I don’t know what to say about the Chiefs except that, new head coach Herman Edwards should finally instill some kind of defensive toughness in this team that has been an offensive juggernaut for the better part of the last five seasons.
After watching the Chiefs during the preseason though, I am going on record to say that if Edwards tinkers with the offense too much (which he may have already done) then he will be dong this team a serious disservice.
The Chiefs problems have always been on the defensive side of the football. If Edwards tries to play it too close to the vest, and run Larry Johnson into the ground in the process, then the Chiefs will be taking a serious step backwards.
Similarly, if Edwards can get the defense up to a championship caliber level, then the Chiefs could be one of the best teams in the league. Whatever happens, it should certainly be an interesting season in 2006 for the Chiefs as the begin year-one of the Edwards era.
Quarterback
Even at 36-years-old, Trent Green has shown no apparent signs of decline and continues to make play after play for K.C. Green is very accurate and always has an “out” if he is in trouble. I will say that the Chiefs had better look to upgrade their backup QB position because if they think Damon Huard is the answer, they had better think again. Kike the majority of NFL teams, should their starting quarterback go down, Kansas City can mail in the rest of their season.
Running Backs
Because of his eye-opening year in 2005 and the arrival of Edwards (a coach who likes to run the ball), all of a sudden, everyone is suddenly expecting former Penn State star, Larry Johnson, to rush for 2,000 yards. However, I am going on record right now to say that, if Edwards doesn’t let Green throw the ball enough in 2006, the Chiefs – and Johnson – will suffer greatly for it.
Johnson will continuously face seven and eight-man fronts designed to specifically stop the run. If Edwards lets the offense operate much as it did last season, with a nice balance of passing and rushing, then Johnson should have some huge games this year.
One other thing K.C. should be worried about is the loss of fullback Tony Richardson, which leaves them with no veteran lead blocker for Johnson.
P.S.
At some point, I suspect that Priest Holmes will want a bigger role in the backfield but we shall see.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
For a guy that looked like he was nearing the end of his career a few seasons back, Eddie Kennison has pulled off one of the biggest reappearing acts of all-time. Kennison is coming off of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and is the Chiefs only real weapon at the wide receiver position.
Sammie Parker, the team’s other starting wide receiver, is as inconsistent as any wide receiver anywhere and had better get his act together quickly before he loses his spot to some other unknown talent. K.C. should be thanking their lucky stars for tight end Tony Gonzalez who is going to go down in history as one of the best tight ends of all-time. Now if only Edwards will throw a little more.
Offensive Line
The Chiefs have an excellent offensive line that has opened huge holes for years for Priest Holmes and now, Larry Johnson.
Willie Roaf is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and guard Will Shields is a competent veteran. Brian Winters is another Pro Bowl caliber player and Casey Weigmann is the glue that holds this unit together. John Welbourn starts at the other tackle while Kevin Sampson and Jordan Black will come off the bench as rotation players.
Defensive Line
To put it mildly, the Chiefs’ defensive line reminds me of Swiss cheese. There are holes all over the place – except where end Jared Allen plays that is. K.C. drafted another Penn State product with their first-round pick this year (Tamba Hali) to help upgrade this atrocious unit that also includes Eric Hicks and Carlos Hall, Ryan Sims and Lional Dalton.
Linebackers
Again, I see more Swiss cheese here. Besides second-year man, Derrick Johnson, the Chiefs are hurting at linebacker.
Kendrell Bell reminds me of my wife’s cooking – he’s toast at this stage of his career and should probably hang it up. I also keep having these nightmares about middle linebacker Kawika Mitchell, making tackles on a consistent basis. Edwards had better have some Maalox on hand at all times this season because the Chiefs defense is going to drive him batty at times.
Defensive Backs
I like K.C.’s secondary. There’s All-Pro caliber, Patrick Surtain on one corner and two competent safeties in Sammy Knight and Greg Wesley. If Lenny Walls can man the other corner competently, then the Chiefs won’t have a problem here at all – unless they’re forced to cover receivers forever because the defensive line and linebackers can’t get any pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Special Teams
All I’m going to say is that the Chiefs young kickers don’t get more consistent, either one of them could be gone come 2007.
Kicker, Lawrence Tynes and punter Dustin Colquitt had better get their acts together quickly because I’m sure Edwards vividly remembers former Jets kicker, Doug Brien costing his team a shot at the AFC Championship title by kicking the ball everywhere except between the uprights.
Coaching
I have always been an immense Edwards fan and I think it will only be a matter of time before he gets this team into contention for the conference championship, however I am going on record right now to say that Edwards had better throw the ball more often than he did with the Jets.
The Chiefs’ strength is obviously their offense and if Edwards plays it too close to the vest, the Chiefs could actually take a step backwards in 2006.
