Chiefs: Sometimes the Things You Don’t Do, Do! – Includes a late Surprise!

David Bell

Sometimes, the things you don’t work out, and sometimes things you don’t do, do!

I was going to go back home to Rockport today, but couldn’t get going. It’s a chilly, drizzly day here in Katy, Texas, at my son’s home (for those not in the know, Katy is the farthest west suburb, so to speak, from downtown Houston). Besides, I woke late — after 11:00 AM — and couldn’t get going. A full pot of coffee didn’t work either. Rockport lies a bit over three hours south of here. The truth is that I wanted to wait on the trade deadline to pass. Ian, my younger son is age 36 now, and he texted me: “Are you headed out or staying over another day”? I replied: “That settles it. I’ll drive home tomorrow!”

It was a fruitless wait for any real action by Brett Veach before the trade deadline. Finally, moments before the time frame ended, Joshua Brisco posted:

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Myself?

I thought Brett Veach wouldn’t do something out of the cost-assessment standards — Team Persona — framework. Unfortunately for some, the deadline passed, and the only signing since the Toney trade was signing former Bears WR Jazz Newsome to the practice squad, plus a late action, see below.

Getting Trent McDuffie back is a big deal for me. It appeared that DL coach, Joe Cullen, DC, Steve Spagnuolo, and DB coach, Dave Merritt all had found a way to maximize pressure and get sacks without needing to add anyone new across the front four. We will see where that goes. I like how they have used Chris Jones and how outstanding his play has been in 2022. Frank Clark gave us a glimpse of his old self. He is out for the next two games, however. If he returns and plays as well as he did vs. the 49ers — watch out… and that’s what is needed.

Sometimes, What you Do, Doesn’t Work Out

We can all think back to draft picks that were a bust. Or… Free Agent signings or trades that didn’t work out to the level we fans wanted. I can think of two of the latter: Sammy Watkins and Frank Clark. If Sammy could have stayed healthy, he would have been an outstanding WR for Patrick Mahomes. Suppose Clark played all along as he had for the Seahawks, the same conclusion: Frank Clark was a VIP in our last win over the 49ers.

DL Breeland Speaks drafted as our 1st pick in 2018 (a second rounder). He was a complete bust. RB Darwin Thompson never amounted to much. CEH got a good grade from me. I have revised that from an A- or B+ to a…”So it goes.”

Perhaps I can say this now: not doing something is basically the right thing to do. It’s true: I wanted to get an Edge rusher like Bryan Burns. That was far beyond the reach of what the Chiefs were likely to do (the cost of draft capital was beyond the pale). The Chiefs shopped and invested effort in pursuing Edge Rusher Josh Allen.

Visions of a Chiefs Edge Rusher like Josh Allen (wearing red and gold) sacking Bill’s QB Josh Allen danced like sugar plumbs in our heads. After the trade deadline passed on my clock, we found out the Chiefs had traded CB Rashad Fenton to the Falcons for a conditional 7th-round draft pick.

At the Buzzer: the Fenton Trade

At the buzzer, according to BJ Kissel of KCSN, the Chiefs have gone all-in with the Rookie DBs brought aboard in the 2022 draft: Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson, and Safeties Bryan Cook and Nazeeh Johnson. The move also clears nearly $1.5M in cap space.

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I don’t regard Fenton’s departure to be a concern. I wasn’t pessimistic about him, but not highly intrigued by keeping him either. The cookie for him crumbled in KC, skills didn’t improve over time.

Over All?

Anyone who follows ArrowheadOne knows that I was big on obtaining Bryan Burns — but I knew it was unlikely. I also felt that Josh Allen would add to the pass-rush mix. Burns was known to be a high-priced commodity. Allen probably was as well. GM Brett Veach wisely chose not to jump at the wrong player, risking money, and the taking a lousy chance. So, let’s get on the roll vs. the Titans. As I wrote earlier, we should shortly be 7-2.

Sometimes

WTIV – We Trust in Veach

WTIR – We Trust In Reid

WTIH – We Trust in Hunt

If Brett Veach didn’t find the right player to fit the Chiefs, for whatever reason, it was that way, then WTIV. He and owner Clark Hunt work hand-in-glove. Same with Andy Reid. That is a good triumvirate.

There was a reason that Andy Reid brought Brett Veach to the Chiefs. I’d say it has worked out well! At this point, WTIV, WTIR, and WTIH… go a long way.

Sometimes, the things you don’t work out, and sometimes things you don’t do, do! Go Chiefs!

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David Bell — ArrowheadOne

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