2017 Chiefs: Super Bowl Upside and Downside

Three weeks of organized team activities are over with one week to and the 2017 Kansas City Chiefs are coming into focus. In fact, free agency, the draft and OTA’s are all pretty much done — except for a mandatory mini-camp next week — and so, before training camp begins next month, I thought would be a good time to take a look and see if this year’s team can win it all, position by position. Let’s begin at QB.

The Chiefs Quarterbacks

Alex Smith is quite capable of taking the Chiefs to the Super Bowl. He took the 2012 San Francisco 49ers to a 6-2-1 record before exiting with a concussion and watching Colin Kaepernick take the team the rest of the way. Smith’s post season record is only 2-4 but he’s also averaged 247 passing yards per game and has thrown 12TDs while only heaving 2 INTs. Yes, Alex Smith is quite capable of winning the big one.

If the Chiefs have to rely upon a back-up quarterback this season it’s likely that the year is over.

The Chiefs Running Backs

I sat and watched the Atlanta Falcons two-headed monster running attack take over the first half of the Super Bowl and thought then that the Chiefs don’t even have one-half of that duo in place. Now that the Chiefs have signed C.J. Spiller and drafted Kareem Hunt, I’m less concerned about that RBs. While the Chiefs finished 13th in the league in rushing TDs the addition of Spiller and Hunt and an improved effort by Charcandrick West should help those numbers. Yes, I believe the Chiefs running backs are quite capable of winning in the leagues biggest game.

The Chiefs Wide Receivers

With the new group including Tyreek Hill, Chris Conley, Albert Wilson, De’Anthony Thomas, and Demarcus Robinson, the Chiefs wide receivers are filled with promise more than a track record. Hill will prove to be a capable number one WR if not outstanding while Chris Conley has some incredible physical gifts we haven’t seen evidence of those gifts on a consistent basis yet. Although there’s a lot to be excited about in the Chiefs wide receiver corp I’m not sure they are even the best group in the AFC West… and could be the worst.

The Chiefs Offensive Line

The consistency and experience along the offensive line is probably the best it has been since Will Shields and Willie Roaf roamed the range. The return of LG Parker Ehinger and extension of RG Laurence Duvernay-Tardif should help to stabilized the interior of the Chiefs line. Giving RT Mitchell Schwartz a year under his belt in Andy Reid’s offense and giving LT Eric Fisher another offseason to improve his skills and strength, there’s a lot to like about this year’s offensive line. Do I expect them to be a juggernaut? No, but they should be capable of providing what is needed to win a championship.

The Chiefs Defensive Line

Chris Jones, Bennie Logan, and Allen Bailey will give the Chiefs one of the best starting three DL in the league. The real questions come in the backups and the second rotation. Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Jarvis Jenkins, and rookie Tanoh Kpassagnon while capable of solid play can all be considered sporadic. RNR because his season was down-and-up, Jenkins can be good against the run but doesn’t usually provide much in the way of QB pressure and Kpassagnon is a rookie and an unknown with upside. Overall I’d say this group can win a championship but their second line players must come through for that to happen.

The Chiefs Inside Linebackers

With Derrick Johnson returning, Ramik Wilson now ready to step up like he did at the end of last season and Justin March-Lillard ready to stay off the IR… the Chiefs could have a formidable LB corp. I say they could have but what I believe is that they are really missing is a run-stopper, a slobber-knocker, a three-down-thumper who can not only play the run but cover TE’s well in coverage. The speed here is exceptional with Pro Bowl special team ace D.J. Alexander set to get some ILB reps, but the absence of a multi-dimensional ILB keeps this gang from realizing it’s potential and I question their championship pedigree. This is a position to watch closely in training camp.

The Chiefs Outside Linebackers

Justin Houston, Dee Ford and Tamba Hali provide the 2017 Chiefs with the best trio of OLBs they have ever had. if you are talking about championship potential, there is likely not a more talented bunch on the Chiefs roster. Frank Zombo’s presence (he does have a Super Bowl ring!), Dadi Nicolas recovery, and huge Earl Okine’s progress give this position plenty of firepower if a front liner goes down. I would definitely say these OLBs are championship ready.

The Chiefs Corner Backs

Marcus Peters, Terrance Mitchell, Steven Nelson, Phillip Gaines, D.J. White, Kenneth Acker, and Leon McQuay III give the Chiefs a young and versitile crew ready to handle most any passing attack in the league. The progress of Terrance Mitchell will reveal how much DC Bob Sutton is able to go to man-coverage vs. zone. Since Sutton’s defensive scheme is largely predicated on man-coverage you can expect to see lots of that early and often this season. A big yes, this party of peeps is championship ready.

The Chiefs Team of Safeties

Eric Berry, Ron Parker, Daniel Sorensen, and Eric Murray give the Chiefs as good a cadre of Safeties that they have had since JARD came to town. I’d rank this collection of human football players of the Safety kind as the most ready to play championship level ball for the Chiefs.

The Special Team Squad

One word: Dave Toub. Actually, that’s two words but, as long as the Chiefs have Mr. Toub organizing the chaos known as special teams… then the Chiefs will have a championship level group ready to conquer the league. It certainly won’t hurt that he has Dustin Colquitt, Cairo Santos, Tyreek Hill, DAT and C.J. Spiller at the ready.

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