Chiefs Update 12/8
From the Truman Sports Complex
There’s a chance that C Rudy Niswanger’s season could come to a premature end because of the injury he suffered to his left knee on Sunday in Denver.
The Chiefs expect Niswanger to miss at least the next two games. There are only three games left in the season.
But then, the Chiefs never expected Niswanger to go back into the game on Sunday after limping off with six minutes, 28 seconds to play in the third quarter. He came back on the field for that fourth-quarter drive that ended at the one-yard line, just short of the game tying touchdown.
Ultimately, they’ll have to wait to see how Niswanger feels come Wednesday when the team returns to practice.  Several weeks ago when he suffered a knee injury he wasn’t expected to practice much that week. He ended up working with the No. 1 offense each day and took every snap in the next game.
Wade Smith has been moving to center when Niswanger has been injured. The only center possibility on the practice roster is rookie Brian De La Puente. Also remember that Brian Waters can also play center; that was his position over in the World League back in 2000 and when he first joined the Chiefs that season.
The Chiefs are also watching the right shoulder injury suffered by CB Maurice Leggett. That forced him out of the action late in Sunday’s game. Leggett was wearing an electronic stimulator on the shoulder Monday during the team’s open locker room period.   Another player wearing a stimulator was RB Jamaal Charles on his left ankle. He suffered the injury on the final play of the first quarter, but he returned in the second half to play.
The news is not so good for the Broncos who apparently will lose RB Peyton Hillis for the rest of the season with a right hamstring injury he suffered in Sunday’s game. Hillis is likely headed to the injured reserve list where he will join four other Denver RBs.
Ugg! I don’t know about now, but 15-18 yrs ago I had used an electronic stimulator (once on my shoulder another time on my back) it didn’t help me a bit.
Gotta love guys like that Niswanger, Charles, Williams.
All Heart!
I always thought that the chiefs should have had Waters play center after the position opened up with the removal of wiegmann. He has the strength, nfl experience, and size for the position.
LG is supposed to be the easiest position on the line. Taylor or Niswanger would make a good fit there.
Why haven’t the Chiefs put Surtain, Edwards and Thomas on IR? Wouldn’t they be better off replacing them with three healthy bodies?
You and I agree again, findthedr. I had hoped the Chiefs would look at moving Brian Waters back to center in the offseason.
In fact, I’m proposing the idea that if the Chiefs draft an elite-level offensive tackle prospect in the upcoming draft, move Branden Albert to either right tackle or inside to guard, move Waters to center, and draft a guard in the early rounds of the draft, the team could conceivably upgrade 4 spots along the offensive line with 2 draft choices. Making 2 picks and upgrading 4 out of 5 spots on the line. Not a bad deal, if you can swing it.
—Tim
This is where are agreement ends.
Albert has shown he can play LT in the NFL. Dont move him.
I dont care about the draft trade chart.
If the BPA available in the 1st round when the chiefs pick is an Olineman, than the chiefs should trade down and pick up more 1st day picks.
At this point in his career, it is too late to move Waters. That is why the chiefs are grooming De La Puenta. He has the size and strength…and was busting Tommy Harris in preseason. Although De la Puenta is a natural guard, the chiefs are looking to get him at center so they can move niswanger to guard.
What ticks me off about Niswanger is that he was a center at LSU, and the chiefs have always groomed him at center and never thought his height would be a problem. Well, it is. He is ok at the position, but I have no confidence that he will become great.
We certainly do disagree if you’re ready to stand pat and hope that the Chiefs’ current crop of developmental O-line prospects provides a sure enough foundation to build the line. I’m for upgrading agressively, not waiting around and hoping practice squad members or other teams’ cast-offs are the answer along the offensive line.
Brian Waters is about to turn 32. Aside from Waters and Albert, the Chiefs have a band of guys other teams let go and young guys who are “we hope so” talents.
I disagree that it’s “too late” to move Briand Waters. Less pulling and more point-of-attack strength would fit a player in his 30′s. He’ll be 32 in February, and could conceivably play center at a high level for 3 or so years.
Put your hope in guys like De La Puenta and trading out of higher-probability options in the draft if you’d like. I’d prefer to upgrade the line more aggressively.
I watched Rudy Niswanger get folded like an accordion on Thigpen’s 4th-down QB sneak against the Broncos. I have no evidence to suggest he’d be any less “foldable” at a guard spot.
—Tim
Agree Tim, If Niswanger is going to thrive I think it would be at R Tackle, But (LOL) I disagree about Waters moving to center, Lets stay aggressive, acquire a center in the off season (preferably free agent)a guy who can really contribute immediately.
As far as putting hopes into guys already on the roster, isn’t that the whole purpose in having a second team (other than depth of course) and practice squad?
Between Jones, Smith and Richards we should be able to find a starting guard and depth at guard.
If not then we address that in the 2010 draft.
Let me add also Tim, imho we should be able to find a suitable R Tackle with McnT, Taylor and Niswanger being candidates, maybe not Shields Grunny or Alt caliber, but guys good enough to suffice in the immediate future.
That’s why we just have differing opinions on when we want the line to be rebuilt, John. I’d rather draft the best possible prospects, field the 5 best linemen the team has (moving positions of need be), and give the team the best possible chance to win as soon as possible. That’s opposed to the philosophy of waiting and hoping a practice squad talent will blossom into a starting NFL player, and then being forced to upgrade through the draft or free agency a year later if that prospect fails.
I’m very pleased that Branden Albert has shown that he can play left tackle in the NFL. That’s outstanding. But that shouldn’t preclude the Chiefs from being able to further improve the offensive line if that means drafting a BETTER left tackle than Albert, and moving Albert elsewhere.
John, you suggest that the Chiefs should look to free agency to find a center who can “really contribute immediately”. That would be great, but that’s assuming there will be any legitimate starting centers available in free agency (who aren’t into their 30′s already). The Chiefs were keen on signing Jeff Faine last offseason, but he was quickly snapped up by the Bucs. I’d love the Chiefs to be able to make an upgrade at the starting center position through free agency, but planning on that being an option isn’t realistic.
A player switching positions along the offensive line (even in the later years of their career) not only has precedent, but it’s had success. John Tait showed that he could do very well playing left tackle in the NFL. His best NFL position? Right tackle. Bruce Matthews was a perennial Pro Bowl player at guard for 9 seasons, then moved to center in his 30′s and made 5 more Pro Bowls at that position. Kyle Turley played very well at left tackle for the Saints after Willie Roaf was traded to Kansas City, but Turley’s best pro position was at right tackle. Will Shields even showed he had what it took to play left tackle in the NFL in a few emergency snaps there due to injury, but while he was *capable* of playing left tackle in the NFL, he played right guard at a Hall of Fame level. Yes, Branden Albert has shown that he can play well at left tackle in the NFL. But if Branden Albert could be a multiple-time Pro Bowl player (or even a Hall of Fame-caliber player) at another spot on the line, should the Chiefs decline to move him simply because “he has shown he can play left tackle in the NFL”?
Am I on a crusade to move Branden Albert out of the left tackle spot? Not at all. But if there is an even better left tackle prospect than Albert available in the draft, then you can take more advanced steps toward improving your offensive line than standing pat and hoping players like Brian De La Puenta, Herb Taylor and Barry Richardson eventually become legitimate, front-line NFL starters.
I’m not going to say either roadmap toward building the line is a surefire success or surefire failure. It’s just a difference of opinion between upgrading with the best possible players, or hoping lesser-regarded prospects “pan out”.
—Tim
‘standing pat’ on Oline is the last thing I want to do. It is probably still one of the teams top weaknesses.
I want a dominant right tackle. Protect the edge and the rest will work out with our existing players.
Branden Albert has been better than expected at LT, there’s no reason to move him anywhere. I certainly wouldn’t mind them attempting to move Waters to center. He has the experience, smarts, and build to play that spot. I’m personally a big fan of some of the centers entering the draft this year like Cal’s Alex Mack and Arkansas Jon Luigs. Usually nabbing a top center in round 2 or 3 is a pretty safe pick to make.
Niswanger is an easy personality to like, but he is a swing backup and nothing more.
Also, if they are serious about running the spread all year next year then Herb Taylor would potentially make a good RT. He’s not a mauling run blocker, but you don’t have to have that at RT in the spread. I highly doubt McIntosh has much left in the tank beyond this year and he should be cut.
Right Tim, It’s just a difference of opinion, as you stated one can not say the other is wrong with any conviction.
Guess I like the philosophy “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I,m also a firm believer that the cream rises to the top in fairly short order in most cases. So now I’ll go and remove this fence post from my rear end. Sitting on fences is uncomfortable. LOL
Colby I think Niswanger has a future as a starter in this league but it’s not at center.
Again I’d really like to see him line up at right tackle.
I’d agree that we need O-Line improvement and some moves this offseason could really make a difference. Some Mock Drafts have us taking Alex Mack from Cal. “More than half of Kansas City’s roster needs to be upgraded. You can include the center position, currently occupied by Rudy Niswanger. Alex Mack is one of the best center prospects the NFL has seen in a long time.” One site said he is the best Center prospect in 10 years. Getting someone like him and having Waters and Niswanger next to him would be a solid center. Once our RT and RG problems are fixed, we could have much better protection and offensive production. Hopefully Richardson and the rest can get better this off-season and we can get a couple of good backups.
Cant help but feel bad for Hillis, he really had a chance to be the only white running back in the league who starts(a joke), but seriously he really had a shot, was a good story, oh well, just like Brodie, some cant handle the NFL. Period…
on the line, Albert at LT is a given, Waters at LG the same, at center Niswanger was getting manhandled at times, I’d like to see wade smith at center, let Herb Taylor play some guard since hes moved around so often he cant get the snap count right.
Oh yeah and Mcintosh should/will/ be replaced this offseason.
BOBBY BLUSHES AS CUTLER RAISES EYEBROWS IN MILE HIGH
Cutler may be a cocky, strong-armed, dopey version of John Elway…but why don’t you tell everybody what you really want Santa to bring you for Christmas Bob. Once you’ve wiped that sweat off your body and taken a cold shower, you’re going to realize that it’s just a little crush and Jay is just another exciting kid from the short bus.
The truth is Herm was outcoached by Shanahan. After that awesome first quarter, Shanahan realized how “under rated” that Chiefs Secondary really is. Shanahan said, ” Wait, we’re playing the worst run defense in the game, what the hell am I doing?” So they ran, got us tired, passed, scored.
Herm, on the other hand, oh HERMIE, ran the ball 18 times. (6 of those runs by the way were Tyler’s.) 11 rushes for Larry Johnson, who averaged 3.3 ( I’m rounding up) yards a carry. And yes, I know he doesn’t call the offensive plays, but it’s Hermies job to manage the game and make adjustments. So we passed, L.J., stretched, and Tony was thinking, ” I want to win with THIS team so bad, but I do want a ring.”
We do need an O-line, yes, but we need a “Jared Allen” rusher on the D-line, a couple of violent Linebackers, a fullback, an aggressive offensive play caller, an “incentive package” for Tony Gonzales, and a pretty dress for Bob Gretz more than a QB in the draft.
Hey Bobby, you want to dress up for your date with Jay everytime the Chiefs play the Broncos…well… that’s your business, in fact, I’ll send you some chapstick to make sure your lips are soft and tender just please stop writing these love letters on KCChiefs.com.
Why do u people make this thing hard? It’s simple GET RID OF GUNTHER!!!! He is the cancer in this team and he completely undermines Herms defensive philosphy! Gunther wants our players 2 play violently, while Herm wants the players 2 play violently but also with a controlled violence!
‘Why do u people make this thing hard?’
Fire everyone responsible for the failures of this team (and I’m not just talking about this season).
Jorge,
although I dont agree with Bob on alot of things (such as him wanting herm to get an extension), I agree that Cutler is a terrific QB and won that game for them….similar to how Farve won the Jets game agains the chiefs inspite of throwing a couple picks.
Appreciate the articles and insight Bob.
and Jorge. lol.
findthedr says:
“ËœWhy do u people make this thing hard?’
You’d have to ask my wife that.
Keep up the great work Coach Edwards. ALL of KC is behind you and we know that you will lead us back to glory very soon now.
AND NOW, Clark Hunt has RE-affirmed Herm’s The Man!
JohnNdallas says:
“You’d have to ask my wife that.”
I did last night. Tell her she still owes me money.
findthed…
a hockey player just got in trouble for the same stupid, need I say, childish antics.
besides,you would owe my husband for just the dream.
Well you pissed her off.
Jackass!
I’m betting she could take you in hand to hand combat find.
I had an interesting thought. Rod Marenelli for the Lions more than likely will not be brought back as the head coach for them next year. He’s familiar with the Cover 2 defense and he’s an former defensive line coach. Wouldn’t you guys on here think he would be an excellent defensive coord. for our team next year? Question includes you too Bob what do you think?
Do you guys think he can do for our defense what Cam Cameron has done for the Ravens offense after head coaching a horrible team the year before. What do you guys think?
“BOBBY BLUSHES AS CUTLER RAISES EYEBROWS IN MILE HIGH”
What is Whitlock doing on this site?