He's somewhat raw, but the power and attitude he has can't be taught. The more film I watch of him the more I'm convinced he has a real shot at starting (and excelling) for the Chiefs as early as next year.
That being said I appreciate you critiquing areas where he needs to improve. He's the apple of everyone's eye right now, and sometimes people can get excited and go off the rails. It's good to temper those expectations.
Absolutely. COULD he start this season? I think so. And could be be very, very good? Sure. But it would take some acceleration of development that doesn't always (or often) happen.
Seth, now that you’ve reviewed all 3 of the young potential starters (Niang, Creed & Smith), how do they compare to each other? Seems like a good idea for another article…. 🙄 Do I get some sort of royalty if you decide to write one? 😁
I know they’re projected to play different positions on the OL, but the excitement/curiosity/expectations for this new Oline is high.
Heh, nice. I think they're all very different players (hence the very different positions), and the level of expectation for each is going to be different. I believe KC wants Humphrey and Niang to seize starting jobs and Smith is more of a long-term guy.
I was going to ask you to do film review on Niang but sounds like you already have. I've been through past newsletters and it's not jumping out at me. My brain is blond today!
Awesome breakdown as usual, thanks Seth. Looks like as high of a ceiling guy as you can get late in the draft, awesome to see Veach take advantage of that groupthink of the rest of the league - and to see that they had already done their massive amounts of medical homework is cool.
Do you think the plan is to give him the Willie Gay treatment and essentially redshirt him assuming one of Long/LDT stay healthy, or is he going to be given a shot to start if he comes out in camp and quickly learns from Heck (and Thuney) the intricacies of techniques you mention?
Side note - I'm still having doubts that LDT is even on the roster... It wouldn't save cap room at all with that contract but somebody else could use the spot on the 53 man roster; I just don't see how it's physically possible at his age to return after the way he spent the last year. And if we're being honest he was the weak link in 2019 - it's been since '18 he was a good NFL starter.
I would guess that they plan on (as you phrase it) redshirting him, but any player is going to get a shot with Reid as the coach. It just becomes a taller mountain to climb when you're taken lower in the draft, or are competing against veterans.
With regards to LDT, I think a trade would be more likely than a cut, and a lot would depend on how Long does. But yes, he wasn't very good in 2019, so it will be pretty critical for him to show he can get back to where he was at previously.
UGH, it is. I forgot about that yet again. Clearly I need more sleep, lol.
That said, I think he'd waive that if he were playing somewhere he had a chance to start. THAT said, I don't think the Chiefs trade him either and value him more than fans might think. We'll see how it plays out!
Loved the article. I would like some clarification on two points.
1. Please explain what you mean by gap run blocking vs zone scheme blocking and provide some visual examples of each. When or why is each one better and in what circumstances?
2. What do you mean by "punch"? Is he literally punching someone in the face or just extending his arms out and pushing them backwards? please try to provide some enlarged visuals focusing on this.
Finally, I know it's a pain but please try to circle the player you are analyzing. It is easier on the viewer--at least easier on me.
A day without a Seth Keysor email is like a day without sunshine.😃 Keep it up!
Also Seth, I'm going to need you to come to my house and cook me dinner. Thanks in advance and in honor of Trey, I'm thinking something with beef would be nice.
Thanks for being willing to sacrifice for our benefit.
I really appreciate the perspective you provide, and how you cut through the hype.
I'm excited about this line, and really hopeful that Smith seeks out the coaching to address the consistency and technique shortcomings, as a motivated guy with high expectations and a chip on his shoulder for being slighted by 31 teams could be a blessing for many years.
You're very kind, Greg! And from everything I've been told about Smith he's a highly motivated dude who will take to coaching well. He's an excellent prospect overall! And I love the idea of him having a chip on his shoulder.
It's pretty amazing that he can be this type of player with basically zero practice his last two years in college. Hopefully they can get his condition under control so he can get more reps during the week.
I think all of Chiefs Kingdom has really high hopes for this guy (me in particular). He is SO fun to watch. I really hope that the blood clot issue remains a thing of the past. It could derail a very promising future. He seems to have a real desire to be great along with the amazing natural talent. Great review Seth! Keep it up.
I love Veach’s approach here. LDT is coming back from his opt-out. Maybe he looks better than 2019 with time to recover from injury, but maybe he’s on the decline. So sign Kyle Long, who is in the same situation only more so, in hopes that one of them works out. And if neither of them do, here’s a potential long term starter taken in the sixth round. Similar setup at center and right tackle. And whoever loses those competitions becomes quality depth.
Absolutely, and it deserves praise. Not sure Niang will work out? Remmers played decently in 2019 and at least provides a non-disaster floor. Worried about Humphrey's transition to the NFL? Blythe has been starting 3 straight years and been OK. And as you said, RG has been set up with multiple potential "best case scenarios."
Great article on a great Veach draft pick. Thanks a bunch Seth! I view him as a starter quality Rookie despite the identified areas needed to be worked on. Veach aced this pick and Smith will have a great future with KC.
How does Smith compare to how fellow 6th round guard LDT did coming out of college? I know LDT was coming from a smaller school and he definitely struggled a bit early on but it seems like Smith has a higher potential than LDT.
He's a more impressive player than LDT was coming out of college, in large part due to the quality of competition but also due to a higher ceiling shown on the field. LDT was a better athlete though.
Excited to see him play and that it only took a 6th round pick to get him. My biggest worry is the medicine impacting how often he can practice and thus develop.
It is great, I think, that he has a tough road to being in the starting unit. If he can beat out the likes of LDT, Long, Wylie, and Allegretti, then I will be confident he can contribute. But given the depth, right now it feels more likely that he is on the practice squad or gameday inactive list than that he is in the starting lineup.
My only remaining OL question - which is amazing considering where we were after the tackles were released - is where do we go if Brown misses time? My thought is that our depth is much greater in the interior than the tackles, so do we kick Thuney out and bring in one of the guard/centers listed above?
Well done as always. Something I find interesting is Ron Kopp tends to post a film analysis of the same player you review about 2 hours after you post. Just sayin'.
I wouldn't read into that. A lot of people writing on the same stuff, it happens! I believe Matt Lane wrote about Smith yesterday when my article was only half-done. I tend to give people the benefit of a doubt with such things, and Ron is good people!
He's somewhat raw, but the power and attitude he has can't be taught. The more film I watch of him the more I'm convinced he has a real shot at starting (and excelling) for the Chiefs as early as next year.
That being said I appreciate you critiquing areas where he needs to improve. He's the apple of everyone's eye right now, and sometimes people can get excited and go off the rails. It's good to temper those expectations.
Absolutely. COULD he start this season? I think so. And could be be very, very good? Sure. But it would take some acceleration of development that doesn't always (or often) happen.
Seth, now that you’ve reviewed all 3 of the young potential starters (Niang, Creed & Smith), how do they compare to each other? Seems like a good idea for another article…. 🙄 Do I get some sort of royalty if you decide to write one? 😁
I know they’re projected to play different positions on the OL, but the excitement/curiosity/expectations for this new Oline is high.
Heh, nice. I think they're all very different players (hence the very different positions), and the level of expectation for each is going to be different. I believe KC wants Humphrey and Niang to seize starting jobs and Smith is more of a long-term guy.
I was going to ask you to do film review on Niang but sounds like you already have. I've been through past newsletters and it's not jumping out at me. My brain is blond today!
No worries at all! When the Chiefs drafted Niang I hadn't started this site yet. I did, however, do a writeup at The Athletic!
https://theathletic.com/1787133/2020/05/01/reviewing-the-chiefs-draft-determining-offensive-lineman-lucas-niangs-role/
Awesome breakdown as usual, thanks Seth. Looks like as high of a ceiling guy as you can get late in the draft, awesome to see Veach take advantage of that groupthink of the rest of the league - and to see that they had already done their massive amounts of medical homework is cool.
Do you think the plan is to give him the Willie Gay treatment and essentially redshirt him assuming one of Long/LDT stay healthy, or is he going to be given a shot to start if he comes out in camp and quickly learns from Heck (and Thuney) the intricacies of techniques you mention?
Side note - I'm still having doubts that LDT is even on the roster... It wouldn't save cap room at all with that contract but somebody else could use the spot on the 53 man roster; I just don't see how it's physically possible at his age to return after the way he spent the last year. And if we're being honest he was the weak link in 2019 - it's been since '18 he was a good NFL starter.
That's a good point about LDT. So who will still be on the team by the time of the Browns game: LDT, Allegretti, or both?
I think Allegretti has a tough road ahead of him. LOTS of guys competing for a few spots at the bottom of the OL rotation.
I would guess that they plan on (as you phrase it) redshirting him, but any player is going to get a shot with Reid as the coach. It just becomes a taller mountain to climb when you're taken lower in the draft, or are competing against veterans.
With regards to LDT, I think a trade would be more likely than a cut, and a lot would depend on how Long does. But yes, he wasn't very good in 2019, so it will be pretty critical for him to show he can get back to where he was at previously.
I read somewhere that LDT has a no-trade clause. Wonder if that is true?
UGH, it is. I forgot about that yet again. Clearly I need more sleep, lol.
That said, I think he'd waive that if he were playing somewhere he had a chance to start. THAT said, I don't think the Chiefs trade him either and value him more than fans might think. We'll see how it plays out!
Loved the article. I would like some clarification on two points.
1. Please explain what you mean by gap run blocking vs zone scheme blocking and provide some visual examples of each. When or why is each one better and in what circumstances?
2. What do you mean by "punch"? Is he literally punching someone in the face or just extending his arms out and pushing them backwards? please try to provide some enlarged visuals focusing on this.
Finally, I know it's a pain but please try to circle the player you are analyzing. It is easier on the viewer--at least easier on me.
A day without a Seth Keysor email is like a day without sunshine.😃 Keep it up!
Also Seth, I'm going to need you to come to my house and cook me dinner. Thanks in advance and in honor of Trey, I'm thinking something with beef would be nice.
Also for a non smart ass reply (sorry can't help myself), try these links:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/youthfootballonline.com/gap-vs-zone-run-blocking-schemes/amp/
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X0fCm2pmq28
Thanks for being willing to sacrifice for our benefit.
I really appreciate the perspective you provide, and how you cut through the hype.
I'm excited about this line, and really hopeful that Smith seeks out the coaching to address the consistency and technique shortcomings, as a motivated guy with high expectations and a chip on his shoulder for being slighted by 31 teams could be a blessing for many years.
I agree 100%. That is my takeaway from watching a recent interview with him. Chip on shoulder but humble enough to be coachable.
You're very kind, Greg! And from everything I've been told about Smith he's a highly motivated dude who will take to coaching well. He's an excellent prospect overall! And I love the idea of him having a chip on his shoulder.
It's pretty amazing that he can be this type of player with basically zero practice his last two years in college. Hopefully they can get his condition under control so he can get more reps during the week.
Those practice reps are going to be key, and would be a simple explanation for why some of the more basic consistency issues come into play.
I think all of Chiefs Kingdom has really high hopes for this guy (me in particular). He is SO fun to watch. I really hope that the blood clot issue remains a thing of the past. It could derail a very promising future. He seems to have a real desire to be great along with the amazing natural talent. Great review Seth! Keep it up.
Glad you enjoyed! And hopefully he stays healthy. Injuries are always a terrible thing to see end a player's caeer.
I love Veach’s approach here. LDT is coming back from his opt-out. Maybe he looks better than 2019 with time to recover from injury, but maybe he’s on the decline. So sign Kyle Long, who is in the same situation only more so, in hopes that one of them works out. And if neither of them do, here’s a potential long term starter taken in the sixth round. Similar setup at center and right tackle. And whoever loses those competitions becomes quality depth.
Absolutely, and it deserves praise. Not sure Niang will work out? Remmers played decently in 2019 and at least provides a non-disaster floor. Worried about Humphrey's transition to the NFL? Blythe has been starting 3 straight years and been OK. And as you said, RG has been set up with multiple potential "best case scenarios."
Great article on a great Veach draft pick. Thanks a bunch Seth! I view him as a starter quality Rookie despite the identified areas needed to be worked on. Veach aced this pick and Smith will have a great future with KC.
How does Smith compare to how fellow 6th round guard LDT did coming out of college? I know LDT was coming from a smaller school and he definitely struggled a bit early on but it seems like Smith has a higher potential than LDT.
He's a more impressive player than LDT was coming out of college, in large part due to the quality of competition but also due to a higher ceiling shown on the field. LDT was a better athlete though.
Excited to see him play and that it only took a 6th round pick to get him. My biggest worry is the medicine impacting how often he can practice and thus develop.
It is great, I think, that he has a tough road to being in the starting unit. If he can beat out the likes of LDT, Long, Wylie, and Allegretti, then I will be confident he can contribute. But given the depth, right now it feels more likely that he is on the practice squad or gameday inactive list than that he is in the starting lineup.
My only remaining OL question - which is amazing considering where we were after the tackles were released - is where do we go if Brown misses time? My thought is that our depth is much greater in the interior than the tackles, so do we kick Thuney out and bring in one of the guard/centers listed above?
This guy is going to go a long way toward erasing the last vestiges of Trezelle Jenkins from my brain
Him being coached up and improving on some of his technique? Whoa.
Heavy hands, ability to mirror and a nasty disposition.
That's the Treyfecta!
(polite clapping)
Well done as always. Something I find interesting is Ron Kopp tends to post a film analysis of the same player you review about 2 hours after you post. Just sayin'.
I wouldn't read into that. A lot of people writing on the same stuff, it happens! I believe Matt Lane wrote about Smith yesterday when my article was only half-done. I tend to give people the benefit of a doubt with such things, and Ron is good people!