Most fans of the Kansas City Chiefs will be wanting to see if their bum spanking new offensive line is as good as it’s been touted to be, including yours truly. While Mahomes state-of-the-arts insurance policies will continue to be 5 issues worth watching, the Chiefs coaches will be interested in far more than the progress of their neophyte collection along the OL. Although I have high expectations for the offensive line this year, I’m not so unrealistic that I’m going overreact when the starters give up a sack, and they will… and… it could happen tonight.
.
The Chiefs OL was not bad last year, not at all. Not in the “Sacks Allowed” department. Only four teams finished with a better Sacks Allowed per game rate. That’s right, the team that lost Super Bowl LV with the worst collection of backups (perhaps ever) along the OL were very good during the regular season. K.C. allowed 1.5 sacks per game on average (24 total) and even the best team in the league in sacks allowed who gave up less than one sack per game (the Steelers with 14 total sacks for a .875 sacks per game rate) have had a major revamping of their own OL, and with far less satisfactory results than what GM Brett Veach has provided Andy Heck with. Consequently, if the Chiefs new OL gives up a sack or two, or even three, early in the season, I wouldn’t panic at the disco… or anywhere else either.
.
Beyond the OL, there’s plenty of other position battles worth watching. Nate Taylor, at The Athletic, said this about watching out for Mecole Hardman, Noah Gray, Willie Gay, and Nick Bolton:
.
“Another positive sign for the Chiefs will be if Mahomes can connect with Mecole Hardman, a third-year receiver, and Noah Gray, a rookie tight end, on a few passes to continue the chemistry they have developed in camp. On defense, coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will likely be most interested in evaluating his two young linebackers in Willie Gay, a second-year player, and rookie Nick Bolton. Friday’s game will be the first time Gay and Bolton play together as teammates.”
.
Good Newsies
Aside from having the good pleasure of watching my granddaughter in a recent stage production of “The Newsies” there are already Good Chiefs News notes worth shouting: “Read All About It! Read All About It!”
.
The battle for the 6th WR spot is heating up. It’s hard to believe the Chiefs receiving situation could be improved in 2021 over 2020, but both Daurice Fountain and Marcus Kemp have proven they’re deserving of taking that spot on the roster. Keep and eye out for #85, Marcus Kemp and #82, Daurice Fountain in tonight’s game. While Fountain was that receiver who had the most catches and the most yards in Preseason Game One vs the 49ers, I’d be surprised if Kemp doesn’t out-perform Fountain this week… or at least get the chance to. A definite bubble-watch situation. Here’s Daniel Harms at RGR Football discussing the last WR roster spot battle between Fountain and Kemp:
.
.
That’s an intriguing insight and comparison of the 6-foot-1, 210 lbs. Daurice Fountain and the 6-foot-2, 220 lbs. Dwayne Bowe. Although Harms barely mentions Cornell Powell here, one way or another, Powell will be on this team in 2021, because we know the Chiefs like to keep their draft picks around, at least one season. Since Powell has done nothing to show that he deserves the “KeiVarae Russell” treatment, he should be a keeper this season. Also, here’s that clip Harms was referring to:
.
.
Mike Hughes – when you saw Mike Hughes return kicks last week and make a solid show of it, he was not only in all likelihood locking down a spot as the team’s primary kick returner this season but he was justifying the move Brett Veach made to bring him to the Chiefs (the Vikings sent Hughes and a 2022 7th-round draft pick to K.C. for a 2022 6th-round pick).
.
.
Hughes has not only looked wonderful returning kicks last week, but he’s had a very good camp and helped to strengthen the CB corps.
.
While the offensive line has been receiving it’s totally “fair” share hype this offseason, the defensive line has been getting sneaky-leaky good, meaning: they’ve become superior vs the pass, but still have leaks to plug vs the run. The positive part, the pass rush, is more than merely noticing that Jarran reed has stabilized the DL interior, or seeing Chris Jones tear it up at defensive end (or no matter where he lines up). This is about the the overall growth of he DL inside and out. Taco Charlton is making everyday Taco Day. DT Tershawn Wharton looks like he’s ready to do more than take one small step for man, but ready to take one giant leap for Kingdom kind. Although I was ready to assume Khalen Saunders would just disappear, it looks like he’s singing his own version of Buddy Hollies’ “Not Fade Away.”
.
.
It doesn’t stop there either, the DL is blessed with so much depth that it’s highly probable that someone very good will end up getting poached from the Practice Squad. For example: DE Tim Ward has been outstanding. I’m not saying Ward will end up there, but he’s on the bubble for sure. Craig Stout would agree with that assessment of Ward:
.
.
Katie Sowers Finishes Up
Chiefs had Katies Sowers, a native of Hesston, Kansas, join the coaching staff this summer during the offseason. Best wishes to Katie, no matter where she lands next.
.
.
Slowly Sculpting the Roster
The further and further we get into the preseason games, the clearer and clearer the 53-man roster comes into focus. The first wave of cuts to get the roster down to 85 men came on Tuesday and included:
.
- Evan Baylis – TE
- Antonio Callaway – WR
- Manny Patterson – DB
- Chad Williams – WR
- Elijah McGuire – RB to IR
.
Below, once again, is a listing of all the Chiefs players still on the squad. This is meant to be a reference guide for those wanting to keep track of all the players by their numbers. Those listed in gray were released on Tuesday.
.
.
.
.
.
Let us know what you’ll be watching for in the Chiefs Preseason Game Two vs the Arizona Cardinals.
Go Chiefs!
.
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
.
If you are viewing this in Apple News and would like to join the Discussion, [GO HERE.](http://arrowheadone.com/chiefs-2021-preseason-game-two-open-thread/#disqus_thread)
.