NSLU: Catching Lightning in a Bottle
・ By David Bell
The Brett Veach Era
The way things have gone since Brett Veach signed on as GM is befitting a special idiom. We do know some actions that appear to be a fulfillment! Let me list those players added that illustrate my view as a review as we begin the camping process.
- Reggie Ragland, ILB -run stopping thumper.
- Kendall Fuller, CB–was top in the NFL among Slot defenders.
- Anthony Hutchins, ILB–sideline-to-sideline defender, with pass defense ability.
- David Amerson, CB — Less proven but with a top rating in the 2014 draft.
- Derrick Nnadi, NT — by all appearances and tape, Nnadi wreaks of potential success at NT.
- Xavier Williams, NT — a run stopping NT who has not been a starter but has solid reference to be a #2 NT, something that the Chiefs have lacked since the Reid/Dorsey era began in 2013. Brett Veach invested in Williams and the investment would be to prevent injury and diminished performance at the position due to “over-use and reliance”. Besides this, I am sure Williams is not accepting being relegated to #2 and he is “Coming Home” to a “Grand View.” It’s up to Williams to strut his stuff but even as #2 NT & S/T, he “Fits”.
- Breeland Speaks, OLB and/or 34DE — brought with right mindset, toughness and on-tape credentials. We won’t be seeing missed tackles and assignments nor will he fail to set the edge against the run. Not only this, but he has the drive to get the ball and adjusts in the flow and makes multiple moves to disturb the QB and certainly hits runner with “Authority” when making tackles. The Chiefs have a speed OLB that has not fulfilled his part of the bargain, but the combo of the two presents HC Andy Reid with a solution at OLB one way or the other. Some have anticipated one thing or another and one of them his collegiate position at 34 DE. I can see this but also observe the Chiefs have stated that they want to use him at OLB. I suspect we must wait to see how this works out in camp and pre-season. I disagree with a lot of pundits and observers in regard to combine metrics. We’ll see. At any rate, either way or a combo Breeland Speaks will have immediate impact. Adding weight by muscle mass should be his goal if to be used at 34DE.
- Armani Watts, FS — We have discussed it and opened the book and his aerial defense is under-rated. Ransom Hawthorne has mentioned a couple of times this week that Watts had tried to add bulk but it worked against him in at the combine. A weakness is run-stopping and open-field tackling. Watts has a tendency to try to make the “Big Hit” but missing because of it. This can be coached out. I anticipate that this is a method problem that won’t be present or at least predominate in his play come September. If that is the case, Watts will be a compliment in the box or as a single high. I am very confident in this 4th round selection by Veach.
- Dorian O’Daniel — A sideline-to-sideline player who can also drop into box coverage at Safety or as a Dime Corner. A lot of talent. He has the length and the “mindset” but is a bit light in the breaches for a starting ILB at 225 pounds. I suspect that with the rest of the season working on building muscle mass plus the next off-season will see O’Daniel weighing in at 230+ and far more able to withstand the punishment inside. Still, O’Daniel adds a dimensional addition to the ILB Corp that is also missing and his selection in the draft is going to be recognized as a big plus.
- Do you leave out Patrick Mahomes? No. He was drafted by John Dorsey but the research, legwork and recommendation of Veach and the Scouts led John Dorsey to make the selection at #10 in the 2017 draft. In Pre-season plus one game he proved his point to me.
- Also mentions: Kevin Pierre-Louis was a good addition but has now moved on. Adding Tremon Smith (CB) and Kahlil McKenzie (OL) were 6th round additions. If there is one thing I can guess about this now, is that McKenzie will switch to OG and be a successful addition to the OL. But even more of a solid pick is Tremon Smith, who came out of Central Arkansas but has all the talent you are seeking to bring forward. I have not really contemplated all the potential UDFAs and Invitees.
- Veach made one solid though expensive Free Agent addition: WR Sammy Watkins. No doubt the Chiefs will have a 1-2 punch at WR.
Kansas City Chiefs Top Hands
Defense – Linebackers, OLB Justin Houston and ILB Reggie Ragland more than fulfilled the duty after arriving via Veach trade in 2017 — a solid addition by Veach, plus Breeland Speaks: as noted above will also have to prove his value. Up front? Chris Jones, LDE, played top out in 2017, and Allen Bailey is my aside. Possibly this will transition to Speaks. At Corner and Safety things have shifted dramatically. Veach brought both Kendall Fuller and David Amerson to add back Corners. Steven Nelson has proven he can man the slot. Behind that over the top and in the box, Eric Berry is tops in the NFL. Adding to that are new additions in Armani Watts and Tremon Smith.
Defensive Asides: RDE Allen Bailey, returning to 2016 form and addition two players up the middle solidifies the front 3 (plus more). I am expecting to see Anthony Hitchens, ILB along with Dorian O’Daniel added to this list very quickly. Proof though will be.
On the offensive side of the ball: Travis Kelce, Ty Hill, Sammy Watkins, and Kareem Hunt give the new starting QB plenty of tools. Add in depth with Chris Conley and Demarcus Robinson and there are enough Receivers. Depth at TE and TE #2 (or 3 or 4) remain to be determined along with RB #2 which is probably Ware. The front 5 is going to be set with existing players, the only starting spot in question is the starting LG but we should add LDT and Mitch Schwartz to that list as well.
That is 12 players emphasized but I am leaving out others who might be added to that list. For example, Mahomes, Ware, Bailey, Fish, Morse, etc. I fully expect all 5 of these players to play well in 2018.
What the Chiefs have done is akin to…
Addition by Subtraction:
Marcus Peters, DJ, Tamba Hali, Alex Smith, Albert Wilson, Bennie Logan and Ron Parker to name a few.
Elusive… but Veach is Doing It
Catching the spark (mindset) and Using a Leyden Jar* is what Brett Veach is working to accomplish. Already the team makeup is changed. One thing that I believe Brett and his Scouting staff have done is shift the players out who were not buying in and staffing the roster to be presented to Andy Reid and Co with people who have the desire to win each contest and the toughness mentally and physically to get the job done.
For me? Brett Veach, his staff and Andy Reid and Co. are shifting the player mix to catch lightning in a bottle. I have mentioned before, several times, the integration of three constructs, the THREE C’s (Consistency, Cohesiveness and Continuity): I expect that Veach is working to that concept, which he has characterized as Mindset! What would I see as the weak point at the outset? Continuity: and that will have to be the ingredient added as camp, pre-season, and all the team’s way to opening day.
* Using a key, a kite and string and a Leyden Jar (Benjamin Franklin’s Experiment and from whence the idiom was derived a 100 years later).
David Bell – *NSLU (No Stone Left Unturned)