It’s all cool, tomorrow we can be, “Lazin’ on a Sunny Afternoon”

It’s all cool, tomorrow we can be,

“Lazin’ on a Sunny Afternoon”

by David Bell

How Do You Build a Crescendo Timed to the Vanishing Point Time?

You sign two more corners and fend off rumors. That’s how…

So far Brett Veach has added to CBs: He engineered the trade of Parker Ehinger to Dallas for Char Ward on Thursday and acquired Jordan Lucas from the Dolphins at the same time. There was a ‘fake news’ trade with the Vikes for MacKensie Alexander, a CB… that and the addition of Ward and Lucas had me starting this article (now revised of course).

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

What has just occurred, gives me pause. A couple of articles ago, I wondered what our GM had up his sleeve — Inquiring Minds Wanted to Know. So in less that 24 full hours, Brett Veach has executed trades that have import on positions where depth and experience remained a question. Then Saturday arrived. Cuts were made but Ron Parker ‘re-upped.’

On Friday, I wrote:

Wouldn’t it be “KEWL BEANS” for Veach to get an experienced Safety by Sunday?

What S Ron Parker Brings

Ron Parker has been around the block a time or two. Is this a good acquisition for Brett Veach? It’s certainly not perfect. Ron Parker’s last year with the Chiefs was a downturn. Then he was a free agent and it was too much money to cover for his performance previously so he was out. That is what I felt was the right thing at the time. But now? He is re-signed as a Free Agent, and not for the monies previously demanded which is a positive. Two more positives: he is experienced with the Chiefs defense — a break in time won’t be necessary. He adds veteran experience to the exposed safety position. That is a high positive, especially for Armani Watts who will have both Eric Berry and Ron Parker to coach him along on the field and sidelines. Lastly, Watts does not have to make an immediate splash and is in a protected position as he enters the fray of NFL-games-real-time. This will make the safety position stronger, but it does require a wait for Dirty Dan to return from injury. Dan had to start out on the roster and is then going to be moved to the IR to allow for recovery and rehab.

What I believe is that he, “Read by Reid” and Co. provided input to Brett Veach that this signing would improve the secondary. Veach had to have had a positive from the coaching staff and his own view must have been on the positive side.

Is this the best possible outcome? I can’t say that but it had to have had enough impetus to go forward with it.

Is Ron Parker the same player he was in 2016? I doubt it due to his age. However, he would play alongside Eric Berry and that should work. Veach concluded there was still a weakness at safety and there was an exposure due to Berry’s heal injury. Obtaining a Safety who could fit right away has it’s own reward due to the fact that the first six games of the season are going to be really tough.

Problems at the Corner

The Chiefs have made decisions at corner back and the outcome of obtaining at least one of the two corners did not have the outcome expected. When it was cutting time? David Amerson vanished. Meanwhile, Veach had engineered two moves that are important futures moves. Certainly adding two corners shows that Brett had his blueprint in hand and when something didn’t work, he went about fixing it. When an exposure was observed, he went out to close the gaping hole.

Veach signed Orlando Scandrick as a free agent corner. Scandrick is experienced but new to the team. The apparent view of his fit to the defense has been given a positive from the staff. Is he the 3rd CB that is the man of the future? Nope, but he is a veteran and with all the young players in the mix, it will help to have him aboard.

What the Blueprint Indicated

Think about what was missing in the play of Amerson, and to a lesser extent Orlando Scandrick, who had just arrived in the Kingdom. Amerson had been here awhile and we all saw him get flat beaten, flat footed and trying to grab the WR and he failed at even that. Amerson is gone and his play clearly showed a problem. At the same time, Brett Veach had reached out to bring Scandrick to One Arrowhead Way. He was a known quality but that acquisition was a level below other actions. We have to wait and see with Scandrick.

Adding Ward and Lucas

With these two players, Jordan Lucas and Charvarius Ward, we add two pieces that fit the blueprint. Ward was a 2018 UDFA and he was going to make the Dallas Roster, but the Boys had their own big exposure. Both Lucas and Ward have things that tell us they project well according to the blue print: youth, speed, good SAQ and toughness. All things that can be presented to Bob Sutton and Company to fit to the larger need in the secondary.

At the same time, the trade partners got something in return.  Jordan Lucas is a more known quantity. He is out of Penn State so he comes from a good football program at 6-foot-0 and190. His playing time has not been as a starter but he has been a contributor so I expect the same level of play. He may have an even greater upside and changing venues may benefit the player and consequently, the team. He does bring toughness and intensity and is a quality S/T contributor for Dave Toub. A 7th round pick to get him doesn’t hurt much.

Even better with Ward: a player coming out of nowhere who was going to be an addition to the Cowboys secondary until their exposed flank of the offensive line forced them to consider a trade. What I see? Veach’s blueprint in action in obtaining Scandrick and adding to the depth at the position. Even the attempt to fit Amerson was part of it. It didn’t work but Veach had moved on and that shows his own honesty and use of his coaching staff.

Yes, Ward uprooted a player who might likely have made the roster in Arrion Springs as an example but his credential packet must have been blessed by the powers at the Metroplex. If the positives are accentuated for Ward is a given and he will begin a rapid lesson plan to get him on board. Meanwhile, Ladner Morse put together a roster sheet for the defense and you can see it below:

I like the Charvarius Ward acquisition. Ward is one of those small school products that showed well at his Pro-day and continued that in training camp and then pre-season. He is another young player that needs time to develop but worth the exchange.  This is a good trade for both teams. Ward, at this point, is “All Promise” with the talent to make the 53 man roster. Which means that a couple of young players are going to the PS.

Jordan Lucas? I am less sure about Jordan Lucas but he brings experience to a young group at corner where Fuller and Nelson are set to be starters. So, this is another crucial move to strengthen a weakness we all knew was there on the last day of the 2017 season. The signing of Lucas from the Dolphins — for a 7th round pick in 2019 — and the trade of Parker Ehinger to acquire CB Charvarius Ward from Dallas, were both “blue-plate-specials” served up by none other than Mr. Brett Veach himself.

This is part of the Brett Veach Approach: acquire youth, toughness an speed and obtain a high draft picks in the process which is what Alexander was. The trade was not just an idle exchange. It had specific purpose: Veach and his scouts had to have followed and studied both Ward and Lucas enough to make both moves. The discussion by GM’s of the trade partner teams had to have addressed what Veach was looking for.

At Safety: adding Ron Parker stabilizes things. Armani Watts is still my FS of the future. It is my view he will earn the starter role during he season. I do not see a long future of Ron Parker with the organization, but he helps where it was sorely needed.

Keep in mind that one more acquisition of an experienced player, via trade or F/A signing, possible with the right player releases. Veach may be going to market, tonight… and in the morning… and all next week.

Conclusions? The Chiefs release list was turned in at 3:00 PM on Saturday. We go from here. Do we still have a weakness? Yes, I believe it’s true. Veach may find that top corner or safety yet. I also think the secondary is stronger as of Sunday Afternoon… in the summer time… you can join in anytime… and be singing.

*”…now I’m sittin’ here,

sippin’ at my ice cold beer,

lazin’ on a Sunny afternoon–

In the Summer time… ”

Let’s see what happens next. Brett Veach is… doing his thing.

David Bell – ArrowheadOne

*Kinks, “Face to Face- Sunny Afternoon” – 1966