Bills at Chiefs - Week 5 - Record: 2-3

Before the recent major league baseball draft I'd thought a single thought considering the way things are in baseball these days. The thing to do, really, is

Only draft pitchers.

Seriously. Only draft pitchers, period. You can always find decent everyday position guys other teams get rid of or are just there on the market who'll do those two critical things you need in everyday players: (1) make contact at the plate and/or (2) play solid defense -- and if you get both you're good. Or if you can get one of those things and teach the other thing they don't do as well to do better at that thing, you're also good.

But it doesn't matter if you can't get the other team's batters out.

So yeah, just draft pitchers. Draft no one else, unless of course you're drafting a certified Ted Williams or Stan Musial. Otherwise, why waste a single pick on some regular position player schlub who's taking a spot of a pitcher you can work with and see if he can be one of those rare guys you can put in your rotation or make your closer. 

But you may say there aren't enough spots on minor league pitching staffs to hold all those guys. So? Who cares what happens in the minor leagues. Just throw all your pitchers into all the regular position player spots. But still fill up your minors with them so you can see who's for real. You are much more likely to squeeze from that haul those few that will be studs on the big club.

Well, guess what.

This year there were some ten or so teams who did just that. Of their 20 picks, those ten or so used somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 to 20 picks on pitchers. All 20? Ee-yepp. The Los Angeles Angels did it. All 20. Look it up. The Angels used every single one of their 20 picks on pitchers.

I was right.

Sorry, but I am humbly right also about what the Chiefs need to do in the draft for the next few years. Well, me -- along with the Buffalo Bills. Just like the Angels were right too (we'll see, pay attention to that baseball team in the next few years...)

During tonight's broadcast they mentioned something that is strikingly similar to the Draft-Only-Pitchers strategy, for pro football. The Bills have, what was it, something like ten guys who rotate in and out of play on the defensive line. The guy with the most playing time (by number of snaps), at 55%, was the lowest in the entire NFL for the guy-on-the-defensive-line-with-the-most.

Sure enough, I thought, wow. That's genius.

It is genius because defenses get tired. And after 30 minutes on the field during one long dragging draining opposing offense's drive, you're gassed, and it affects the rest of your game. It eviscerates your entire defensive effort. And if you're the Chiefs, this is an eventuality that simply cannot persist.

Let's face it. This isn't news. Sometimes the truth hurts...

Our defense stinks beyond belief. And that's when they're not gassed. I happened to stay around to see the graphic on the television that says everything about how historically bad this defense is. It told us the Chiefs have tied the record for allowing 29 or more points in each of its first five games. It's been at least 30 in the last four. Think about that. In a league that regularly sees 17-14 final scores, this is about as abysmal as it can get.

So, it is simple. Just a reminder about something I mentioned in an earlier post. You may know what it is.

Brett.

Brett Veach.

Please.

Do the Draft-Only-Pitchers thing, for us, the pro-football version -- and in the next few years...

Draft only front-seven guys.

No, do not mess with defensive back guys. Just like those regular position players in baseball, you can pick up guys here and there, they'll be serviceable. And no offensive players. Sorry, but Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes will do wonders with any serviceable player there. Besides, our O-line is good, young, and in the fold for the next few years. Nothing against the Travis Kelces and Tyreek Hills on our team.

But please. Please please please please please infinity --

If you can't stop the run -- and you can't rush the quarterback -- fughedabouddit.

I'm glad not many people read my blog, I wish there were way more, but you know? That could be a blessing right now. I do know Brett Veach does read my blog (yhee-hee), so maybe no other team will discover the genius of this plan.

And you know? Humbly speaking, even if it isn't the most spectacular pro-football insight ever, let's face it...

We need something.

Because we'll go nowhere with this defense.

So again, you got it. Maybe if you know Brett, and you are reading this right now, you can help whisper it in his ear.

Again, for emphasis.

Draft.

Only.

Front-Seven.

Guys.

I think that's all we need to say right now because, really, well, you know.

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