Chiefs: The Offensive Line Close Out Special

Chiefs: The Offensive Line Close Out Special – Before we get to training camp, I want to close out my view on the offensive line as I have with a couple of pieces focusing on the Defensive Front Four. I did not scale the front four in the previous piece (publishing on Tuesday  7/16), but let’s give them a 4+ on a scale of 0-to-5. It might be better but we need to see how it will gel. I am far more a believer in that defensive front than the 3 down linemen in the base 34 from prior years, but that is just me.

On offense, I am also a believer and am rating them a 4+ on a scale of 0-to-5. In 2018 they came out as a unit on the very strong side considering major injuries to two starters (Mitch Morse and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (LDT).

Top Bookends

The Chiefs boast two starting OT’s that are playing at the top of their game. Eric Fisher (LOT), has finally arrived. To explain that you would have to go back to 2013 and the draft and his being place on the right end of the line and then in 2014 moved to the left. He struggled both seasons and no matter what we say, he was a #1 pick, is paid that way but he also has finally excelled at the LOT position. You probably are not realizing it but recall that Fish had a superior session with JJ Watt in 2016 and then was recognized by his peers and placed as an Alternate OT for the 2016 Pro Bowl. That recognition was important to Fisher whose work on his game continued to improve.

Technical Observers saw a dramatic turn of the corner midway through 2018 and Fisher received a 2nd Pro Bowl nod. His opposite, Mitch Schwartz (ROT),  is a totally solid technician at ROT. He does not miss time and he basically does not miss an assignment. He is the most obviously snubbed offensive lineman in the NFL. I basically cannot understand this at all. I think he is so solid as to deserve to be considered as a top Pro Bowl Talent and he isn’t recognized for it.

On the Chiefs, Cam Erving (SW/T) has been a starter at OG, OT, OC. He will continue to be a mainstay on the Chiefs but will now take on the roll of Swing Tackle (SW/T). I like Erving, others do not. I value versatility and you have to have it from some players on the roster to give the roster a chance to retain strong player groups. Cross position utility is part of that. It is my view that his utility and versatility will suit him well as a fit in the Swing/T role.

Erving in my view, is a blessing for the team. What hurt him in gaining experience at any given role is his versatility and that was at both Cleveland and now KC. Erving can play and start at all five positions across the offensive line. He moves well on his feet. His length though makes him more viable outside and the Chiefs need that 3rd OT to cover the necessary ground. Cam Erving was a former first rounder acquired by Veach in a  trade of a low draft pick for the former first round pick. As such though, his length(and Versatility) make him the most viable offensive lineman for the SW/T role.

COST: Fisher – $13.6M, Schwartz –  6.62M, Erving – $3.17M.

There are other players vying for an offensive line position: Ryan Hunter, who has 1 year of experience with the Chiefs after 2018, a graduate of Bowling Green, and on the roster and PS last season. The Chiefs have added Zach Goldich, a 2 year pro and CSU Grad, and rookie UDFA Chidi Okeke of TN State to name a few vying for a position. I am a lot more interested in what Okeke brings to the table. Hunter and Goldich are both known qualities.

Overall? I have swapped Erving out of the interior linemen to the outside and swapped Wylie from the outside to the interior. Since i think the Chiefs value utility and versatility, that they will go to war with 3 tackles and will keep at least one player on the PS who is an OT. After all, we know that Wylie can play OT and if we had to he could be moved to that Role. And Erving could, at the same time, be moved inside. That is a good mix of players with versatility as a factor.

The Interior Three

It’s difficult to maintain a team ranking as well as the Chiefs did in 2018 when you lose two starters for a significant number of games but that is what happened. ROG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (LDT) was lost for the season and OC Mitch Morse was lost for 4 1/2 games with a concussion. The Chiefs were forced to use unproven players but this turns out to be a positive for the team in 2019 in regard to starters, and first tier backups. LDT returns as a totally solid starer at ROG. On the left though, a switch is likely being made. Part of that is to move Cam Erving to OT as observed above.

It is also due to how well Andrew Wylie (LOG) performed in 2018 and the Chiefs “Cabal” has made the decision to use Wylie at Guard where he found a home and establish some “Bona Fides” in 2018. Thus, I move Erving outside to SW/T.

Wylie looked extremely good when starting and in spot snaps during 2018. He has earned the recognition and unofficial nod as the LOG. At the same time, when Mitch Morse went out and into a concussion protocol that last for 4 1/2 weeks, first Jordan Devey stepped in and immediately suffered a season ending injury himself.

This brought another player acquired from the Cleveland Browns, Austin Reiter (OC) into the mix. Reiter is now heading into his 4th season in the NFL. With the Browns, he was given the nod as a starter and ended his rookie season with torn knee ligaments and then the team went a different direction at center. Reiter came available and Veach snatched him up, claimed off of waivers on September 3, 2018.

Reiter proved out to the coaching staff of wizards of One Arrowhead Way to be a solution at center a situation they knew was about to arrive. With Morse on concussion protocol for the third time and playing in his final contract year, Veach and Company decided to move on and Morse departed, the Chiefs preferring not to pay the $10M+ cost of Morse and gamble with a player who suffered multiple seasons with loss of games due to concussions.

Beyond Reiter at center? Jimmy Murray (OC) is on the roster and is a center. In 2018 he was retained on the PS. I do recall watching Murray in pre-season and he appeared to me to be capable. We’ll see.

Kahlil  McKenzie(OG), was a rookie in 2018 and is on the roster in his second season. I see him as being retained again but he must give  the team meaningful snaps at OG. It would be great if he could play Center also but I have no verification that this is in the works.

Nick Allegretti-R, Illinois, was drafted in 2019 and I think he gives you a 3rd Interior offensive lineman. I have looked at some film of Allegretti and I see why the Chiefs are very high on him. That gives the Chiefs 10 offensive linemen of good talent vying for 8 or 9 positions. I have understood that it is possible that Allegretti might make the jump to starter. That would mean he is a special late round acquisition altogether. He obviously was far underappreciated in the draft and as a late round pick was a bargain. It was felt he should have gone in the 3rd round.

Cost: LD-T –  $6.25M, Reiter – $1.4M, Wylie – $570k

Not to make light of other players vying for position roles, I have given the front 8 players what I think will provide a very good Front Five for the Offensive line in 2019. If I had to predict right now? I think Allegretti and McKenzie both make the roster. Jimmy Murray might.

What I come up with is a list of about 10 quality Offensive linemen  so I am putting someone on the PS and bringing 9 players as high possibles to the front 5 roster list:

1. 1. Fisher
   2. Schwartz
   3. Erving
   4. LDT
   5. Reiter
   6. Wylie
   7. Allegretti
   8. McKenzie
   9. Murray

It also gives the Chiefs some strength to have all these quality competitors available to the team from the PS or possibly a player to be traded to gain fulfillment of a need elsewhere on the roster, for example: Cornerback.

David Bell — ArrowheadOne

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