Wednesday Notes and Quotes: 5 · 16 · 18

This Week in Notes and Quotes

The Running Backs

At this point, we are all wondering if K.C. Chiefs RB Spencer Ware will be available at training camp. Due to two knee repairs after his injury early in the pre-dawn of the 2017 season, Ware has been recovering and rehabbing. But I can read the tea leaves. Even though he is thought to be preparing for being available, GM Brett Veach and Co. have been working to add to the RB repertory behind Kareem Hunt.  Do I doubt that Hunt will provide a top level performance as he did as a Rookie? Nope, not in my mind. However, how that will flow is dependent on the “New Offense.”  As this rolled out, the Chiefs stable of RBs for the 2018 season was of depth due to Ware’s recovery. Already on the roster were Charcandrick West (not very effective in 2017).  Akeem Hunt, who began the off-season on the roster, was released and re-signed over the past week. The Chiefs then added a second LSU RB, JD Moore to the camp roster as a UDFA as well.

The moves by Brett Veach appear to indicate that Ware is going to be rehabbing through training camp and part of Pre-Season, so he added  4-year pro, Kerwynn Williams RB out of Utah State, who was drafted by the Colts in 2014, then signed by the Chargers and finally in 2015, picked up by the Cardinals where he was a depth RB and then released and is looking for a place to make an impact. He has a one year deal.  K.C. also signed RB Damien Williams who came out of OU who was a UDFA with the Dolphins but spent the next four seasons contributing in nearly every game over those four campaigns.

UDFA LSU RB Darrell Williams who “Serves Notice During the Rookie Mini-Camp” BJ Kissel, KC Chiefs reporter wrote about Williams recently, noting that he is one of Gil Brandt’s top UDFA’s gave notice. BJ Kissel, of the Kansas City Chiefs, wrote of Williams:

“…one cut. That’s all it took to see what the fuss was all about….Darrel Williams, took a hand-off off the left side of the offensive line, and then about eight yards down the field, Williams planted his left foot and cut back to the right, accelerating through a running lane and into the open field…It was athleticism. It was vision. It was impressive…”

If I had to guess? Hunt, Williams, and Williams will be the RBs on opening day. Ware might be on the PUP for 6 weeks to open the season. My view of the probable releases? West, A. Hunt, and Moore. If Ware is ready? Then I think they put Darrel Williams on the PS.

A Future K.C. Chiefs Dynasty?

Kareem Hunt: when interviewed by Jenny Vrentas, stated:

“…I’m excited to build a future with the Chiefs. With the young nucleus we have, I feel like we can have a great dynasty coming forward….”

Chiefs Kingdom: Front Office Promotions

and New Hires

Mike Borgonzi from director of player personnel to director of football operations

• Chris Shea from salary cap and legal executive to football operations counsel and personnel executive
• Ryan Poles from director of college scouting to assistant director of player personnel.
• Ryne Nutt from assistant director of college scouting to director of college scouting
• Trey Koziol from area scout to national scout.
• Jason Lamb from area scout to college and pro scout.
• Rob Fracois from player personnel assistant to national football scout

The new hires:

• Mike Bradway – assistant director of player personnel. Bradway’s father was with the Chiefs and later, an NFL GJ. Bradway spent 10 years with the Eagles and most recently was Ass’t Dir of College Scouting.
• Greg Castillo – college scouting director. Castillo was a Saint’s Scouting Intern and former trial player with the Chiefs in 2013 who played college football at Ames Iowa.

Yah! Long Shots Still Abound:

Will Redmond and Keith Reaser

But if long shots have the talent, we can hope. On Tuesday, Laddie framed for the reader, UDFA TE (Tweener) Blake Mack in a fine piece that illuminated for us how Blake Mack would b a good fit for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. So too, do I have a hope for my own “outlander” in the person of Will Redmond. He was a player that started out in Frisco and was drafted but had extenuating circumstance even during the draft (an Injury), was released and that is how KC arrived at bringing him into the fold.

Now, will Will Redmond live up to what he demonstrated at Mississippi State and what he shows on tape or not? What I think I know about him is that he can cut it in the NFL and the tape shows why. Brett Veach discussed both Redmond and Keith Reaser recently, and let me point out that just discussing the two players, neither draftees has applicability and import. I do not have much familiarity with the play of Reaser but I had taken a look at Redmond’s film last year. I am focused on Redmond. It is my view that Redmond is not being considered as a likely candidate for the Chiefs secondary. I think the fans are fickle and not paying attention to the talent that the Chiefs are bringing to Spring Training. When he hit the draft he was selected at pick 68 by the 49er’s. He was recovering from injury at the time of the draft but SF drafted him anyway. It was thought that without injury he would have gone in the top of the second round or even the bottom of the first. Unfortunately, he was injured again and was put on the Frisco IR thus having no contribution as a pro.

The base talent still exists. But Redmond’s misfortunes continued with an injured ankle and he missed all of the 2016 season. He missed all of the 2016 season with an ankle injury. When he still wasn’t ready for Week 1 of the 2017 season, the 9ers placed the him on injured reserve again. Redmond was clearly affected by injury in 2017 and did not participate last season either. So, the Chiefs reeled him in anticipating his ability to be ready for 2018.

This year? I would take a wager on his being part of the Chiefs secondary come opening day 2018. He does possess NFL starting talent. What a great fortune the Chiefs would have found by being patient with the situation. If Redmond makes it into pre-season? I think he adds starter quality depth at the cornerback position. A quick review of a highlight film demonstrates why this is the case in a video put together for the 49ers:

Sure, it is a limited view but demonstrates both pass defense and run defense support. An factor here is that it was prepared for the 49ers by their media department. Let me point out again… this was a top talent in the draft. Kent Swanson of “Lottery Tickets” sees the possibility of Redmond being a “Gold Strike.”  He wrote about Redmond and Keith Reaser in a positive vein. Meanwhile, Brett Veach said of both players:

“We still have guys like Keith Reaser and Will Redmond that people won’t really talk about,” Veach noted. “Redmond was a mid-round pick by the 49ers coming off an injury, and Reaser is another guy we like, and I think he was also coming off an injury out of Florida Atlantic a few years back.”

Redmond being discussed by Veach is a signal of the potential of the former Mississippi State corner for the Chiefs but that he mentioned both gives an indication of direction. We must wait and see but I am hopeful on this, especially for the outside for Redmond. Should he return to form that was demonstrated in SEC play, the Chiefs might just have a starting cornerback who is just getting his first shot on an NFL field. Here are some comments about Redmond thus far in 2018:

“…Even though he held up well outside, Redmond will still likely profile more as a slot defender. It’s best suited for his frame. He showed more than enough athleticism in college….”- Kent Swanson

Redmond was released by the 49ers after being on their IR list and that is how the Chiefs acquired him.

David Bell – NSLU

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