When it comes to the Kansas City Chiefs, we’ve all got issues. I know I’ve got issues. I’m sure you have issues too. No? Yeah, you do! Let’s jump into to some of those issues and see where we disagree… or if by some miracle, we agree.
EXCUSE YOU… but I liked John Dorsey
It’s been a couple of months ago, or so, since Clark Hunt cut ties with the best general manager the Chiefs have had… maybe ever. I know his strength wasn’t managing the cap situation but I’m not someone who believes that head coach Andy Reid is the primary person responsible for the growth of the team over the past four-plus seasons. I don’t need to be told I’m crying over spilt milk but, it won’t surprise me to find out, down the road, that the Chiefs new GM, Brett Veach, is not as good at putting a team together as Dorsey has been.
I don’t approve of the way John Dorsey released Jeremy Maclin or the fact that he allowed Jamaal Charles to go without offering a reduced contract but here’s the problem I do have with all that: if CEO Clark Hunt had set up the organizational structure so that all three of the principle characters — the owner, the GM and the HC — all had to approve any personnel deals before they were made… why would Maclin or JC been released to begin with? John Dorsey would have had to be out of control and more importantly, out of the control of the owner, for Hunt to think he had to be fired. He decided to move on from Dorsey, and that’s obviously his call, but any employee who was doing as good a job in as many areas as Dorsey was… sounds like an employee you can work with to make the proper changes. That Hunt felt he could not longer work with Dorsey, seems out of line to me. As they say, the Boss is always right. Right? Not in my world.
EXCUSE YOU… the Chiefs win 10+ games
Many fans are predicting that the Chiefs will take a step backwards this season to the point that they only win 9 games. They begin by citing the fact that the team has one of the hardest schedules this year based on strength of schedule (SOS). In fact, the Chiefs have the second hardest SOS. Well, since the Chiefs played a tough schedule in 2016 and won 12 games, then winning at least 10 games with a tough schedule is in order. Right. Well, it doesn’t really work that way and as far as I’m concerned having a winning record doesn’t really depend so much on the SOS. In 2013, the Chiefs had the 28th most difficult SOS and won 11 games. The next season, 2014, they won 9 games with a #7 SOS. However, in 2015 they won 11 games with another #7 SOS. Last year? 12 wins with a #16 SOS. While there might be a slight correlation between the number of games you win and the number of games opponents won in the previous season, I’m sure if you asked Chargers fans or Browns fans if that was the case, they’d tell you someone still owes them a win or two… or ten. I see no reason why the Chiefs can’t win at least ten game in 2017.
EXCUSE YOU… Girls, & Boys, Just Wanna Have Fun
NFL owners seemed to have forgotten that football is a game… and games are for fun and entertainment. New league rules were supposed to be relaxed concerning player’s post-TD celebrations but I’m afraid that was a ruse. Section 3 on Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Article 1 (Prohibited Acts), Sentences (e) and (f) state that the following are prohibited activities,
“e) Prolonged or excessive celebrations or demonstrations by an individual player or multiple players.
f) Using any object as a prop, or possessing any foreign or extraneous object(s) that are not part of the uniform on the field or the sideline during the game, other than the football after a scoring play or change of possession.”
Eric Berry will no longer be able to hand the ball to his mother… is the way I’m reading that. That’s using the ball as a “prop” to celebrate. To come up with a rule like that, you have to have rocks in your head… or heart, as the case may be. I guess he also can’t do his bow and arrow move either… because that would be too “threatening” as stated in sentence “b.”
The league owners are ruining the NFL game. I can’t tell you how many times I said that to myself during a Chiefs game last season. I can understand why fans are turning away from the game. Some argue that the reason for decreased attendance last season was the attention people were giving the election. In a game where the owners don’t allow the players to celebrate freely, I can see why players are bummed. I’ve suggested celebration zones on either side of the end zone where scoring players and their team mates could go to celebrate while the game proceeds. I’ve watched NFL games in seven different decades and this game looks a whole lot different than it was then. Yes, some changes have been for the better, like helmet and facemask innovations, but other changes have made the game of football unwatchable for many people.
EXCUSE YOU… but ILB will be the toughest cutdowns
Let’s say the Chiefs keep five ILBs for the 2017 season… they did last year. 1) We know that Derrick Johnson will be on board. 2) Ramik Wilson, who bailed the team out there last year should be the other starter. He has been for most of camp so far. 3) Ukeme Eligwe should get DJ Alexander’s old spot holding down the Special Teams fort. Plus, Reid rarely cuts his rookies (unless they’re as bad as KeiVarae Russell). 4) Speaking of DJ Alexander, the Chiefs just traded him for Kevin Pierre-Louis who has been doing well in his short time on the team. I doubt they cut a guy they thought enough of to trade for him. 5) Justin March-Lillard was last year’s starter next to DJ and as long as he’s healthy he is presumed to get a spot on the 53. 6) Josh Mauga was brought back to the team recently and he knows Sutton’s system well. I’m betting on him. 7) Terrance Smith found the field last year and had his moments. Someone, or two, have to go, but I can’t imagine letting any of these guys walk.
It’s feast or famine. Last year the Chiefs couldn’t keep two healthy ILBs on he field at the same time for more than three games at a time. This year there’s a plethora and I won’t be at all surprised to see an ILB who gets cut ending up playing right away for another team. While WRs, DBs, and RBs present difficult cutdown day questions, to me. none will be as difficult as ILB.
Now it’s your tun to sounds off.
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