Ch-Ch-Ch Changes: Chiefs Face the Strange

Cha-Cha-Cha Changes:

Chiefs Face the Strange

by Laddie Morse

The Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp for Rookies and Newbies began yesterday and even though the veterans aren’t there yet, it’s apparent that this year’s team will be different. Very.

• No Alex Smith. Smith was the starter for the past five years and is now in Washington.
• No Tamba Hali. Although Hali hasn’t been able to contribute as much as he — and everyone else — would like, it’ll be odd not having him around this year.
• No Derrick Johnson. You will see DJ on the field this year… wearing Black and Silver for the Oakland Raiders.

It’s not just the long-time stalwarts that are missing either. 

• No Safety Ron Parker. He’s in Atlanta playing for the Falcons.
• No Pro Bowl CB Marcus Peters. He was traded to the L.A. Rams.
• No Zach Fulton to play back-up OL. A significant loss we’ll have to keep our eyes on the development of other back-ups along the OL.
• No Albert Wilson. He may have been a #3WR but he had his moments.
• No Tyler Bray. Who are we kidding? No one is going to miss Tyler Bray.
• No Terrance Mitchell. No Kenneth Acker. No Phillip Gaines (all corners).

Cornerback may the one position where more changes have taken place than any other position on the team thus deserving of our Training Camp focus.

OLB Dee Ford — remember him — who had offseason back surgery, says he feels healthier than he has at any time since his first back surgery (I didn’t know he had a first back surgery, and if the Chiefs did know it when they drafted him, then why did they draft him?) in college. Ford has also indicated that Justin Houston looks like his “22 sack” self. No matter what anyone else does at OLB… if Houston is THAT Justin Houston, we’re all in for a treat this year. Ford also says he’d like to one day be a team leader but realizes he’ll have to perform at a high level first.

Call it a rebuild. Or maybe a retooling? How about revamping… that’s the newest one I’ve heard used recently. What we do know is that this team will be different. You can even call it strange. Reid just calls is “new.” As in, “New Faces.”

So, here are a few of the new faces & numbers to keep an eye on as Chiefs camp gets underway:

DB Keith Reaser- #30

DB Jordan Stearns- #46

LB Ben Niemann- #56

CB Kendall Fuller- #23

WR Sammy Watkins- #14

Back-up QB, Matt McGloin- #4

CB David Amerson- #24

RB Darrell Williams- #31

CB Tremon Smith- #39

TE Jace Amaro- #89

Safety Armani Watts- #25

NT Derrick Nnadi- #91

OLB Breeland Speaks- #57

LB/Safety Dorian O’Daniel- #44

Interior Lineman Kahlil McKenzie- #66

Those are the newest Chiefs but certainly not the only new Chiefs. However, isn’t it good to have a sense of what each of these youngsters looks like? Then again, you’ll need to be sure and keep an eye on their number for the next few weeks. Go Chiefs!

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