I struggle to see Humphries being favoured over Thuney from this point, I reckon they stick with Thuney, but if he's given the full game and plays great, sure, it's possible.

Suppose it partly depends on the longer term thinking on Kingsley. You won't get many better opportunities to see him at LT with so little consequence. But you'll need to give him some help. Humphries, maybe you put him on an island and see if it opens up another level to the offense that can be developed if he comes back next year, but that's maybe 2 seasons of Kingsley getting no real reps. Maybe you try each approach for a half? (!). I dunno, shame not to see both options.
[Reply]

Humphries hasn’t really played in a year. It wouldn’t be smart to start him over someone who plays the position much better than him anyway.
[Reply]

And it's the first 15.

I have ZERO doubt that Humphries can at least hold up over the first Scripted 15 when Andy's had 2+ weeks to prepare them and drill them in.

Even that drive or two, coming off a game in Denver (because again, I'm assuming he plays in Denver or its moot), will be plenty of time for him to get his feet under him.

This isn't Kingsley or Morris where they're just green and prone to falling into bad habits. Humprhies was drafted, I believe, the same year as Kelce (if not, it was close). Dude's been around a loooooong time. He knows how to play the position.

It's just a question of gameday stamina and a little rust. It shouldn't take long to knock the rust off and again, Andy can do a TON to help him (which he's doing now with Thuney anyway).

The only issue is Mahomes. If Pat goes out there skittish because he doesn't have Thuney over there, it'll be a problem. I think that would be wholly irrational of him, but there's no accounting for humans being human.

I have ZERO doubt that Humphries can give us at least what Thuney has. I think he can give us more. And I KNOW Thuney can give us more at LG than Caliendo has.

The offensive ceiling is substantially higher with DJ moved back to OT. And at some point against Baltimore, Buffalo, Philly or Detroit, we may NEED that offensive ceiling.
[Reply]

I guess we won't have to worry about that since we don't have one of those.
[Reply]

Andy absolutely loves long athletic tackles. And you know what Thuney isn’t? Long or athletic for a tackle. Caliendo can’t get to spots Thuney can in the run game for reach, screens and downfield blocking either. If Humphries is at a simmer this week bring him to a boil next week.
[Reply]

Perhaps so, and that DJ is right re confidence in Humphries as a vet. Would be VERY useful if Humphries can provide average at LT, just depends how confident the Chiefs are in him.
[Reply]

I laugh at all you guys who think Andy is willing to tinker with the LT position during a playoff game. The Chiefs just played 3 games in 11 days vs Cleveland, Houston, and Pittsburgh. They gave up one sack and had zero turnovers.

Trust me, they are not going to fuck around during the first quarter of a playoff game.
[Reply]

That was really my thinking. Humphries might represent a higher ceiling for the whole of the OL, but I reckon they'll find it hard to move from a lineup that has seen a big overall improvement against some damn good pass rushers.
[Reply]

Valid. But if DJ looks good in practice and against the :-).. you don’t make him ride the pine..
[Reply]

I don't believe you go into a playoff game with the idea that you may have to pull your LT because he's not getting the job done. And you don't want to waste a roster spot on a guy who is going to get benched or won't be able to finish the game. If Humphries plays really well against the donks and comes out of it physically on the upside I guess there will be a conversation to be had but that's two big ifs. And if Mahomes has found a comfort zone with Thuney at LT then this isn't the time to mess with that after the O line woes we've had this year.
[Reply]

Didn't Smith come back from injury right before the playoffs last year? Reid will tinker with the line when it is a clear upgrade.
[Reply]

If Humphries had played and been the guy at LT during the season like Smith was that would make sense but he hasn't even played a full game. It's going to take something special for Humphries to show he's a clear upgrade. It's a longshot.
[Reply]

He doesn’t need to be an upgrade to Thuney at LT.

He just needs to be equal to Thuney at LT, which then gives us a clear upgrade at LG.
[Reply]

What does looking good in practice mean when they aren’t going full pads/contact?

People want to change what has been working with Thuney at LT… against three good pass rushing teams… for a guy in Humphries who has played one game of football in 12 months.
[Reply]

Looking good in practice= coachs like what they see. He checks all the boxes.
[Reply]