Chiefs: Sorting Things Out

David Bell

As I consider that the first of three Pre-Season Games is now only 5 days away, the word through Monday is that the team is looking good. There are the occasional glitches but the news brought to light the fact that Mike Danna(DL) had returned to practice after a brief outage. Andy Reid stated that Sneed was improving. I really don’t know what to expect to hear about Powell.

The Injury Report After Monday’s Session

.

.

Fortson, Powell, and Sneed were out. Toney isn’t ready and CJ is still absent. I’d say the Chiefs are in fortuitous circumstances in the injury category. I should observe that CEH was absent for two camp days due to illness prior to Monday’s practice.

.

It’s a PREP Week, It’s Not About August 13th Either

It’s not a game that counts until the season begins. We will see what the players do in pre-season games. However, the reality is that the Chiefs are honing in on September 7th. By August 30th, the player cutdown will occur and the 53-man roster will be set. What is the ultimate aim? Cohesion on both sides of the ball. Or it’s back to the 3-C’s time. What I see is everything between now and 30 days from now is aimed at the game versus the Lions.

.

NFL Image credit

.

Sorting Things Out!

Young players, rookies, and Chiefs Newcomers are pitting their skills and hoping to get a chance to make a statement that will earn them a final roster spot. Both Laddie and I made our projection about the roster more than a week ago. Things are going to be interesting over the next three weeks. My abiding concern has been noted and Laddie also has the same position group as his concern –> The DL. Neither of us is fretting about the WR Corps. This group has a shot at being one of the best the Chiefs have fielded since forever. I am especially pleased to see Skyy Moore’s participation in the training camp. He and PM II are working in tight tandem and it’s evident to all who follow the Chiefs:

.

.

Toney will return to action, most likely by week 6. If a player goes down, the WR Cadre can step up and in – it’s a very deep position group. I also feel that Marquez Valdes-Scantling is going to have a significantly improved year two in the Chief’s offense and this has been evident during camp. He has also taken on the role of mentoring Justyn Ross. At this point, the competition for the WR group is heating up. Justin Watson, Rashee Rice, and Nikko Remigio have had highlight film notices.

.

Sorting Out Chris Jones

Chris Jones holdout is costly to himself, and now the Chiefs. It is now bringing to the front lobe of my brain the Ty Hill Saga. Jones is under contract as was Hill. Could it be that Brett Veach & Company engineer another massive trade? It’s possible. To be truthful as all get out, I don’t think that will happen. My problem with CJ’s holdout relates to his game-playing shape and the effect on his being ready to roll come September 7th. Already, the Chief’s Defense is going to be short Charles Omenihu for six games. I am uncomfortable with that but not to the point of fear. There is an emerging talent on the defensive Interior, Rookie Keondre Coburn. This would be a great time to see him shine.

.

.

Now is the time for other players such as Malik Herring, Turk Wharton, Keondre Coburn, or Josh Kaindoh to really get their game to the highest level possible. We might see an expanded role for Mike Danna at the same time as another example. It will be interesting to see how Joe Cullen responds to the situation come opening day.

My Hope is that CJ’s situation is resolved well before the season begins. That’s about all I can say. Farzin Vousoughian posted that the CJ holdout is officially two weeks old in a tweet this morning.

.

.

.

As for myself? I hope Jones to play his entire career with the Chiefs, calling to mind the number of times that CJ has verbalized that this is his desire as well. Recall that when Jones was drafted, he was my target for going to get him in the draft and former GM John Dorsey did indeed select him. The downgrade from scouts around the NFL was this list of concerns:

.

• He took plays off
• Jones is a classic underachiever
• Some questioned his passion for the game

.

.

I think I watched Jones in seven full games or more at the time of the draft and pooh-poohed the view noted about.

I am not the only one to think about the Chiefs trading Chris Jones. Over at Arrowhead Addict this morning, Greg Morse published an article called: “What could a Chris Jones trade bring in return for KC Chiefs?” speculating about what such a trade might bring to the Chiefs.

Lacking Charles?

When Veach signed Charles Omenihu, I applauded the acquisition and he is practicing as of Monday. His suspension is not active until the first game of the season. My thought was that he would become a perfect counterpart to CJ on the interior, and had the feet to move outside when called up. I still believe that is true which is another reason that I think CJ’s holdout remains an abiding concern. At present, we are hearing good things about Malik Herring and Keondre Coburn and Turk Wharton is making noise with the “ones” on Monday. Right now, Joe Cullen is sitting with the DL Minus two players. I am a bit ill at ease about the DL for the reasons observed. There is nothing to be done about the Omenihu suspension, save a successful appeal So despite my rejoinder below, things are not all sunshine and unicorns — but it is not an abiding gloomy, looming concern to my mind for the DL. The Chief’s Roster will step up and in!

The Road to the Super Bowl is a tough one — made doubly so because it would entail a “Repeat”, something that hasn’t been done since 2004. As I observed Sunday, the Chief’s players are practicing with intensity — the heat of competition has been turned on to full blast.

It’s all good stuff. What, Me Worry?

.

Image courtesy of the Berkshire Edge

.

Not really.

The Sorting Out is a storyline that will last until the season begins. Sure, there are uncertainties and concerns. The players determine the outcome over the next 3 weeks. The Chiefs have a ferocious Crew to do the sorting. Fear and Trepidation are not in my vocabulary for the Chiefs.

.

Sorting Things Out – Gettle Photography

.

This is a great time to be a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and it appears to me that such joy will last many years! My last note is that I think the Chiefs have a good chance to go 15-2. Ladner and I were talking about this over the weekend. He predicts 14-3. Either way, the Chiefs will make everybody else shoot to knock KC off its square in post-season play. I say go for it! Let the fun begin!

.

David Bell — ArrowheadOne

.