Division: AFC West
Last Years Record: 4-12
Head Coach: Herm Edwards
Offensive Coordinator: Chan Gailey
Defensive Coordinator: Gunther Cunningham
Schedule(home games in BOLD, all times EST):
Week 1 : SEPT. 7 @ New England 1:00pm CBS
Week 2 : Sept. 14 OAKLAND 1:00pm CBS
Week 3 : Sept. 21 @ Atlanta Falcons 1:00pm CBS
Week 4 : SEPT. 28 DENVER BRONCOS 1:00 pm CBS
Week 5 : OCT. 5 @ Carolina Panthers 1:00pm CBS
Week 6 : Oct. 12 BYE WEEK
Week 7 : OCT. 19 TENNESSEE TITANS 1:00pm CBS
Week 8 : OCT. 26 @New York Jets 1:00pm CBS
Week 9 : Nov. 2 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 1:00pm FOX
Week 10: NOV. 9 @San Diego Chargers 4:15pm CBS
Week 11: NOV. 16 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 1:00pm FOX
Week 12 : NOV. 23 BUFFALO BILLS 1:00PM CBS
Week 13 : Nov. 30 @ Oakland Raiders 4:15pm CBS
Week 14 : Dec. 7 @ Denver Broncos 4:05pm CBS
Week 15 : DEC. 14 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 1:00pm CBS
Week 16 : Dec. 21 MIAMI DOLPHINS 1:00pm CBS
Week 17 : Dec. 28 @ Cincinnati Bengals 1:00pm CBS
Key Losses:
Jared Allen
John Carney
Casey Wiegmann
Ty Law
Jason Dunn
Key Additions:
Glenn Dorsey
Branden Albert
Anthony Alabi
Devard Darling
BJ Sams
Demorrio Williams
Wade Smith
Breakdown of the offense:
The Chiefs will start the season on a 9 game losing streak thanks to last seasons strong finish. Yes the Chiefs were 4-3 at one point last season, and if it wasn't for that strong finish to the season the Chiefs would not have admitted they were in full rebuilding mode. This will be the year Brodie Croyle has to prove his ability to the team, he has been given the keys to the offense. If he can get it into 3rd gear without grinding the clutch, the Chiefs will be lucky. If he stalls out they have two options Damon Huard and Tyler Thigpen. Huard (who played well during injuries to Trent Green in 2006) played bad last year, he had only 11 touchdowns to 13 picks and was sacked 36 times. Thigpen the Coastal Carolina product is the prototype: 6'3", 220 pounds with great mobility and a big arm. Like the rest of this team, he just lacks experience. He may get his shot this year. The quarterback whoever it may be for the bulk of the season will be the key to this team winning.
Larry Johnson is coming back from an injury, which was probably caused by the team running him ragged in 2005 and 2006( he had a combined 700+ carries in the two seasons). When you are worked that way you will hit a wall, and the running backs that have had this many carries in recent years never find that form again. It happened to Shaun Alexander, Eddie George, Priest Holmes, and now Larry Johnson. If the past rings true to Larry, is Jamaal Charles a number one back? Not yet but if Larry can stay off the injury report until he is 30 like the other backs listed Charles will be ready. This third round pick out of Texas may turn out to be another franchise saver for the Chiefs, just like Larry Johnson was. Until then Jamaal will compliment Larry nicely. The wide recieving core, much like the Dolphins, is full of unknown recievers. The best of the bunch is Dwayne Bowe who had a terrific rookie season with 70 receptions, 995 yards, and 5 touch downs. The rest of the recieving core is either unproven or rookies.
Perenial Pro-Bowler Tony Gonzalez is arguably the best tight end of all time; for his career he has 820 receptions (99 last year), 9982 yards (1172 last season), and 66 TD's (5 last season). He is only 32 and has shown no reason to believe his career is on a downslide. However the Chiefs acquired a rookie tight end last year (Michael Allen, from Whitwoth) and two this year(Brad Cottam, from Tennessee and Mike Merritt from UCF) to fill the void when he is ready to retire.
While looking for information on the Chiefs, I decided to look towards Vegas; so I could see their odds for winning the AFC West, winning the AFC Championship game, and winning the Super Bowl. Lets just say the odds are not in their favor. They have 900-1 odds of winning their division, 5400-1 of winning the AFC, and 11,000-1 of winning the Super Bowl. I have always been a fan of underdogs but this dog won't fetch.
Breakdown of the defense:
Four years ago Jared Allen was an unknown defensive end out of Idaho State, without a lot of expectations to be more than a long-snapper. He is now the highest paid defensive player in the league, but he is in Minnesota. Jared Allen, last years NFL sack leader, was traded to the Vikings for which they received three picks(17th pick, and 2 third rounders). The Chiefs had a monster hole to fill in the draft with Allens departure, they did their best to fill it by picking Glen Dorsey of LSU. Dorsey is said to be the next Warren Sapp (if he can stay healthy) and I love the comparison. He is big (6'2, 297), quick, and has none of the alcohol issues Allen has.
This defense is young with Dorsey, Brandon Flowers, Turk Mcbride, Brandon Carr, and Brian Johnston (all rookies except for Mcbride) all with a chance to start or get substantial playing time. Brandon Flowers(2nd round pick,VT) is expected to start full time opposite of Patrick Surtain at corner. Turk Mcbride will be the starter at right defensive end . Brian Johnston (of Div 1-AA Gardner-Webb) is expected to start in the nickel and is reminding a lot of optimistic people of Jared Allen. Brandon Carr(of Div 2 Grand Valley State) will start in the nickel opposite of Flowers.
The youth of this defense brings hope for the future, and along with veteran leadership from Surtain and Donnie Edwards it won't be that long until this group is a strong defensive unit. They will have to take their lumps and try to keep a team with almost no offense in the game.
Last Seasons Highlight:
Last year the best part of watching this team was Hard Knocks, where they left us with some great video. It will be interesting to see the difference this year between the free-spirited Chiefs of last season and the dramatic Cowboys this season. Here is the most popular video from the show, where Bernard Pollard shows us some suspect dance moves:
Here is the teaser from Hard Knocks: Dallas Cowboys
Sorry I got a little off-topic there, but I figured it was the only way to get that nugget of information into the post.
Breakdown of the Special Teams:
The special teams are led by punter Dustin Colquitt who had a good second year in the league. Where he had an average of 45.5 yards a punt and landed 27 kicks inside the 20. Billy Cundiff and Nick Novak will compete for the kicker position, either kicker is serviceable but leave a lot to be desired. BJ Sams will be the kick and punt returner, and expect Jamaal Charles to be back there with him on kickoffs.
Season Outlook:
4-5 wins, this team would be capable of losing all 16 games if not for having one of the weaker schedules in the league and being in the AFC West.
Position Grades:
QB's: D+, Brodie Croyle isn't even the most valuable Croyle .
RB's : B+, The only reason I didn't give them an A is because of the uncertainty of Larry Johnson. Yes his injury was not that severe but hes been overworked and its hard to do that on a consistent basis in the NFL.
Wr/TE: B-, Dwayne Bowe has the skills to be a star in the league and Jeff Webb is unproven, Rookie Will Franklin and lightly used free-agent Devard Darling will compete for the third slot. Tony Gonzalez is still playing at a high-level, he will need more help from the wide receiving core if they are going to play well.
O-Line: C-, Former Pro-Bowler Brian Waters and Damion McIntosh are the only proven players of this unit. They will be joined by Branden Albert, Rudy Niswanger, and Adrian Jones.
D-line: C-, Potential is what this unit is all about; with Dorsey, McBride, Tamba Hali, and Alphonso Boone expected to be starters along with Tank Tyler and Brian Johnston helping off the bench. This unit could potentially become respectable but it will take a couple seasons.
LBs: D+, This group started off strong last year and faded fast, I dont see any reason that would change this season.
DBs: D, Youth and age serves well at most positions, but not corner. Surtain will quickly learn what Ty Law did last year, that without a decent pass rush, you cannot keep a passing attack contained. With Jared Allen in Minnesota, this unit will look terrible almost every Sunday in the fall.
LCB Staff Opinions:
Berndons4 Thoughts:
Atleast the Hard Knocks reruns they show on NFL Network are still watchable and entertaining. The Chiefs won't be this season, not with Larry Johnson already having too many miles on the odometer and inexperienced QB (he does have a great first name though, even if he spells it wrong) and the loss of their best defensive player in Jared Allen.
Teachs Thoughts:
A wise man in Milwaukee once told me " Kansas City is known for 3 things: George Brett, BBQ Sauce, and I don't remember the third. I do know it was not the Chiefs."
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