Chiefs News, Notes and Quotes
By David Bell
Chronology of Player Acquisitions and Moves
A review of the important moves as of October 10th since September 2nd to get us to the point where Nate Orchard OLB was signed. I am sure many are whining about injuries. The Chiefs overall are in better shape in the injury status than a lot of teams. I assure you, GM Brett Veach is on top of it — here’s the chronology.
Note: Ward was acquired in trade, Wylie was an UDFA. Orlando Scandrick was signed in August had a poor performance in week 1 and since has turned out to be the Chief’s OCB #2. Doubters? Quickly casting stones, which appear to be off target — again.
New Players Reviewed
10/10 Nate Orchard – signed as a UDFA, 3 yr pro Nate Orchard(OLB) — 6’3″-250. At this point with Houston out and an exposure at outside linebacker, Brett Veach made a move to bring in an experienced veteran. The information I have for Orchard is: that he has quick feet and a good inside move. Orchard is explosive out of the 3 point stance in a 43 type defensive end role but can play upright at OLB as well. He can square up and bull rush tackles thus coming to the pros he used two moves. Hand usage and feet are coordinated with a good twitch in the hips and ability to move laterally in space. Terez Paylor would say that Orchard has “Juice.” Orchard’s biggest weakness is versus the run, as a collegiate critique. Lance Zierlein has him as a situational pass rusher with potential.
Orchard was a 2015 round 2, #19, 51st overall, pick in the draft by the Browns. He was released and acquired by the Bills and released. I am not making too much of that. His playing weight is now 255 or more. I think he is light for the 43. In the draft analysis he was a middling type grade, expected to go in round 3 or 4 — so a Round 2 addition, and this fits the profile of players Veach brings in. Here is another value: Orchard is playing for the league minimum salary. For the fan… tether your expectations but lets see what OLB Coach Mike Smith can do with Orchard and how Sutton might employ him: he has traits that the Chiefs look for.
What I see of Orchard is positive. He fits the OLB role for KC. It’s not great numbers and I don’t know his QB pressures.
With the Browns in 3 seasons he started 13 and played in 37 with 69 tackles, 9 for a loss, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles. He was cut by the Browns. According to Chiefswire author Charles Goldman (whom I have a lot of faith in), as Orchard cleaned out his locker he said: “This is the part of the business that’s tough. It’s part of life. You just got to bounce back when you get knocked down like this.”
10/02 Josh Shaw – signed to a UDFA league minimum contract eight days earlier than the Chiefs acquisition of Nate Orchard. What I know about Shaw isn’t a great deal but here is his bonafide’s: 4 Yr Vet, 26yo, 6’1″-200, drafted in 2015 by the Bengals and released. He was considered the best gunner in the 2015 draft and is a very good S/T player. Shaw had appearances in 47 games and started 14. His tackle numbers were very good. Pass defenses were low and only one interception across those three seasons. twelve of his starts were in 2016. Shaw was a 4th round pick, #120 in the draft so he has talent. The weakness reported before the draft were his hips were “light” (too easily turned) and this gets him separated. Thus lacking the twitch and mirror, he falls behind due to lack of top end speed was a detriment against speedier receivers. Shaw’s weakness in run defense was: he is not a downhill tackler. Shaw’s grading out with Lance Zierlein was round 4 or 5 so he went earlier in the draft than anticipated. His Combine performance solidified him in the 4th round and allows me a hedge on current weaknesses and his fit for KC which is likely at Safety.
From the NFL.com Combine review: “Josh Shaw has received some buzz around the combine because of the story surrounding his suspension from USC, but there were questions about his speed, and most viewed him as a press corner. He answered those questions with a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash, which most analysts agreed was a great mark for him. Add in the bench press number — 26, the highest among defensive backs — and Shaw helped himself at Lucas Oil Stadium.”
What stands out is that Shaw may not have been a fit for Cincy and I am hopeful he finds motivation and a fit at the Kingdom. I think this is the view of our GM — a 4.4 – 40 time is not a slow speed so I don’t understand the critique. So it sounds to me he may have been miscast or pushed aside. Brett Veach probably saw and knew things we don’t. Shaw can also play safety. At his draft point he had weaknesses which can be overcome and some tweaking for technique may also be in order. Harris and Thomas will have to see what they have, work with it and get him available to play. Shaw is another acquired vet, a 4th round pick, playing for the league minimum. It may be a “we’ll wait and see” but it may work to our benefit (Lucas, Scandrick, Ward, et al).
Why The Uncertainty at ILB?
I hesitate to make too quick a judgement as others are doing but I do see a problem with ILB pass coverage. This may be due to Mark DeLeone and Mike Smith having split duty for the LB’s with Smith being the OLB Coach. When Terrance Smith was in during Sunday’s game I was seeing the same thing: “Decision making Quickness” to cover a RB looping out into the flats. All three ILB’s have been guilty of this which leads me to at least think defense sets and/or coaching is at issue. I don’t have an answer except to play more straight up 34 defense.
Other Notes on Defense
Dee Ford leads the Chiefs in sacks and is the NFL’s leading OLB in several categories. Sunday, Ford had a heck of a game until ejected: 5 Tackles, 3 QB hits, 1 strip sack, 1 PD and 3 QB hurries. Ford leads the NFL with pressures as well with 29, 7 in the game with the Jags. I can’t say enough but will say it again: “I tole ya so!” Now, if we have Orchard — and if Orchard can play as an experienced vet should play — we then still have 5 OLB’s awaiting Justin Houston’s return.
Take-Aways: Four different Chiefs recorded interceptions including Steven Nelson, Eric Murray, Orlando Scandrick and Jordan Lucas. The Chiefs also recovered a fumble to make the number 5. Counting against us? PM2’s two Ints.
Orlando Scandrick has taken over at outside cornerback: In the Jaguar game Scandrick was again playing tough: he made 3 solo tackles, had an INT and 4 Pass Defenses. This addition by Veach may be the best so far after the draft in 2018. Scandrick looks to be a true starting Outside Cornerback and solves the problem of the missing #2 cornerback.
Chris Jones – up to his ejection, Jones was in the midst of a very good game. He picked off a pass by Bortles for a pick-6 and was instrumental in pressuring the QB during the game plus stopping the run.
Armani Watts was playing good football until he left the game with injury in the first quarter. It turns out he headed to the IR and then they found the “Sports Hernia” — or perhaps more appropriately, the muscles attached to the pubic bone, thus a “Core Muscle Injury.”
After Watts left, Eric Murray saw a lot of action at safety until injured. Jordan Lucas was inserted in the game and performed extremely well: 7 tackles and an INT. Lucas will be a starter at FS this week. Let’s hope he makes the most of it. He did last Sunday.
Terrance Smith saw a lot off action for the first time in his career. He recorded his first sack on a linebacker blitz.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne
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