Where you rank Tucker will depend on what exactly you think has happened this season. Entering the season, he was thought of as a dark horse threat for the Heisman, between his good feature back size and fantastic breakaway speed to house touchdowns. Since then, he just... hasn't been great. He's been good, and draftable, but he's not been great, a threat to go in the 1st round and a slam dunk 2nd day pick.
What happened this year, is honestly up to people who watch the Orangeman closer than I do. Personally, I think the offensive line has been better this season than it was last season, even though they've had some injury concerns.
Ultimately, this goes back to a philosophy change I believe the Chiefs should make, and just completely commit to power running and gap schemes. This has paid dividends with Pacheco, and 2021 Tucker leaves Pacheco in the dust, with the same skillset but better size and equivalent speed. 2022 Tucker honestly looks like a midround pick.
If the Chiefs discern there's something holding Tucker back that I don't see, they may consider going earlier given how well he replicates (and potentially improves upon) Pacheco's skillset. But while I like him, wouldn't spend more than a 5th on him right now. [Reply]
Maybe the biggest hole on the Chiefs roster isn't right tackle after all, if you're a believer in some of the work Andrew Wylie has put in (I'm not). But the sneakiest big hole on the Chiefs offense is just having a 220 lbs back who can slam into the line and earn a yard on 3rd and inches. And if the Chiefs offensive line keeps leaning into power and gap schemes, having a one-cut power back may be the answer.
Enter Zach Charbonnet. This guy is an absolute wrecking ball when he gets moving, and I think he showcases good enough hands to be a weapon in the passing game at or near a Spencer Ware level of production. He's a surprisingly patient runner, too, which can get him in trouble but there is more than a little LeVeon Bell to his game. I mean the Bruins' run game is an absolutely meatgrinder to play against.
He's missed some time with unclear injuries this season, though, so that's something teams will have to evaluate. I think there's a case to be made that he's a product of Chip Kelly's system in UCLA as well -- they just ran for 400 yards on Arizona State when Charbonnet was out.
That being said, his skillset is promising, and he may very well be a 2nd rounder in this draft if his Combine delivers. For now, I like him at the end of the 2nd day. [Reply]
Man, I really like Young. I wish he fit our defense better. He's a firey leader and a high effort guy.
But Young needs to go to a 3-4 team that plays a lot of two-gapping. He'd be a great 5-tech in that scheme. He weighs in at 295 lbs, but he plays with the strength of a bigger guy. Extremely thick arms that hold OL off his body, before he casts them aside to swallow the run. In a scheme where they ask you to hold your block and free up the linebackers, he may be worth a 2nd day pick or a 4th rounder.
As it stands, we do not run that scheme. We ask our DTs to largely shoot gaps, which he can't do effectively. We also ask them to try to create some passrushing production, which he cannot do.
He makes sense for the Chiefs in the late rounds, if at all, and only if the Chiefs have done next to nothing at the 1-tech position. Young can give you rotational 1-tech snaps in our defense, but he's not of use much of anywhere else. I really like his skillset but I don't see how the Chiefs could spend any more than a 6th rounder on it. [Reply]
We had a whole lot of questions about OU heading into this season, and Gray was one of them, given that his career there so far had been middling and disappointing. And while Oklahoma has failed to fulfill many expectations, Gray has exploded through them.
Gray is (mostly) the guy that the Chiefs thought they drafted when they selected Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the first round. Quicker than fast, good change of directions, undersized and lacking in long speed, utilizes his football IQ to find open space in the passing game. Gray is 100% all of that, but he is mostly unproven in the passing game in the way Clyde was coming out of LSU.
Gray has shown good hands, and I get the impression of him that he's exceptionally smart, so I'd like to see how he does in interviews when asked about route concepts. For now, he looks like a really smart, solid contributor who can find creases, get the yards he's supposed to get and maybe more sometimes, who can grow into a really solid passing weapon as well, and serve as a "glue guy" in the locker room. [Reply]
foskey seems like an obvious pick for us, if we can get him. zach charbonnet looks interesting, but i don't really want to take a running back in the early rounds either. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Nightfyre:
I am intrigued by Siaki Ika. Anyone else? Seems like rare size, speed and some decent moves to boot.
Yep think he's going to be taken between our first and second picks, but if he made it to the 2nd I wouldn't hate that pick there. Maybe a bit rich for a DT but a run stuffer with plus-level pass-rush and room to grow would go a loooong way to improving the DL. [Reply]
Originally Posted by JPH83:
Yep think he's going to be taken between our first and second picks, but if he made it to the 2nd I wouldn't hate that pick there. Maybe a bit rich for a DT but a run stuffer with plus-level pass-rush and room to grow would go a loooong way to improving the DL.
I have been thinking that this may be the best way to improve our pressure rate. If we are elite inside then it means that the edge should be able to get more pressure too.
I would rather get a top level interior guy than a second rate edge guy. [Reply]