Glenn Dorsey was a favorite of the draft graders.
When the Chiefs choose him fifth overall in 2008, the reviews were unanimous; the Chiefs got a great bargain in the LSU defensive tackle.
Little more than a year later, Dorsey seems far from a sure thing.
As Evan Silva pointed out in today’s one-liners, Dorsey has essentially been deemed too fat to practice. (As opposed to too fat to fish.)
Five days after failing a conditioning test, Dorsey continues to try to get slim while his teammates practice football.
Kent Babb of the Kansas City Star wondered if the Chiefs are trying to prove a point:
“He’s spending time on sprints and the stationary bike, but I can’t help but think that some of the exercises he’s doing aren’t more for continued humiliation of the one player who can’t seem to get in shape,” Babb wrote.
It’s not like Dorsey showed his talent as a rookie, but let things slide this offseason.
He did very little last season. Jason Whitlock broke out the B word by midseason, although there were legitimate questions later regarding how Dorsey was utilized.
Those excuses won’t hold up if Dorsey fails to impress another coaching staff. Dorsey barely practiced this offseason because of a shin injury before showing up heavy to camp.
Dorsey is one of the young players the Chiefs should build around, but he risks getting left behind.
Complicating matters is that Dorsey must learn a new scheme. Expected to be a penetrating tackle in a 4-3 defense, he will now be asked to occupy blockers in a 3-4.
At this rate, Dorsey could wind up being a very round and expensive peg that doesn’t fit into any of Kansas City’s holes.
UPDATE: Dorsey is out of purgatory. He was cleared to practice Tuesday. Next task: ensure that he has a starting job.