2017 NFL Draft Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report: Forrest Lamp
By Ben Almquist
The Kansas City Chiefs offensive line was up and down during the 2016 season. Forrest Lamp is emerging as a top option to help fix that. Could he be their first round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft?
You wouldn’t be wrong to say the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line looked much improved this past year. There were plenty of individual performances that garnered some high praise from a variety of sources. However, the o-line was also pretty inconsistent and still showed some crucial holes. One of those areas was at offensive guard, and Forrest Lamp can help.
The good news for the Chiefs at guard is that Parker Ehinger looked good in his rookie year and is set to return in 2017. Losing Ehinger clearly played a role in the Chiefs inconsistency up front. On the other side of the line, the issues are different and not nearly as clear cut.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif looked much improved in 2016 from what we had seen in the past. However, there were still some inconsistencies in his pass blocking, and he was not strong enough as a run blocker. That was especially true in short yardage situations.
However, what truly concerns me about Tardif is what lies ahead in his future. It is entirely possible that he will call it a career before long and pursue a new career in medicine. He officially becomes a doctor in the next couple of months. That’s why drafting a guard like Forrest Lamp may be a prudent move for the Chiefs.
Mayock: Forrest Lamp was the best tape I've seen all year on a lineman. His OLine tape vs Alabama was the best I've seen in YEARS. #NFLDraft
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) February 21, 2017
Forrest Lamp – G – Western Kentucky
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Every year there is a player who shoots up the draft boards late because nobody knew to watch him. This year, that player is Forrest Lamp of Western Kentucky. As draft analysts watch more of his tape, you hear nothing but good things. When I watched the tape, I could see why right away. No disrespect to Leigh Oleszczak’s top guy Ryan Ramczyk, but Lamp is the top offensive lineman in this class in my book. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I love Lamp.
Forrest Lamp is one of the most technically sound blockers I have seen in a while. His footwork and hand usage prevents defensive players from getting leverage on him. Lamp shows tremendous awareness and knowledge of defensive tactics. In the run game, Forrest Lamp utilizes his hips to create leverage and move defenders out of the run lane.
Of course, if you’re talking about what to like about Forrest Lamp, you go no further than what his opponents have to say. Specifically, Alabama’s Jonathan Allen and Ryan Anderson (both projected as early picks) said Lamp was one of the best players they have ever faced. That was backed up by a solid weak of Senior Bowl practices.
Also asked Alabama DE Jonathan Allen where @WKUFootball LT Forrest Lamp ranked for him among tackles he faced this year. "He's one or two."
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) January 7, 2017
The only downside I see to Forrest Lamp at guard is that he doesn’t have great arm length for engaging defenders. However, even that is really just nitpicking. Arm length isn’t a huge necessity on the inside of the offensive line, and it can be overcome with sound technique.
Next: NFL Draft: Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report Central
If the Kansas City Chiefs can get some consistently solid play along the offensive front, they can become one of the most dominant offenses in the NFL. Yes, that is even with Alex Smith for all you Smith-haters. They say the game is won in the trenches, so why not focus on winning in the trenches?