Paul Pulley

Chiefs Roll Call: A New Look Offense with Very Few Changes

LadnerMorse April 18, 2018 No Comments

 

 

 

 

A New Look Offense

With Very Few Changes 

・By Paul Pulley

 

 

 

The 2018 Kansas City Chiefs offense should start the season with very few changes to the starting lineup. Two major changes will be at quarterback and wide receiver. With QB Alex Smith being traded to the Washington Redskins, he will be replaced by 2017 first round draft pick Patrick Mahomes II. The Chiefs second leading wide receiver from 2017, Albert Wilson, was lost to free agency and will be replaced with free agent acquisition Sammy Watkins.

 

The 2017 Chiefs became only the second team in NFL annals to have a 4000 yard passer, a 1000 yard rusher, a 1000 yard receiving WR and a 1000 yard receiving TE. With three of the players involved in this record, Kareem Hunt, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, still on the roster, it will be interesting to see if this feat can be duplicated.

 

Note: the ages of all following players is adjusted to 09/01/2018

 

 

An Overview of the Current Chiefs Offensive Roster

The Quarterbacks for 2018 include:

  • 22 year old Patrick Mahomes II-  6-2—230, the Chiefs traded up in last years draft to select PMII, making his transition to starting QB inevitable. Mahomes showed enough starting week 17 last year that the Chiefs are comfortable moving forward with him as the starter for the foreseeable future.
  • 33 year old Chad Henne-  6-3—222, a second round draft pick in 2008, Henne has 53 starts in his career but all prior to 2015, the past three seasons, Henne has two pass attempts with zero completions.
  • 28 year old Matt McGloin-  6-1—210, a 2013 UDFA, McGloin has attempted 277 passes as a second and third string QB for the Oakland Raiders.

 

It has been stated that HC Andy Reid prefers going to camp with at least 4 QBs, so I believe the Chiefs will either select a QB with a late draft pick or will sign another QB as an UDFA.

 

The 2018 Running Backs include:

  • 23 year old Kareem Hunt-  5-10—216, the Chiefs traded up in round three of last years draft to select Hunt. Hunt finished the season leading the NFL with 1327 rushing yards, while averaging only 18 carries per game. Hunt also added 455 yards receiving. Hunt will no doubt be the starting RB in 2018.
  • 26 year old Spencer Ware-  5-10—229, Ware was a 6th round draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks, Ware was the starting RB for the 2016 Chiefs but suffered a knee injury in pre-season last year that placed him on IR. If Ware is able to return from his injury, the Chiefs will have a very good duo of RBs with Ware giving Hunt a breather.
  • 27 year old Charcandrick West-  5-10—205, signed by the Chiefs as an UDFA in 2014, West has primarily served as a backup and third down back. West doesn’t provide much in the rushing game but is a decent receiver out of the backfield.
  • 29 year old Anthony Sherman-  5-10—242, Sherman was drafted in the 5th round of 2011 by the Arizona Cardinals and acquired by trade in 2013. Sherman has since served as the Chiefs fullback and special teams ace.
  • 25 year old Akeem Hunt-  5-10—185, going undrafted in 2015, Hunt has bounced around some before being signed by the Chiefs last September. Showing little as a rusher and even less as a receiver, I will be surprised if Hunt is still on the team after cut-downs this fall.
  • 26 year old Damien Williams-  5-11—224, signed by the Miami Dolphins as an UDFA in 2014, Williams appears to have limited rushing ability but seems to be an excellent receiver out of the backfield. Signed by the Chiefs as a free agent this spring, it will be interesting to see if Williams can supplant West on the depth chart, a move that would save the Chiefs about $700K in cap space.
  • 27 year old Kerwynn Williams- a 7th round draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2013, spending most of his rookie season on the Colts and then the Chargers practice squads. He spent 2014 through 2017 with the Arizona Cardinals, being released and resigned a number of times. He has less than 1000 career rushing yards and has only caught 15 passes for 126 yards in his career. He signed a 1 year contract with the Chiefs for 2018.

 

 

 

 

A Look at the Tight Ends:

  • 28 year old Travis Kelce-  6-5—260, drafted by the Chiefs in round 3 of 2013, Kelce has become one of the best TEs in the NFL. It will be interesting to see if Kelce can eclipse 1000 yards receiving for the third consecutive year.
  • 27 year old Demetrius Harris-  6-7—230, signed by the Chiefs in 2013 as an UDFA, Harris continuously surprises fans be remaining on the roster. While Harris has improved, he still has a drop rate of almost 50%.
  • 26 year old Jace Amaro-  6-5—265, a prolific receiving TE out of Texas Tech, Amaro was drafted by the New York Jets in round 2 of 2014. Amaro hasn’t seen much playing time as a pro while battling injuries and sat out 2017 seemingly healthy. This will likely be his last chance to prove he can produce in the NFL.
  • 27 year old Orson Charles-  6-3—247, drafted in the 4th round of 2012 by the Cincinnati Bengals, Charles has bounced around mostly on practice squads. Signed by Kansas City last spring, Charles made the active roster in late November. He is essentially a backups backup.
  • 23 year old Anthony Firkser-  6-2—241, signed by the New York Jets as a 2017 UDFA, Firkser signed a reserve/future deal with the Chiefs this year.
  • 28 year old Timothy Wright-  6-4—220, a 2013 UDFA, Wright had 54 catches for 571 yards as a rookie, which is over 60% of his career production. Spending 2016 on IR and 2017 out of football, Wright is probably a long shot to make the team.

 

 

Unless Jace Amaro can revive his collegiate production, it still looks as if Harris is the second best tight end on the current roster.

 

 

 

The Offensive Line Returns all of Their Starters:

  • 29 year old Mitchell Schwartz-  6-5—320, drafted in the 2nd round in 2012 by the Cleveland Browns, Schwartz signed with the Chiefs in 2016 after playing out his rookie contract. Considered one of the best offensive tackles in the league, Schwartz will be in his 3rd season as Kansas City’s right tackle.
  • 27 year old Eric Fisher-  6-7—315, Fisher was the first overall draft pick by the Chiefs in 2013. Seemingly the best player in the weakest draft class ever, Fisher has become a solid, although unspectacular left tackle, struggling against the best pass rushers in the league.
  • 26 year old Mitch Morse-  6-6—305, drafted in round 2 of 2015 by the Chiefs, Morse was named the starting center as a rookie and has played very well when available. Morse had a couple concussions his rookie season and then missed several games last year to a foot injury and finished the season on IR. Morse is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will be wanting to have his best season to date.
  • 27 year old Laurent Duvernay-Tardif-  6-5—321, drafted by the Chiefs in round 6 in 2014, he became a starter in his second year. LDT has become one of the better offensive guards in the NFL, playing RG for the Chiefs, which earned him a 5 year contract extension last year.
  • 25 year old Parker Ehinger-  6-6—310, drafted in the 4th round in 2016 by Kansas City, Ehinger won the starting LG role as a rookie, but tore an ACL halfway through the year. Ehinger didn’t play at all last year until week 17 when he started RG in place of LDT.
  • 28 year old Bryan Witzmann-  6-7—320, a 2014 UDFA, Witzmann will be in his 3rd year as a Chief. Witzmann was Kansas City’s starting LG in 2017 and will be competing for that same role this year.
  • 30 year old Jordan Devey-  6-6—320, a 2013 UDFA, Devey is also entering his 3rd year as a Chief. Devey has played quite a bit on special teams and was the starting center week 17 last year. After having a few miscues early, he settled down and had a decent game. His role will be reserve interior line and backup center.
  • 26 year old Cameron Erving–  6-5—313, Erving was a 1st round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2015 and acquired by the Chiefs last fall for this years 5th round pick. Erving’s career to date hasn’t been very spectacular but he played well at LT week 17. The Chiefs should have to make a decision soon on whether or not to exercise Erving’s 5th year option.

 

Interesting Note About Erving: he was drafted with a draft pick Cleveland acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills the previous year (2014) when the Bills traded up to select Sammy Watkins.

 

  • 24 year old Andrew Wylie-  6-6—310, a 2017 UDFA, Wylie has been on several teams practice squads before being added to the Chiefs practice squad late last year and signed a reserve/future deal for 2018.
  • 24 year old Dillon Gordon-  6-4—322,  signed in 2016 as a UDFA by the Philadelphia Eagles as a blocking TE, the Eagles switched him to OL where he stayed for almost two years. After being released late last year, the Chiefs signed him to their practice squad. Gordon signed a reserve/future deal for 2018.
  • 25 year old Kaleb Johnson-  6-4—300, a 2015 UDFA, Johnson has been on a few practice squads but was out of football for most of 2017. Johnson signed a reserve/future contract for 2018.

 

 

The Wide Receivers: One Major Newcomer

  • 24 year old Tyreek Hill-  5-10—185, drafted by Kansas City in the 5th round of 2016, Hill is one of the fastest players in the NFL. Along with world class speed, Hill has uncanny ball tracking skills. Coming into his 3rd season, if Hill can expand his route tree, along with his speed and good hands, he will be one of the elite WRs in the game.
  • 25 year old Sammy Watkins-  6-1—211, a 1st round (4th overall) draft pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2014, Watkins has made some spectacular catches in his short career. While battling injuries the last two seasons, Watkins production has been disappointing considering his draft status. A speedy receiver with an unlimited route tree and good hands, Watkins should be excited to work with a QB that can make every throw. 
  • 25 year old Chris Conley-  6-3—205, drafted by the Chiefs in the 3rd round of 2015, Conley is tall, fast and holds the NFL Combine record with a 45 inch vertical. Conley tore an achilles in early October last year, so his availability for this off-season is questionable. If healthy, Conley should be the third WR for the Chiefs and his skill set should match up well with Mahomes as the QB.
  • 24 year old Demarcus Robinson-  6-1—203, a 2016 4th round pick by Kansas City, Robinson has been stellar on special teams. Not very fast (4.59 40) and plagued by drops early in his career, Robinson will need to work hard to get much playing time as a WR.
  • 24 year old Jehu Chesson-  6-2—204, drafted by the Chiefs in the 4th round last year, Chesson has decent speed (4.47 40) and good agility (4.09 short shuttle and 6.7 3 cone drill). Chesson is known for his ball tracking and ability to bring in contested catches.
  • 25 year old De’Anthony Thomas-  5-8—176, drafted in the 4th round of 2014 by the Chiefs, Thomas is fast with decent hands. Known as an all-purpose player (wide receiver, kick and punt returner, plus running back) Thomas is better suited as a reserve for all those roles, with the majority of his production for the Chiefs coming as a kick returner. Thomas signed a 1 year contract for 2018.
  • 24 year old Daniel Braverman-  5-10—185, drafted in round 7 of 2016 by the Chicago Bears, Braverman spent most of his rookie year on the practice squad, then was released last year during team cut-downs. Braverman was a productive slot receiver in college. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Chiefs this year.
  • 25 year old Gehrig Dieter-  6-2—208, a 2017 UDFA, Dieter spent last year on the Chiefs practice squad. He is signed to a reserve/future contract.
  • 23 year old Marcus Kemp-  6-4—210, a 2017 UDFA, Kemp spent most of last year on the practice squad. Kemp was active week 6 for the Steelers game. He played 8 snaps on offense but recorded no stats. Kemp is signed through 2018.
  • 24 year old Brandon Shippen-  5-11—196, Shippen was signed by the Miami Dolphins as a UDFA in 2016 but was cut at the end of camp. He spent last off-season with the LA Rams but was cut after pre-season. He is signed to a reserve/future deal with the Chiefs.
  • 25 year old Nelson Spruce-  6-1—210, a 2016 UDFA, Spruce spent 2016 and the 2017 off-season with the LA Rams before being waived/injured. He was on the Chicago Bears practice squad for part of last year. Spruce has yet to play in a NFL game. He signed a one year contract  with Kansas City for 2018.

 

 

This is a very young group of receivers but there is a ton of potential. Hill should continue to improve and we can expect good things from Watkins. If Conley returns from his injury he might get more opportunities this year. Chesson could end up as the number 4 receiver and Kemp may have a good chance of making the 53.

 

The running backs are deep and competition will be exciting during camp. Kareem Hunt may be the only player guaranteed to make the team at this time. If a couple of the newcomers look good, both Ware and West could end up as cap casualties. I should add that unless a replacement is drafted, Sherman is likely a lock to make the team.

 

The offensive line is basically unchanged from last year with the exception of Zach Fulton’s departure. Whether or not the Chiefs draft an OL,  the starting five are likely already on the team.

 

There isn’t any question as to who will be the starting QB. Most of us have realized that Mahomes would be the 2018 starter since the 2017 draft. Any competition at quarterback will be between the backups.

 

Tight End is the most disappointing group on offense. Kelce is the best TE currently in the NFL, but behind him we are still incredibly weak. If a decent TE isn’t drafted we will need to hope that Amaro can meet his pre-draft expectations or we will be seeing Harris on the field way too often.

 

 

What do you think? Can this offense be special? “Greatest Show on Turf” special?

 

 

 

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