Chiefs Fans: Tyson Jackson is a Very Good Pick!

Chiefs' fans, put the picket signs down. Picking Tyson Jackson was a great pick for the Chiefs.I know for most of you, this is a head-scratcher and I promise you that there will be a bunch of pissed off co-workers at the water cooler complaining about this pick. But those guys don't understand the basis of a 3-4 defense and I imagine many of them rely on a 4-3 draft board to determine draft value. Talk to Bill Bellichick and I'm sure he'll tell you that Richard Seymour is their most important player on defense. Why? Because a 3-4 defense builds around the defensive line. Yes, the 3-4 OLBs like Demarcus Ware and Shawn Merriman rack up the sacks and the sexy statistics, but it's the "big uglies" in the trenches that are making it happen. And for those of you who complain that he's not a pass rusher, rest assured that pass rushing is not an important characteristic for a 3-4 DE. Their job is to play 2-gap and to occupy tackles so that the OLB has a clearer shot at the backfield. I truly believe that a DE makes an OLB better, but I don't believe that a OLB can function with a malfunctioning DE. And for those who complain that this pick was a reach because he was slated to be a top 20 pick at best, realize that this value is largely determined by a chart full of 4-3 defenses. It doesn't matter how Seattle or Cincinnati or Jacksonville valued Jackson because they don't run 3-4 defenses. Case-in-point, Vince Wilfork fell past the top 20 to New England several years ago only because 4-3 defenses didn't want him. Would New England take him in the top 5 if they could go back in time? I think they would consider it, especially with this year's draft board. If Cleveland or Green Bay was ever a threat to take Tyson Jackson, then this pick was not a reach.I realize this isn't a glamorous pick and in most draft classes, I would have taken somebody else, but given this year's draft, I'm pleased with the pick. And I trust that Pioli knows a little bit about drafting players.