The preseason doesn’t matter. Oh-my-geez-Louise we’ve heard that one a thousand ka-gillion times. It basically means the games don’t count in the win-loss column of the regular season. We get that. But these games do count in other ways and now it appears that more than ever the Kansas City Chiefs preseason game 4 has revitalized implications for a number of position groups and very specifically for the number three quarterback.
Quarterbacks
We have been informed that Tyler Bray will be the first man up behind center on Thursday evening in Green Bay, Wisconsin… then Aaron Murray and lastly 5th round pick rookie Kevin Hogan. We’ve also been led to believe that Mr. Murray has been on the trading block and if that is the case the Packers game holds even more implications because that game essentially becomes a try-out for him for a number of teams who have already lost their starting quarterbacks this offseason. Unless big body/big armed Tyler Bray goes into a self-defeating implosion he should end up as the Chiefs third string QB ending a three-plus year battle with Aaron Murray. And Murray’s fate? He’s likely headed for the waiver wire if Johhny can’t pull the string on a trade for a late round pick. Since Andy Reid and John Dorsey like to give their rookies a longer chain to work with than one offseason to prove themselves, you can project that Hogan will either be placed on the practice squad or given some kind of IR designation for injuring his pinky in their battle at Arrowhead.
Wide Receivers
Who stays for this group of wide receivers will come down to a coin toss. Well, that might be a teensy-weensy bit of an oversimplification about the arduous task Andy Reid, John Dorsey and Staff have in front of them, for the first time in forever: How can they keep all these very talented wide receivers?
Offensive Line
Also… for the first time in many a year… the offensive line looks fairly settled and the fact that we’re not all clamoring about the offensive line is a refreshing change.
Corner Backs
What will be talked about is the cornerbacks grouping. Yes, there’s Marcus Peters. Then there’s Steven Nelson and Phillip Gaines and now Kenneth Acker, so who is there even room for after that? If you can make half the roster defensive backs then there’s no problem… and while Dorsey and Reid have been leading the way in putting an emphasis on the DBs, there’s just no way for some guys to make it through like Marcus Cooper or Jamell Fleming. I think they are likely gone next week. With this CB corp I keep going back and forth in my head about whether the JARD (John Andy Reid Dorsey) “rookies-stick” axiom holds true… or… if this year they are throwing all their cards into the middle of the table to make their run for the roses… err… the Super Bowl. Then… perhaps rookies have less of a chance? I don’t know, but we’re about to find out.
Outside Linebacking Pass Rushers
The current pulse of the team seems to be focused around the OLB pass rushers. Yes, the Chiefs missed out on Paul Kruger but even with that decision coming down from N.O.-land, it appears John Dorsey is primed to pounce on the next big thing — and by next big thing I mean, a pass-rushing OLB — to get cut by his team next week. Watching that ought to be juicy.
The Last Gasp
Yes, this last preseason games appears to have many little baby-jewels hidden amongst the reeds. Like this past weekend, I suspect that John Dorsey and Andy Reid will make their cuts at two different times. Once the day after the last preseason game, on Friday, to allow certain players who may have the best chance of getting picked up (players they’re sure they can’t keep), the opportunity to do so. Then, of course, the last group all together… including the players they know they are conflicted about, would like to keep, but can’t find a place to either hide them or justify keeping them.
What do you think Chiefs fans? Are we all about to be an auspicious audience with front-row, and center, seats to the best NFL GM high-stakes poker game ever? That’s how it feels from here… and I like it! Plus, once this is all done with, we’ll all know who the 2016 Kansas City Chiefs will be. Finally! So, how about you? Can you feel it? I think… “There’s something in the air.”