Chiefs: Five Questions With ArrowheadOne Writers

Chiefs: Five Questions With ArrowheadOne Writers

David Bell, Josh Kingsley, and Laddie Morse

Laddie: It’s no secret by now that one of my favorite writers about the Kansas City Chiefs is our own David Bell. Also, Josh Kingsley has wonderfully expanded the ideas that we express here and is also a truly gifted writer. Emailing these Chiefs fanatics who write for ArrowheadOne is out-a-sight (can you tell, I’m from the 60s).

David: I don’t have a specific topic for the upcoming contest with the Raiders, but I have a few thoughts that will be turned into questions for my format with this article. I want to mix in the answers from Laddie and perhaps Josh in the process.

Question One: Will the Raiders game be a trap game for the Chiefs?

Josh: Any divisional game has the potential to be a trap game. We will learn something about the team Monday night. Indy was a massive letdown, but Tampa was a purely euphoric beat down. Which team shows up against Vegas will be a testament to the level of title readiness.

David: Week 5 will not be a trap game, though any time you play a division foe, it will be a rough and tumble game. If the Chiefs play well in all three phases of the game, there is no chance that the Vegas Game will be a trap.

Laddie: After the disastrous Colts game, it’s hard for me to see how this could be a trap game. By definition, it means the players are looking forward to the next game, which does happen to be against the Bills, but all the same, this should not be a trap situation.

Question Two: What’s up with the Offensive Linemen?

David: In the game versus the Bucs last Sunday, the Offensive Line blocked very well, opening holes in the defensive front. They also did an excellent job of pass protection. Andrew Wylie had what was probably his career-best performance.

Geoff Schwartz sat in for Jeff Allen with Mike DeVito on “On the Side (KCSN).” They broke down the offensive line performance against the Buccaneers. It was a good session and you can see it here:

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I’m a lot more comfortable with Andrew Wylie than I had been. However, I worry about the status of Lucas Niang, and I am disappointed with Orlando Brown’s participation. Considering 2023, I believe the Chiefs will draft an Offensive Tackle, but the chances are slim to get a top-rated performer. Using the years since 2013 as a guide, I cannot see the Chiefs drafting before picking pick #26. Should the Chiefs acquire a starter OT in the postseason via a Trade/Free Agent Signing? That’s the real question isn’t it? Side Note: Where in tarnation is Lucas Niang?

Josh: The left tackle market is getting as expensive as any this side of QB. I expect another swing at the FA market, but it will cost the CHIEFS.

Laddie: The idea of adding another competent starting OL next offseason seems like a no brainer. If they’re looking to replace Orlando Brown Jr., it better be a great trade, because K.C. gave up enough when the traded for Brown to begin with (BTW, K.C. gave up their first-round pick in 2021 (31st overall), third-round pick (94th overall) and a fourth-round pick (136th overall), along with a 2022 fifth-round pick in exchange for… Brown, plus a second-round pick in 2021 (58th overall), plus a sixth-round pick in 2022).

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Question three: Who will win this year’s MVP Award?

David: At present, not a difficult question. It appears that Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are both in the running for MVP. In fact, even Jalen Hurts is playing well enough to be considered. I won’t rule out Josh Allen, either as he is one of the top QBs in the NFL. However, there’s no doubt in my mind that Patrick Mahomes is the best QB in the NFL, bar none. If the Chiefs continue their “Chiefs Football” ways, the rest of the NFL will have taken notice and Patrick Mahomes will be the MVP for the AFC in 2023 too.

Josh: I am going Mahomes for now. Jackson is having an incredible and dynamic season, but he also almost personally gave away the Buffalo game. The Ravens have too many early letdowns to produce the MVP.

Laddie: I have to confess, I haven’t seen a lick of Baltimore Ravens football this year to make that judgement. That said, it’s hard for me to see how anyone other than Patrick Mahomes II would be offered that award… for now.

David: Who is your choice? Who is the MVP of 2022?

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Question Four: Will the Chiefs end up with a top ten Defense?

Josh: I see them playing into the top 10. They are loaded with rookies getting better every week.

David: If the Chiefs Defense holds its own over the next two games, Willie Gay and Trent McDuffie return to the field after that, and I project that the Chiefs defense will end up with a legitimate Top fifteen rating. Will the Chief’s defense play its way into the top 10?

Laddie: I’ll go ya one better… I can see the Chiefs defense finishing in the top five! First, the Edge rushers will need to get more sacks!

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Question Five: What’s the future look like for the Edge players?

David: There is no stand-out performer for our Edge Players. All of the players who have filled the roles have played well. They are all contributing and making plays. It’s like a no-name position at present. Whatever they are doing, it is working. The players know they will be called on to play in each game–they’ve bought into Joe Cullen’s leadership. That’s a good thing. I have appreciated rookie George Karlaftis and his performance thus far. But he has no sacks through four games. Carlos Dunlap has made vital plays and added to his sack total; Frank Clark has also been a solid presence. I have not seen any great players emerge in 2022. But the top players are Dunlap, Clark, and Karlaftis. Danna fits well in the mix. It doesn’t matter to me how they get it done, but they are getting it done. Still, I want to see GK emerge and get sacks. Before the season began, I thought he might get seven. Dunlap has been a very nice addition to the mix. Frank Clark is making plays. Call it the Chief’s no-name position group

We have other role players who also have played well. Looking ahead to 2023’s offseason, I think the priority in the draft should be a DE and, secondly, an OT. Do you see Dunlap and Clark returning for the 2023 season?

Josh: I agree with the draft priority and order mentioned. Dunlap profiles as a one and done, but a Super Bowl ring could change that. Yes, I think Clark comes back.

Laddie: For both the LT and Edge rusher situations, I think new players (free agents) will want to play in Reid and Spagnuolo’s systems, especially if K.C. goes far in these coming playoffs as well as ending the season with a top record in the AFC. Which… looks likely at this point!

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David Bell — Josh Kingsley — Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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