2020 Vision: Looking Back, We Had No Idea

What a difference a year – or two — makes. Since 2019, and even a year ago when we were not only mired in the pandemic of the century, but in Chiefs Kingdom were coming off our own Super Bowl high with a win for the first time in 50 years, we had no idea just how much these Kansas City Chiefs had grown and developed, from the bottom up, and inside out. It was two years ago, in the offseason, which set up that wonderful ride called 2019, which culminated with Lamar Hunt and Lombardi Trophy’s. You may recall a weekly show called, “The Franchise” and on one of those episodes. Lamar’s son, Clark, now the CEO and President of day-to-day operations for the Chiefs, addressed the team prior to the 2019 SB campaign and set the tone for the year.

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An Owner Who Foretold the Future

Just before Training Camp – fully two years ago now – Hunt addressed the players and set the stage for all that was to happen that year… and we all know how that worked out (1:32).

🥳 🥳 🥳 🥳

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The 2019 season also included the popular song remake of John Denver’s old tune, ”Country Roads,” reframed, “Take Me Home, Pat Mahomes:”

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Once Super Bowl LIV was in the bag, most of us were just coming off the high of a parade which concluded with a celebration at at Union Station. That SB winning season was followed by a #runitback campaign last year which ended badly for the Chiefs and Kingdom fanatics, especially when you consider who the Chiefs lost that Game too.

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What we didn’t know then, is also what helps shape this team for the 2021 season.

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Chiefs Who Broke In and Out In 2020

L’Jarius Sneed – When you think back about Sneed and his ascendence to become one of the best corners in the 2020 draft, it’s easy to think that GM Brett Veach and his crew were just fortunate, or even lucky. If you take into consideration the coaching of Sam Madison and Dave Merritt, then it doesn’t seem quite so unlikely that we’d be chanting: “The Need for Sneed” by the middle of the season. It’s an important reason I’ve come to “Trust in Veach”… because I also “Trust in Madison and Merritt.”

Tershawn Wharton – Really fast now, off the top of your head, name three NFL players who were Missouri S&T Miners? Can’t do that? Me either. If you’re wondering if that “Circle of Trust” extends to the Chiefs DL coach, I have to answer in the strong affirmative. Brendan Daly has three (3) other Super Bowl rings besides the one he won with the Chiefs in SB LIV. If you had no idea Daly was that good, well, you should now.

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While Wharton was an Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) last year, and L’Jarius Sneed was the 138th pick in the draft, it was good coaching that brought them, and the Chiefs, all the way to the biggest game of the year, for the second year in a row.

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Wharton wasn’t the first UDFA the Chiefs have utilized, not by a long shot. When you find a UDFA who comes in and contributes heavy minutes, teams often say, they’ve found a diamond in the rough. To do that, you’ve got to be willing to take a chance on an undrafted prospect, which is exactly what Andy Reid and his staff have done repeatedly, ever since he came to town in January of 2013.

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Committed to Beating the Bushes

The Chiefs have their own list of UDFAs they’ve claimed, all currently still active for K.C., players such as: Daniel Sorensen, Ben Niemann, Darrel Williams, Byron Pringle, Marcus Kemp, Gehrig Dieter, and Tim Ward.

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There have also been some UDFAs the Chiefs have brought in who are no longer with the team: Albert Wilson, Cairo Santos, Charcandrick West, Demetrius Harris, Frankie Hammond, Tyler Bray, Justin March-Lillard, Jimmy Murray, and Ryan Hunter.

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There’ve been plenty of UDFAs added to the roster — from other teams — since Reid came to K.C. in 2013. Some of those “Foreign-exchange” UDFAs which K.C. either signed a FAs or traded for them, and they include, but aren’t limited to:

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For those of you who are keeping score on your BINGO card: the Chiefs have a UDFA starters at CB (Charvarius Ward), Long Snapper (James Winchester), heavy minutes at Safety (Daniel Sorensen), some snaps at LB (Ben Niemann), some snaps at TE (Nick Keizer), significant snaps at WR (Byron Pringle), significant snaps at RB (Darrel Williams) and plenty of other card carrying members of the UDFA fraternity currently on the Chiefs roster. Enough UDFAs to get a BINGO!

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The biggest surprise of the past few years still has to be the continued success and ascendence of QB Patrick Mahomes. Still, it may say more about just what a great talent evaluator Brett Veach is, as much as it has turned out to be accurate about Mahomes. Still, it’s hard to believe Veach once said of Mahomes:

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“All of the physical tools are there. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen. But you don’t want to throw him out there too soon. You want them to really be who they are and not have to process too much. Just play. Coach had a vision. We brought him along slowly and we’re excited for him and for the future.”

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Whatever process and vision they had for Mahomes… it worked… and is working. When you’re a fan of a team who has watched other teams draft very, very, good QBs while your team — meaning the Chiefs — continue to pass on first round talents — for decades — it’s even more shocking when they do make that move (a decision I was 101% behind at the time, because I believe that’s what you do, you keep drafting first round QB talents, until you strike gold) and then once that move is made, and it actually works out (June of 2019), it’s all goodness.

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It’s worked out with Mahomes, so much so, that now every prospect is being compared to him and everyone NFL universe recognizes he’s not only the best in the game, but very likely the best that’s ever played. Now only time will tell that tale.

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From Josh Hermsmeyer at FiveThirtyEight.com, in a piece called, “What Makes Patrick Mahomes So Great?” he shares this video (January, 2021). Enjoy!

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Looking forward to the 2021 Kansas City Chiefs season… beginning with Training Camp, just a couple of weeks away now!

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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