Kansas City Chiefs: Are We Overlooking The Offensive Line Issues
Dec 22, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Indianapolis Colts defensive end Fili Moala (95) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Fisher (72) after recovering a fumble in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Indianapolis won the game 23-7. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
With free agency and the NFL draft approaching, the debates about who the Kansas City Chiefs should target in either one have really taken off. Should they draft receiver, or go defense? Should they target Jeremy Maclin or Eric Decker? While both of those are certainly areas of concern, one of my biggest is how they’re going to address the offensive line in the months to come.
Pro-Bowl left tackle, Branden Albert is certainly gone, leaving the left tackle spot up for grabs. Donald Stephenson has done a great job when asked to fill that void but is he really going to get that spot over the number one overall pick, Eric Fisher who struggled mightily his rookie year?
What about Jon Asamoah? He went down with a calf injury about half way through the season and Geoff Schwartz did one hell of a job stepping in for him. He too seemed to be an upgrade over Asamoah and the Chiefs felt the same way when they decided to keep playing him and Stephenson over a healthy Asamoah and Fisher.
Both Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz are bound for free agency unless the Chiefs extend them a new deal or slap them with the franchise tag. They can’t keep both, so which one?
Geoff Schwartz would be my option over Asamoah mainly because he played as good, if not better than the latter, and he’ll likely be the cheaper option. Asamoah is valued as a top player at his position in free agency, and someone is going to pay him decent money. With the Chiefs current cap issues, they need all the help they can get at discount prices.
Fisher is the one that scares me the most. As you already know, the Chiefs spent the number one pick to get him, and he most certainly didn’t live up to the hype in his rookie season. Typically, tackles taken in the top ten step in right away and make a significant impact. Eric Fisher made an impact, but not necessarily in a good way.
He really struggled to find any kind of groove and battled tons of nagging injuries- leaving me to question his toughness a bit. I’ll cut him some slack because I do believe he was underweight and it was his rookie season, but I still feel he should’ve been able to show the Chiefs more than what he did last season. Hopefully, Fisher can get it together, gain some weight, and come into camp ready to bust some heads.
I like Stephenson on the right side, mainly because he’s proven to be dominant in the run game in his first two seasons. If anything though, Donald has proven he can hold his own against premier pass rushers better than Eric Fisher. Just go back and watch the second Denver game and both Colts games. But I still don’t know which one should get the nod over the other when it comes to protecting Alex Smith‘s blind side.
The points is that the Chiefs have some serious questions that need to be answered along the offensive front and while we sit here and debate on what’s more important this off-season, let us not overlook the troubles that they could be facing with their offensive line.
Kansas City likely wont be drafting an offensive lineman in the first round, or be looking for the best available free agent, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be looking for some kind of answers. So I raise the questions, should the Chiefs draft, or, sign another tackle or guard in 2014? What about Schwartz over Asamoah and are you comfortable with Stephenson or Fisher at left?
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