Sure, it’s fun to sit back and play God and predict how our favorite team will perform in the coming season. However, the 2017 Kansas City Chiefs are becoming increasingly more difficult to “project.” Do I “hope” the Chiefs are great in 2017? Absolutely! However, there’s a big difference between hoping for success… and being confident in predicting it. The room that coaches often refer to in which their players at each position go to meet — like the quarterback room — are mostly lined with wallpaper that has the word “IF” written all over it. What is perplexing is… more and more of those rooms are getting the IFFY wallpaper hung there, especially following Free Agency and the NFL Draft. The offseason is usually meant for plugging holes in the roster but, this year the best that the best fans in the NFL can hope for is an “IFF-ing” good time. I know, I know, I got carried way with the whole “IF” thingy but, it is a word that seems to describe a number of the position groups.
Outside Linebackers
Take the outside linebacker position for example. Justin Houston, Dee Ford, and Tamba Hali could be the best pass rushing trio in the league. However, 1) we have no idea if Houston will be the same player he once was, 2) we don’t know which Dee Ford we’re getting, the all-world Ford who had 8.5 sacks in a 5 game span or the “driving the wrong way on a one-way street Ford” who had 1.5 sacks in the other 11 games last year and, 3) Tamba Hali, the most consistent pass rusher at applying pass pressure… or the guy who gave us all of 28 snaps per game down the stretch in 2016?
Wide Receivers
The wide receiving position has flip-flopped over the last two years. A year ago we thought we knew what we had in Jeremy Maclin but wondered if one of the other WRs, like Chris Conley, would have a breakout year? This year, we don’t know what we’ve got in Jeremy Maclin and a young wide receiver DID breakout last year… just not Chris Conley. Now, we’re wondering how much more Andy Reid plans on using Tyreek Hill — the 5th round pick who did breakout — and how much the other wide receivers will be able to contribute? Ryan Crawford at AP says, “With the emergence of Hill and other weapons, it may be more likely that Maclin’s numbers fall in between what he did in 2015 and 2016.” Who knows for sure… and that’s the problem at WR.
Tight End(s)
Travis Kelce appears to be the most sure-thing in the Chiefs offensive line-up. As we learned from B.j. Kissel recently, “Travis Kelce had the 17th-best season for a TE in NFL history last year with 1,125 yards receiving.” So, what’s the problem with projecting the TE position? If the Chiefs only ran “one” TE out onto the field at a time… nothing. However, the Chiefs almost always line up in a two-tight-end-sets and if Andy Reid had his druthers, he’d be utilizing the 3-TE Sets he has up his sleeve a whole lot more often. That is… if he could. Right now, we don’t even know if when Reid calls the number of one of his tight ends (Demetrius Harris) if he’ll be calling him in a prison cell?
Offensive Line
What may strike some as hilarious, is what I’m about to say next –> the offensive line is the most stable position group on the Chiefs. Sure, second-year-man Parker Ehinger is returning from an injury but does anyone doubt that he’s the projected starter at left guard? Terez Paylor said in April, “Ehinger has been rehabbing [an ACL] since November. The No. 105 overall pick of last year’s draft, Ehinger was an asset in the run game. Provided he’s healthy, he’ll be the favorite for left guard duties.” If Mr. Ehinger isn’t ready to go by day one, the Chiefs not only have Zach Fulton and Jah Reid waiting in the wings but signed the 6-foot-4, 324, Andrew Tiller to step in if need be. In any case, the only “IFs” that exist on the OL would arise should Parker not being ready for game one of the regular season.
Quarterback
The battle lines have long been drawn. There are those who support Alex Smith… and those who hate him and blame him for the Chiefs lack of playoff success. No matter who is right about Smith, he’s been fairly easy to predict. This year, what’s hard to project about the Chiefs quarterback position is the el numero uno backup role. Will it be the rookie phenom Patrick Mahomes II… or will it go to the guy who has been waiting, watching and learning patiently, Tyler Bray? Either way, no one knows who it will be and I’m not sure Andy Reid even knows that answer right now.
Defensive Line
While I believe the new starting lineup of Chris Jones, Bennie Logan, and Allen Bailey will be one of the best in the NFL, predicting how the line will perform from top to bottom, including the backups, will be difficult. Part of the reason for that is… we may not even know who the second wave will be yet. You might think that will include Rakeem Nunez-Roches but remember that he was cut by the Chiefs last year before returning to help contribute in positive ways. It’s the second string that will be the focus in camp and beyond. “Beyond?” Yes. It should surprise no one if John Dorsey signs a defensive lineman at the end of the preseason who ends up being a major part of the rotation.
Inside Linebackers
Who knows what to predict out of any linebacker at any one of the positions. I have great hopes that this year’s inside linebacking corp will be the best in Chiefs history but hopes alone will not create a pattern of success. That’s what’s missing from this year’s collection of inside linebacking talent… a pattern of success. ‘What about Derrick Johnson’ you say? DJ has played in only 30 of the last 51 games — including playoff games — because of serious injuries.
The Defensive Backfield
Here’s a position we can predict success for. While the first half of last season was a difficult call at the corner position across from Marcus Peters… when Terrance Mitchell was finally inserted and played consistently well… the unpredictable coverage became something we can look forward to being a strength in 2017. Some say we can’t count on a half season of good performance. If you watch Terrence Mithcell’s tape you might disagree.
Terrance Mitchell During Week 14 Vs OAK (Part 2) pic.twitter.com/ObzhUlFtif
— Chiefs Film Room (@Chiefs_Film) April 3, 2017
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