Chiefs: Getting the OL Ready For a Stretch Run – In the run up to the 2019 playoffs, the Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach, Andy Reid, made an important change inserting Stefen Wisniewski into the lineup and it seemed to stabilize the OL, which helped take them all the way to a Super Bowl LIV victory. This season, we’ve heard a lot about the inconsistencies of the Offensive Line, so another change, or two, may be in the cards, especially with Wisniewski being re-signed a month ago, then promoted to the active roster last week. So, let’s take a look at the current state of the union at OL.
Before we take a step forward, let’s take one step backwards by seeing where the Chiefs OL was at last season. Here’s a look at the 2019 OL Roster:
- OT Eric Fisher
- OT Mitchell Schwartz
- OT Cameron Erving
- OT Jackson Barton
- OC Austin Reiter
- OG/OC Nick Allegretti
- OG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
- OG Stefen Wisniewski
- OG Andrew Wylie
- OG Ryan Hunter
First, I’m sure glad the Chiefs have moved on from Cam Irving. He had issues: enough said.
Note: I don’t find Pro Football Focus (PFF) as the be-all-end-all of grading players. However, it does give us a generally good view of how a player has performed on the field.
LT Eric Fisher
Fisher is having perhaps his best season this year. He’s made one Pro Bowl before (2018), so this is a good sign. However, this is likely due to the temporary loss of Mitchell Schwartz on the other side (at RT), because now other teams are attacking the Chiefs offensive backfield through the opposite side from where Fisher hangs out. Fisher is currently graded at 78.3 by PFF which places him among the better Offensive Linemen in the league.
LG Nick Allegretti
Allegretti was a pleasant surprise when he first came on the scene earlier this season when Kelechi Osemele went out for the season with an injury. PFF has him currently graded at 67.2 on the season but his inconsistent play has forced Patrick Mahomes to be pressured too often.
OC Austin Reiter
Reiter has not been “The Answer” at Center for the Chiefs in 2020, nor in 2019. The elevated play of the Chiefs two previous Centers (Mitch Morse and Rodney Hudson) have made Reiter’s play stand out like a sore thumb (as bright as Rudolph’s nose… sorry kids). This year he has improved slightly and PFF has him graded at 67.4. In 2019, Reiter had a PFF Grade of 63.0. Pressure up the middle is the best way (worst way?) for opponents to stop Patrick Mahomes so if a change could be made here, this is likely the least talented position on the whole squad.
RG Andrew Wylie
Wylie has moved around from Tackle to Guard and provided some stability… at times. However, most of those “times” were in 2019, when he had a PFF grade of 67.4. This season he started out performing well but his play has dipped and his 2020 PFF grade now sits at 55.8.
The core of the Chiefs Offensive Line has been an obvious weakness in 2020. a move at one of these positions seems in order and two could be a much bigger help.
RT Mike Remmers
remmers has been a solid replacement OT for Mitchell Schwartz. While no one knows for sure when Schwartz will return, Remmers appears entrenched there until such time as Schwartz can make it back. remmers PFF grade in 202 has been 65.6 and Schwartz has long been one of the best Tackles in the league so, getting him to return before the playoffs would prove vital to the Chiefs postseason success
The Replacements For the Replacements
- LT – Eric Fisher should continue his excellent play at LT as expected.
- LG – Stefen Wisniewski appears slated to make a late season return, but Allegretti may be the best interior OL replacement of the group. Instead of rocking the boat here, Allegretti may end up staying put, while Wiz is utilized elsewhere.
- OC – Austin Reiter could end up being replaced by Daniel Kilgore whose 65.3 PFF grade while he replaced Reiter earlier this season could be much higher. While I think we’ve seen Reiter’s ceiling, Kilgore has more experience and may be able to provide a shot in the arm at OC in the playoffs. However, I know Reid likes to stick with his starters along the OL and that he doesn’t usually let an injury be the reason a starter loses his job, but, Reid deserves no suc loyalty here IMO
- RG – Andrew Wylie has been a disappointment as far as I’m concerned. Using Martinas Rankin to replace him would appear to be a solid move. While Rankin seems more suited to the Tackle position, he could give the Chiefs a lift here, or at RT.
- RT – Mike Remmers will likely remain at RT throughout the season and into the playoffs, and is the best choice to do so. Just as Juan Thornhill has needed extra time to fully recoup his game-speed, Martinas Rankin may need another offseason of reps before he’s a Ready For Primetime Player. If Rankin is 100%, I hope he is the replacement for Remmers in the chance that Schwartz can’t make it back. My #1 choice is Schwartz but if it’s not him, then, Rankin becomes the de facto replacement (assuming he’s full go).
If everyone is 100% healthy, the Chiefs best OL appears to be:
- LT – Eric Fisher
- LG – Stefen Wisniewski
- OC – Daniel Kilgore
- RG – Martinas Rankin
- RT – Mitchell Schwartz
The Chances that Reid will sub out Kilgore for Reiter at Center seem unlikely. It also seems unlikely that Rankin makes it back to 100% so that he could replace Wylie at RG as well. It may be more of a possibility that Nick Allegretti is replaced at RG by Stefen Wisniewski at LG then moves to the RG position. However, Wiz may be the only move Reid makes prior to the playoffs as far as the OL is concerned and that may completely depend upon how well healed Wiz is from his pectoral muscle tear earlier this season (the reason the Steelers dropped him).
Is it possible that no changes are made by Andy Reid, along the OL, before the playoffs begin? Yes, but it seems more likely that at least one (Wiz), if not two (Wiz and Schwartz), players take over in the trenches before the postseason ever cranks it up.
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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