Kahlil Drew Rave Reviews as Guard

#1
DiderotsGhost

DiderotsGhost

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2011
Messages
4,627
Likes
23,503
#1
Not to beat a dead horse, but it's sounding like we can add KM to the long-list of players used ineffectively under Butch Jones.

KC Chiefs Scout on KM

At his Pro Day we worked him out as a guard, he did some really nice things. They had 3 other offensive linemen working out [with him] and he was better than all 3 of them.
Click to expand...

Some teams were looking at him as a Nose Tackle and others were looking at him as an Offensive Guard, but the obvious takeaway is that he wasn't being utilized effectively in our defense. Pretty obvious in hindsight (and listening to NFL scouts) that he's a better fit as a Nose Tackle in a 3-4 or as an Offensive Guard.

Chiefs.com Interview with KM

Q: Did you play on the offensive line at all growing up?

MCKENZIE: “Growing up, I played every position you could pretty much think of in football. I played offensive and defensive line in high school, but then once I got to college, I was strictly a defensive lineman. My dad and uncle both thought it would be cool to see me play offensive line, and they always thought that if I wanted to make that switch, I could. When I got to the Pro Day, some teams asks me – Chiefs being one of them – to work out as an offensive lineman. I did those drills, and they felt really good. Just being able to go through them, and, one, just feeling like they came naturally, and knowing how I play the game, knowing a lot of those things could translate into being a very good offensive lineman. It made it just a no-brainer decision for me. This would be a really good step moving forward.”

...

Q: What positions did you play on the offensive line growing up?

MCKENZIE: “I played guard in high school and sometimes tackle just because, but I was never really a center per say. I did snap sometimes just because. I’ve been working on that ever since Pro Day, but I did play guard and tackle.”

...

Q: What did your dad say after you told him teams were talking to you about playing guard?

MCKENZIE: “He had a sly little smile on his face. I told him, ‘It’s your conspiracy. You did this.’ Because he always wanted me to play offensive line. He was happy to see me play offensive line and said I moved really well doing it. He said that I just looked like an offensive lineman doing those drills, and I looked like one that could move really well and play the position a lot different. Somebody that knows what defensive linemen are going to do and somebody who can move a lot better than a lot of offensive lineman.”
Click to expand...

Wishing KMac the best of luck in the NFL. I think he ends up being one of the steals of the draft. Chiefs got huge value for him in the 6th round. If he's a bust, no big deal. If he succeeds, they potentially just got a starting OG for next to nothing. Sounds like they want him on O-line, but I could see him succeeding as a big space-eating NT, as well.

As for our Vols, I'm glad Pruitt has been trying guys out at different positions. Some of the experiments will fail, but it's clear he's trying to put guys in the best spots, rather than mindlessly plugging them into "the system."
 
  • Like
Reactions: 15 people
#2
#2
And another in college wouldn't have helped sort that out?

He would have been the NT for sure.
Or, with the oline issues I'm sure he'd have gotten a look there.

Sorry, but you don't leave early to be a 6th round pick.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#3
#3
Roustabout said:
And another in college wouldn't have helped sort that out?

He would have been the NT for sure.
Or, with the oline issues I'm sure he'd have gotten a look there.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree with you. I think KM's draft-stock could've surged with a year under Pruitt. But he made his decision and we should support that. Happy he appears to have found a good landing spot.

From his perspective, he might've decided if he was "going to start over" and play a different position, he might as well get a paycheck for doing it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#4
#4
DiderotsGhost said:
Not to beat a dead horse, but it's sounding like we can add KM to the long-list of players used ineffectively under Butch Jones.

KC Chiefs Scout on KM



Some teams were looking at him as a Nose Tackle and others were looking at him as an Offensive Guard, but the obvious takeaway is that he wasn't being utilized effectively in our defense. Pretty obvious in hindsight (and listening to NFL scouts) that he's a better fit as a Nose Tackle in a 3-4 or as an Offensive Guard.

Chiefs.com Interview with KM



Wishing KMac the best of luck in the NFL. I think he ends up being one of the steals of the draft. Chiefs got huge value for him in the 6th round. If he's a bust, no big deal. If he succeeds, they potentially just got a starting OG for next to nothing. Sounds like they want him on O-line, but I could see him succeeding as a big space-eating NT, as well.

As for our Vols, I'm glad Pruitt has been trying guys out at different positions. Some of the experiments will fail, but it's clear he's trying to put guys in the best spots, rather than mindlessly plugging them into "the system."
Click to expand...

Glad that KMac was drafted, that he worked hard prior to the draft and created an opportunity for himself.

We always knew he had some talent (not to play DT) and I think it speaks volumes about our OL situation that he was the best looking OL at UTs ProDay.

Hopefully he thrives as an NFL OLineman and has a good long career.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#5
#5
Roustabout said:
And another in college wouldn't have helped sort that out?

He would have been the NT for sure.
Or, with the oline issues I'm sure he'd have gotten a look there.

Sorry, but you don't leave early to be a 6th round pick.
Click to expand...

But he did. Traded the unknown for a shot at playing football for a living. Only “sure” thing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#8
#8
KBVol said:
Glad that KMac was drafted, that he worked hard prior to the draft and created an opportunity for himself.

We always knew he had some talent (not to play DT) and I think it speaks volumes about our OL situation that he was the best looking OL at UTs ProDay.

Hopefully he thrives as an NFL OLineman and has a good long career.
Click to expand...

There was a highlight during the NFL draft and which Coleman Thomas got absolutely pancakedto buy Alabama DT which must’ve been 10 yards back from The line is scrimmage which was absolutely funny the way he actually got thrown around like a ragdoll
 
#9
#9
I also think KM would have been an outstanding NT in college. He just didn’t have the quickness or mobility to be a 4-3 DT.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#11
#11
Biopsyman said:
There was a highlight during the NFL draft and which Coleman Thomas got absolutely pancakedto buy Alabama DT which must’ve been 10 yards back from The line is scrimmage which was absolutely funny the way he actually got thrown around like a ragdoll
Click to expand...

Thomas, who D4H once said was the best center in the country and would be the first center taken in the draft, once even got mowed over by KMac.....which is a rare thing indeed, not just anyone can do it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#13
#13
DiderotsGhost said:
Not to beat a dead horse, but it's sounding like we can add KM to the long-list of players used ineffectively under Butch Jones.

KC Chiefs Scout on KM



Some teams were looking at him as a Nose Tackle and others were looking at him as an Offensive Guard, but the obvious takeaway is that he wasn't being utilized effectively in our defense. Pretty obvious in hindsight (and listening to NFL scouts) that he's a better fit as a Nose Tackle in a 3-4 or as an Offensive Guard.

Chiefs.com Interview with KM



Wishing KMac the best of luck in the NFL. I think he ends up being one of the steals of the draft. Chiefs got huge value for him in the 6th round. If he's a bust, no big deal. If he succeeds, they potentially just got a starting OG for next to nothing. Sounds like they want him on O-line, but I could see him succeeding as a big space-eating NT, as well.

As for our Vols, I'm glad Pruitt has been trying guys out at different positions. Some of the experiments will fail, but it's clear he's trying to put guys in the best spots, rather than mindlessly plugging them into "the system."
Click to expand...

I am so glad you finally went and looked things up like I suggested! Now we are on the same side! Thanks for that!
 
#14
#14
Roustabout said:
And another in college wouldn't have helped sort that out?

He would have been the NT for sure.
Or, with the oline issues I'm sure he'd have gotten a look there.

Sorry, but you don't leave early to be a 6th round pick.
Click to expand...

Well Pruitt wanted him to play on the offensive line and like Dederot/KB and Butchna said if he is going to make the switch might as well get paid to play the offensive line.

I just think it is funny that the reason he left Tennessee is because they were going to move him to offense and now he is offense anyways.... Guess he is the one laughing though... Making all those millions.
 
#15
#15
cHiZzLeVOL said:
I am so glad you finally went and looked things up like I suggested! Now we are on the same side! Thanks for that!
Click to expand...

Not sure what you're talking about, kiddo.

All I know is that you've been around for like a few days and every post you've made is you pretending you know everything in the world and everyone else is an idiot because you read one article at some website. Your act is already growing pretty tiresome. Post something productive and maybe you'll earn my respect. Right now, you just seem like some attention-seeking troll.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 people
#17
#17
DiderotsGhost said:
Not sure what you're talking about, kiddo.

All I know is that you've been around for like a few days and every post you've made is you pretending you know everything in the world and everyone else is an idiot because you read one article at some website. Your act is already growing pretty tiresome. Post something productive and maybe you'll earn my respect. Right now, you just seem like some attention-seeking troll.
Click to expand...

Ahh this cuts deep. My feelings are hurt. I don't see why my take on things is any different than yours, unless you have insider information which obviously I don't....
 
#20
#20
KBVol said:
Thomas, who D4H once said was the best center in the country and would be the first center taken in the draft, once even got mowed over by KMac.....which is a rare thing indeed, not just anyone can do it.
Click to expand...

Coleman Thomas might be the weakest lineman in the history of Tennessee football
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#23
#23
I disagree that he was underutilized here. He just didn’t live up to the hype coming out of high school. He should’ve red shirted his freshman year. There are exceptions but lineman are almost never ready to play SEC football coming straight out of high school. One of our biggest needs was interior linemen so that’s where we played him. I’m not a Butch apologist but I’m not sure how people can say he was underutilized. Others definitely were but KMac wasn’t.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#24
#24
VolPack22 said:
I disagree that he was underutilized here. He just didn’t live up to the hype coming out of high school. He should’ve red shirted his freshman year. There are exceptions but lineman are almost never ready to play SEC football coming straight out of high school. One of our biggest needs was interior linemen so that’s where we played him. I’m not a Butch apologist but I’m not sure how people can say he was underutilized. Others definitely were but KMac wasn’t.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Even if he would've been a better offensive lineman, KMac was more valuable to US at defensive line. Our offensive line was fine without KMac, but can you imagine how much worse our terrible run defensive would've been without him? There's a difference between failing to maximize a player's individual potential and failing to best utilize him for the team. That being said, Butch's decision to play Tyler Byrd at WR probably failed on both counts.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top