Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch:
Wait, wut. They never even tried Taylor at LT. Donovan Smith was signed in May before off season OTAs even started.
He was signed to play LT… why the Chiefs quickly changed course on that initial strategy remains an unanswered question. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch:
Wait, wut. They never even tried Taylor at LT. Donovan Smith was signed in May before off season OTAs even started.
We didn't have a single starting OT when Taylor was signed.
The fact that we signed Smith in May, before pads were even put on, says the plan was never to just put Taylor at LT and see how it went.
This wasn't a thing where they saw him attempt a LT conversion and pulled the plug on it. Smith, a guy who'd never played anywhere but LT (and Taylor had never played anywhere but RT) was signed before OTAs.
I don't know how you can say they 'planned' on playing him at LT when they simply never even made an attempt to do so. [Reply]
Probably they thought he was versatile enough to play either side and however the chips fell in the draft/free agency they'd adjust accordingly. [Reply]
Emphasis was on flexibility. Nothing was penciled in. They needed to get a competent tackle on the roster and Taylor was right there.
Originally Posted by :
“[Taylor] played right tackle in Florida predominantly,” said Veach. “He had some snaps at left tackle, played right tackle in the NFL. He’s a guy [who is] athletically — he’s long, [with] quick feet — [a] really, really efficient pass protector. I think it wasn’t a secret that once free agency started, a tackle was at the top of that list — and I think we have great flexibility with him. He certainly wants the opportunity to play left — but if we were to draft a left tackle, we know what Jawaan tape looks like at right tackle there — so excited to get him.”
Originally Posted by :
“Even though he was on the right side, I think he can transfer over to the left side,” said Reid. “He’s a really good athlete, and I think he’s excited about that. And that doesn’t mean he can’t play the right side. If you had another left tackle, he could play the right side. So he gives you flexibility. He probably could jump in at guard, and he’s smart. He probably could play center if he had to. He’s a pretty talented kid. Look forward to getting him in here. I think that was a great pickup by Brett.”
Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch:
Probably they thought he was versatile enough to play either side and however the chips fell in the draft/free agency they'd adjust accordingly.
So exactly this. From the mouths of both Reid and Veach. [Reply]