7 Chiefs Roster Questions before the next round of cuts

[The Franchise]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/7-kansa...172910649.html

1. What happens with the backup quarterbacks?

Two thoughts from me:

1.) It would be a surprise if the Chiefs kept four quarterbacks;

2.) It would be a surprise if any of these quarterbacks were cut.

I feel fairly confident in both those statements but it doesn't get as any closer to answering the question. I keep coming back to this: The Chiefs drafted Aaron Murray three months ago so they surely had a plan for this situation.

Oh, and I think it would be a surprise if the Chiefs parted ways with Chase Daniel.

2. Will the Chiefs actually keep two kickers?

A league source tells me the #Chiefs are considering keeping two kickers. Obviously have two good ones in Santos and Succop. Teams need Ks.
- Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) August 26, 2014

Nah, the Chiefs aren't going to keep two kickers. That would be very unusual. I believe this is more about trading one of them. The thing is, the Chiefs could keep two kickers on the roster after they make their cuts this weekend and wait for someone to call before Week 1. That's a possibility. But I don't see them carrying two kickers into the regular season.

3. Who is the third (fourth?) tackle?

A couple things factor into this. The Chiefs will need an extra tackle during the first month of the season to account for Donald Stephenson's suspension. You also have to account for Jeff Allen's ability to play tackle in emergency situations. Eric Fisher is the only lock (besides Stephenson) to make it. Ryan Harris looks like the top candidate for the third tackle.

4. How does Joe Mays' injury factor in?

His injury will keep him out "for a while", according to Andy Reid. That leaves the starting inside linebacker job open. I'm guessing this will be multiple weeks of action or more. Josh Mauga, who was signed this offseason, and Nico Johnson, a 2013 fourth round pick, are vying for the job. Perhaps in a sign they're still tinkering, the Chiefs played Frank Zombo some at inside linebacker recently.

5. How many offensive linemen do the Chiefs keep?

I would put the range at 8-10 players. Obviously, the more linemen you keep, the less options you have at other positions. There will be injuries along the line so the Chiefs have to be prepared for that. Is 10 too many? Or do the Chiefs need all the help they can get on the line?

This looks like the starting five: Eric Fisher, Jeff Allen, Rodney Hudson, Zach Fulton, Donald Stephenson

The rest are competing for 3-5 spots, including Jeff Linkenbach, Ricky Henry, Eric Kush, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Ryan Harris, J'Marcus Webb, and others.

Obviously, the Chiefs will have to factor in the Donald Stephenson suspension. He will not count against the 53-man roster in the first month of the season. That may force them to keep an extra tackle during the first month of the season.

6. Which young receiver(s) makes the team?

The Chiefs obviously have a need at receiver not just this year but down the line as well. They need young receivers on the roster they can develop. Undrafted receiver Albert Wilson looks like a good bet to make the team. Frankie Hammond spent last season on the practice squad and could be another young receiver to make it. Remember, the Chiefs will have to factor in Dwayne Bowe's suspension as he won't count against the roster in Week 1.

7. Will all the rookies make the team?

There's the Aaron Murray question which, as noted above, we don't know have any idea how the Chiefs will handle. Sixth round pick Zach Fulton is a likely starter so he's going to make it. Then there's Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who has been mostly at guard in his Chiefs career. Would he be safe on the practice squad? That could be a debate the Chiefs having now.

The higher picks -- Dee Ford, Phillip Gaines and De'Anthony Thomas -- are all going to make it.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

why would you want to get to 8-8?

The worse possible record you can get.

10+ wins or 4 or less wins, everything in-between sucks

This*

*Expect if Bray or Murray starts and they can win as many games as possible for development reasons.

[John Dope]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

why would you want to get to 8-8?

The worse possible record you can get.

10+ wins or 4 or less wins, everything in-between sucks

8-8 means going without two consecutive losing seasons for the first time in ages. It also means a possible wildcard slot. It's about winning and 8-8 is a step in the right direction imo.

**** winning four games or less. Where has that gotten us? I really can't believe anyone would want that after what we have witnessed over the last decade. Picking first in the draft guarantees you nothing.

Good teams win consistently. Some of you guys are stuck in 2009.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by John Dope

**** going 8-8. Where has that gotten us? I really can't believe anyone would want that after what we have witnessed over the last 4 decades. Getting a wildcard with a flawed team guarantees you nothing.

Some of you guys are stuck in 1996.

FYP

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by 505 Chief

Home grown or go home.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

FYP

Actually you missed it by about 8 years...

Most Chiefs fans want defense and a running game in a passing league...

3 yards and cloud of dust...

[John Dope]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

FYP

Have you even been alive for four decades?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by John Dope

Have you even been alive for four decades?

Yes, I actually have.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Actually you missed it by about 8 years...

Most Chiefs fans want defense and a running game in a passing league...

3 yards and cloud of dust...

Seahawks won the SB with defense and a running game.
The Ravens.
The Giants with 2 wins.

You need a QB, but you don't need him to throw the ball 40 times a game.

[wasi]

QB 4 Smith Bray Murray Daniel
RB 4 Charles Davis Thomas Gray
FB 1 Sherman
WR 5 Bowe Avery Hammond Wilson Hemingway
TE 3 Fasano Kelce Harris
OT 3 Fisher Stephenson Harris
OG 4 Allen Fulton Lickenbach Duverney
C 2 Hudson Kush
26

DE 4 Walker DeVito Bailey Catapano
DT 2 Poe Howard
OLB 4 Hali Houston Ford Martin
ILB 4 D.Johnson J.M.Johnson Mays Mauga
CB 6 Cooper Smith Gaines Owens Parker Van Dyke
S 4 Berry Abdullah McCray Bronson
24

K 1 Succop
P 1 Colquitt
LS 1 Gafford
3
53

[booger]

Originally Posted by wasi

QB 4 Smith Bray Murray Daniel
RB 4 Charles Davis Thomas Gray
FB 1 Sherman
WR 5 Bowe Avery Hammond Wilson Hemingway
TE 3 Fasano Kelce Harris
OT 3 Fisher Stephenson Harris
OG 4 Allen Fulton Lickenbach Duverney
C 2 Hudson Kush
26

DE 4 Walker DeVito Bailey Catapano
DT 2 Poe Howard
OLB 4 Hali Houston Ford Martin
ILB 4 D.Johnson J.M.Johnson Mays Mauga
CB 6 Cooper Smith Gaines Owens Parker Van Dyke
S 4 Berry Abdullah McCray Bronson
24

K 1 Succop
P 1 Colquitt
LS 1 Gafford
3
53

I pretty much agree. I think Succup has the upper hand with his kick offs even though he's got a high salary for a kicker. I think/hope they surprise everyone and cut Daniel in a cost cutting move. They're screwed if smith gets hurt. Bray has responded to turnovers in a good way and he's made a big jump from last year. That's more hope than anything though. Either way I don't see them keeping 4.

At WR they get an exemption for bowe. I agree with the rest listed but add Fred Williams and Harrison(more likely Kyle Williams) making it too. One spot for keeping 1 less QB and the other for week 1 for bowe. Neither of those two really deserve a spot but with Hemingway being injured they got two guys who know the offense for week one. After week one bowe comes back. Then once junior is healthy I think they look for an upgrade.

It's possible they keep Gordon over Harris at TE. Just for his blocking both run and pass, is much better. So is his special teams play. But in the end I think they keep Harris.

I agree with the names on the OL. Stephenson they get a 4 game exemption. I give that spot to McGlynn and they get a month for an extended look at Tardif. It's easier in season sometimes to get a guy through waivers than it is on the 53 cutdown.

On the dl I think Catapanno goes to IR or non football injury/illness list. I would give that spot to Love.

Zombo makes it 5 @ olb IMO. I say Nico sticks barly over mauga and when mays goes to IR/designated return they either bring back mauga or keep and extra DB in this case Sorenson. 11 DB's isn't too many IMO considering less time % wise spent in the base D. I like keeping McCray. He was active around the ball both on D and special teams and a very solid tackler.

It won't be like last year claiming 7 on waivers but I could see them still upgrading 3-4 spots maybe. That's impossible to predict though.
JMO

[srvy]

I think Bray outplayed Daniel whether it was enough to kick that salary to the curb I dont know. I think I would like to trade Chase and X fingers that Smiths mobility saves him from the O line. To me there just isn't enough there to justify that salary at the 2 QB.

[wasi]

Originally Posted by booger

I pretty much agree. I think Succup has the upper hand with his kick offs even though he's got a high salary for a kicker. I think/hope they surprise everyone and cut Daniel in a cost cutting move. They're screwed if smith gets hurt. Bray has responded to turnovers in a good way and he's made a big jump from last year. That's more hope than anything though. Either way I don't see them keeping 4.

At WR they get an exemption for bowe. I agree with the rest listed but add Fred Williams and Harrison(more likely Kyle Williams) making it too. One spot for keeping 1 less QB and the other for week 1 for bowe. Neither of those two really deserve a spot but with Hemingway being injured they got two guys who know the offense for week one. After week one bowe comes back. Then once junior is healthy I think they look for an upgrade.

It's possible they keep Gordon over Harris at TE. Just for his blocking both run and pass, is much better. So is his special teams play. But in the end I think they keep Harris.

I agree with the names on the OL. Stephenson they get a 4 game exemption. I give that spot to McGlynn and they get a month for an extended look at Tardif. It's easier in season sometimes to get a guy through waivers than it is on the 53 cutdown.

On the dl I think Catapanno goes to IR or non football injury/illness list. I would give that spot to Love.

Zombo makes it 5 @ olb IMO. I say Nico sticks barly over mauga and when mays goes to IR/designated return they either bring back mauga or keep and extra DB in this case Sorenson. 11 DB's isn't too many IMO considering less time % wise spent in the base D. I like keeping McCray. He was active around the ball both on D and special teams and a very solid tackler.

It won't be like last year claiming 7 on waivers but I could see them still upgrading 3-4 spots maybe. That's impossible to predict though.
JMO

Don't suspended players and/or those going to IR still need to clear waivers if they are not on the 53 man roster this Saturday?

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by milkman

Seahawks won the SB with defense and a running game.
The Ravens.
The Giants with 2 wins.

You need a QB, but you don't need him to throw the ball 40 times a game.

And those four seasons are about to be museum pieces.

It's a passing league now, so you can expect the Colts, Packers and Saints to be the only consistent SB contenders until the next crop of QBs show up to claim elite status.

Mr. and Mrs. Casual don't want low scoring ground games because they're too boring, the NFLPA doesn't want it because of player safety and the NFL itself doesn't want it because of both of the aforementioned.

[booger]

Originally Posted by wasi

Don't suspended players and/or those going to IR still need to clear waivers if they are not on the 53 man roster this Saturday?

Suspended, no. They don't have to. IR if they get waived with an injury designation that's listed as waived/injured on the transaction report. That means they can be claimed. I'm not sure all that entails but it only seems to happen to players that are 3 or less years in the league. It could be contact related idk. But in the case of sanders Cummings he went directly to IR without being exposed to waivers. Bottom line I don't think teams list them as waived/injured unless they don't mind if they're claimed because it does occassionally happen but it's rare.

[John Dope]

Originally Posted by wasi

QB 4 Smith Bray Murray Daniel
RB 4 Charles Davis Thomas Gray
FB 1 Sherman
WR 5 Bowe Avery Hammond Wilson Hemingway
TE 3 Fasano Kelce Harris
OT 3 Fisher Stephenson Harris
OG 4 Allen Fulton Lickenbach Duverney
C 2 Hudson Kush
26

DE 4 Walker DeVito Bailey Catapano
DT 2 Poe Howard
OLB 4 Hali Houston Ford Martin
ILB 4 D.Johnson J.M.Johnson Mays Mauga
CB 6 Cooper Smith Gaines Owens Parker Van Dyke
S 4 Berry Abdullah McCray Bronson
24

K 1 Succop
P 1 Colquitt
LS 1 Gafford
3
53

I agree with everything except Bray. Cut Bray and put in Sorenson and I think you nailed it. Sorenson has played way too much to be cut imo. That's what I think Dorsey and Reid will do.