This is probably the weakest position as a whole for the AFC West.  It’s saying something when Eddie Kennison and Jerry Porter leave the division, and the receiving corps may actually be better.  These rankings are based off of each team’s depth chart as of May 15th, and it’s not a comparison of all the wide receivers - just who will be considered the team’s #1 guy on opening day.

1.) Brandon Marshall (Denver) - On the field, he has finally developed into what Denver envisioned when they drafted him.  He’s big (6′4″, 230), he’s strong, and he’s got the speed to get past most defensive backs.  However, he seems to have a Pacman Jones-esque penchant for finding trouble off the field.  He’s not popping caps into strippers or anything, but when you lose a fight to a plastic bag and a plasma TV, maybe you need to take a step back and look at what you do for a living.  You play professional football!  You’re about to get paid with your second contract!  It’s not like you lay pipe for a living - you’re living the dream!  If Marshall can avoid any contact with the rest of his home theater system, then he should continue to be the #1 receiver in the AFC West. (4 points)

2.) Vincent Jackson (San Diego) - This was a tough call between Jackson and Dwayne Bowe, but I give Jackson the nod because he’s bigger, he’s got more experience, and he’s more settled at the quarterback position.  Jackson will draw a lot more one-on-one coverage due to defenses having to worry about LaDaninan Tomlinson, Antonio Gates and the rest of the Bolts’ offense.  He needs to step up and become the big-time threat that everyone is making him out to be, though - you can only get by on potential for so long. (3 points).

3.) Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City) - Bowe may finally become the true #1 receiving threat the Chiefs have been lacking for the past…oh, say…40 years?  He started slowly last year, but an early injury to Kennison (on the second play of the year, for God’s sake) forced him into the starting lineup.  He responded with almost 1,000 yards receiving, and some truly highlight reel-worthy catches, many of them in the end zone.  It remains to be seen if Bowe is ready to assume the role of the #1 receiver, but if he is, then Brodie Croyle may have a valuable weapon to throw to. (2 points)

4.) Javon Walker (Oakland) - If this were two years ago, then Walker would be #1 on this list, no question about it.  Actually, if this were two years ago, then Randy Moss would be #1 on this list…but the Raiders didn’t need him, right? Good thing you got that fourth-round draft pick for him!

If Walker is back 100%, or even 85%, from the knee problems he’s had the last couple of seasons, then he will be worth every penny of the huge contract the Raiders gave him this past season.  However, I just don’t see the logic in offering lots of guaranteed money to someone who may never effectively play the game again.  There’s also not a whole lot of incentive for Walker to get healthy, as his checks will continue to clear whether he plays or not.  He could easily move to the top of this list, but for right now, there are too many questions surrounding his knee and his attitude. (1 point)

Finally, San Diego isn’t the top team on this list!  They still garner a respectable second place, and still lead the standings by a considerable margin.

Running tally:

San Diego: 11 points

Denver: 9 points

Kansas City: 5 points

Oakland: 4 points

Morgan’s Role with the Chiefs:

I know it’s become sexy to hate Bernard Pollard. After all, in order for a player to be considered a “bonecrusher,” doesn’t that imply that he has to actually hit somebody? Unlike most fans, I haven’t given up on Pollard and I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that any player can be fully evaluated after only one year of experience. Like most rookies, Pollard and Page both made costly mistakes in 2008. Folks, if you want to endure the rebuild, you have to endure mistakes.

I don’t know if Pollard ever becomes worth that second round pick. But it’s reassuring that if he doesn’t pan out, Morgan is a pretty solid guy to replace him. Arguably, Morgan has more post-draft upside than Pollard ever had. Morgan is fairly raw and will probably use the first half of the season to learn his position. That gives Pollard about a half-year to prove himself, which is more than enough time. If Pollard is anything short of spectacular, I expect to see him split some snaps with Morgan. The great thing about Morgan is that while he’s developing into the safety position, he won’t be a waste of a roster spot. Morgan is going to be absolutely outstanding on special teams, even though to most fans, it doesn’t really count for much. There’s also a strong possibility that you see him doing some nickel coverages.

Cottam’s Role with the Chiefs:

Of all the picks, I think Cottam might have been the pick that generated the least excitement… at least to other fans. I’m willing to bet that the lukewarm reaction is due to a lack of understanding of what Cottam’s role with the Chiefs will be. There are some that see him as Gonzalez’s future replacement. That could be true. There are others that view him as Jason Dunn’s replacement. Could also be true. But the truth is, Cottam isn’t a superstar as a receiver or as a blocker; instead, he’s pretty good at both.

Uh oh. Is this another Kris Wilson pick in the making? Hardly. If you look a little deeper into the Chiefs’ motivations for drafting Cottam, you’ll see that Chan Gailey is a huge supporter of a 2-TE set offense. What makes Cottam such an outstanding pick is that he can be an asset in both run blocking and pass receiving. Note that he doesn’t have to be a standout on either dimension. If he grades out as above average on both dimensions, then he’s a valuable addition to the offense.

What makes this kind of a role player so dangerous is that it allows you to be more deceptive in your playcalling. When Jason Dunn entered the game, you knew the Chiefs were going to run the ball. When Dante Hall came into the slot, more likely than not, the Chiefs were going to pass the ball. Sure, the Chiefs sometimes tricked teams by passing the ball with Dunn on the field, but that’s pretty much akin to playing 11-on-10 football. With Cottam in the game, there is a reasonable expectation that he can contribute on every down, no matter what the playcall. Particularly for a team that wants to run the ball and playaction a lot, I think Cottam will quietly be a very solid pick for the Chiefs.

Before we dive into running backs, let me make one thing clear - this is about the starting running back for each team: not their entire corps of rushers.  So don’t get bent out of shape (Denver and Oakland fans, I’m looking at you) when you read these rankings.  Your team may have a better team rushing attack, but these rankings are based on who is the top tailback on the depth chart.

1.) LaDanian Tomlinson (San Diego)- He’s been the best player in the league for five years now - but after that disaster he had in the playoffs against Indianapolis, I wouldn’t be surprised if his teammates and the rest of the league are questioning his heart.  I certainly am.  His interview on ESPN where he said that he kept his helmet on that whole time because he was cold didn’t quite cut it - I mean, it wasn’t “I didn’t have sexual relations with that woman” bad, but LT certainly didn’t come out looking like a true team player. I think he’ll miss Michael Turner more than the Bolts realize right now, but Tomlinson is still the most dominant player in the game today. (4 points)

2.) Larry Johnson (Kansas City)- A prime example of why you don’t give players long-term contracts with guaranteed money the year after you work them to death.  I am hoping that LJ reads this blog (not likely, but I’m holding out hope) and take my slights, digs and insults of him personally and runs for 3,100 yards and 45 touchdowns this year.  That may be the only chance the Chiefs have to not finish 2-14.  If Johnson is fully recovered from his foot injury, and Brodie Croyle can get the defenses to only keep 6-7 men in the box, then LJ should return to prominence as an elite NFL back.  (3 points)

3.) Travis Henry (Denver) - Throw out the pot smoking, the illegitimate children, the fumbling and the injury problems, and you have a quality person and a big threat at running back.  The only reason Henry is here is the Denver rushing scheme, and the fact that Oakland will feature multiple rushers, rather than a dominant single-rushing attack.  Henry isn’t close to being the guy he was in Buffalo, or even Tennessee, but in the “Insert RB here and run for 1,000 yards” system Denver incorporates, he’s serviceable. (2 points)

4.) Justin Fargas (Oakland) - While Oakland may not have the best individual running back, they may feature the strongest rushing attack in the conference. However, there are two schools of thought on this matter - there is the “It’s a good problem to have” when you have four possible starters in your backfield…and then there is the “If you have two/three/four running backs, then you really don’t have one” philosophy.  Personally, I think the more quality you have in the running back position, the stronger you are as a team.  It comes down to keeping everyone happy, healthy, and satisfied with their roles.  Are they an every-down back? A goal line/short yardage guy?  The third-down change of pace back?  If these roles are not clearly defined, then there could be trouble.  (1 point)

Once again, San Diego has the best player at this position, and probably the best player in the league in Tomlinson.  Johnson needs to return to form for the Chiefs to have any chance this year, while Oakland is counting on contributions from several sources to spark their ground game.  Speaking of spark…Henry is going to just try to stay healthy, and maybe mix in a little celibacy now and then.

Running tally:
San Diego - 8 points

Denver - 5 points

Kansas City - 4 points

Oakland - 3 points

It’s getting to be that time of year again.  Mini-camps are starting.  Draft picks are getting the pipes ready to sing their school’s alma mater.  Herm Edwards is still trying to puzzle out when its a good time to challenge a play.  Raider Nation is getting their “Nobody Believes In Us!” tattoos touched up.  Football is starting to rev up again, so lets break down the AFC West, position by position.

The first discussion will start with the most important position on the field - quarterback.  It’s also the one position where all four teams in the division have their starter set, for better (San Diego) or for worse (Kansas City…maybe). 

1.) Phillip Rivers (San Diego) - Quite simply, this guy has balls of steel and a brain to match…and that’s supposed to be a compliment.  If he didn’t play for San Diego, I think he would be in the “Brett Favre” category with how I feel about him.  That’s where I love to watch someone play, unless its against the Chiefs.  People dog on Rivers for talking smack on the field, but his play during the regular season backs it up.  He finally took that big step forward last year against the Colts in the postseason, and he snatched the reigns of leadership from LaDanian Tomlinson during the Patriots game…because, you know, Rivers actually played instead of pouting on the sideline wearing his helmet.  Rivers has a rocket arm, and the intangibles that will make him a success for years to come.  I don’t look forward to seeing him the next 10 years. (4 points)

2.) Jay Cutler (Denver)- I think I put Cutler just to get a rise out of Raider Nation, who will howl about how their quarterback (who has played about 11 snaps all season) is better than Cutler.  I whole-heartedly believe that Cutler is vastly overrated, mostly because he hasn’t won much.  However, his much-needed calling out of receiver Brandon Marshall this offseason was impressive.  Cutler has the physical tools - but he appears to be snake-bitten (pun intended) by “Jake Plummer Disease”, where a quarterback has periodic brain farts and makes a costly mistake.  I think Cutler could use a divorce from Mike Shannahan - but he will always be effective if Denver continues to run the ball well and run the play-action bootleg.  If he puts his brain and body together, he could be a Pro Bowler. (3 points)

3.) JaMarcus Russell (Oakland)- This is less of an endorsement of Russell than it is a slam on Brodie Croyle.  Russell could end up being phenomenal - he simply hasn’t had the snaps, though.  He has a good running game, supplemented by the #4 overall pick Darren McFadden, to fall back on.  Now it’s a matter of getting used the NFL game.  For all intents and purposes, Russell is a rookie this year - and traditionally rookies struggle in their first year.  It remains to be seen if the limited playing time Russell got at the end of 2007 will aid him and the Raiders in 2008. (2 points)

4.) Brodie Croyle (Kansas City) - I feel sorry for Croyle.  He was given no chance last year, and was basically running for his life the entire time he was on the field.  Add in the fact that Larry Johnson pulled his vagina…er…hurt his foot, and Croyle was a sitting duck.  However, this year will probably be Croyle’s last chance to show he can become an effective quarterback.  The Chiefs have added some talent on the offensive line, Johnson should be back at 100%, and Mike Solari is no longer calling the plays for the offense.  These ingredients indicate that things can improve.  Most importantly, the Chiefs did not draft a quarterback this year, giving Croyle another year of relief and not having to look over his shoulder.  If he doesn’t make advances this year, though…we need to look in another direction. (1 point)

Right now, San Diego is the class of the AFC West, and it is not a coincidence they have the best quarterback in the conference as well.  If Russell can develop, he could easily overtake Cutler as the #2 QB, and Croyle is living on borrowed time. 

Running tally:

San Diego: 4 points

Denver: 3 points

Oakland: 2 points

Kansas City 1 point

Players Charles reminds me of: Maurice Jones-Drew, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Maurice Jones-Drew

Charles’ role with the Chiefs: We’re going to change the order of this evaluation simply because we can’t discuss Charles’ upside or downside until we understand what role he is expected to play. The argument is that if the Chiefs already have LJ, why do they need a starting RB? And if the Chiefs already have Kolby Smith, why do they need a backup RB? Here’s how I would best answer that question: don’t think of Jamaal Charles as the #1 or #2 RB; think of him more as a #1a or #2a RB. What I mean by that is that LJ is a workhorse back, whereas Charles is a change-of-pace back. If LJ falls to injury, Kolby Smith will take on the workload, while Charles still serves as a change-of-pace back.

Charles’ upside: Charley Casserly, former GM for the Texans, absolutely raved about the Jamaal Charles pick. Granted, he wasn’t necessarily an outstanding personnel guy at Houston, but this is still a pretty big-league endorsement. In one of his mock drafts, Charles was slated to be picked in the first round. He also had Charles as one of his biggest draft-day sleepers. Here’s the deal: when you have a first-round graded player fall to you in the third, there is no reason for you not to pull the trigger on the pick.

Charles’ upside is that he’s a home run hitter. While it’s possible the Chiefs drafted Charles as insurance for LJ or as a replacement for LJ a few years down the road, the more likely reason the Chiefs drafted Charles is that he’s the change-of-pace back the Chiefs have always wanted. For as fast as Michael Bennett was, I never saw that same kind of shiftiness and elusiveness I saw in Charles. And Charles is probably even faster. If LJ is the RB that will batter and ram defenses and wear them down, then Charles is the RB that comes in with fresh legs and zips through a tired defense. He’ll also likely be the 3rd down back who can stretch short dump-offs into long gains, since LJ has proven to be a marginal blocker at best. In other words, for anyone who believes this is a terrible pick because the Chiefs already have LJ, realize that his upside is to play the roles that LJ cannot and his role is to serve as a complement, not a substitute for LJ. Teams these days are carrying 2-3 RBs to keep their star players fresh and that is exactly what the Chiefs are doing here. Quite possible that Charles and Kolby will extend LJ’s career a few more years.

In other words, his upside is that he becomes the next Maurice Jones-Drew, though in a slightly scaled-down role.

Charles’ Downside:

Charles does not have great size and there are concerns as to his durability. However, realize that he’s not likely to be an every-down back and realize that his commitment to track in college likely kept him out of the weight room. I saw an interesting discussion originally posted by Burnt Orange Nation that suggests:

“Charles has dedicated himself to the football team after running track early in his career at Texas. The added time in the weight room and practice field are showing now, as Charles is much stronger and seems to understand the game more. Charles is becoming more of a work-horse back as the 2007 season wears to a close. His 216-yard fourth quarter against Nebraska shows that he has the ability to carry the load for a top football program.”

He also has a problem holding onto the football and there are concerns about his ability to pick up the blitz, which is not a good thing, given that his role will largely depend on that. However, I would suggest that because he is serving more as a role player for now, he can afford to spend a little extra time learning those kinds of fundamentals. I would also argue that weaker RBs tend to have more difficulty holding onto the ball, so the hope is that as he gets stronger, he’ll be better able to hang on to the football.

Brandon Flowers most reminds me of… Troy Vincent. James Hasty. Tough, physical corners who weren’t necessarily blazers, but harassed the living daylights out of receivers they matched up against.

Flowers’ downside: Let’s start with Flowers’ obvious downside–he’s not particularly fast. In fact, his 4.55 time in the 40 is downright atrocious for a starting cornerback. That has to be a concern at the cornerback position, where Flowers will consistently match up against receivers, most of whom run within the 4.3 - 4.45 range on their 40 time.

Flowers’ upside: Like I said, I think Flowers may turn out to be an enormous steal for the Chiefs. I have always had a major issue with scouts who automatically drop corners or receivers from their board if they don’t run a sub 4.50 on their 40. It’s always been interesting to me that scouts are so quick to discount a good, physical corner who doesn’t run fast, but rave over the speedy corner who plays soft. Regardless of how fast Flowers is, he is a player. He knows how to play the position. While he’s not fast, because he’s so fluid, he can play fast and can close fast. He’s an extremely physical corner, which fits into Gunther Cunningham’s mold for an ideal cornerback. The great news is that the Chiefs need Flowers to play right away and he may arguably be the most NFL-ready of the entire draft class, because he’s so fundamentally sound.

Flowers’ Role on the Chiefs: Flowers isn’t a perfect match for every scheme. He does, however, fit perfectly into the Chiefs’ defense. Corners in a Tampa 2 defense don’t have to necessarily cover a lot of ground. Their main role is to do everything in their power to disrupt the timing of receivers’ routes and to be smart enough to operate within their zone. Flowers is perfect for that role. Furthermore, if speed is a concern for Flowers, it shouldn’t be in this defense. The Chiefs’ linebackers largely cover like cornerbacks. Demorrio Williams and Derrick Johnson have ridiculous speed that should allow Flowers to operate more within his zone, not to mention Jarrad Page, who is arguably quick enough to be a nickel back. Bernard Pollard could serve as somewhat of an obstacle, but that assumes that he isn’t going to lose his job to Dejuan Morgan and that very largely assumes that the extra help provided by the linebackers won’t compensate for Pollard’s lack of speed.

I hate acting like a homer. I hate blindly tooting players’ horns just because they’re Chiefs. But it’s very difficult to find any fault in the Dorsey pick, there’s so much upside potential for the Albert pick, and I believe that the Brandon Flowers pick could turn out to be the Chiefs’ greatest steal in this draft.

Albert’s upside: What makes Albert such an outstanding pick is that he’s got ridiculous upside with a relatively minimal downside. At best, he’ll turn into a solid starting left tackle and could project to be even more effective than any of the other left tackles in this year’s draft (Long, Clady, Williams, Otah, Cherrilus). He’s an awesome blocker when he’s put into open space and he has outstanding footwork. Arguably, he’s the most talented tackle in the draft. If he doesn’t pan out at left tackle, he’ll be shifted to guard, where most scouts believe he is a surefire starter with pro bowl potential.

Albert’s downside: Playing left tackle is difficult enough as it is, but it’s going to be extremely difficult to do on the NFL level. It’s a bit idealistic to believe that Albert can bypass years of inexperience and play at an effective level from the get-go. It’s one thing to have the athleticism to play a position; it’s quite another to actually have the know-how to play the position.

Albert’s role with the Chiefs: Carl Peterson made the comment that Herm Edwards projects Brandon Albert to be a right tackle. You would think the Chiefs would make such an announcement after evaluating him at OTAs. This comment makes me question if Peterson is trying to lowball Albert by projecting him to start at a lesser-paid position. I personally don’t think Albert should start the season at Right Tackle. I think one of the most dangerous things we can do for the kid is to move him around over and over again like a chess piece. That was a mistake I believe they made with Jordan Black, who arguably could have been an effective guard. Right tackle and left tackle are not the same position, contrary to popular belief, so my feeling is that you start him at left tackle from day 1 of practice and give him about a year to prove he can or can’t play the position. That’s a long enough time to get a pretty good evaluation as to whether he’ll ever have the upside to play the position. The last thing we want is for the Chiefs to never learn what Albert’s capable of and what role he best fits until the 3rd or 4th season of his career. The second-to-last thing we want is for the Chiefs to shatter Albert’s confidence by setting him up to fail in not one, but two positions. The Chiefs are in a rebuilding year and should take every opportunity this year to see if Albert has what it takes to be a left tackle, even if it comes at the sacrifice of less-than-optimal play in 2008.

_______________________________________________________ 

I am not a huge draftnik by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, the next college football game I watch all the way through will be the first. With that out of the way, there is not a lot for me as a Raider fan to like about the Chief’s draft. The Chiefs bolstered their lines in the first round and went from there. My favorite move was getting Jared Allen out of the AFC West, as I was tired of seeing him harass quarterbacks in Silver and Black uniforms.

1a Glenn Dorsey-DT LSU- After sending one of the league’s best defensive linemen to Minnesota, the Chiefs needed reinforcements. While Dorsey plays inside making him not a replacement for Allen in the technical sense, he can be a disruptive force in the middle that will raise the play of the remaining ends. Grabbing Dorsey is a great move for a team that has to face LaDanainian Tomlinson, The Denver Bronco running back factory and Larry–oops… Oh yeah… He became a Chief… He will have to stop his collegiate nemesis Darren McFadden twice a year. (The AFC West is now truly a hellacious running division.) With the Chiefs facing an elite back, a potential elite back, and an elite system, the Dorsey pick was a no brainer.

1b Brandon Albert-OL Virginia-In one of my previous posts for Ryan, I commented on the Chiefs’ offensive line needs since Will Shields and Willie Roaf retired. Replacing two potential Hall of Fame players is no easy task, and there are no guarantees in the draft, but Albert was a very good pick. He is a big athletic lineman that can play either tackle or guard. Considering the state of the Chiefs’ line last season, maybe Herm is hoping that he can play both at the same time. (Just kidding, please put the torches and pitchforks away.) In all seriousness, this is an outstanding pick at a position of dire need.

2 Brandon Flowers-CB Va Tech- Considering that both of the Chiefs’ starting corners last year are soon to be applying for AARP membership, the Chiefs were in need of a DB. Getting one with questionable speed is something that is a foreign concept. He is known for being tough and physical, which should help him handle the bigger possession receivers.

3a  Jamaal Charles-RB Texas-A running back? LJ may be getting to the downside of his career, but he is still a dangerous back. Not to mention, Kolby Smith stepped up his game in LJ’s absence. He has breakaway speed, maybe he is on tap for return duties.

3b Brad Cottam-TE  Tennessee-Grabbing a young tight end with great measurables is a very good move for the future. Cottam will get a chance to learn from an elite tight end in Tony Gonzalez.

3c DeJuan Morgan- S NCState-This seems like an Al Davis type pick. He has great measurables and is raw, having only been a starter for one year. Maybe Carl Peterson has been learning from your arch-rival.

4 Will Franklin-WR Missouri-I would have thought that the Chiefs would go for a wide out earlier to try and give Brodie Croyle a downfield threat non named Dewayne Bowe. This guy has some size and speed and could eventually emerge as a threat.

5 Brandon Carr-CB Grand Valley State- A defensive back with size and speed who NFL.com says looks more like an athlete than a defensive back. It sounds like Peterson has been watching Al Davis’s moves.

6 Kevin Robinson-WR Utah State- NFL.com says he is one of the top returners. As a Raider fan I am hoping you haven’t found the reincarnation of Tamarick Vannover.

7a Brian Johnson-DE Gardner-Webb- So the Chiefs brought in the lead singer of Ac/Dc, now there is a unique pick. More confusing is waiting until the seventh round to even take a stab at refilling the position where you lost your absolute best player. Oh well.

7b Mike Merritt-TE Central Florida- If a late seventh round pick makes the team, its a surprise. Not expecting anything from this guy.

The Chiefs had a very good opening round attacking severe needs in the trenches. Not saying that these moves will have an immediate impact on the team, but they are solid moves for a rebuilding team. Apparently the brain turst has some faith in Brodie Croyle as they didn’t use one of their top picks on a signal caller. They got him some protection early, but waited until later to give him any kind of targets. It was also odd that there was not a move to replace Jared Allen until the seventh round.

Have fun trying to stop Darren McFadden, and will be by again sometime!

Patrick Patterson covers the Raiders on MVN for Thoughts from the Dark Side.

Based on all the post-draft analyses, you would think that Dorsey was the second-coming of Chuck Norris, but such idealistic analyses fail to unravel why four teams passed Dorsey up. They also fail to acknowledge that not everyone is sold on Dorsey’s guaranteed dominance on the pro level.

Dorsey’s downside

We’re only going to start with Dorsey’s downside simply because we’ve heard so much about his limitless upside. The first is the most obvious: his injury history. Dorsey has never missed any significant time in college due to injury, but he still played hurt most of his college career. The injury that concerns me most is a stress fracture he suffered in his leg in 2006. That only begs the question: will there come a point relatively soon where Dorsey suffers an injury that limits his productivity for the rest of his career?

Furthermore, there are some questions as to whether his dominance on the college level will translate on the NFL level. He’s got size, but he could still stand to get stronger in his upper body. He has good technique, but it could stand to improve, including using his hands a little better. Some would contend that these kinds of flaws will make it tougher to win trench battles on the pro level, where DTs don’t have the luxury of bowling over clearly undermatched offensive linemen. There are also those that question whether his size and style of play will limit him to a one-gap or two-gap scheme, where he’ll make much less of an impact than anticipated.

Finally, there are concerns about whether Dorsey has the closing speed to finish up plays. Dorsey is an outstanding run defender, but some question his ability to rush the quarterback. Not that he doesn’t get to the quarterback, but he can miss a sack or two.

Dorsey’s upside:

On the upside, where there’s smoke there’s fire. And there is a lot of smoke in the national press that Dorsey has potential to not only become a great pick for the Chiefs, but also to become the best player in the draft. There’s a good reason for that. He’s an extremely disruptive run defender at LSU and, for as much as people knock his ability to pass rush, he still ended up with an impressive 7 sacks in 2007.

He’s a high motor and character player, which typically translates very well on the pro level, so we don’t have to worry about him becoming Ryan Sims or Jonathan Sullivan. While he could stand to improve his technique, the truth is that the guy was extremely productive against a tough SEC conference and dominated at the college level in spite of constant double- and triple-teams.

He’s not fast, but he’s explosive. He’s not overly strong, but he knows how to play the position and win battles.

His role with the Chiefs

Dorsey will be a starter from day 1 and will become the biggest presence at tackle the Chiefs have seen since Dan Saleamua. Herm Edwards has already commented that the Chiefs hope to use him more as a 3-gap tackle as opposed to the 2-gap tackle he was asked to play in college. A 3-gap scheme should give him the capability to become more disruptive in the pass defense as opposed to being asked to be the guy that merely absorbs blockers.

Dorsey’s presence doesn’t discount the fact that the Chiefs still have a gaping hole somewhere on the defensive line and that hole will depend on where the Chiefs decide to play Turk McBride and Alfonso Boone. There are rumors that Boone could move to D-end.

Projection:

At worst, he’ll be a solid starter. A very good chance he could become a slightly lesser-version of Warren Sapp, a tackle he has often been compared to. Whether you like Sapp or not, at the defensive tackle position, that is about as high of a compliment that a young player can hope for.

 1.) Depth at safety with fellow rookie DeJuan Morgan.

2.) The opportunity for me to finally, finally, finally own a Chiefs jersey with the last name ”Brown”.  That may not mean much for you guys, but for me, it’s huge. I’ve been patiently waiting for a Kansas City athlete who’s first name isn’t “Emil” to have my last name so I could buy their jersey.

You would figure with the fourth-most common last name in the United States, then the odds would eventually be in my favor, right?  Not so much.  The Royals have had Emil, and the Chiefs have had Dee, but to my knowledge, that pretty much sums it up.  Not exactly the type of person I want to drop $100 for a jersey on.

It would be boss if Brown makes the team, and the NFL lets him do what Ichiro does in Seattle and just put “Pig” on the back of his jersey.  I would definitely buy that one.