Downshift with Clark Shifts the
Draft Perspective Significantly
by David Bell | April 26, 2019
Review: River Boat Gambler
Awhile back I wrote about Bret Maverick — er — Brett Veach explaining that I appreciated his aggressive moves in working to improve this teams roster. This includes the Bold Cuts and trade-aways. Despite having interviewed with BJ Kissel recently and commented that he likely would be more balanced in his approach to remaining moves though I expected at east one more major addition, it began to look more likely that Veach would stand pat to the first round of the draft. Boom-Shack-a-lacka! Veach traded away the #29 pick for top DE Frank Clark. The Chiefs also gave up their 2nd #2 pick in 2020 to obtain the player though they moved up 8 spots with the 3rd round pick swap.
Suddenly the gunslinger was back on the board walk along the River quay and it’s near a river boat where he is unfolding his wallet as he strides up the gangplank to the casino environment on board. It’s a big stakes game and Brett Veach just went all in.
I wrote back in March, “Brett Veach: a Riverboat Gambler in a High Stakes Game” after he made a series of bold moves that go along with a new defense — the 43 base — a new DC — Steve Spagnuolo– and a new defensive coaching staff! I wrote then and I am writing now, Our GM is not done yet! Veach has done adds and subtractions and then said he was going to be more balanced, less aggressive and then he traded for a top DE in Clark.
This is not a gamble. It is using a picks to get a top player. I am seeing in my minds eye an old Bat Man Comic where you see his gloved fist flying and the caption explodes next to it and a smashed jaw: “WHAM”!
At the very least, Veach obtained an immediate pro-bowl type player performer in the first moment Clark takes the field — more immediate effect than a #1 pick (at #29). Veach got what he wanted while at the same time the Seahawks GM Schneider got his end of the deal as well – a Win-Win!
Stopping the Run
I am stating that this move puts the defensive front over the top even considering a weakness as a possibility with LBs which is going to be shifted more to the positive side of the ledger. Using the strengths of the players on staff is what Bob Sutton didn’t do. Having a threesome that can hit the hole and stop the runs in the gap of a a good defensive front is going to change the defense and make it capable of forcing the game to the air. Even there I think the problems are going to disappear with only Damien Wilson added as a SAM or WILL LB. Ragland didn’t suddenly get dumb and incapable in 2018.
Nor did Hitchens. I cannot explain why they were used the way they were in Sutton’s defense. Neither was used for their strength which is attacking the holes between tackles. With the mix of four players in front of them to contain the run, the ILB play will be considerably more effective. Which tells me that the Run defense is going to be considerably more effective. The defense may not move up into the top 10 but I can see them ranked suddenly in the 15th-20th type range by the end of the season in the overall defensive ranking with a signficantly improved DVOA. I likened Veach to the Riverboat Gambler, and there may a bit of the Brett Maverick type in a HC too, and recall Pete Schrager’s characterization on GMFB. I bought it then, and do now.
"The Riverboat Gambler"? @PSchrags said to watch out for @Chiefs GM Brett Veach on today's show… 👀@ArrowheadPride pic.twitter.com/AFMjyrklqK
— GMFB (@gmfb) April 23, 2019
This is the kind of move that gives the Chiefs new DC and DL coaches a lot to work with and I see it being suddenly a very effective Defensive front against the run. At the same time as using Rags and Hitch, I see Dorian O’Daniel’s speed suddenly thrust to the fore and with Wilson and Ben Niemann’s straight up Football Savvy in the mix. This is good stuff.
If I had a pick, I might now consider drafting Mack Wilson who as a 43 LB would definitely add an aggressive skill but
tops in pass coverage, which might be the perfect compliment to the existing group. I can see adding a safety and cornerback. I think Tight End just moved up to the top of my “Needs List.”
No Accidental Breakage
I have thought about not breaking what we already have. I don’t want to upset the “apple cart.” For example: want Charvarius Ward to feel comfortable in camp but at the same time I want competition to push him to the top of his ability. So, if I am Veach, one of my second round picks will be a CB. I have the same situation with Safety. I have Mathieu and in back of that Jordan Lucas and Armani Watts. I want to add a safety to compete and push the players on the roster, including and maybe especially Watts and Lucas but also Dan Sorensen.
Brett Veach has 4 TE’s on the roster after adding Blake Bell, a move which gives the roster a basic go to work with a lunch pail type TE but, we need an offensive threat and need a top TE to be the #2 behind Travis Kelce. I have no doubt that this will happen as this draft has at least 7 men who can fit the Chiefs and add to the mix. One of them is a gem in my appraisal –> Foster Moreau of LSU.
All of these moves, shifts and changes are demonstrating the team is now in a status of being “all in” right now in a Super Bowl Run. After all they were a knuckle and forefinger away from getting into the Super Bowl in 2018 and that player, smart as he is, is now gone with the 2nd round pick acquired in trading him away being part of the package to get Clark in house.
A Quick Shift in looking at the Draft
Looking at just what DraftTek projects as possible players available at 61, 63 and even 84, Veach could stay put and pick up excellent talent. At 61, he might opt for Amani Oruwariye, CB from Penn State or take the large DT from Texas, Charles Omenihu. Or he could opt for Sternberger as another example TE, from Texas A&M if he is afraid the TE might not last until 63. Also, there are several very good players around the 84 mark and I can see a Safety or Center but, a CB, FS and TE in my mix of selection.
One of our previous AO writers, Merlin, wrote about the DL coach brought aboard by Spagnuolo, DL Coach Daly, who would help this team considerably… that it’s also all the new young coaches Spags brought in to coach defense that will make a difference for the Chiefs. I am excited to see how the Chiefs defense comes together. They still need a CB and a LB, though the draft is quite thin at LB.”
Questions? Answers?
Write me, David Bell, at dai_sca@yahoo.com
I requested answers to a short list of questions yesterday. I did receive some answers but the list stands as it is for continued participation. We go from here. I am going to get an article out on the trade as we approach draft weekend. The draft is now going to be all important.
- Top needs in priority order?
- Does acquiring Frank Clark put the Defensive Front over the top or not? Why?
- Was this trade something that both teams may consider a win/win/Cost to much or not? why?
- Did the odds increase for the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl?
Some Contributor Views
Today someone suggested obtaining Peterson with two round 2 picks (the CB from the Cardinals). He said yes. So do I. That would be getting a top CB who is totally and immediately effective day 1. We won’t have a training wheel time frame.
I can’t say how Veach’s priority will look now. Mine is CB, FS, TE, OC-OT?, WR. I don’t have RB on the list. I don’t really think WR is a must either. I see the draft remaining powerful. We have two 2nd round picks. Veach can still trade back with one of the two second round picks. He can stay pat and get 3 impact players who will have impact snaps during the season and compete for a starting role with existing roster entries.
We are still going to end up with 4 top players out of this draft. Round 1 got a top starter out of the gate(#29 pick). Let’s move on from here. I am going to restructure my draft board and unless a DL is top gamer at my choice, I am going after top player on my board from the positions listed above. INSIDE-OUT.
freshmeat62 thought it was a win/win trade and listed CB, TE, S, WR, RB, OL as draft needs. He added:
“I think that 2nd rd pick was a bit too much. I do think the Chiefs gave up too much, and I think the Chiefs and Seahawks think that also. The reason I say that is because of the swapping of the 3rd rd picks. My scenario is that the Seahawks wanted the Chief’s 1st and next years 2nd, but Chiefs thought that was too much, so Seahawks threw them a bone by sapping 3rd rd picks.”
Ladner Morse wrote that obtaining Clark is going to
“… make both Fisher and Schwartz better because they will have to practice against him every day. But you can be sure they’re happy not to have to go against him in any games on Sunday now.”
PaulFromNorthMo contributed:
“….For me, the draft strategy doesn’t really change. I know I was in a boat by myself, but I wanted DL with the 1st pick anyway. I was thinking interior DL, but this works.”
My Bottom Line? Brett Veach down-shifted for a quick sharp turn and is running through the gears to get to back up to full speed when the Chiefs number is called. Unfortunately, we have to wait for Day 2 — unless our GM trades picks for player or a higher draft pick.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne
Don’t miss “The Chiefs Draft Day Two:OPEN THREAD” this afternoon.
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