Why are the Chiefs so underestimated?

by Vince D on Jul 22, 2008 10:20 PM CDT

Most of the predictions I see about the Chiefs this year say that they not only won't make the playoffs, but they won't even be a .500 team. What makes people think that?

Yeah, last year was pretty bad... but we also had our star running back injured, an offensive line in shambles, and a competition at the quarterback position. This year, the offensive line is in place (with limited "projects" too) which is already a huge upgrade, a healthy running back with a 3rd round pick to back him up, and a quarterback that can scramble (at least compared to Huard and Green). So why aren't the Chiefs playoff contenders? Because we are "young"?

Not to mention that the defense has improved every year dramatically, with more signs of improving. And with targets like Gonzales, Johnson, and Bowe, how bad do they think Croyle is gonna be?

Anyone else have opinions on this?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

0 recs | Comment 14 comments

Story-email Email | Print |

Comments

Because

The OL is NOT set. They might have the same left tackle, or hand it over to a rookie who played guard in college. Their right tackle will be the other one of the two. Their star running back is sitting back on his mega deal that he signed…wait for it…right before he started sucking and getting hurt (yes, blame the line for that too…no sarcasm intended). They do not have a proven quarterback, nor a young stud, a la Green Bay this year or San Diego last year (2 years ago?).

Croyle has yet to be given more than about 1.3 seconds per play to throw the ball, so you are correct…we do not know if he can do it. There is a new offense being installed, so we have no idea, as fans, if LJ is going to be getting the ball a ton, if they are going to target Tony G (their best receiver at the moment), or if they are going to look for Bowe and ???? with approximately 30 games of experience between the whole WR corps.

On top of that, the best player on last year’s team, minus their PUNTER, was traded in the offseason. If you’re looking for reasons to be not so excited about this season…there are many.

by stlfan on Jul 22, 2008 10:42 PM CDT 0 recs

Reasons for me

The fact that Eric Dickerson is about the only player in NFL history to take carries like LJ and have anything that resembles a respectable career after that.

The fact that we are banking on a running back coming off a broken foot (or whatever the injury was) to be the featured back.

Offensive line really didn’t get better. I suspect most people don’t/shouldn’t expect Albert to make an impact playing a new position in his rookie year. Brian Waters is a year older as well.

Croyle hasn’t shown squat. I know the line hasn’t been there but the fact remains we have no reason to think he’ll be good (or bad).

Best player on the team, JA, is gone with no viable replacement.

Our top three picks aren’t signed yet (who knows this might change soon).

by primetime 07 on Jul 22, 2008 11:05 PM CDT 0 recs

We were 4-12 and have lots of questions marks

But as a Drake University alum, it was sure fun to see last year’s basketball team - picked to finish last in the conference - come out with a bunch of unknown kids and win the Missouri Valley conference with a terrific season (plus some nice wins like at Butler) before a disappointing March Madness exit. So flood the locker room with videos of Rudy, Miracle on Ice and other Rocky plot lines. Whatever success the Chiefs achieve this year will just be that much sweeter starting from low expectations.

by sunny D on Jul 22, 2008 11:19 PM CDT 0 recs

K, but...

the Chiefs were a team that were three points away from beating the Colts… a team that was 5 minutes away from beating the Packers… a team that DID beat the Chargers. With the improvements made, why can’t we be a .500 team? I think it’s definitely within reach.

by Vince D on Jul 22, 2008 11:20 PM CDT 0 recs

Good point Vince

Because while our W-L record was bad, it wasn’t like we couldn’t keep up with anybody. Maybe our “mental toughness” wilted in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t as if we endured blowout after blowout.

Our rep also takes a hit because we played in a division that was hurting last year.

I believe others see the Chiefs as having potential for the future. The question is how fast can players who were on college teams last time they played get up to speed in the NFL? And how good will they actually be?

by sunny D on Jul 22, 2008 11:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's a key question

My hope is that as the rookies learn, the Chiefs will get progressively better throughout the season. Last year we seemed to get worse and worse.

by Vince D on Jul 23, 2008 1:16 AM CDT up 0 recs

Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde

The also lost to the Oakland Raiders and the New York Jets who finished a combined 16 games under.

by stlfan on Jul 24, 2008 5:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

I know… weird, right?

by Vince D on Jul 24, 2008 7:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

We are so young.

I wouldn’t say that we are being underestimated. I think people are just looking at this team realistically. Coming off a year where we went 4-12 and and really didn’t do a lot in the offseason to make people say this is going to be a good team. I kind of like that we aren’t being expected to do much. We might surprise a few teams this year.

by cmpotter on Jul 23, 2008 2:16 AM CDT 0 recs

8 - 8 is a 100% improvement

Mediocrity should never be a goal. It may, however, be a legitimate step up from “bad” on the way to “great”. A .500 season is a 100% improvement from last year. It is an average NFL team built with young, inexperienced players that should get better next year and the year after. I would love to see them in the playoffs, but if I see the 1st and 2nd year players improving throughout the year, if I see a winning attitude when the game is close in the 4th Q, and we win half our games in the process, I’m going to be very excited about our future.

by WolfFan on Jul 23, 2008 9:36 AM CDT 0 recs

They aren't being underestimated

its called “reality”. A lot of things will have to come together, in most unlikely fashion, for this team to contend.

by sm7600 on Jul 23, 2008 9:39 AM CDT 0 recs

I was referring more to a .500 season, not really contending, and I think it’s realistic that things can come together well enough to do that.

by Vince D on Jul 24, 2008 3:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

Wait, I did write playoff contenders… well then, I think the Chiefs are going 16-0.

by Vince D on Jul 24, 2008 3:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

No Offense

My views on why I believe the Chiefs didn’t do well last year was because we had Mike Solari calling plays for the offense, we had only 3 good receivers in Dbowe, Tony Gonzales and Eddie Kennison but Kennison was getting old in the tooth and got hurt for most of the season not to mention our O line was horrible. Our defense did what they needed to do but when it was time for the offense to get on the field they did nothing with the ball. Everyone wants to get on Herm Edwards because they believe his philosophy was run run pass punt but when you have no weapons on offense, no offensive line, when both of the good receivers you can trust are double covered and you have a stud at RB I would be giving the only proven person on my offense the ball. So I believe the chiefs will prove the media and all of the analysts on ESPN wrong and they will surprise a lot of people because of the talent they have this year, the new offense that was brought in by Chan Gailey, and the defense that will be a lot better than last year.

by Kenneth N on Jul 24, 2008 12:29 PM CDT 0 recs