ArrowheadOne: A Sunday View

Some Personal History

In Carolina, It used to be that the boys would let the dogs loose upwind. Then, they would set up on the game trails and wait for the deer fleeing ahead of the dogs. This way, we got the deer for a deer pickin’ (like hogs, only venison). The grate(a screen set up about 2 feet off the ground, held the carcass for cooking. Next to it was a barrel, and the wood of choice(the flavor of the smoke), would burn in the barrel. At the bottom was an opening in which a small scoop shovel could be driven into the door and scoop up hot coals, which would then be spread on the ground beneath the deer. The deer were covered in cardboard sheets to hold the heat. When the hot coals diminished, another couple of scoops were tossed under and scattered beneath the deer. This went on till morning.

Pig Pickin’s were done the same way. The seasoning for BBQ deer or hogs was the same. It was not the highly sweet sauces you can find in Kansas City or Texas, but a vinegar-based sauce. After living a good number of years in KC, NC, and TX, I guess I remain an aficionado of the NC way. I like their seasoning and sauce.

After the deer were utterly cooked (most usually, two deer were prepared at a time), everybody manned a place at the table and helped cut, chop and dice the meat. At that point, the sauce was added, and the BBQ flavor (Deer or Hog) was out of this world. I don’t think you can find that experience in most places in the world today, but it still goes on in Carolina. I am long departed and my younger son, Ian, says to me on occasion: “We should never have moved from Frogsborough.” You figure the place out, but my sons attended elementary school at “Sweet Gum.”

I must tell you that it was a great place to live. I worked for the big Computer Company at Research Triangle Park, which was a 40-mile commute. But I could walk out the door and go hunting and harvest duck from the pond behind the house or Turkey/Quail/Rabbit/Squirrel. We harvested berries of all sorts from the small farm’s edges and had wild asparagus growing not far away. This was similar to growing up in rural Missouri, but it had a unique flavor and a ton of history almost everywhere you turned. I chose to move to Texas in 1991, but I often think now, as I reflect upon it, that perhaps my son was right.

In Rural Texas, North of Houston, the BBQ is done similarly. The Sauces are different, though, as it is in KC. Maybe this is why I prefer Jack Stack. I recall driving out Holmes road through Martin City on the way to Harrisonville and passing the restaurant in the late 50s and early 60s.

Then it was onward from the ‘ville to Dad’s farm.

Back to Reality and the Chief’s Current News

• George Karlaftis – made the NFL Projected All-Rookie Team

Reuters – “The Chiefs needed a complement to Frank Clark off the edge and found a bargain in Karlaftis late in the first round. His power and advanced hand usage will free him to make plays in the run game and stop quarterbacks trying to run away from Clark as he steams toward them.”

That’s quite an honor. Let’s hope he follows through and earns the stripes needed to find the same result at the end of the 2022 Season. No other Chief made the list. I think that is wrong because I think that Trent McDuffie will be so honored in the final result.

True Speed

Few players can match Ty Hill’s speed or come close to it. We witnessed, a couple of seasons ago, a 40-yard contest between Hill and Mecole Hardman. It was a tight contest, though Hardman was making his last stride as Hill won. In today’s game for the Chiefs? Hill has departed, and the Chiefs signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Scantling owns his own speed and was recorded as the fastest player in the 2021 NFL Games (MPH) in 2021.

MV-S has the speed. See this article at https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/packers-marquez-valdes-scantling-rips-off-75-yard-td/

Concern for the Receiver Corps? I Have None

I have no worries about what the WR crew will bring to the table. I can see Hardman clearing the underneath route for MV-S or vice-versa. At the same time, JuJu Smith_Schuster has speed, strength, and length. Between these three players, Patrick Mahomes has a bounty of receivers for the aerial attack. I have written before that Skyy Moore is the fourth receiver in the group, but I expect his skill set will be an easy fit for Eric Bieniemy’s offense. Who knows who will exceed expectations from these players.

It will be a training camp dogfight to earn a roster spot among the receivers.

The DL – My Biggest Worry

I am not happy with where we are with the DL.

I believe Karlaftis will be an immediate success, though it isn’t easy to see him with eight sacks for 2022. See write up here for All-rookie prediction honors: https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2022/07/02/kansas-city-chiefs-george-karlaftis-not-trent-mcduffie-skyy-moore-nfl-all-rookie-team-projection/?taid=62c0f82198fe310001478bc6

At the same time, Frank Clark has performed well below expectations. In the background are several contending players at DE, namely Josh Kaindoh and Malik Herring. For the #3 DE, we need to see immediate progress from either or both players. I have no idea what to expect from either man. Mark me down as uncomfortable with the current roster for DE. It may be that both players have made huge strides but note we have not seen Herring in pads.

At the same time, the DT role opposite Chris Jones does not boast a pass-rushing DT. I would like to see a F/A added for the pass rush, but until Chris Brown’s contract is completed, no F/A signing or trade will occur. With our deep OL and WR corps, I can still see a trade being made. Matt Connor had an article about the possibility of a F/A addition. He observed that it was probably an unlikely expectation of fans until mid-season. A DE from the USFL is someone to keep an eye on — Chris Odom. One of our readers and a long-time contributor mentioned Daron Payne from the Commanders. Matt Connor also suggested that he would be a good addition the next day.

I am looking for pass-rush, disturbing pocket, disrupting timing, and sacking the opposing QB. What’s the right move? We’ll see. We hope for the DE role at this point with the current roster. A pass-rush DT would be icing on the cake. Who knows where this ends up, but I see the most significant exposure for the defense is the pass-rush.

David Bell – ArrowheadOne