Let’s get this party started with the K.C. Chiefs season preview.
K.C. Chiefs Season Preview Overview:
This franchise turned things around in a hurry. A proud job by this organization in the offseason of 2013. No one improved more. Unfortunately, no team had a worse offseason this time around. Their salary cap is a fustercluck as McCluster, Albert and three other starting linemen had to bail due to cap concerns. And the Chiefs draft was the worst thing this side of the Detroit Lions, who made the bone-headed decision to draft a tight end, who no one had even heard of until the combine with the 10th overall selection.
The Raiders front office did everything they could to change things, as we had yet another last place finish in the home of M.C. Hammer. But they overpaid out bad contracts to aging dudes, so they’ll be in the basement. Denver is the class of the division, and the conference, so it’s between the Chiefs and Chargers to battle it out for AFC West second banana.
K.C. Chiefs Season Preview Offense:
I do like the 5th round pick of Aaron Murray; not just this year. i think he’ll be a sleeper star QB down the line. Drafting the speedster from Southern California in the 4th round out of Oregon, the guy who TWEETS EVERY SINGLE TWEET IN ALL CAPS, is a steal of a pick too. Because HE’S VERSATILE AND CAN PLAY NUMEROUS POSITIONS, HE’S QUICK, AND HE YELLS at you in social media.
Passing the ball was a problem last year. However, if Alex Smith gets to face the Indianapolis Colts playoff game secondary, he’ll be just fine as he tore them up. Jamaal Charles is a stud, and he/the Chiefs are one of a rare breed in the NFL- a run first team.
K.C. Chiefs Season Preview Defense:
When you’re 25th in the NFL in pass defense, you’re going to lose some games. Especially in today’s NFL; and in this division every secondary is towards the bottom of the rankings. The Chiefs did not lose a lot of games though. They have a bend but don’t break defense that was among the best in the league in takeaways. Some of that was controlled habits and should be expected to carry over in 2014. Some of it was luck, and then makes those points allowed statistics kind of smoke and mirrors.
Linebacker Joe Mays is their only major addition, and he should supplement a fearsome pass rush. I’m thinking this will be the strength of the team in 2014.
K.C. Chiefs Season Preview Bottom Line:
Power ranking of 12. It’s inevitable they take a step back this year. Unless Alex Smith somehow develops more into that guy who was picked #1 overall/lit up the weak Colts secondary in the postseason. Are they the K.C. masterpiece that started 9-0 or the scrubs that finished 2-6? The answer is somewhere in between. They’re still good, there’s no denying that, but I’m thinking 10-6 is your ceiling with 8-8 or 9-7 probably most likely. I think the Chargers will leapfrog them this year.
Paul M. Banks owns The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports and Yahoo! He’s been a guest on news talk shows all across the world. He’s also a special contributor to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Banks has been featured in numerous media outlets including NFL.com, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Deadspin, ESPN, NBC, CBS, the History Channel and more. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)