Kansas City Chiefs Laddie Morse

Chiefs Bubble: Safe or Not Safe

LadnerMorse July 31, 2018 No Comments

 

 

 

 

Chiefs Bubble: Safe or Not Safe

 

by Laddie Morse

 

The 2018 Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp can be summed up in one word so far: competitive. Consequently, there are a number of Chiefs players, old and new, who may not make the final cut. AO writer extraordinaire, Ransom Hawthorne, spelled out his Roster Projections on Saturday, and while I’m not going to go that far, I will set out the possible surprises, if not shockers, when the Chiefs make their final cut down. Then we’ll see who’s safe or not safe.

 

 

 

 

 

OLB, Dee Ford

 

 

 

There are likely a number of fans who are so fed up with the lack of production out of this first round pick that they’re ready to say, “Anyone is better than him, give us anyone.” The problem is, the Chiefs have picked up his 5th year option of $8,718,000 and so it’s put up or ship out time for Ford. My guess is… we’re probably going to see the best out of Ford this year… if he stays healthy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WR, DeAnthony Thomas

 

 

 

DAT has survived in a Chiefs uniform for four seasons and he’s likely to not make it a fifth. Thomas ended last season on the IR list because of a broken tibia and although he’d been up and ready for camp, the competition appears to be too stiff for him to get a 5th season out of the Chiefs. Someone else agrees with me:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CB, Arrion Springs

 

 

Arrion Springs is a much better corner than he is an athlete. At least that’s what Kent Swanson at AP would have us believe. Swanson says, “Springs doesn’t profile as a good athlete. He has an average-to-below average athletic profile for a corner. He’s not the quickest or fastest player.” Somewhere along the line — probably at Oregon — Springs learned to play corner, and he;s a good one. Let’s hope the Chiefs power-that-be don’t flub this one up. I’d hate to see Springs starting somewhere else a year from now while the Chiefs are still struggling to put together a good defensive backfield.

 

 

https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2018/5/30/17407878/lottery-tickets-cb-arrion-springs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safety Leon McQuay

 

 

 

Leon McQuay is not on my Good Boy Santa list. It’s not that he’s done anything wrong off he field, he seems nice enough, it’s just that he’s been with the team a year now and we haven’t really seen him have a moment. You know, the kind of moment when a player… shines… stands out… and takes the bull by the horns. If it comes down to a player the Chiefs have taken from this draft, or a player like McQuay from the previous draft… I think this year’s draftee wins out. I also see Robert Golden giving the Chiefs more experience — obviously — than McQuay has to offer right now. The Safety position was thin a year ago, but with the return of Eric Berry, the addition of Dorian O’Daniel, Armani Watts and the signing of Robert Golden, I’m not sure that leaves a spot of MCQuay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WR Marcus Kemp or…

WR Byron Pringle or…

WR Gehrig Dieter

 

 

 

These three wide outs have made an impression. It’s hard to see all three of them getting the axe. My choice would be Marcus Kemp. He offers size and experience in this offense… he was here last year at this same place and time. On the other hand, I can see Gehrig Dieter making the team. He has a real connection with Patrick Mahomes and that could be the deciding factor. Then again, Byron Pringle has been outstanding during this camp. All of them are tall, but it’s hard for me to pass on the 6-foot-4 inch Kemp who also has very good hands. Following are reasons for each of them to be kept:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OLB Frank Zombo

 

 

 

General Manager Brett Veach did his job this offseason. No, he didn’t fill all the holes but he did bring enough depth and competition to the OLB position for the Chiefs to be done with a veteran like Frank Zombo. It’s not that I don’t like Zombo. I do. However, he’s averaged less than 18 tackles per year and 1.5 sacks each season over the past 5 seasons as a Chief. During that time, Justin Houston, Dee Ford and Tamba Hali have all been absent so Zombo has had plenty of reps to produce. His lack of production is one of the reasons that Veach made sure there were more men to choose from at this point… and that should leave Zombo on the outside looking in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FB Anthony Sherman

 

 

 

Anthony Sherman is a wolf in sheeps clothing… err… I mean a one-zy. Sherman is a stud and helps set the tone for being a workout warrior. He’s been a mainstay of the Chiefs ever since Andy Reid showed up trading Javier Arenas for Sherman with the Arizona Cardinals. Sherman doesn’t get a ton of reps but you always get the feeling that Reid would like to use him more in the offense. I think he sticks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RB Charcandrick West

 

 

 

I simply believe this is the end of the line for West. With Damien Williams, Darrel Williams, and Kerwynn Williams to chose from, its probably time for a couple of WIlliamses to get the nod.

 

 

Well, what do you think Chiefs fans? Are there players you are sure will make the team… or not?

 

 

Special Editor’s Note: just because I am such a fan… I am totally flabbergasted that the real Willie Roaf “Loved” two of my gifs… one about Tremon Smith and one about Arrion Springs. I’ll never wash my Twitter page again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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