2017 NFL Draft Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report: Blair Brown
By Ben Almquist
The Kansas City Chiefs have been looking at inside linebackers. Blair Brown of Ohio University could be a good value later in the draft.
Many fans and analysts believe that the Kansas City Chiefs should be looking for someone who can replace Derrick Johnson when he eventually retires. That’s a line of thinking that seems to fit in with how the Chiefs have drafted in recent years. Blair Brown of Ohio University could be a target for KC in the 2017 NFL Draft.
I happen to disagree with the common line of thinking on this. I think the Chiefs have a couple of guys who can step in for Derrick Johnson in Ramik Wilson and Justin March-Lillard. It is actually the other inside linebacker, or “thumper”, where I think KC could use some help.
In the Kansas City defense, it is the thumper who is responsible for taking on blockers so that Derrick Johnson (or his replacement) is able to make plays. The Chiefs did not have anyone who was suited for that role last year. As a result, the defense struggled to stop the run.
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If the Kansas City Chiefs are in the market for an inside linebacker, and they should be, then the middle rounds may provide the best value. While the position is important to a successful 3-4 defense, it is strangely devalued in the draft. That provides opportunities for a team to find a real steal in the later rounds.
Blair Brown – ILB – Ohio
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The Ohio Bobcats defense was largely built around Blair Brown this past season. The linebacker was a highly productive player for Frank Solich’s defense. After increasing his production each year, he concluded his career at Ohio by earning All-MAC honors.
Blair Brown is a quick-footed linebacker who plays fast off of the snap. Attacks the backfield and finds the ball carrier. Brown reads blockers very well, allowing him to get ahead and position himself to stop the play. Strong enough to hold up against blockers. Holds his own in space against the run and pass.
The negative on Blair Brown come from his lack of ideal measurements. Brown’s shorter arms make it difficult to stack and shed blockers. Undersized for a 3-4 inside linebacker, which may cause him to get pushed out of the hole.
Blair Brown seems to have a combination of the skill sets the Chiefs need at both inside linebacker spots. However, he doesn’t seem ideally suited to either position. His best utilization may be as a backup, which Kansas City doesn’t necessarily need right now. Could be an asset on Special Teams.
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The Kansas City Chiefs need to get a thumper to allow their playmaking inside linebacker to attack the ball carrier. That will go a long ways towards helping the Chiefs run defense get back on track. It’s an underrated position when it comes to the draft, but it is vitally important to what KC does.