Laddie Morse
As Lisa Foxx pointed out yesterday, the Kansas City Chiefs appear to need a #1 WR (you can read her piece here called, “KC’s Wide Receiver Woes“). What some Chiefs coaches and players are pointing out is that there are adjustments that needed to be made for K.C. to win this time around vs the Denver Broncos. Will some of those adjustments be at wide receiver? I’d be surprised if there’s not some kind of changes there this Sunday. In David Bell’s article a few days ago called, “Chiefs: Finally! Plus a Meaningful Addition on Defense,” he said this about Mahomes and Kelce’s connection:
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“There was magic, and it was evident in the game since his apparent kinetic surreal connection to TE Travis Kelce was –> magic personified. Kelce resulted in 12 catches on 13 targets with 179 yards receiving and 1 TD. Maybe I should write more about Taylor Swift being present as part of the new mystique! Certainly, Kelce was magic on Sunday!”
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The question is, will Mahomes and Kelce — and other Chiefs players — be able to “make some magic” happen this Sunday vs the Broncos. Mahomes said this week, adjustments will be necessary, and I agree:
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“How can we adjust and have
success the next game?”
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It’s not just on the Offensive side of the ball where adjustments need to be made if the Chiefs are to march into Empower Mile High Stadium and then come Home with a victory. Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo said this week, when referring to Charles Omenihu (0:17):
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The return from suspension of DL Charles Omenihu was a great adjustment and it came at the perfect time as well. What do I mean by that? Well, ex-Chief player Frank Clark had just been released by the Denver Broncos and many thought that he’d be picked back up by the Chiefs… but instead, the Chiefs got Omenihu back and he played great — including a sack and a batted ball which helped win that game vs the Chargers — and he did all of that on about half the snaps and so… it’s likely that Clark wasn’t really needed. I’m not so sure that having Clark was as much of a reason the Chiefs didn’t re-sign him as it was they have a number of other developing players, some of whom are younger, that they wanted to keep for the long run.
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The Cap Trap
What I’m positive about is the future money issues having to do with Clarks’ non-return to the Chiefs… and that likely has as much to do with his not returning as any other single factor. Just think… what would K.C. do this coming offseason? They already have Nick Bolton to re-sign, plus Willie Gay, L’Jarius Sneed, Chris Jones, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Mike Danna… and a slew of other guys on one year deals like: LT Donovan Smith (and we all know the Chiefs will want to make a move for a great Left Tackle this offseason), WR Mecole Hardman, RB Jerick McKinnon, Safety Mike Edwards, LB Drue Tranquill, DL Tershawn Wharton, Punter Tommy Townsend, and others. While researching this issue, I found a plethora of other players who’s contracts end after 2024 as well. DC Steve Spagnuolo said this about Mike Danna this week:
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“When he came back here, I thought he was
more powerful. I know he trained exceptionally
hard this offseason. He looked different
to me. . . He’s been on a mission.”
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Those 2023 cap issues don’t have as much to do with the game this Sunday vs the Broncos, as it does following this season, so let’s move on.
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Injury Response
Just yesterday DC Steve Spagnuolo said this about LB Drue Tranquill and making an adjustment with Nick Bolton on the sidelines:
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“It’s nice to know we have a guy that
can fit in there and not skip a beat.…
I think there’s a comfort level with the
other 10 with Drue. There’s no drop off.”
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When Nick Bolton went down with an ankle injury and was out for a couple of games following week three, Drue Tranquill filled in admirably. In fact, Tranquill did such a good job that the Chiefs Defense didn’t weaken at all.
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Spags also said this about his new (this year) Safety, Mike Edwards:
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“He sees the game really, really well. Some
guys see the game through a straw if you
don’t give them certain things, but Mike
sees the whole thing.”
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QB Patrick Mahomes said of Mecole Hardman upon his return to the Chiefs this past Sunday:
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“He brings another spark of energy. . . Other
guys that are younger can learn from him.”
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While many in Chiefs Kingdom wanted Frank Clark to return to the Chiefs for just that reason… to help younger DLs to learn from him… Hardman can be a force and a wonderful instructor with this young wide receiving corp. Here’s Hardman’s Punt return on Sunday which helped to turn the momentum back to the Chiefs (0:13):
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The return of Mecole Hardman will be a blessing this Sunday as he was only added after the Chiefs faced the Broncos in Arrowhead the first time they met. Let’s not forget that Hardman was also responsible for helping to turn the momentum around with a similar Punt return in the game vs the Texans that ultimately helped win Super Bowl LIV vs the San Francisco 49ers just a few weeks later (0:17):
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Adjustments are all part of the game. GM Brett Veach has said before that he’ll sign a player if he believes they will make the team 1% better. I think his work at signing players has made the Chiefs a whole lot better than 1%.
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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