Chiefs High Five Players: Making Five Positions Stronger

By David Bell

Attention! I am not going to write about Alchemy Day or Free Agency signing potentials! Instead, I’m thinking of players who should, or who the Chiefs need to, step up their production in 2021. Sure, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyrann Mathieu, and Chris Jones are going to be feature players. However, today I’m focusing on five players who must fulfill their promise to insure the Chiefs season will be a complete success.

THE HIGH FIVE

Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Willie Gay Jr.

L’Jarius Sneed

Juan Thornhill

Mecole Hardman

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Running Back Clyde Edwards-Helaire

CEH broke into the NFL after being a surprising draft choice in 2020. He had much to show and prove, but his breakout didn’t occur. However, 2021 is the year it will happen. Even if I don’t rate Clyde’s 2020 season as proof of his high-caliber contribution, he was affected by subtractions on the offensive line, losing 2 starters by week 6. The further debacle of the OL injury plague apparently turned Reid and Bieniemy away for the ground game. Clyde even missed one start due to illness. Be that as it may, the facts are that Clyde had more than 800 yards rushing and about 300 yards receiving, scoring 4 times on the ground and once catching a pass. With a newly constructed offensive line that is exhibiting their Cape Buffalo run blocking capability, Clyde will have his breakout season this year.

An earlier prediction of mine had CEH exceeding 1,200 yards rushing and about 500 yards receiving, which would also fulfill what Veach saw in him when he made him the 31st pick in 2020. Barring significant injury, I believe you can take that to the bank. This will give the RB room great prowess and is backed up by Darrel Williams, and Jerick McKinnon as well as having a FB in the backfield group in the person of Michael Burton.

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Linebacker Willie Gay, Jr.

Willie Gay, Jr. didn’t have a breakout season in 2020 either. It was more of a, break-in, season. I believed that watching other LBs get snaps later in the year that could have aided in Gay’s training the job and been beneficial to his development. It’s true, that Gay missed significant portions of his last two collegiate seasons at Mississippi St., therefore missed much-needed experience before entering the 2020 draft. Veach selected him as the 62nd pick of the draft — Veach believed in Gay enough to pick him in round 2. I applauded the move. In 2020, things came to fruition for Gay as a starter in week 16 versus the Falcons, as Gay had 9 tackles and a Forced Fumble. Unfortunately for Willie, he was injured the next week in the contest with the Chargers and missed all of the playoffs. I predict that Gay will have his breakout season this year. He’s demonstrated significant prowess as the WILL LB for KC — and it’s been noticed by NFL analysts, and pundits. Take this to the bank as well –> Willie Gay, Jr. will be a true force for the Chiefs at LB for the 2021 season.

There are additional benefits that are going to occur which will aid Gay in his approach to the game. The Chiefs MIKE/MLB, is Anthony Hitchens who put on muscle mass while trimming his weight down for the season. Hitch has demonstrated renewed vigor and is a Field General for DC Steve Spagnuolo. Hitchens is the most trusted and knowledgeable LB among the starters.

Veach also added the best LB in the SEC for 2019 and 2020’s seasons: Nick Bolton, out of Mizzou, who will be on the field when K.C. is in their the Base 43. Nick has already shown: significant lateral speed, the ability to defend the pass, the ability to read plays appropriately and fill to the hole, plus making tackles that prevent advances by the opposing ball carriers. Bolton will not only have a break-in season, but I think a breakout year as well. Gay makes having an LB corps a dominant force come to fruition this season.

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Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed

I’ve written previously that Sneed would have a breakout season in 2021 and the reason I didn’t include 2020 as a breakout year, was due to his missed games from a broken collarbone in week 3. He missed games 4-10, but came on enough and was noticeable enough to still earn a spot on the NFL’s All-Rookie Team. He earned it. I decided to refrain from calling 2020 as Sneed’s Breakout Season and chose to select 2021 as the year that this will happen.

There is no doubt in my mind that Sneed is the strongest player among the CBs. He can excel in the slot and outside. Steve Spagnuolo has already earmarked the anticipation that Sneed will be on the field for almost all the snaps, inside and out. What Sneed brings to the CB room is great strength, making players on the field with him better. My prediction for Sneed’s 2021 is that he will be outstanding, with perhaps 6-8 INTs, and more than 4 sacks from the slot position. Ward and Baker’s strength is outside. Fenton is versatile enough to fulfill both roles, and I see Mike Hughes, who gave us much to applaud in the Preseason games, as adding 5 men to a CB room that are all going to become stronger than I first believed. If you add the experience of Chris Lammons to the group, the CB room is going to be stronger than 2020’s group. Put that in the bank additionally.

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What I see so far are three position groups that are going to be stronger and serve the NFL notice. Let me add someone from another group: Safety, Juan Thornhill.

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Safety Juan Thornhill

When the “Juan and only” broke into the NFL in 2019, we were all cheering because it made the Chiefs Safety group stronger. Unfortunately for Thornhill, he suffered a core muscle tear and missed time at the end of 2019 and half of the starts in 2020. When he came back, he certainly didn’t look like the same player. Even in camp and preseason games this year, he’s not been his old self… until he made a pick in the end zone in the game versus the Cardinals.

Get a look at Juan’s INT in the Preseason game vs the Cardinal, here:

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What we were witnessing, was the re-emergence of the player we all believed Juan Thornhill would be. The players on the sidelines cheered and gave helmet taps and high-fives to Thornhill after his interception. Two Chiefs leaders, Travis Kelce and Tyrann Mathieu were exuberant as Thornhill ran to the bench. There is no doubt in my mind that the Chief’s safety room is going to be a force that decries any opposing CB’s attempt to get one over on the secondary. The group should see Mathieu, Thornhill, Sorensen, and Watts as the culminating aerial defense that aids the secondary in pass defense and comes up to play the run game with the best in the NFL. It is my view that you can bank on Juan Thornhill and that’s good stuff.

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Wide Receiver Mecole Hardman

All offseason we’ve been wondering if Mecole Hardman would be ready to step up and take Sammy Watkins role? Hardman has had such a strong offseason, as well as preseason games, that with the exception of one minor glitch, that question can be answered in a huge affirmative. Hardman has been vocal this offseason as well. However, it’s his play in training camp that has me convinced he’s ready to take the next step. The Chiefs offense can use an extra weapon for the DC’s of the league to worry about, and Hardman offers the skill and speed to make it happen. His touchdown catch vs the Cardinals, falling down backwards as he picks the ball up before it hits the ground, is a perfect example. Kudos all around.

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That’s a wrap. Five players in five positions will make the Chiefs season a success. In which case, the Kansas City Football Club is going to have a very, very, very, very, very (that’s five “verys” right? Right!) good year. Even if just three out of five of these players excel this year, the Chiefs are going to be a much improved club!

Let me know what you think.

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David Bell – ArrowheadOne

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