NSLU: Draft is Done – Put it in the Book!

The Draft is Done – Put it in the Book

I am done reworking the draft, analyzing it. It’s done. My view of things is not that of the Chiefs: “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise.” It doesn’t matter what I thought, and I had no pick in the list of those drafted. In 2017 I achieved the same result. Not that I had a great difficulty with Dorsey’s choice to trade up to get Patrick Mahomes at #10… well, that’s not true either. I had a problem at the time. Now? A lot less so. Why? Because I am looking at what the teams in the 2018 draft did to get a shot at their own QBoF. Similar to current GM Brett Veach, I am now pleased that GM John Dorsey made that pick.

John Dorsey, one of my choices for GM before he became one, lost favor in KC and has moved on. I still follow him. Ditto John Schneider. And so on (Wolfe protege’s plus Gruden). I have to say this as well: I hear a bunch of nonsense about Dorsey, or Ted, or John or Jon Gruden and so on. These men do what they do at a far more functional level that I would dream about.

The draft is done. Put it in the book. This does not mean that there will not be Free Agent Signings and/or Trades. We will all have to wait and see what plays out in this regard. Keep in mind that cap savings or expenses can be drastically affected by what the coaching staff sees from the 90 players of the roster – post draft acquisitions can be crucial to team needs and makeup. How this plays out is finding a player for a position of need and whether such a move is made before or after the June 1st date plays a role in any such decision, or signing since a veteran release bears on the cap to that date depending on the existing contract and cap hit. I will address my own expectations of this draft in the final view (see at the end of the article). We will discuss, in the future, the ins-n-outs, the whys-and-wherefores all year long and probably next year as well. I am done with it, AS AN ENTITY. It’s done. Stick a fork in it.

Sorting Things Out Begins In Late May

The Chiefs have been busy bringing to the fold UDFA’s and invitee’s to the OTA’s for a tryout. We still don’t know what that means, who has a contract and who is an invitee… but that is really a moot point. On May 23rd, OTA’s begin and so does the “SORTING OUT PROCESS.” By about June 10th, we will know who is going to camp and who has been eliminated from consideration.

Organized Team Activities (OTA’s)

This is phase one of NFL Teams activities. It is a period set aside for 10 days of limited no-pads strength and conditioning plus rehab for Vets returning from injury. Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or “OTAs”. No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted but no offense v defense. Activities are separated.

Here is the OTA Schedule:

• May 22-24
• May 29-31, June 1
• June 5-8

Mandatory Mini-Camp

In the next phase, three weeks are set aside for no pads on field workouts, with player drills and instructions with the coaching staff. Having taken a look at all candidates for the Roster and Practice Squad (Taxi Squad), the mandatory mini-camp precedes training camp. It is then that all veterans are required to participate. Team Practice begins though separated by function. Drills for the offense are used as separated from defense and both separated from special teams. No live contact is allowed.

Mini-Camp Dates: June 12-14.

The Beginning of the Real Business

It doesn’t even begin until well after training camp begins. It cannot — the players vying for a spot on the roster need to show speed with the pads on, not just in their skivvies. The men who block, have to put the shoulder into their target. The guys running or catching the ball, must do so with a fervor. Cuts and moves have to be made and it is then the Chiefs Coaching Staff can begin to see the reality of player performance.

Continued Analysis – Training Camp and More Sorting

Arriving at this point, the Chiefs have arrived at July. July will have the TRAINING CAMP Activities and the date for this will be set in June.

Projecting a Roster of Meaning

So what does the roster mean when pre-season begins? When camp begins, the roster still has 90 players. This 90 might have changed due to previous evaluation or it may have remained static. By now, the pads are on, defense plays the offense, Special Teams are working at defining effective mixes of players for all 4 functions. By the time camp is ending and the first pre-season games begins, the coaching staff will have a firm handle on how they wish things to fit together. I know that as pre-season progresses, Andy Reid will want to set the starting offensive line and proceed to opening day with the same group having practiced together and framed their work, successes or concerns in the practice games of pre-season. Before opening day the roster will be reduced twice and by opening day, a 53 man roster will have been determined and 10 men selected for the practice squad. That is 63 men of the 90 who began the process of competing for a roster spot in late may.

High Hopes and Elevated Expectations? Absolutely!

Things that I expect to happen by early pre-season that I think I think and anticipate (how’s that for stealing a line).

1. Breeland Speaks is a far stronger player than every one is seeing. He will play with immediate affect and take over the starter role quickly. For me Speaks will fulfill expectations, especially with a constant motor and the ability to set the edge and in making defensive plays against the run. His addition will certainly put pressure on Dee Ford and Tanoh Kpassagnon and give an aggressive OLB player opposite Justin Houston.

2. Reggie Ragland and Anthony Hutchins bring to the interior linebacking core a toughness and add to the solidity of the front seven against the run. The Chiefs added a third piece to this and had as well in place another force and I expect to see the new addition, Dorian O’Daniel take a prominent role quickly in the season as the go to third linebacker(Dime).

3. Patrick Mahomes gets out of the gate and fulfills expectations and more, having the added tools of Watkins a super addition added by Veach in the off-season. We will see that the threat on offense takes a sharp turn toward being dangerous, not just once in a while but on every possession.

4. Derrick Nnadi has immediate impact and starts at NT — He will be especially tough in stopping the run — adding to the strength addressed above.

Adding Ndadi to Chris Jones and Allen Bailey gives the Chiefs front three a tough group to play against. Even in the pass rush Ndadi will be able to use up and occupy double teams whether or not he improves his pass rush game which he himself addresses as his most needed area of improvement. The addition of Xavier Williams prior to the draft gives the Chiefs a #2 NT which they have not employed for several seasons.

5. Adding Armani Watts to the safety crew was not just an after thought. Watts is a polished defender who can press, play in the box or as a single high. In regard to aerial defense he is no slouch and will have quick and near immediate effect in the 2018 season. This is crucial to the back end of the Defense.

6. The line-backing crew and the front three reset the run defense making the secondary pass defense far more effective. The pass defense gets back to the level of play where turnovers that the Chiefs had as a bolster to scoring, gets back to where it was prior to 2016.

7. Because of the aggressiveness and toughness and comradery, all phases of the game clarify and reach a point of cohesiveness that surprises everyone, including the intensity of special Teams.

Final View: The Three “C”s

It will take time for all of this “newness” to gel and gain Continuity, Cohesiveness and Consistency (the 3 C’s). Perhaps a fourth “C” should be added to this: Camaraderie (team persona). I think this is what Veach has achieved even if the fans do not recognize it. The gains here are very subtle but of great import. Veach has unloaded problematic players and those who did not have the winning attitude that has been missing. The players added int the draft… this is not going to be a “Finished Product” but it will, by the end of the 2018 season be a team with the aggressiveness and “will to win” that has been the missing ingredient for the Kingdom to find it’s way in the post-season. Veach added two developing players to the mix as well (McKenzie and Smith) and yes, each of the players of this draft will need to improve their play and get to NFL Game Speed in the process.

Brett Veach also discussed satisfaction in the direction that has been laid out since his taking on the role of GM. He also stated that he is not Content. These are my expectations. Yes, I am far more positive about the season that most fans are and certainly more than most NFL pundits and observers. By the end of the regular season, the team is going to be very competitive and can win in the post season. Indeed, my expectation is that the Chiefs win the AFC West title for the 3rd season in a row.

David Bell — We aren’t anywhere close yet to the end of the process. Calm Down! The outlook is good and we will see it unfold and improve each week of regular season play.

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