Ten Things About the Upcoming Season
 

Ten Things About The Upcoming Season

10. I didn't want to say much about the upcoming season until the entire pre-season gauntlet had been run. There may be some 11th hour shuffling as each team scurries to pick up other teams cut players and establish practice squads. The Chiefs 53 may change tomorrow, but based on what it is tonight, I've thought about our four pre-season games, who's back, who's back but maybe not all the way back, who's new and what's same old same old. Generally, I'm not particularly optimistic about this season. I hope I'm wrong, but I've seen some subtle signs that make me worry about where the focus of the team and front office is this year. Of course, one good hit on the Five Head early on could change the entire complexion in the AFC West, as could another concussion for Jamaal Charles. Let's set injury aside for a minute. With all teams playing straight up with no injuries, I see the Chiefs as an 8-8 or 9-7 team, and lucky to make the playoffs. If they do make the playoffs, it will be as a road team, much like two years ago vs. Indy. And they'll probably get beat on the road in the first round. Here's my hopes and fears and dreams for 2015:

9. A lot of this stuff has been hashed to death over the past month, so for the sake of brevity I'll start with the offensive line and simply say: A year later and still not good enough. Fisher is not an NFL left tackle. He's a major fail draft bust for where he was picked. He could be a serviceable right tackle, but he cannot match up against the best pass rusher from each of our opponents and stop them. And if you try to use him like that, he's going to get Alex Smith killed. This is his third year. He's a decent run blocker, leaky pass blocker, and often needs help from a guard in pass protection. And he's injury prone. For where he was picked we should be getting Anthony Munoz. Instead we got Anthony Michael Hall. I would move Donald Stephenson to left tackle, and let the chips -or in this case Alex Smith- fall where he may. Grubbs is a solid edition. Allen is still iffy coming off injury. Very worried about starting a rookie center right out of the box. Morse has good size and played against SEC competition. But he has to make line calls and be the brains of the blocking scheme. He's sure to see stuff he's never seen before in his first six weeks or so; playing playoff contending teams like Denver, Green Bay and Cincy three out of the first four games. Denver has three bona fide pass rushers in Ware, Miller and Shane Ray. Our mix and match line will be tested early, even though KC is at home, it'll be playing on a short week after the Houston game.

8. Jamaal Charles got little work in the pre-season, and that's probably a good thing. Charles is one of the top five backs in the NFL, and only Adrian Peterson is as explosive. But Charles is concussion and injury prone. And you may not like me saying this, but he tends to get injured when we need him most. He is also most likely on the downward trend of his life as an NFL back. All the great ones go through the same thing. Charles at this point reminds me of Ladanian Tomlinson's last few years with San Diego. He's probably got two more years left in the tank. But I would certainly give some of the heavy lifting to Knile Davis, as his fumble problems have subsided, and his reliability has been proven. I'm also very high on Charcandrick West, a 2014 undrafted free agent, who could be the sleeper of this years backfield corps. That kid runs north south, has a good quick burst and falls forward. His question is going to be trusting his pass protection. If Charles can stay healthy, and if the passing game can take some of the offensive burden off him -say, where Charles doesn't have to account for 50% of the team offense- then we should be competitive.

7. It's great that our number one receiver is Jeremy Maclin. He's not a dumb ass like Bowe. He's a hard worker, attention to detail kind of guy. He's pretty much the Anti-Bowe. And he's proven himself to be one of the top fifteen or so receivers in the NFL, He's a legit number one guy. Again his question mark is health. Can he get through a season healthy? Conley shows some signs as a good second, although I think Albert Wilson will be the number two guy early on if he's healthy enough to play. De'Anthony Thomas needs to show he's worth more than two jet sweeps per game. He needs to contribute in the regular offense, much like Dante Hall did in his career. I also think the Chiefs should have kept Fred Williams instead of Jason Avant. If they can sneak Williams onto the practice squad, he may see action later in the year. Avant is one of those guys who won't embarrass your team, but won't do that much to help you win, either. Perhaps the brain trust is worried that if anything happens to Maclin, there won't be any experience in the receiver corps. I say who cares? Are you fast? Can you run accurate routes and catch the ball when it's thrown to you? That's all that matters. Williams showed he could do all of the above. He just needs a chance.

6. After all the hub bub about our wide outs not catching a single TD last year, I don't think that much has changed this year. It all starts and ends with Alex Smith. And I hate to say this, but this is what I truly think: We're flat out not going to go far with Alex Smith. This formula of relying on San Fran cast off QB's has proven time after time after time that it's just not good enough to get you to the big one and win it. Think about it: DeBerg, Montana, Bono, Grbac, Smith. What do they all have in common? Zero Super Bowls for KC. Sure, Montana got us close, but he was on fumes in 1993. And, he's the last guy to win a playoff game for KC against a team that doesn't even exist any more. Smith is capable. He's probably in the middle of the pack of all starting NFL QB's. He's basically Matt Cassel with a bit more speed and field awareness. But I see our passing game as the same dink and dunk we've seen for the last three years under Reid. We'll pass to Kelce, we'll pass to Charles out of the backfield, they'll try to throw deep once in a blue moon to Maclin. But Smith doesn't have the arm or accuracy for the long ball, and he's too afraid to make a mistake when a wide out has a half step on a cover guy. There was a video of highlights at the end of last year of Smith checking down or flat out not seeing guys running wide open deep down the field. After his season ending lacerated spleen injury, I would think if anything he'll be even more conservative with the football this year. I don't think Smith is hapless. I just think in this era of the NFL you must have an elite gunslinger to compete. We ain't got that. That's why we blew a 28-pont second half lead in our last playoff appearance. We had Smith. Colts had Andrew Luck, a game changer. The inability of KC to draft and develop a front line elite QB is the elephant in the room, and has been for more than 40 years.

5. On defense, I'm so mad at Sean Smith that I could just beat him with a tire tool. Getting a three game suspension for DUI with Manning, and Rodgers in that opening stretch is unforgivable. We're going to throw a two year player and a flat out rookie (Gaines and Peters) out there and hope to God they don't get roasted. Peters will have to grow up fast, because I'll bet they'll target him just like Seattle did in our pre-season game. Otherwise, I think we've got good balance in the secondary. I love Abdullah and Parker. And if Berry can become anything like he was before his illness, that going to be just a big fat bonus. I really loathe Daniel Sorensen. I don't get it with him and why the coaches love him so much. All pre-season, he missed tackles. Against the Rams, he had a pick fall right in his lap, carried the ball on the wrong side, got stripped, and luckily another KC player recovered. Then in the next series, he went out and missed two or three tackles to allow the Rams to sustain drives. He just flat out sucks, and he got burned several times in coverage last year in games that counted. Maybe Reid likes him because he's a BYU guy. Hope he's replaced by something better as the season goes on.

4. Linebackers are the strongest group on the team again this year. Tamba has lost a step, but is still above average. DJ has probably lost two steps, but his smarts puts him in the right place most of the time. Oakland doesn't break an 80-yard run on us last year if DJ is in that game. Houston will demand double teams. Dee Ford has got to pick it up. Ramik Wilson could be the defensive sleeper in this years draft. D-Line is almost as good. Poe is a big question mark. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't play at all this year. Back trouble for big men is a real danger sign. Jaye Howard is sneaky good, as is Alan Bailey. Bailey may be the most under-rated player on the entire defense. DeVito has to prove to me he can get through a season without injury. He's one of those guys who's good, but can't seem to stay on the field. And he'll be a step slower after injury as well.

3. On specials, we're lucky to have one of the best punters in football. We'll need him to flip the field, as I see a lot of three and outs for Alex. We have a new snapper, and the Brazilian Midget is still a wild card. Between the new snapper and the Midget's unpredictability, I can see him missing more than one or two extra points this season. He tends to get the "yips," and since they didn't bring anybody in to push him in camp this year, I have some concerns. I hope Andy is working on his two point conversions, as we may need to pull that out of our ass on a few occasions.

2. It's year three for Andy, and he needs to show me. He's has Smith in his system for three years now. He's had Sutton running the defense for three years. Same special teams coach too. So the team should get what he's trying to do now. Andy's been another one of those guys like Marty or Chuck Knox, who's a respected coach, and can get you close, but never seems to bring it home. I just don't see his offense being able to generate enough fire power to win once the playoffs come around. And his lack of time management skill could cost us a game or two. In a lot of close contests, little things like time management and conservation of time outs can be the difference between success and failure. He's been consistently bad at both in his three years.

1. The final thing that bothers me is the front office doesn't seem to be focused on 2015 football. The Chiefs have actually been worried about what song to play if and when they score. Let's just concentrate on scoring, and we'll all just yell "WE'RE GONNA BEAT THE HELL OUTTA YOU" and call it good, OK? It also does not help our chances for our owner to volunteer one of our home games for a trip to London. Not only will that interrupt our mid season routine, But we leave for that game after what's sure to be a brutal knock down drag out game at home vs. Pittsburgh. Then, there's the whole London ordeal and side show against a tough, experienced Detroit team. After the trip to London, we get to travel back to the USA and go to DENVER then to SAN DIEGO on the road two weeks in a row. So the short week to prepare for Denver will be followed by a cross country flight to California, all after coming back from London. And why did we do this? So Kansas City could get a Super Bowl game sometime. That's never going to happen without a roof over Arrowhead. So, look for a push in the next couple years for another Arrowhead renovation. I think the Chiefs are looking forward, but at all the wrong things. There's a reason they've been aptly called "The Chicago Cubs of the NFL." The Royals have found a way to raise themselves out of 29 years of shit. It's now time for the Chiefs to raise themselves out of 47 years of the same. The Royals have raised the bar of expectation in this town. Getting to a playoff game and winning it is not enough. Clark Hunt needs to aim higher if anything is ever going to change.

That's my peace after four pre-season games. I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but that's how I see it going down.

With all that, let's tee it up, kick it off, and play some football that counts.

Sean Smith is only suspended for 3 games not 4.

You're right, I though it was four. He's still sits for Manning and Rodgers, which is not good. He'll probably be our guy to cover AJ Green against the Bengals.

I agree with half of what you say. What will hold us back this season is still the OL and the schedule. Our schedule is murder. You don't need a dominate WR to win the SB. The past three years prove it.

Way too soon to judge Fisher. He had a solid game 1. We are vastly improved from a team that went 9-7 last year against a tough schedule (Maclin, DJ, Berry, Branch.... Grubbs/Hudson is a wash). I really think it boils down to point #6. This team as a whole is plenty good enough to be dangerous. If we get middle of last season Alex Smith or end of 2013 Alex Smith, the Chiefs will be good. If we get end of last year and beginning of 2013 Alex Smith, that's not going to fly against the schedule we play.

We scored 40 plus at Indy, more than enough to win..Charles and Davis got hurt...the offense didn't blow that lead..the defense did..granted the questionable fumble out of bounds was the turning point...good ol refs. Bowe gets his feet in bounds, we win that game. Maclin is a huge upgrade.

The Chiefs' schedules since the beginning of the remodel have been complete ass, without checking I'd wager we play more back to back road games than any other team in our Division, while Denver gets the majority of their home games early, in the altitude, and they stroll to the playoffs. Guess thats what happens when your owner was on the scheduling committee...:doh!:

All that said.. there is more talent and depth than there has been for quite sometime. If they play to their strengths, they can compete with anyone. We beat both SB teams last season. I 'm not as quick to right them off as you are, but I understand the sentiment.

I normally agree whole heartedly with you. However i am going into this season with my chiefs glass half full. I think returning coaches, players and what seems like high player focus a championship will surely improve us.

I don't get it either. He made the 53 last year and, in that disaster of a game against the Titans, looked terrible. IIRC there was one play where he jumped offsides on a punt that was 4th and 4 or so, and cost the Chiefs a possession. I don't know what Reid sees in him but God forbid he looks that bad again.

I also agree it's really frustrating seeing the Chiefs organization act like this is the year.. while they willingly offer up a game in London to replace a home game that wouldn't have been easy in the first place.

I always enjoy reading your 10 things George. I think you should think on some of these counterpoints.

-Eric Fisher didn't have a chance to get stronger (his biggest weakness) until this spring. He looked much better in his only preseason game.
I think he deserves this season to show who he is since he had injury concerns holding him back in the weight room year 1 and 2.

-Alex was literally the best player we could obtain. Teddy Bridgewater is the only QB available since they took over that could be something, but that's not even a known yet.
We talked to Philly about Foles before we ever obtained Alex, which speaks volumes to show that Reid wanted Foles first and Alex was plan B.
QB's are so hard to find because they rarely become available in the draft. I've read on twitter that scouts are not impressed at all with the 2016 QB class at first glance.
I have no doubt they will get a talented QB to take over, but fate will decide when.

-I just don't get how this team will win less than 10 games. How could they play a tough schedule and win 9 last year with the amount of injuries and lack of talent on offense?
I just can't believe that this team will fail with the confidence they've shown.

-I'm afraid you're right about Andy, though I think the key to us making a SB is going to be Dorsey's personnel moves.
This team is not completely built yet. I think that after one more offseason, it will be better with one more chance to build the WR's and OL.

I think most will agree that this might be the best Chiefs team we've had in 20 years. Let's just enjoy the ride and see what happens.

I disagree with almost everything in this 10 things.

Mostly, however, I don't think that John Dorsey is involved in the song process at all.

To suggest that he has his focus on anything but the product on the field is sheer ****ing stupidity.

With cutting Gray, Hemingway, and Coleman, Sorensen is our best and most versatile STs guy. Toub has him as our main punt cover guy which is a testament to how highly Toub thinks of him.

The loss at Indy stung as much as any playoff loss I can remember. How do you blow a 28 point lead in a half? Our defense couldn't stop Luck. That's what I'm saying, they had a guy that could put a team on his back and will them to win. We do not.

I know we beat both Super Bowl teams last year, both wins were at Arrowhead. We did that in a season when we did not make the playoffs. And agreed, the schedule makers did us no favors this year. Most of our home games will be in cold weather, which could affect our crowds if the Chiefs get off to a so-so start.

I just don't see that much offensive improvement to be excited.

Dorsey isn't, but Mark Donovan is. I thank God that Dorsey is worried about players and not game day presentation. The entire NFL is too worried about show biz instead of actual football, IMHO.

Yeah, that's on the wrong side of the org chart entirely. There's no way that Dorsey has had anything to do with that.