Chiefs: The Missing Links of the Offensive Line – Part II

Chiefs: Missing Links of the Offensive Line – PART II – After identifying the players who are the missing links from the 2019 offensive line, the exposures. Part II deals with how Brett Veach addressed each player’s replacement and takes a look at a projected Starting lineup across the offensive front.

Missing Link #1 Resolution – Replacing Stefan Wisniewski with Mike Remmers: F.A. signed by Brett Veach

If the departure of Stefan Wisniewski had an effect, Chiefs GM Brett Veach found a quick fit as a solution by signing Free Agent OT/OG Mike Remmers. Remmers wants to compete for a starting job and has been a starter for three different teams. He also has very similar experience and can play both OT/OG.

True, I heard a lot of groans in discussions around the different “forums” and read comments to various articles that were negative about Remmers, but is it misplaced negativity? Go back to similar views when Wisniewski was brought on board as a Free Agent in 2019, and you heard that same general big sigh from different pundit and readers. All I can say about Mike is, that he wants the opportunity to compete for a starting job and he is getting it. At worse, the Chiefs have brought in an experienced veteran for depth.

Remmers may indeed be capable of winning a starting job. The point is though, to add a quality player who has versatility, intelligence, and brings that savvy veteran depth to the team. This are the reasons that Mike Remmers was brought aboard – and is the same valuation made by Veach and his staff when they brought in Wisniewski in 2019. Using that conceptual view of adding Remmers to the mix, is the framework that I envision.

In his collegiate career, Remmers (6-5, 315) was a significant force as a starter for Oregon State. He has been a starter at the tackle position for the Panthers, Vikings and Giants, plus his skill set is versatile enough that he is able to slide into the Guard position. As such, he certainly will compete for a starting role and he has stated that this is his goal. If he does not win a starters job, he adds that veteran’s experience that Wisniewski and Rankin brought to the offensive line room and that’s how he fits with Heck’s crew: SW/T, or first-in type of player off the bench, similar to what the Wiz did in 2019.

Missing Link Exposure #2 Resolved – Pro Bowl Level Kelechi Osemele signed as a F.A. (a Two-part Solution)

Once LDT had made his announcement, the Chiefs suddenly were in dire need of an experienced veteran to replace LDT as a starting Guard, someone who could be depended upon to provide solid support in protecting QB Pat Mahomes. Simply the most important consideration. Brett Veach quickly made a move to bring aboard a top NFL Veteran for OG by signing Kelechi Osemele. Osemele is an instant upgrade for the Chiefs and has Pro Bowl credentials. I hope Kelechi decides to make the Chiefs his team for the rest of his career because LDT will likely not play another football game in the Red and Gold. I think if Oseleme keep’s his contract demands to a reasonable level. His acquisition cost was “cheap.”

This gives the Chiefs three top performers — Pro Bowl level talent — across the front five, adding to our bookend OT’s Eric Fisher and Mitch Schwartz.

And Now for the Rest of the Story (Part Two) – Penciling in a New ROG – Andrew Wylie

Osemele will provide significant dependability at LOG albeit to the left side of center. Obviously this leaves an exposure at ROG since Kelechi is a natural fit on the left. This remaining exposure will be filled by Andrew Wylie. Wylie who replaced LDT effectively on the right when Larry suffered his broken leg injury in 2018. Wylie, is effectively earmarked for that role.

I had to think back to 2018 and how well Wylie played on the right side of the offensive line and that got me thinking a lot. If I refer back to the affect of the injury bug that hit the offensive line in 2019, it was my view that the young new starters — Wylie at LG and Reiter at Center — were more affected by the injuries of others, than we have given consideration. So, if the downturn in performance of both Andrew Wylie and Austin Reiter was negatively affected by all the injuries on the offensive line, it may be true that they will never be top tier players. Except… Wylie had already played well in 2018 while subbing for LDT. Also, keep in mind that the player to his left was out beginning in game one of the season when Fisher missed half the season… compounding the exposure for a new starter.

If Wylie is more comfortable to the right of center, then even if he plays at a standard journeyman starter level, the Chiefs offensive line is essentially set. This is the reason that I believe his 2020 season will show significant improvement, further modified by having a stalwart RT like Mitch Schwartz playing to his right.

Missing Link Exposure #3 – Martinas Rankin, M.I.A.

Martinas Rankin was my pick to win a starting position otherwise. I really liked what I saw from Martinas and from what we saw he was very effective in 2019 replacing LDT. Unfortunately, Rankin incurred a knee injury himself and was out for the remainder of the season. That injury was late enough that his rehab is still ongoing and he’s now on the PUP. However, Rankin will be important to the OL Mix when he is able to return to the field.

At this point, it appears that the starting roles are resolved, two missing link exposures have been covered and having depth players to take on the utility of Martinas Rankin as he provided quality depth in 2019. Several players are options to replace that role in 2020. I view his absence as an important missing link, but resolving that for camp and the start of the season is merely problematic at this point, and resolved as such…

Resolving Missing Link Exposure #3: Other Players vying for a significant role

Mike Remmers is now the logical Swing Tackle to start 2020. He can also be the top player to take over the depth role of Stefan Wisniewski. He has significant snaps as an OT but also considerable experience as an OG. I would have also assigned Lucas Niang as the SW/T in 2020, but his opt out stymied that proposition.

Nick Allegretti was assigned to be the #2 Center in his rookie season, last year. Allegretti played well enough to make the roster as the #2 Center in 2019 and his natural position is at the guard position. He can be counted on to bring talent to the depth role that had been filled by bringing Rankin aboard last season. I see Nick as getting meaningful snaps as a depth player in 2020.

Yasir Durant OG out of Missouri, is in camp as a UDFA.

Ryan Hunter OG was brought back for 2020 and was a 2019 UDFA. Apparently the staff viewed his outlook as promising though his single start in 2019 was awful. This could be a chance for him to make the roster or get cut.

Darryl Williams OG/OC combo, is also in camp and has a good shot at making at least the Practice Squad. If I had to pick a player who is a UDFA to make the roster it would be Williams whose natural position is OG. His work at Center his last season at the collegiate level was underwhelming, though you must take into consideration that was the first time he had played the position as a starter due to team need. I doubt either Durant or Williams are on the 2020 roster, but I can see them on the PS.

UDFA Greg Senat OT is in his 3^rd NFL season and back again this year. It’s probably his last shot at making the roster but he does add size — 6-foot-5, 305 lbs. — and experience. That probably plays an important factor as to who will make the roster and who will go to the PS.

Penciled in Starters and “First-in Players”

If Wylie is not the starting LOG at this point, it would come as a surprise to me. Had Martinas Rankin been ready to hit the field and be ready for camp, I would have forecast him to win the position.

• LOT – Eric Fisher
• LOG – Kelechi Osemele
• OC – Austin Reiter
• ROG – Andrew Wylie? (Could Nick Allegretti win out in 2020?)
• ROT – Mitchell Schwartz
• SW/T – Mike Remmers
• OG/C – Nick Allegretti
• SWG – Martinas Rankin (when he gets back)

That’s 8 players I see on the 53 man roster though Rankin may be delayed giving other men the opportunity to be the 8^th and 9^th players on opening day. There’s been no news as to Rankin’s expected return date from the PUP.

Could Nick Allegretti be the surprise of 2020?

I have a big question mark next to Austin Reiter’s name. At this point, Austin Reiter is the starter at Center, though due to his 2019 performance, he is the weak point in the starting five. I do hope he improves and solidifies as a starter, but I’m looking at camp to see how Nick Allegretti does and how much time he spends with the “ones.” Last year and this offseason I have mic’d up a truth about Allegretti and how the Chiefs coaching staff view him as a potential starter in 2020. It was believed by many that Nick, as a late draft pick, was a totally pleasant surprise. He gave a tussle to Reiter for the starting role at Center. I see no reason for him to falter in 2020 and in my penciled-in view of things, Allegretti could make in-roads to either ROG or Center. His natural position was as a guard in college. However he did play center at times, so he had collegiate experience in that role. The Chiefs thought highly enough of his play to make him the #2 center behind Reiter for the 2019 campaign. The downturn in performances by Wylie, Reiter and LDT all were affected either by their own injuries or to other starters across the front five and I have the suspicion that Nick Allegretti might be a surprise solution to solving a weakness at the Center position.

Final Thoughts

The three missing links on the front five are covered. The Chiefs have significant depth across the front line. As I sit and think about the player mix, I bring to my mind that the Chiefs coaching staff is very high on Nick Allegretti. It makes me wonder about him at OG as well which is how he is listed on the roster. The Chiefs will carry 9 active linemen on the roster. A tenth player can be designated each week to come to the roster during a game should a player be injured. There are 16 players who are on the practice squad and four of those are designated for protection each week. When full scrimmage gets under way the positions of the OL will finally be sorted out.

Outlook for the 2021 Draft and Player Acquisition?

Brett Veach has his work cut out for him automatically each season. This is compounded by the different moves made to keep players from the 2019 roster and the same will occur in 2021. Veach has done a masterful job as GM this off-season. In 2021, Lucas Niang fits to the picture. Niang would have fit the 2020 role of the Swing Tackle.

Brett Veach has three players on the OL that are 30 or older: Eric Fisher, Mitchell Schwartz and Kelechi Osemele. The nice part about this is the proven stability and all three are at the very least, Pro Bowl level players. Down the road, the task will be to find a top quality starting Center or another Offensive Guard in the draft. At the early juncture of the 2021 offseason, we’ll know more about how Osemele feels about becoming a more permanent part of the Kingdom.

The future of the offensive line though, will be determined in the draft. Adding another quality player to the room in 2021 will need to be a high consideration by Brett Veach and his staff. Added to that we can anticipate the return of Lucas Niang to active play, another high, though delayed, positive.

David Bell –- ArrowheadOne

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