Tweets 2/26 and Rams want Barnes back

Agamemnon wrote:

Beyond Barnes, the only other option on the roster is Demetrius Rhaney, a player the Rams hoped would push for the center job last year but finished second in an open competition during training camp.

That’s literally not true.

They have 3 others, although 2 are G/C types.

The pure center type is Kush.

Here’s an old collection of remarks on him I am re-posting:

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Eric Kush

Kansas City Chiefs
Kush was drafted in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. On September 5, 2015, he was waived by the Chiefs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On September 6, 2015, Kush was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On September 14, 2015, he was waived by the Buccaneers.

Carolina Panthers
On September 16, 2015, the Carolina Panthers signed Kush to their practice squad. He was released by the Panthers on October 27, 2015.

Houston Texans
On November 5, 2015, the Houston Texans signed Kush to a two-year contract.[6] On November 15, 2015, Kush was released by the Texans.

St. Louis Rams
On November 17, 2015 Kush signed with the St. Louis Rams.

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OVERVIEW

Kush was injured in the East/West practices so he’s flying under the radar. His foot quickness is unreal. He can make reach blocks than some NFL centers can’t dream of. He’ll probably go in the 5th round. During his career at California (Pa.)Kush appeared in 47 games and started 32 for the Vulcans. He was a first-team all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference selection in 2012.

Three-year starter who began his career at left tackle then right guard before moving to center. All-Conference selection as a senior.
Positive: Explosive and hard-working lineman with a versatile game. Sets with a wide base, bends his knees, and keeps his head on a swivel. Shows good awareness and displays a nice sense for what’s happening on the field. Makes good use of blocking angles, effectively works his hands throughout the action, and knocks defenders from the play. Disciplined in pass protection and possesses adequate footwork in space.

Negative: Not a dominant drive-blocking interior lineman. Average measurables for the next level.

Analysis: Kush was a terrific small-school lineman who filled a variety of roles and showed a good feel for the positions he played. He offers limited upside for the next level, but the ability to be used at several offensive line positions will help him get into camp this summer.

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Bulked-up center Eric Kush brings energy to the Chiefs’ offensive line

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article1220306.html#storylink=cpy

One of Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s biggest pet peeves is low-energy players. He likes the men who play for him to be full of life and have juice. That is, to love the game and energetically attack the voluminous amount of hours they spend preparing to play football on Sundays. That said, it’s no wonder he loves having second-year center Eric Kush around.

“You talk to him for five minutes and you feel it,” Reid said. “He is going to look you in the eye and every play he is going to give you 110 percent, whether it is right or wrong.”

Kush, who turns 25 in September, says he takes pride in playing hard and inspiring his teammates, even under the hot summer sun throughout organized team activities and training camp.

“When we’re doing our team drills and even just seven on seven, it gets tough and people start getting tired,” Kush said. “I try to keep (the energy) up, I try to dap everybody up and keep us going so we can try to finish hard. It helps me too, because everybody wants to just kinda hang their head and feel sorry for themselves.”

But for all his energy, Kush may find himself in position to best help his team with his contributions on the field — just not immediately.

A sixth-round pick in 2013, Kush is currently behind entrenched starter Rodney Hudson, who is two years removed from a broken leg but is the most experienced starter on the offensive line and looks considerably stronger than he did last year.

But Hudson, 25, is a free agent after the season, and with a strong year could command a sizable deal. So if there does come a point where Kush — who will be under contract for two years beyond this one at a very reasonable price — gets to play down the road, the front office can take comfort in the fact he’s working hard to be ready.

Kush is listed at 6 feet 4 and 313 pounds, which is the same as last year, but is noticeably bigger and thicker than he was as a rookie last season.

“Oh, he has. He has,” Reid said when asked whether Kush has gained strength. “He’s put on some weight. You see that with linemen. Normally you get about a 10-pound increase that first year on the average, so he has done that. He looks strong, more physical. He is not getting thrown around like he did when he was lighter.”

There have even been occasions where Kush has managed to go toe to toe in pass-rush drills with star nose tackle Dontari Poe, who checks in at 6 feet 3 and 346 pounds and is generally respected for his rare combination of strength and athleticism.

“The effort would have been there” last year, Reid said. “But the ability to hunker down and drop your weight and get in that strong position? He couldn’t.”

Kush attributes his strength gains to an offseason spent with strength coach Barry Rubin, in which he followed his instructions “to the T” and saw some pictures of his buffed-up upper body land on social media.

“We have a ‘Fat-Arm Friday’ so we go in there and just kill the arms and everything,” Kush said. “Somehow, someway, that thing found its way onto Twitter and Facebook and stuff.

“I’ve been working,” Kush continued. “Haven’t put on too much weight, just converting a lot of body fat into muscle and working on that ratio.”

Agamemnon wrote:

Keeping Barnes means having some continuity on the line — an attractive prospect, according to Snead.

Yes. Continuity at center. I can dig it.

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