NSLU: Assessing Chiefs Assets and Needs

I thought to myself…. and then thought again. The mind is dangerous territory at times, such a poorly used compass. Then I thought again and I was beyond the pale: just what and who are the Chiefs assets for 2018? What are the weaknesses?

If I begin with the givens, I wanted to have a list of 12 play-makers and I then thought, they don’t have to be tops in any one position but totally solid. It’s my purview that the Chiefs have more than 12. I consider that any NFL team would have success and be competitive with such a number of proven players who contributed on offense or defense by providing stable play and also players who by their ability/talent/drive – to make plays. I see that the Chiefs have the competitors in the mix to be successful. The rest will depend on who emerges.

An Offense of Assets

• RB – Kareem Hunt
• TE – Travis Kelce
• WR – Tyreek Hill
• WR – Sammy Watkins
• OL – Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
• OL – Mitchell Schwartz

What’s Missing on Offense?

In this list, I left out Patrick Mahomes, QB – I believe his name will be added to the list during the 2018 season. Beyond Mahomes? If he is knocked out of multiple games or the season the Chiefs are in a sad situation. Not much can be said. At Running Back the depth improved with Veach adding players as he has done. I could logically add Fish – I think his play is well above average. Fish had a fall off in production in 2017 but I attribute that to the LG position and I fervently hope that this setback is momentary. No comment on living up to a #1 pick billing though. Bryan Witzmann and Parker Ehinger should work to earn the starting job for the season opener and we now know that Cam Erving is likely to be the opening day center.

Still, I do not regard the offensive line as a “great” weakness – it is not, though my concern level elevated today with news about Morse’s status. I am quite willing to go with the players for depth or swing roles and let the players decipher who it is who will emerge at LG as a starter.

Several writers have made decisions about the WR depth as being a problem. I am not one of those since I see emerging talent and have the belief that Chris Conley will be fine as the #3 WR. I delve into RBs after Hunt momentarily.

A Defense with Assets

• LOLB – Justin Houston
• ILB – Reggie Ragland
• ILB – Anthony Hitchens
• 34DE – Chris Jones
• SS – Eric Berry
• OCB – Kendall Fuller

What’s Missing on Defense

The Chiefs need a proven ROLB that makes plays. There is hope at this position. Ford needs to have a contract-proving-year, Breeland Speaks needs to burst onto the scene. A third player in the mix is Tanoh Kpassagnon. I do expect to see him emerge and get his opportunities with meaningful snaps on defense, though he remains an unknown factor. As Ransom covered on Wednesday, Frank Zombo needs to be returned to Special Teams where his play and leadership earmark his contribution.

Proven OCB #2 and FS were needs as the off-season began, especially considering the departure of Marcus Peters. This exposure will see David Amerson field the position. Two seasons ago he was one of the higher rated corners in the NFL. At the same time, there is talent emerging in the secondary: for example, Will Redmond. Amerson has at least been a solid player above basic journeyman and I expect him to return to that form with the mix of players that are now in-house. Will Redmond has the talent – if he can stay healthy, if that happens, the Chiefs secondary would add another ball hawk to the mix. In fact, I think Redmond’s talent is of the nature of an NFL starter at CB. I remain curious about Tremon Smith and want to see him work in pads.

At Free Safety we wait to see if Armani Watts can succeed out of the gate. I believe he will do so and take over the Free Safety duty as the early season progresses. Wait until camp to see if his tackling weakness is in “remission.” If so, then Will Redmond and also Tremon Smith and perhaps Leon McQuay will have the opportunity to find reps with Daniel Sorenson returning to his ‘hybrid’ role, with which he was deployed by Bob Sutton in 2016. Proven play by the ICB (slot) is needed. Steven Nelson will return and it is my view he will be able to master the interior CB role.

The secondary had it’s struggles in 2017 and ended up with a 18th or 19th in ranking by PFF.  With Eric Berry back plus the Free Agent and youth potential, I see the secondary as being a probable strong point. Playing press/man and cover-2 intermixed with heavy emphasis on the former, the Chiefs have a mix of players who will put a lot of pressure on the receivers. In Anthony Hitchens, you have an ILB who is good in dropping into coverage and I wrote about Ragland last year after watching his college film. Both can do the duty but at the same time they both are thumper run tacklers. I look forward to seeing this defense gel.

Stout on Sutton’s Secondary Hybridization

Craig Stout at AP had an article on Wednesday about Sutton and his banjo defense – an insightful piece about Sutton and the hybrid defensive coverages (the Banjo Effect). Keep in mind, the Chiefs were 5th in the NFL in defense against the long ball so with the additions off Fuller, Amerson, the return of Steven Nelson and adding in Watts and Redmond (again, my projection), I envision a successful employment of talent to do justice to what Stout considers to be the 2018 look for the secondary. Having nickel, dime and Dirty Dan in place, could do wonders. True, without Berry in the mix in 2017, the weakness that was exploited dealt with short and intermediate routes but not so much the edge. The article should be on your reading list. Here’s the link –> Banjo Coverage and the Chiefs

The Steven Nelson Update

Nelson was injured in 2017. It should be noted however, after all the influx of DBs in 2017, Nelson is earmarked to play the Slot. There are reasons for this but notably he can handle the work. He said this about the upcoming season “...I’m highly competitive. I’m an emotional player,” Nelson added. “Off the field I’m not like that, but on the field, it comes out and I think it takes my game to another level. It’s just that inner-fire coming out—the passion for the game when I’m out there between the lines. It’s just me against my opponent.”

Eric Berry observed this about Steven Nelson’s ability and character: “…Intensity and accountability…never does get the credit he deserves…  What he brings to the practice field and workouts, it’s crazy. He gets feisty. I call him, ‘Little Scrappy.’ He’s a scrappy little dude. He can get intense…“He demands the best out of himself and the best out of his teammates. I think that’s cool.”

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Nelson was very communicative in an interview with BJ Kissel of the Chiefs. I think one thing he said highlights why I think the secondary is going to be much improved: “It’s me just being highly competitive… It’s just being a football player and wanting to be physical on every play – not backing down from challenges. I think that’s the extra edge I bring to the game, being able to come up and make secure tackles.”

NT: Derrick Nnadi and Xavier Williams

NT has been my abiding concern with the front three. I regard Allen Bailey at least as a solid player, but NT will depend on almost immediately on Derrick Nnadi emerging with his run stopping talent and ability to occupy pass protection blocking Offensive linemen. I answered a survey by former Chiefs Offensive Lineman and Saint Will Shields who asked who would be the rookie to get largest number of snaps among the group? I answered Nnadi. I did consider Watts as well but I think Nnadi will find a home right away on the Chiefs front 3.

At the same time, Brett Veach engineered the acquisition of Xavier Williams. Williams has never been a full time starter but he has talent. I can see one positive – he is returning to his geographic roots and gives the Chiefs a second NT – something that was missing during Dontari Poe’s tenure and that factor ended up with Poe playing below his par and ultimately being released due to the workload he took on.

David Bell – back in the middle west

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