Chiefs Get Lilja Back
On Tuesday the Chiefs corrected a mistake made nearly six years ago when they signed G Ryan Lilja.
It’s a three-year contract, but no financial details from the club.
The six-year veteran from the Indianapolis Colts returns to the Chiefs, the team where he began his NFL career. He was released in early September in 2004 when the Chiefs were cutting their roster to the regular-season limit of 53 players. Dick Vermeil and his staff hoped to get Lilja passed through waivers and sign him to the practice squad.
But the Colts claimed him on waivers and by the next season, he was a full-time starter at left guard. Lilja played in 66 games, started 59, as well as eight games in the playoffs including a pair of Super Bowl starts. Those eight starts in the post-season are more than the rest of the current offensive linemen on the Chiefs roster combined.
The 6-2, 290-pound Lilja prepped at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, then went on to Coffeyville J.C. and K-State. He signed with the Chiefs in 2004 as an undrafted college free agent.
Lilja missed the 2009 season because of a knee injury. He also missed time during the ‘06 season because of a knee problem. He will celebrate his 29th birthday in October.
“Lilja missed the 2009 season because of a knee injury.”
Not to be picky…but it was the 2008 season he missed. He started every game for the Colts last year, all the way up to and including the Super Bowl.
I like the signing. It gives us more competition & flexibility along the line. Surely he’ll be moving to the right side. I can’t see us moving Waters, unless it is to C.
Interesting that Indy felt it was better for them to go bigger on the OL & therefore allowed him to hit the market. We shouldn’t be lulled into believing he ends our problems at the G position.
I look for us to try to draft a C, if we can then Rudy will probably have the tender lifted. Wiegman would then train the rookie & Waters could step in in a pinch, if need be.
Good solid pick for the Red and Gold. We finally have picked up an o-lineman that is sure to be a starter. We still need to draft a center & a tackle this year. The good news is, we don’t have to draft “starters now” type of players to fill those positions.
We can draft in later rounds for them. Now we can draft a game changing type of player ie. Berry or McClain.
I can honestly say that Pioli is doing a very good job with what slim pickens of FA this year. He must have one hell of a sales pitch…
Go Chiefs.
jimbo: you said it!
um, HE FAILED HIS PHYSICAL AND THE COLTS LET HIM GO!! I doubt they thought they needed to get bigger up front, I for one hope that it turns out to be a Willie Roaf kinda situation. I do wonder how many teams were scared off because of the failed physical because you know there are other teams out there who need a starting guard also.
I hope they didn’t get a guy who is six years to late. Still a better RG if he can eventually pass a physical for us this year…
He’s a better signing than Goff was last year. He started every game on a line that allowed (six?) sacks last year. The odds of him being an improvement are excellent and I am really happy with the moves Pioli has made so far. He’s found a way to bring in vets that make us a better squad without foolishly over spending. I agree with jimbo, now have much more flexibility in the draft now.
Whether Lilja and the other FAs are starters or not, the roster is getting better. There will be competition in training camp this year. There will be reserves that are capable of stepping in and playing. There will be guys cut that can play in the NFL….whoaa
This regime inherited a roster packed with less than NFL quality players. We had to start NFL reserves backed up by used car salesmen moonlighting in Herm’s NFL. Things are looking up!
Could the line shake out like this;
Branden Albert LT
Ryan Lilja LG
Brian Waters C
Niswanger RG
Brian Bulaga RT
I wonder if Niswanger could play left guard. I heard that he is too tall for center. I wouldn’t know. either way, I finally feel that the Chiefs are really trying to get better. Haley identifies what is weak and makes changes. This is a very good thing. I am impressed that Pioli came in and put together a good coaching staff. I still have questions about Crennel, he has been accussed of playing a passive 4-3 around the web, but I dunno. I know he has tons of time and experience with it. We have the emergence of an awesome back. I really think our offense is close to being good with an improved line and another reciever. Defense…..if Scott Pioli and Haley are geniuses and have luck…that will take a while
What I think this move does, as has been noted, is it frees the Chiefs up to not HAVE to draft an OL (although, it wouldn’t hurt), and possibly go after Berry – who would be a serious upgrade to our DB’s. I’m trying to weigh this one out – it is a tough decision. But, at least it is a decision we have the ability to make now. I’m not a Pioli/Haley homer, but I think these guys are making some good moves.
Kevin B –
I think that if the Chiefs use their 1st rounder on Bulaga that he will be the LT and Albert will move inside to OG where he belongs.
Kevin B,
As it stands right now, I would say the line “shakes out” like this:
Branden Albert LT
Brian Waters LG
Casey Weigmann C
Ryan Lilja RG
Ryan O’Callaghan RT
Speculation, of course. Will be interesting to see what happens, for sure. Lilja has been playing LG for the Colts. But, do we move him? Or Waters?
Yes, we will have more options in the draft. But, I’ll be seriously disappointed if we don’t take some O-linemen. Maybe not necessarily with our first pick…but we need more help here. I see this an as improvement, yes. Especially if we can get these guys working together as a unit from the start. (Last years rotating line-up didn’t help things.) But it’s not going to help for long. We need to draft a Center soon. A good one, too…not a late round “project”. And how many more years can Waters be counted on? His play is already declining. That’s what got us to where we are on the O-line…Shields and Roaf retiring, and nobody waiting to replace them.
I’m encouraged…and cautiously optomistic. I think we’re headed in the right direction. But I see Chiefs fans (not necessarily here) that seem to think “Hey, we signed Weigmann and Lilja…our O-line is A-OK” type of thing. That couldn’t be further from the reality.
Do the best you can for now, and build for the future. That’s what I see happening here. And I like it. I become more and more impressed with Pioli every day. With every move…and even the “non-moves” (like Boldin).
I can’t wait for the draft. I’d settle for Berry with our first pick…or Suh if he somehow falls to #5. A trade down might be good, too. If Pouncey is still there with out first 2nd round pick? Please Pioli, pull the trigger. Golden Tate, maybe? Witherspoon at LB would be cool. Cody, perhaps? The possibilities are many. But, I will say this…if we could get three really good players with our top three or four picks? This team could be competing for the AFC West championship next season. Bet on it.
LT – Russel Okung
LG – Brian Waters
C – Casey Wiegmann
RG – Ryan Lilja
RT – Branden Albert
Albert Belongs at LT, and that’s where he’s staying.