K.C. Chiefs: Will All These Stars Align?
Will Justin Houston come back this year and really dominate? It’s only been 9 months since his arthroscopic knee surgery. Will Jamaal Charles be able to make it back before the playoffs begin? Dr. James Andrews trimmed his meniscus on November 2nd (and Ian Rapoport was told that JC has a chance to return this year and if he said it, it must be true). Will Tamba Hali’s bone-on-bone knees hold out long enough for the Chiefs to win a second AFC West title? He’s only won one in his 11-year career. Will the “stars” align in time for the Chiefs, and their fans, to realize a 46-year dream of another Super Bowl victory?
These Kansas City Chiefs have many moving pieces right now and most of that is due to injuries and the timing of players returning from those injuries. Starting CB Phillip Gaines has been out recovering from a problematic “knee” injury. Starting running back Spencer Ware also needs to completely heal from a concussion but is no longer in the concussion protocol. El numero uno wideout Jeremy Maclin needs to give a groin pull, time to fully repair. Both WR Chris Conley (quad) and ILB Derrick Johnson (hamstring) were only able to participate in light practice on Thursday. Perhaps the most important element in all the injury situations is head coach Andy Reid’s attitude towards those injuries because he usually likes to err on the side of caution and wait to bring players back from injury very, very slowly.
This is not just about getting players back from injury though. If the Chiefs are to make a legitimate run at a Super Bowl — and there’s no reason to think they can’t — then they will need everyone to be up and ready. The next-man-up mantra is quaint to the ear but it’s the Empty-Injury-Report that will make the most difference when calculating K.C.’s chances come playoff time.
With Spencer Ware and Jamaal Charles shuttling in and out of the backfield… Alex Smith apparently learning to use the pocket more… Kelce holding onto the ball, and his emotions… the offensive line jelling with Zach Fulton having taken over for rookie Parker Ehinger at LG… the offense could be lethal but more importantly, they could be hard enough to handle that when crunch-time comes in playoff games, they’ll be able to drive the ball down the field when they absolutely have to. There always seems to be one of “those” critical moments but the K.C. offense has come up short, as a rule of thumb. Now, it looks like they may have turned a corner… if all these stars align.
With Tamba Hali consistently getting an ample amount of rest… and Justin Houston’s self-projected dominance… and Dee Ford applying pressure like no one we’ve seen before (well… not since Justin Houston)… and with Ramik Wilson playing like Derrick Johnson and Marcus Peters is playing like, well, Marcus Peters… the Chiefs should be able to do some major damage in the playoffs… if all these stars align.
So, what do you think Chiefs fans? Will the “stars” align this year… or am I barking up the wrong galaxy?
