Who needs to step up in 2015?

[BossChief]

We have a big opportunity to do something big next year and I truly believe that. At least 1 playoff game should be won if some things fall into place and we need a few guys to step up their game for us to have success next year.

Here's the idea...pick a player and tell us why and how he is gonna step up next year and what kind of an impact that can make on the team.

I'll take the low hanging fruit to kick it off.

1) Alex Smith. No question, this is the time to put up or shut up. He was comfortable throwing to Avant and Wilson towards the end of last year (and that's pretty much it) and they both return and we added a guy that will be open all over the field in Jeremy Maclin. We are sure to add another receiver in the draft, too. With our running game and upgrades to the OL, there are NO EXCUSES for him to not have a big year that gets us into the playoffs. It's his third year in the system and that's when the jump usually happens for quarterbacks. He should be comfortable getting more and more aggressive with the ball as the year goes on and everybody gets on the same page.

It all starts and ends with him and I think the team has the horsepower to win a playoff game or more if he steps it up this year.

2) ????

[Sofa King]

Originally Posted by SNR

I gave him that dick av, asshole! Be nice!

You called me an asshole and then told me to be nice. I'm unsure of what to do now. Should i retaliate harshly or be nice like you said.

[OldSchool]

The OL as a whole.

Devito and Johnson back healthy and at least at 90% of what they were before.

Secondary needs to play well again.

Kelce needs to stop fumbling.

Smith needs to trust his receivers more. Maybe that'll come with OL improvements.

[TLO]

Jack Shit

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

Jack Shit

He and **** ****erson are going to a have a break out season!

[Direckshun]

Eric Fisher, mainly.

If Eric Fisher can expertly hold down the blind side, this offense can seriously compete.

Whoever plays RT will need to prove themselves, but we're really only one stud LT away from having every essential piece we need for a damn good offense.

[Direckshun]

Also, not for nothing...

But if Marcus Cooper can revert to his 2013 form, our secondary is ****ing nails.

[kccrow]

Boy, this is a good thread. Tough question, especially not knowing yet what's going to transpire with the draft and free agency, but I'm assuming most of the team is filled right now...

Here's my top 5 (with a bonus).

1. Eric Fisher, LT

If this guy isn't going to bust, this is the year he has to show it. The Chiefs can't afford to have a continual sieve at left tackle allowing pressure constantly. It helps he has a much better player next to him in Grubbs, but there's no depth behind Grubbs either.


2. Eric Kush, OC

Unless the Chiefs take a center on day 1 or day 2 of the draft, this guy is looking like the starter. I'm worried, mostly because we haven't really seen the guy play against 1st team defenses week in and week out. He looks solid, but you can't know for sure. This guy has to be able to make the calls and be a rock in the middle. He's replacing one hell of a good lineman.

3. Albert Wilson, WR

This guy has to become a legitimate threat at receiver this year. I'm guessing he's going to operate out of the slot, which is a good spot for him. The pressure can't go on Maclin and Kelce alone. I'm not counting on a rookie to be amazing year one opposite Maclin, so this guy needs to be a difference maker.

4. Josh Mauga, ILB

The Chiefs invested a bit in this guy and he was terrible in run defense most of last season. The Chiefs really need a guy to step up and stop the run, and if he's playing opposite Derrick Johnson, then Mauga is the guy that has to do that. I don't see the Chiefs taking a rookie that can start immediately at ILB, but you never know.

5. Donald Stephenson, RT

Another O-lineman... I'm going to fill this list with them. If the Chiefs don't go right tackle early and its left to the trio of Stephenson, Allen, or Sherrod to fill that spot, then I'm not only concerned, I'm scared as hell. One of these three need to step up and play at least as well as Harris did last year or the Chiefs are not going to fair well. Stephenson is penciled in now, and probably has the most legitimate shot of being the starter and being serviceable. Stephenson needs to show some consistency to go along with overall improvement.

Dis-honorable Mention. Pauliasi Fanaika, RG

One of either Fanaika or Fulton will be the starting right guard, and whichever one it is has weaknesses. I'm guessing Fanaika will be the man. Whomever it is will need to play better than they've shown me in the past if the Chiefs hope to save Alex Smith's spleen and that immediate, crushing pressure he faced last year. Fanaika has been solid in pass pro in his career, but Charles might not be able to run well to the right side. Fanaika needs to be better, but I'm not sure that is possible at this point.

[RobBlake]

any successful team has an Oline.

need much much much better passing protection.

Alex and WR corps need to step up big time. Both Oline tie in with protection.

Secondary

[Dunerdr]

Bump for a somewhat better thread than signs of Houston.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by KCrockaholic

The Kush love is completely blind btw. Nobody knows anything about him yet.

And he's built like the pillsbury dough boy.

[MahiMike]

Bowe.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

And he's built like the pillsbury dough boy.

Say he's unproven or whatever fine, but to say he isn't physically built well, we'll that's wrong.

[Pablo]

Fish needs to play to his supposed potential. Alex needs to be less of a coward. Dee Ford needs to get snaps and become a guy that see serious snaps, and doesn't run away from RB's.

[Zebedee DuBois]

Whenever I come to a flight of stairs in 2015, I will step up.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Yeah, he already has a very lucrative post football career locked in... makes you wonder how hard he will fight to play ball.

Theres already a good bit of competition at guard now, then throw in a draftee or two and you have to wonder if it will make him resentful and even more determined... or if he just says eh **** it, I already have another way to get rich.

I don't really know a ton about the Canadian healthcare field, but I gotta believe it's not as lucrative as it would be in the states.

Moreover, I don't think his MD from Canada allows him to easily practice in the states if he wanted to. I'm pretty sure he'd have to go through Residency and all that neat crap again.

At that point, he's looking at a fairly long haul. Moreover, if he's not a specialist and ends up going into general practice or a full field like Peds, he's still not going to be conventionally rich.

Maybe the guy doesn't love football - certainly a possibility. But if he jakes it, it's not because he has this massively lucrative alternative available to him. If he excels in football, he'll have several million in the bank by the time he's 30. If he fails, he'll end up hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt at the same time while working 36 hour shifts at around $40K/yr for the 3 years his residency would take. Sure, he'd start to get some of that on the back end, but like I said, depending on his field you're still talking the 120K/yr range in a lot of instances.

LDT is an interesting prospect, to be sure. And if he didn't care about football at least a little bit then I can't imagine he'd have bothered playing it while going through the rigors of medical school.