Kansas City Chiefs: State of the Union
by Laddie Morse | January 28, 2019
For your information, I did not have to ask permission before doing my State of the Union address, if that’s what you’re wondering. However, now that the season has actually come to an end for our Kansas City Chiefs, it’s time for the State of the Union.
Beginning with Quarterbacks
93. I’ll give Patrick Mahomes a 93 out of 100. Don’t panic. You have to understand that as a former school instructor, I don’t believe in perfection so 100 is out of the question. Any score over 90 in my book is superlative. The 93 allows for room to grow and since the Chiefs… and Patrick Mahomes… were not perfect this season… 93 leaves plenty room to make improvements. You also have to consider that these Chiefs don’t have Steve Young backing up Mahomes, or anyone who is anywhere near to that. So, if you look at the depth of the position that way, 93 is generous.
QB Needs: I’d like to see Chase Litton take over backup duties for Chad Henne.
Running Backs
85. Damien WIlliams is no Kareem Hunt but Darrel Williams and Spencer Ware help to make up a formidable trio even though they are not among the league’s best groupings. Strength is more in the receiving department than running between the tackles.
RB Needs: a replacement for Kareem Hunt should be in the plans during the offseason.
Wide Receivers
88. Tyreek Hill is the fastest wideout in the NFL. He’s learned to run great routes but can be shut down with scheme and personnel, vis-a-vis: Patriots. Sammy Watkins is potential untapped. Could be much better if he can stay healthy. Chris Conley will likely have to be replaced. His physical prowess was never really exploited. Demarcus Robinson has a positive report with Mahomes and will be kept.
WR Needs: A third option behind Hill and Watkins is needed and could be attained in the draft as this is a very good draft for lower round wideouts.
All the Tight Ends
89. It’s hard to give this group of TEs a score lower than that when it includes the best in the NFL. Demetrius Harris has run his course and is holding this offense back but the upside of Travis Kelce makes this offense go and provides Patrick Mahomes the essential target he needs to control the middle of the field. I didn’t find out that Deon Yelder was even on the roster until a month ago. I know… you’re going, “Who the heck is Deon Yelder?” He’s our 3rd TE… oh by the way.
TE Needs: There are several good tight ends in the coming NFL draft but other needs may outweigh the chance for the Chiefs to acquire a needed quality backup to Kelce.
The Offensive Tackles
82. While RT Mitchell Schwartz deserves a higher grade, LT Eric Fisher has remained an above average LT… even though he made the Pro Bowl this year. Accolades are one thing, accomplishment is another.
OT Needs: While is would be great for the Chiefs to add one of the many tackles available in the draft, Schwartz & Fisher are the likely starting pair again in 2019.
The Interior Linemen
78. Since all three interior positions were manned by at least two different linemen throughout the season, there’s not way they can get a higher score. Yes, the did admirably, but I have to give Patrick Mahomes kudos for feeling the pocket collapsing — which was more than often enough up the middle — and then adjusting his path.
IL Needs: We don’t know how far away (how long it will be) Kahlil McKenzie is from being able to take a starting job away from what will likely be Cam Erving at LG. Mitch Morse was out a major chunk of the season and this was not the first tim that happened. Same goes for RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. So, the Chiefs would be wise to make an investment in keeping their prize QB upright by drafting a solid interior lineman.
The Outside Linebackers
87. This is not what we dreamed about when Dee Ford was drafted. We thought that Houston would still be racking up between 15 to 20 sacks per and Ford would be not far behind. Then reality kicks in and we’re left with this: the best year any two pass rushers have had for the Chiefs since DT and Neil. It was very good at times… and at time it disappeared.
OLB Needs: finding excellent pass rushers is the second hardest task a GM has right behind finding an excellent QB. If there’s a wonderful option out there, the Chiefs should pursue it… but that’s not likely so, I’d expect Ford to return. Probably on a Franchise Tag.
The Defensive Ends
81. While Chris Jones has become one of the best defensive ends in the NFL… when is comes to rushing the passer, he needs to improve his ability to stop the run. Allen Bailey’s contract is up and while he’s had some positive moments this year, there’s no way he’s worth the $8M the Chiefs paid him in 2018. If he wants to come back at a much reduced rate he could be useful. He turns 30 in March. ….
DE Needs: the defensive line is a target area this offseason and if the Chiefs can find another excellent DE like Chris Jones they’ll be fortunate. That player will probably come through the draft instead of FA.
The Defensive Tackles
66. Derrick Nnadi improved as the season progressed but Xavier Williams was pretty much a non-factor. If you have to lay the burden of being one of the worst run defenses at the feet of one position group, it would be the DTs. Not only could the DTs be moved around easily by offenses in this league but, so could the ILBs.
DT Needs: defensive tackles and defensive end are both on my most wanted list for the Chier this offseason. Great DTs and DEs are plentiful in this draft but so are the teams needing players are those positions. The CHiefs will be fortunate if one of the great one’s fall to them.
The Inside Linebackers
67. With a new Sheriff in town, Steve Spagnuolo, the combination of Reggie Ragland and Anthony Hitchens may have seen it’s last sunset. One or the other could be on his way out the door and for good reason. Those two were hyped as much as any pair of position players for the Chiefs prior to the season but failed miserably. NO need to look too far when assessing blame for a porous run defense because these two were a day late and a dollar short on most plays involving the run. If I had to choose which duo was worse… Hitchens-Ragland or Nnadi-X-man… I’d go with the DTs… but not by much.
ILB Needs: if there’s a dynamics, intuitive, tough and speedy ILB to draft or sign… I’d love to see the Chiefs do that. I’m thinking it’s unlikely that Veach gets another permission slip signed by the principal to spend more big bucks on another ILB, because he already did that last offseason, so my hopes are not high for that to happen. However, I am hoping a new DC bringing in a new scheme makes the ILBs look — and more importantly, operate — much better in 2019.
The Cornerbacks
73. Kendall Fuller and Steven Nelson were pretty good — in moments — throughout the season. Charvarius Ward came on at the end of the year. Moving Orlando Scandrick to the bench was a positive even though he was replaced by a small college UDFA rookie. While the running game was dismal, the pass defense was better but not by much. This group may have been the most affected group because of Bob Sutton’s play calling.
CB Needs: the corners looked like they were playing better late in the season and Carvarius Ward was essential to that improvement. Fuller, Nelson, Ward and Tremon Smith could be an above average corp in 2019. However, if the Chiefs can draft a top flight large-body CB who can step right in and produce, this group can go from middle of the pack to top 12.
The Safety Position
66. The real Achilles heel of the defensive backfield was the Safety position (no pun intended). As bad as the DTs and the ILBs played was only matched by the poor play of the Safeties. Going forward… if… Mr. Day-to-Day is able to return to form… and… if Jordan Lucas can take another step forward…. the two starters appear solid. The return of Armani Watts should help the rotation. He looked like he was coming into his own when he got hurt. Middle of the pack assessment… and solid. It’s time to jettison: Eric Murray and Dirty Daniel Sorensen.
Safety Needs: if a Safety can be signed in FA then the Chiefs need that to happen. The first few years Reid came to KC he had, signed some very good Safeties and there’s no reason that can’t happen now. It needs to happen now.
The Special Teams
83. This was a down year for the Special Teams unit. That may be because the “athletes” Dave Toub had to choose from were not as good as they were in season’s past.
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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