Chiefs: Best So Far? Center Puzzle Pieces – Before getting to the point where I will have fun considering the draft, delving into potential Free Agency has been the topic for every team, every day. My focus has been the Offensive Line, the first Position Group I examined was that of the Offensive Tackle. The thinking had to be, that there was clearly a notable enigma shrouded in mystery* as to what was planned or even possible.
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* Reference to Winston Churchill’s observation about the Russians, as WWII began to deepen in 1939: “I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma….”
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We have resigned ourselves to the fact that both Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz are departed. After posting a review, Laddie and I did a joint piece on two tackles who we thought would be great candidates in the draft: Spencer Brown and Alex Leatherwood. I have a piece coming soon on the Offensive Guard Position, but will add here that the Chiefs have signed two free agents: Joe Thuney and Kyle Long, both with experience plus LDT is returning as well. At The Athletic there are two articles addressing these additions by Nate Taylor, well worth the read. See The Athletic (subscription required). In one piece, Nate Taylor wrote:
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“Thuney and Long learned that their personalities and football ideologies are similar, traits the Chiefs believe will help maintain the offensive explosiveness as a byproduct of a stronger, more consistent offensive line.”
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It’s often necessary to examine available players on the IOL before we narrow it down to a look at Center specifically.
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Martinas Rankin
Rankin is listed as an OT, played Guard very well in 2019, and was a 3rd round pick by the Houston Texans (80th overall) in 2018. He was then traded a year later to the Chiefs for RB Carlos Hyde. Special note: prior to his Senior year at Mississippi he was projected to be a 1st round pick, but hurt his ankle that year.
Yasir Durant
Apparently because the Chiefs believed in him enough to prevent a theft from the Practice Squad.
Darryl Williams
The Chiefs have found reason to bring Darryl Williams in as a free agent last year. Here, he shows why:
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Kyle Long
Nate Taylor has written about Kyle Long and Brett Veach said of Long: “He’s in great shape, a three-time Pro Bowler and a really smart player.”
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These four players provide the basis for a deeper investigation, which remains a future OG piece. We have a significant number of players competing to be a solution and individual pieces of the final puzzle for manning the roles for OC as the roster stands now.
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While Joe Thuney has also played at Center, I’m going to state unequivocally: Joe Thuney is not going to be considered for the role of Center... nor for Tackle for that matter. You don’t sign the 7th ranked Guard in the NFL and move a two time NFL Champion from where he has top quality success. It ain’t happening. Also, Kyle Long is left-handed, os he’ll not be considered for OC either, but might possibly slide to an OT role having been successful at both Guard (Pro Bowl, 2013 and 2014), and Tackle (Pro Bowl once in 2015).
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It could very well be possible that the Chiefs intend to draft a player at Guard, but I doubt it is the top focus. There is competition for the starting roles along the OL with players and roles shown here:
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ROG #1: Joe Thuney
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#2 SW/T&G: Martinas Rankin
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LG: Kyle Long/ LDT
(or vice versa)
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SW/T&G: Yasir Durant
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LT: TBD
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Having said all that, let’s get to the Center position.
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Solving the “Center” Role
A Starting In-house Player
Addressing the Center Position is one of confusion. However, I believe that the Chiefs will be moving Nick Allegretti to Center. Another possibility is Yasir Durant of course. In the meantime, Brett Veach has tendered an offer to Austin Reiter, which he’s considering. That is probably a wise decision, but it is not of optimum value, nor does it fit my own personal construct: to release Reiter to free agency and by reading the tea leaves, though I’m not a gypsy, was in error by me.
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I still don’t see that Reiter as the designated starter. If he returns to the Chiefs, Reiter does have to be considered a top contender for the job, but there is something hidden in the tardiness of that contract offer. I think the way Reid, Heck, and Veach see Austin Reiter is, a player who brings competition to camp, but since it was a late offer they might view Reiter as depth, rather than as a starter. It would be good for Allegretti to have competition as well as getting the best from Reiter. This is a positive for determining who will be the next starting Center.
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Still, we have yet to discover the keys to this ‘riddle wrapped in a mystery‘.
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The Chiefs Center plans may involve a targeted draft pick. We know how both Thuney and Long verbalized upon their arrival —‘whatever the coach wants — I just want to help the team’. Notwithstanding coach or player speak: neither player is a solution at OC.
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Whatever K.C. is going to do, Andy Reid and Andy Heck have been laboring over the plan and providing Brett Veach with the information from which to base the next action. A complete view is not something that will definitely be what we can project until… Free Agency winds down and the Chiefs have made their selections in the draft. At the same time, no other team can anticipate what Veach has up his sleeve either.
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The feedback about Austin Reiter from Heck and Reid must have been something of the nature of: “He can be part of the solution.” What we do know is that Reiter is “deliberating,” whether or not to accept the Chiefs offer. It could be that he’s not pleased with the thought of competition at the position, or that he has had other more financially lucrative proposals.
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CENTER is a muddled muck and until we know about Reiter, or a draft pick, or even possibly Durant being earmarked for competition for the Center job, I am going with: what I think I know.
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Center Nominee #1 Nick Allegretti
Illinois, 7th Rd., 2019, 6-4, 310 lbs.
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Nick Allegretti is impressive and has progressed since his arrival in K.C.. Nick was a 7th round pick and burst on the scene in camp in 2019. No one expects a 7th round pick to make a splash but that’s just what Allegretti accomplished. He showed determination to succeed at this level and that culminated in him taking over the LOG position for the Chiefs in 2020 when OG Kelechi Osemele was injured (we don’t know yet whether or not Osemele is even being considered by the Chiefs for return). There has been a learning curve for Allegretti, but we witnessed his growth as the season progressed from week 6 to the Super Bowl LV fiasco.
Consider two notes on him during the year of his 2019 draft: he is a highly intelligent — an Academic All-American… and his Wonderlic score was a very high 42. A high football IQ guy.
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Not only that but, Nick was also a top level collegiate competitor in wrestling.
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I can’t think of a better preparatory accompanying sport than wrestling for an interior linemen. I suppose I would add having players do ballet and/or Taekwondo for footwork and balance (the latter really helped my son as he progressed in his football development shifting from a lineman to Tight End) I have known of other football players who used some form of ballet. Nick’s football and wrestling career demonstrates an athlete who uses his power and his intelligence to rise to the top. With the Chiefs it has been no different.
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Early on, Allegretti played both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball at Illinois. During his Junior year on the interior line for both position groups, starting four games at center and two at guard. As a Junior he became a full time starter then achieved some recognition his Senior year: All Big 10.
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Allegretti is a commanding wide body presence, perfect for the role of Center for the Chiefs plus he has the experience and command intelligence needed for the role. He has demonstrated first in camp and then as a roster player and again then as a starter, that he is a quick study absorbing coaching with the best of players in the NFL. From Lovie Smith, his Head Coach at Illinois from 2016-2020, while Allegretti was there:
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“I’m pumped up for Nick Allegretti… [he] worked real hard to get to the NFL, first year… won the Super Bowl.”
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Considering all the various moves and additions like, Joe Thuney and Kyle Long to the roster, along with anticipating the return of LDT gives a great group competing for both starting positions at OG. We must consider how well Martinas Rankin substituted for LDT in 2019, so there shouldn’t be a concern about finding the right players for starting roles along the IOL. Also, for depth at OG and you can add Yasir Durant and Darryl Williams to that picture. Consequently, things look rosy at Offensive Guard. The question remains at Center… and that is the question, but I propose, Nick Allegretti is the solution. All signs point to ensuring Nick Allegretti is to be earmarked for OC.
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David Bell – ArrowheadOne
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