KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs went the offensive line route in the second round with the selection of Missouri offensive lineman Mitch Morse.
The 6-5, 305 pound Morse, the 49th overall selection of the NFL Draft, offer the Chiefs flexibility and can be interchangeable along the line based on his college playing career.
Missouri Tigers offensive linesman Mitch Morse (65) lines up in the first quarter of a 49-24 win over the Toledo Rockets in an NCAA college football game in Toledo, Ohio, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/David Richard)
“He can play multiple positions,” Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said. “He’s played center, guard, he can play all five positions. His versatility is phenomenal.”
Still, it remains to be seen to where Morse projects with the Chiefs.
“They haven’t talked to me about that yet,” Morse said during a conference call with Chiefs media. “I’m just looking forward to being a great teammate, really finding a bond with these new teammates of mine, proving myself as a football player. Although I’ve been drafted, I haven’t proven myself to the teammates and I know I have to step up.”
Morse, a native of Austin, Texas, played his final season at Missouri at left tackle. He started off his career at center and also played right tackle.
He said how a team viewed where he fits on the offensive line throughout the pre-draft process was at the discretion of the organization.
“It really depends on the team,” he said. “Most of them had me on the inside, a few teams listed me at tackle, so probably more the inside.”
The Chiefs and Morse met at the NFL Scouting Combine, but Morse couldn’t recall the particulars of that session.
“I was so star struck at the Combine,” he said. “I was just trying to make a good impression on all the teams. I couldn’t really remember.”
Meanwhile, Dorsey embraces competition.
The Chiefs currently have tackles Eric Fisher, Donald Stephenson, Jeff Allen, Derek Sherrod and Curtis Feigt on the roster.
The guards on the roster are Ben Grubbs, Paul Fanaika, Zach Fulton, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Ricky Henry and Jarrod Pughsley, while Eric Kush is the lone center on the roster.
Allowing Morse an opportunity to push Kush appears a likely scenario.
“I would think you try him at center as a backup,” Dorsey said, “see if he can play guard, he can probably get you out of game as a tackle. His versatility, his athleticism, his smarts and his toughness are really good qualities to have.”
While Morse hasn’t played center since his sophomore season, a potential return to that position shouldn’t present problems.
“If I have to move back to that position, it will be just fine,” Morse said. “I accepted the 2012 season, I’ve learned a lot from it. I had a lot of game-time experience at center if that’s what the Kansas City Chiefs need me to play. I feel confident going forward I can be a good asset to the Chiefs if need be at center.”
Morse’s versatility will come in handy while the Chiefs determine his best position, but stability is on his mind.
“The fortunate thing with me, I was able to move around a little bit,” he said. “I’d like the opportunity to stick at one position wherever I can help out the Kansas City Chiefs.”
In the meantime, Morse will all the feeling to sink in he is now an NFL player.
“This is the most blessed in my life I’ve ever felt,” he said. “I get to stay close to home, which is Mizzou, and the city is such a great place to be. My whole dad’s side – my dad was born in Kansas City – that side of the family lives in Kansas City. It’s been an unbelievable ride.
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Herbie Teope is the lead beat writer and reporter for ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter:
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