Chiefs: Chomping at the Bit?
by David Bell
Casual Anticipation and
Player Duels for Starting Roles
I have been contemplating what should be expected as a fan in 2018. I hear and read all the negatives and I am not convinced. I want to be a total optimist, and I cannot convince myself.
What I do know is that this is a lot better roster of players before it gets cut down before the opener. There is going to be competition for starting roles. The best example on the offensive line will be that of two starters at left guard — Parker Ehinger who started his rookie season and was injured and sat last season while Bryan Witzmann being his replacement and having a full season of starts.
Witzmann performed under the NFL average and there is reason to question whether he should retain his job — but in the last 5 games his play improved and that may very well have been due to the change in the blocking scheme simplification introduced by offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy. Or it could have been, as Seth Keyser introduced, a player who got beyond his weaknesses to play well in the latter part of the season — or a combination of both.
Contending for the starting role at left guard is now 3rd year pro, Parker Ehinger. This “dual” deals with players who have not ascended. What I think? Ehinger was a draft pick, had a full season plus to build strength and work on weaknesses and he will be, barring Witzmann suddenly having found a way to play at a solid starter level in his own off season.
Another competition on offense will be for who the #3 WR is. The role should be owned by Chris Conley but Demarcus Robinson improved and settled in as a receiver in the latter part of 2017. True, he had Albert Wilson getting a lot of duty and we had not yet signed Sammy Watkins. With Conley out Robinson had some miserable games but seemed to settle down and play football later in the year. There is also the Mahomes factor. The two players seemed to get on the same page in 2017 as far as pre-season and training camp.
I still believe Conley has talent that has not been exploited. It was not something that Alex Smith apparently trusted in until we got into 2017. Then it appeared that Conley would run his rout, be at the expected place, a hole in the defense and the completion was made. There is another factor as well. When Smith was scrambling Conley found a hole to drop into and give Smith a target and they connected.
On defense in the secondary we are looking at the anticipated top three: Fuller, Amerson and Nelson. But don’t take your eyes off of the mix of young guys who should be “starving” because Keith Reaser, Will Redmond and Arrion Springs all have talent. Here, Reaser has a leg up due to NFL experience.
Behind them, with Ron Parker having departed, you will see Daniel Sorensen trying to hold on to a starting role, but his fit is probably more appropriately geared to spot snaps, hybrid roles and so on. Eric Murray has a ton more experience and it should be hoped that he has “larned” something and he could ascend to be the starter. Leon McQuay and newcomers Armani Watts and Tremon Smith will be going hard at it. In the case of safety there is speed and ability to play man-up defense by each player so this will be a very interesting situation to keep our eyes on.
The Tantalizing Time
I am using examples here, that have a tantalizing aspect to them. If anything, the Chiefs have added players who have the ability and talent and one or more of them needs to step up — have a breakthrough. It’s a good mix of players.
Anticipation and the Fun of It
The good part? Anticipation mixed with worry and a foreboding that seems to go along with being a Chiefs fan. I will say this much: this is the best part of the NFL – a time when a player or two has it and shows it and earns a starting role out of the blue.
Settle down for the fun — It’s almost here, that coveted time that we get to see it all laid out by all the players whose dream has thus far come true.
Chomping the Bit
We FANS (fanatics), GO ALONG WITH THE PROGRAM. There is no other choice. At least the wait and see part of the game is about ended, at least the part that occurs before the players put on pads. Chomping the Bit? It’s very hard on the teeth and a bit more the a week from today the true beginning of the off-season begins.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne
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