While many people consider the quarterback to be the most important position on a football field and perhaps the most important single position in all of sports, the fact is there's not going to be a whole lot of success there if the guys up front aren't doing their jobs.
If the quarterback can't stay clean, or if the running game can't find consistent production, the offense will struggle to stay efficient.
Consequently, it's all about the guy's up front—the unsung heroes along the offensive line.
For the Kansas City Chiefs, there's been a concerted effort to put resources into this group with the multi-year contracts recently given out to left tackle Eric Fisher, right tackle Mitch Schwartz and right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.
When you add in the second-round pick (No. 49 overall) used on center Mitch Morse in 2015, the Chiefs have done a lot to build an offensive line that can grow together for years to come.
Perhaps as much, if not more, of an emphasis on continuity is discussed as a positive for guys along the offensive line than any other positional group on a football team. They need to know how to work with one another, next to one another, and the Chiefs return every player in 2017 who played a snap along the offensive line for them last season.
That's a recipe for improvement.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid recently said left guard Parker Ehinger—the second-year player who began last season as the starter before going down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 8 against the Colts—won't participate in OTAs as he continues his rehab and gets ready for training camp.
Luckily for the Chiefs, Zach Fulton, who has started 34 games over the past three years, has the versatility to play all three interior offensive line positions and should compete for that starting left guard position when Ehinger returns from injury.
The Chiefs also recently signed former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Andrew Tiller, who started 14 games over the past two seasons (nine at right guard, five at left guard).
Here's a look at the 16 offensive linemen currently on the Chiefs' roster as we head into OTAs:
Here's the Chiefs' schedule of OTA practices:
Tuesday, May 23 11:10 a.m.
Wednesday, May 24 11:10 a.m.
Thursday, May 25 11:10 a.m. * Coach Reid speaking to media
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Tuesday, May 30 11:10 a.m.
Wednesday, May 31 11:10 a.m.
Thursday, June 1 11:10 a.m. * Coach Reid speaking to media
* *
Tuesday, June 6 11:10 a.m.
Wednesday, June 7 11:10 a.m.
Thursday, June 8 11:10 a.m.
Friday, June 9 11:10 a.m. * Coach Reid speaking to media
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Mandatory Minicamp:
Tuesday, June 13 1:20 p.m.
Wednesday, June 14 11:15 a.m.
Thursday, June 15 11:15 a.m. * Coach Reid speaking to media
