Bruce Kluckhohn – USA Today Sports
Remember when you were a kid and people would say things to you like, “boy, you’re growing fast,” or “the last time I saw you, you were this big,” then you had kids of your own and suddenly you knew exactly what they meant? Kansas City Chiefs offensive line coach Andy Heck knows the feeling; his line has aged nine years in a week.
The Chiefs offensive front five began the season as the youngest in the league. Their play this season has been a bit erratic at times. Heck has probably wanted pull his own hair out on occasion, well … if he had any left. Kansas City’s O-line may just be kids by NFL standards, but they are maturing rapidly. “It all starts in the trenches,” they say in professional football, and this young group is holding their own.
Through the first four games, Kansas City’s offense is middle of the pack, they’re No. 17 out of 32 teams. The Chiefs are 4-0. All parents reading this understand two emotions: the pride of watching your baby take his first steps, and the fear the first time he or she falls and smacks their head real hard on the ground. Last week against the New York Giants, Heck’s heart had to have fallen into his stomach. The baby of the Chiefs offensive line fell and hit his head hard on the ground, real hard! The franchise’s overall No. 1 pick of the 2013 draft, OT Eric Fisher, suffered a concussion. He would not return to the game. Fisher also will not play on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
The irony is that the injury gives the Chiefs a nine-year advantage of sorts. Fisher’s replacement, Geoff Schwartz, is five years older and has four more years of professional experience. Branden Albert, Donald Stephenson, Jeff Allen, Rodney Hudson, Eric Kush, Jon Asamoah, Fisher and Schwartz (I wanted to mention them all) deserve a lot of credit for the Chiefs being undefeated this season. If Kansas City’s offensive trench is full of young boys right now, it’s sure going to be fun to watch them grow. I must say, they’ve got one heck of a dad.
Troy Alan is a Kansas City Chiefs writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TRantMedia or “Like” him on Facebook
