Worst to First?

[Mr. Arrowhead]

And the ESPN/NFL Network love fest for the chiefs continue. On NFL Live they said the chiefs were the most likely team to go worst to first in our division, and yes they all realized Peyton Manning is still the qb for the Broncos.

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Am I reading this right? You're saying that the Chiefs have gone from worst to first twice in the last 10 years, attempting to make it 3 out of the last 11 years in 2013? A freaking roller coaster of highs and lows...

Yes, if you consider one-and-done a high.

[MagicHef]

An interesting factoid:

Of the 5 worst-to-first situations that occurred in the past 5 years, Matt Cassel has played a large role in 3 of them.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

Yes, if you consider one-and-done a high.

Yeah, it seems like more of one of those county fair type roller coaster rides for kids. Pretty flat with a couple of hic-cups for highs.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

Yes, if you consider one-and-done a high.

More referring to the peaks and valleys.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Alex Smith really is a shit sandwich if we only win six games with this talent.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

More referring to the peaks and valleys.

Strength of schedule.

Chiefs should benefit greatly from this in the coming season, though they are better equipped from a personnel and coaching perspective to be a viable playoff team this season then they were in those previous worst-to-first seasons.

This is a pretty freaking good team on paper from a talent perspective and I think that the coaching staff that was put together is one of the more impressive groups I've ever seen.

The big question marks are:

1. Offensive line gelling sooner rather than later.
- Getting Fisher into the lineup on the right side is huge. Less pressure than at the LT position and he can just go out and play. Hudson was one of the most impressive college offensive linemen I've ever seen play and I'm not worried about him whatsoever. The only real question mark is at guard where Allen struggled last year and Asamoah hasn't really ever progressed past his rookie season. However, having quality guys like Schwartz and Reynolds pushing them should give them the motivation to perform at a high level.

Stud player: Eric Fisher
- Fisher should be balls right from the get go at RT in this system. Might even possibly stay there long term as there isn't much of a difference in the LT and RT these days.

Darkhorse player: Don Stephenson
- Stephenson is the most gifted player on the offensive line. Huge, athletic as hell with a very nice skill set. Albert will get one more chance/season to sign a reasonable contract and if he doesn't Fisher will be your LT and Stephenson your RT in 2014. As well, if either Allen or Asamoah falters at the guard spots, you'll be seeing Big Don in the lineup sooner rather than later.

2. Wide receiver options past Dwayne Bowe.
- Avery has the speed to stretch the field, and that will be nice if/when teams double down on Bowe, but he's more of a #3 guy, especially in a West Coast system. This is the make it or break it year for Baldwin. The physical talent is there in spades, but he needs to translate it to the field on a consistent basis. He doesn't need to be a 1000 yard guy, but he does need to be able to be the guy that uses his size to go over the middle with regularity as well as his speed to extend the field from time to time. McCluster should see a lot of touches, but he'll still be a gimmick type of player at a number of positions versus a regular at the wideout spot.

Stud player: Dwayne Bowe
- Easy call here. Bowe has been a 1,000 yard receiver nearly every year he's been in the league with absolute garbage throwing to him. He's now got a QB that is very accurate and efficient who will get him the ball at the correct space and time. He should have a monster year.

Darkhorse player: Junior Hemingway
- Built more like an H-Back than a receiver, Junior has very good hands and runs nice routes. If Baldwin doesn't pick up the offense and struggles with his route running, Hemingway could be a viable option for the #2 spot.

3. Defensive line.
- This unit is going to be backed up by one of the best linebacking AND secondaries in the NFL, which should help a ton, but the big guys up front are going to be the key to getting the LB's and DB's to perform. DeVito is a lunchpail guy who will go hard every play, but Jackson and Poe really need to step it up from what they gave us in 2012. Poe should be much better in a Sutton's one gap attacking defense versus Crennel's two gap read and react. I wouldn't be surprised to see him at LDE at times with Powe at the nose to take advantage of his size, speed and athleticism, especially if Jackson continues to be pedestrian in his play.

Stud player: Mike DeVito
- While DeVito isn't going to rack up the sacks, he'll be an animal every down he's on the field and is very good at engaging two blockers. Plays bigger than he is and will plug the gaps on the runs.

Darkhorse player: Allen Bailey
- Bailey flashed his rookie year and showed an ability to get into the backfield on third down situations, but sort of regressed last season. Has the size, strength and speed to be a beast in sub-packages and should thrive under Sutton and his scheme.

[Easy 6]

Nice post Sacc, like you, i'm a bit worried about the receivers outside of Bowe.

Its a little too sketchy there for my tastes.

[R8RFAN]

[Discuss Thrower]

My non-personnel related concerns in 2013:

1a) Winning in Florida
1b) Beating the Jags
2) Beating Dallas
3) Winning in Buffalo for the first time in (IIRC) two decades
4) Beating Oakland at home for the first time in seven years

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

http://nfl.si.com/2013/07/11/2013-nfl-preview-afc-west/

Here's one for ya...

"This is the one division that will head into this season with an absolute, obvious favorite to finish first. That team is the Denver Broncos..."


Chiefs:
Where they stand: Seemingly every season in the NFL, a team bounces back from a last-place finish to make the playoffs. Are the Chiefs the 2013 Cinderella? Granted, it is a massive leap from 2-14 to the playoffs, so let’s start a little more slowly: Kansas City could have an elite secondary after adding CBs Sean Smith and Dunta Robinson; RB Jamaal Charles might bust loose in Reid’s scheme; Smith has developed into an impressive QB, and he’s behind what might be a very solid O-line; the receivers and defensive front seven have ample talent. This may not be a 10-win team, but a minimum of six wins is realistic.

Bullshit Who wrote this Slowmo or Hef. There are no guarentees in the NFL....except for the recent Pats of course. Jughead is ancient and if he goes down they are ****ed.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

Yes, if you consider one-and-done a high.

Your QB knows all about those

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by PGM

Bullshit Who wrote this Slowmo or Hef. There are no guarentees in the NFL....except for the recent Pats of course. Jughead is ancient and if he goes down they are ****ed.

Thank you Captain Obvious. Yes, much like the rest of the NFL... if they lose the starting QB, they're f'ed. And, there absolutely are not many guarantees in the NFL, but barring something monumental happening - Denver is in a great position right now with that team.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Thank you Captain Obvious. Yes, much like the rest of the NFL... if they lose the starting QB, they're f'ed. And, there absolutely are not many guarantees in the NFL, but barring something monumental happening - Denver is in a great position right now with that team.

Not everyone has a QB old as dirt with a broken neck rumored to be in poor shape healthwise still though. That's the difference.e

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by PGM

Not everyone has a QB old as dirt with a broken neck rumored to be in poor shape healthwise still though. That's the difference.e

Oh yeah, I forgot some of you are buying into some wild report on a nothing website... good luck with that one.

[whoman69]

There have been people that picked us for the last three years. Didn't turn out so well. Signing Alex Smith relegates us to five years of mediocrity followed by another five trying to avoid drafting a QB.