Chiefs Rookie Class Grades 2008
I’m not going to lie, I had been thinking about doing this, but it ‘temporairily left my mind’. 
But lucky for me Chris over at Arrowhead Pride gave out his grades for the Chiefs rookies recently so I thought I would give out mine as well… Let’s see who passed.
DT Glenn Dorsey
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Glenn Dorsey does get a bad rap from some fans and media, but I wouldn’t believe everyting thing you hear. Dorsey may have not been disrupting backfields like he was at LSU, but he did lead all rookie D-linemen in tackles this season. Also, if you compare his production to the rookie years of other star DT’s (Warren Sapp, Albert Haynesworth) they are likely more similar than you think. Also, I blame some of this on the coaches; if you draft a DT who’s forte is penetration and making plays in the backfield then why are you trying to use him as someone to takes up bodies? I could be wrong but I think if you unleash Dorsey and let him do what does best then he will take up bodies anyway because teams will be forced to double team him. Sorry, kind of went on there…
Grade: B- |
OT Branden Albert
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The Chiefe offensive line went from worst in the NFL in 2007 to middle of the pack in 2008 and I believe that Albert was a big part of the reason why. Branden Albert was injuried at first, which was a little disapointing (esp for a guy that had ‘never been injuried before’) but you can’t hold that against him. If anything that just showed his work ethic and willingness to succed. This guy could be an All-Pro some day.
Grade: A |
CB Brandon Flowers
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This season Brandon Flowers showed why many anaylist had him pegged as first round talent He coverd big time WR’s and it didn’t phase him one bit. Also, it isn’t his fault the Chiefs didn’t have a pass rush this season.
Grade: A+ |
RB Jamaal Charles
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Charles did have a few nagging injuries this season and overall I’d say he did okay this season. Honestly I would have liked to have seen a lot from him as a RB, esp. with LJ being out for a while, and as a return man ( I would have guessed that he would have taken at least one to the house this season). He did still average over 5 yards per attempt this season so I guess I can’t be mad at that.
Grade: C |
CB Brandon Carr
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Brandon Carr and Brandon Flowers had very similar years and this tells me even more about Carr. This is a Diviions II corner who wasn’t affriad of life in the NFL one bit. He covered stud WR’s and didn’t blink an eye. Carr, in my opinion, did not quite play up to the same level as Flowers, but he wasn’t expected to. The fact the played up to that level says it all.
Grade: A |
K Connor Barth
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Barth made 10 of his 12 field goals this season for the Chiefs. I also believe that he had a touchback or two on kickoffs (something no other Chiefs kicker seemed to be able to to do). He was most consistent Chiefs kicker this season (not sure how much that says) but he did what was asked of him for the most part. 10/12 is 83.3334 % so that is what I will give him.
Grade: B |
FB Mike Cox
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It really is hard to judge a fullback. When we were running Herm’s offense at the begining of the year I saw Cox make some big blocks and some nice catches. I don’t remember his name being called by many people good or bad so I guess it would be safe to say that he did a decent job but didn’t stand out. Grade: C+ |
KR Kevin Robinson
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K-Rob was the best returner in a Chiefs uniform this season. I’m not sure what the averages say, but if you watched that games you know what I am talking about. Then again being the best returner out of this group may not be saying a whole lot
Grade: B- |
CB Maurice Leggett
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Leggett really got a lot better as the season went on. He had two very big plays for the Chiefs this season(fumble return for TD and pick-6 against Denver) and was by far the best undrafted free agent pick of the season for the Chiefs. For this season he gets an A, hope he doens’t turn into another Brackenridge (and by that I mean cut the following season).
Grade: A |
Incompletes: Will Franklin, DaJuan Morgan, Brad Cottam,Brian Johnston,Dantrell Savage
What do you guys think? Do you agree with the grades?
Please feel free to make your grades in the comment section below.
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Chiefs Sign K Connor Barth
Well, just like it should have happened in the first place the Chiefs have signed K Connor Barth (again)
- Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson announced on Tuesday that the club has agreed to terms of a two-year contract with K Connor Barth. No other terms of the agreement were made available.
Barth (5-11, 193) rejoins the Chiefs after originally entering the NFL as a rookie free agent with the club in 2008. He attended training camp with Kansas City this year, but was released prior to the regular season. He converted two of three field goals and all three of his PATs in the preseason for the team.
Barth served as North Carolina’s kicker in all 47 games of his four-year career with the Tar Heels. He made 54 of 71 career field goals (76.1 pct.), including four from 50+ yards and connected on 103 of 106 extra points for 265 total points. The Wilmington, North Carolina product was a first-team high school All-America pick at Hoggard High School in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Good Luck Connor Barth… we all hope that you do a great job, please prove us right.
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Chiefs Contact Daunte Culpepper and Connor Barth
All I can say is “Thank You”. It can be argued that this may not be the right move, but at this point I don’t hear any better options out there. I say give Culpepper a shot, he should have a good 3-4 years left in him.
- The Chiefs talked with Culpepper on Monday, a day after they lost Brodie Croyle for the season because of torn knee ligaments. Croyle was injured in the Chiefs’ 34-10 loss to Tennessee at Arrowhead Stadium.
A decision on whether the Chiefs would sign Culpepper did not appear imminent. A deal might not come until next week if one is reached at all. [KC Star]
The Chiefs are also looking at former Bucs QB Bruce Gradkowski. In my opinion this would a very short term deal, where if they signed Culpepper it could be for a few years.
- In the meantime, the Chiefs were preparing to bring former Tampa Bay quarterback Bruce Gradkowski to Kansas City today for a workout. Gradkowski played for St. Louis in a preseason game against the Chiefs in August at Arrowhead Stadium.[KC Star]
Now this is the part where I say “I told you so”.
- The Chiefs may sign rookie Connor Barth today to replace Novak. Barth was originally signed by the Chiefs in April and battled Novak throughout the offseason, training camp and the preseason.
Both players made two of three field-goal attempts in the preseason. The Chiefs went with Novak mainly because of his previous NFL experience.[KC Star]
Anyone that has read this site or knows me, knows that I thought the Chiefs should have went with Connor Barth from the beginning. I don’t know if he will work out any better than Novak, but one wouldn’t think it could get too much worse, right? BTW I heard Novak has the lowest field goal percentage int the NFL.
Welcome back Connor! We thought you might be back and let’s see what Culpepper can do. If nothing else we can still draft a QB to sit under him for a little bit.
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Out with Barth, Novak is our Kicker…
Well, it looks like one of the first roster cuts has been made. The Red Zone says Nick Novak will be the kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs when they play New England for the season opener.
I’m not sure how I feel about this honestly. I was leaning toward Connor Barth myself. In my opinion Barth outplayed Novak in the preseason. They both missed 48 yard field goals, Barth’s hit the post and Novak’s wasn’t even close! Barth appeared to be better on kick offs and he booted it into the end zone multiple times. I don’t think I ever saw Novak get one into the end zone this preseason. Even when the Chiefs brought in Feely for the tryout Barth made 28 of 30 field goals where Novak made 27 of 30.
I think the Chiefs were scared of having a rookie kicker and didn’t want to take a chance on having another Justin Medlock type situation so they went with the guy that has some experience. Was this the right move? I don’t know… and we won’t know until the season gets going.
Don’t get me wrong, I want Novak to nail every field goal this year, but I’m just saying that I probalby would have went with Barth. Novak would probably be available later even if Barth went Medlock on us. Please prove me wrong Chiefs.
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Hello Jay Felly… oh wait, I meant Goodbye!
After two days the Chiefs told veteran kicker Jay Feely “No! No soup for you!”
When the Chiefs signed Feely I, like a lot of fans, assumed he would be the Kansas City Chiefs’ kicker in 2008. Two days later he has been cut. At first I am thinking “what the crap?” but after I let it stew for a little bit I actually like this.
Yes, Feely has the experience a lot of people like at the kicker position plus he converted a very high percentage of his field goals last year but I’m glad the Chiefs didn’t just go for the player with the name. What it sounds like happened is the Chiefs said, “Ok, we are going to do this two day try-out and whoever finishes with the lowest percentage is gone.” Barth hit 28 of 30 field goals, Novak went 27 of 30 and Feely went 24 of 30 (Red Zone)
Bringing in Feely at this stage in the season it also sends a message to whoever eventually wins the jobs: Your job is not safe unless you perform. Barth and Novak both missed field goals during games this preseason and we all know the Chiefs are going to need all the points the can get this year. At this stage it is also safe to say that both kickers responded well when Feely was brought in by converting a very high percentage of their kicks during the kick or go home contest.
I don’t know if the Chiefs intended to use Feely like this, but hopefully this was a wake up call to Novak and Barth that they won’t soon forget.
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Barth makes first cut with Chiefs
It looks like undrafted rookie K Connor Barth has survived the first cut and will attend training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs. Veteran kicker Bill Cundiff was released.
- “My goal was to take it stage by stage,” Barth said by phone Friday. “I’m hoping to get to the next stage and be the last guy standing.”- Sarnewsonline.com
Barth and Nick Novak are the two remaining kickers on the Chiefs’ roster that will be battling for the job. Barth and Novak have also to become friends, but they both plan on winning the starting job.
- Of the ongoing, dueling job interview with Novak, Barth said: “It’s a fun little rivalry, but I’m going to work my butt off to win the job. There’s no rest.” - Starnewsonline.com
Well, however wins the job can’t be much worse that what happened last year… right??
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