggest need for the Chiefs and he was the only guy we could taken for that position. We did a good job getting some OLinemen. The draft definately wasn’t sexy with no playmakers in the first few rounds, but we filled needs. A- free agency, B- draft, B+ overall this offseason
Comment by Jeff in VA — April 28, 2012 @ 10:49 pm