Tag: LG

Chiefs OL Nick Allegretti notches first career start

Allegretti gets the start at left guard for the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7.

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The Kansas City Chiefs have a new starter at left guard this Sunday with second-year offensive lineman Nick Allegretti earning his first career start.

Last week, Allegretti played 65 snaps at LG after an injury to Mitchell Schwartz forced Mike Remmers to fill in at RT. Now, with Schwartz being made inactive for the first time in his career, Allegretti has coincidently earned the opportunity to make a start at LG.

The Chiefs drafted Allegretti out of the University of Illinois in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He played sparingly in his first season in Kansas City, with most of his snaps coming on special teams. In the few games that he did earn an offensive snap, it was as an extra blocker on heavy formations. In fact, Allegretti’s first offensive snap came in Denver, back in 2019.

“Yeah, my first snap up in Denver, that was definitely a good time,” Allegretti told reporters on Thursday. “But I don’t know, just kind of the way I was raised growing up playing football—if you’re going to make a mistake, make it flying around, make it fast, make it physical. So, mistakes are going to happen throughout a football game, there’s a lot of snaps. The one thing I can control is my effort, my physicality, so that’s what I have. The rest, preparation and all that, that comes as I continue to grow. But I know that I can play as hard as I want, or as hard as I can, and be as physical as I can, so that’s what I have.”

One thing that Chiefs OL coach Andy Heck has preached to his unit is preparation. Allegretti has taken that to heart and his preparation has him feeling confident now that he’s out there on the field. Part of that confidence comes from going against the talented Chiefs defensive line group during practice.

“I think that just, the D-line that we have here, an incredibly talented group, so being able to go up against them day in and day out at practice and competing with them,” Allegretti said. “Chris (Jones) is an incredible player and Derrick Nnadi is an incredible player, so being able to get those reps against them and slowly getting to have some success or learn some things from them has been huge.”

Allegretti overcame some butterflies last week and was mostly operating on auto-pilot. This week he’ll have a chance to learn from his Week 6 tape and make some improvements as he faces a talented Broncos defensive front.

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Mike Remmers says Chiefs’ pass protection issues are correctable

Remmers is a nine-year veteran and thinks that the team can collectively improve and protect Mahomes better.

The Kansas City Chiefs have surrendered the fourth-most pressures per drop back in the NFL this season with 77 according to Pro Football Focus. But it doesn’t take the advanced stats to know that Patrick Mahomes has been under siege, all you have to do is open your eyes and watch a game. While Mahomes has only be sacked on 7.8% of his dropbacks, there’s a growing sense that the offensive line needs to do a better job of protecting the quarterback. Some of the blame falls on Mahomes too, taking a few too many steps in his dropbacks. Ultimately it’s a collective effort.

When Kelechi Osemele went down against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5, veteran offensive lineman Mike Remmers was inserted into the lineup. He’ll be the starter at left guard moving forward, that much Andy Reid confirmed. As for protecting the quarterback, the nine-year veteran Remmers believes that the issues that Kansas City has seen this season are all correctable.

“Yes, absolutely,” Remmers told reporters on Thursday. “Last week, we obviously didn’t get the dub, but we did some good things, we did some bad things. I think everything that we did negatively is correctable. Little technique things here and there that in about 30 minutes, I’m going to go onto the field and work on myself. I’ve got to be better. Everyone individually and as a group has things to improve on and that’s what our main focus is today.”

Remmers personally won’t be working on much as it relates to protecting Mahomes. He has only allowed three pressures on the season in the 143 snaps that he has played. Austin Reiter is the only offensive lineman that has allowed fewer pressures on the year. Remmers does need to work on his run-blocking, however.

According to Remmers, the Chiefs’ offensive line will give themselves a fresh set of downs this week, so to speak. They have shifted their attention from the Raiders game to their upcoming opponent in the Buffalo Bills and what they can do to improve individually and as a unit.

“Last week has absolutely nothing to do with what is about to take place this week,” Remmers said. “If we would’ve won the last week or lost, it doesn’t matter. We all have the same mindset this week as a unit, as an offensive line, as an offense, as an entire team. It’s just to improve, get better, fix what we need to fix, and just move on from there, continue to grow and develop. This is a very special team, and I feel very fortunate to be here. I’m looking forward to getting out and practicing with my teammates.”

For Remmers, that means having the opportunity to practice and prepare to play a single position on the offensive line. It’s something that he hasn’t been able to do yet this season and an opportunity that he relishes.

“Right, just ironing out all of the little details,” Remmers said. “Going into last week, I had been prepared to go into any position they’d want me to go in. This will be nice to just kind of hone in on one spot and be able to take care of what I need to during the week, build the confidence up and get the technique, footwork, hand placement, and everything down.”

Remmers also feels that his experience playing right guard and practicing at tackle will help him improve in his new role as the starting left guard. It has him excited for the challenge that lies ahead against a tough Buffalo Bills defensive line.

“Just builds your confidence going in there and playing,” Remmers said. “This is my ninth year; I’ve got a lot of experience playing but going into a game cold is a little bit more difficult than starting. Having those previous games under my belt is just going to boost my confidence, just knowing I can go out there and do it. I’m really looking forward to it. Buffalo has a great defense, so it’s going to be a great challenge and I’m just really looking forward to it.”

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