This Chiefs team still has some things to work on before training camp and lots of things to polish...

This Chiefs team still has some things to work on before training camp and lots of things to polish before anyone would call this a playoff-caliber team. Wide receivers and offensive linemen need to be surprises, and the 3-4 defense has to work.

Comments

5 most underrated

Here are five guys I think are better than their reps.

Demorrio Williams – Starter this year when one of the old guys goes down. Seems quick and around the ball making plays. Having a club for an arm made last year very difficult.

Tank Tyler – Fell in the draft due to character issues, but he’s been better than expected and stayed clean. Probably the one of my five that many already expect to do well. I’m sayin’ he could be the star at some point.

Dantrell Savage – People expect the small guy to have more moves than toughness; last year, he showed me more toughness than moves. Could be a special special teams returner with a couple breaks this year.

Kolby Smith – Can put up big numbers if he gets the chance this year. I’m not really hoping he gets the chance.

Herb Taylor – The dreaded V word – versatile. More valuable to the team than people appreciate because he can step into any position along the line at any time and do a good job. He got put into some tough spots last year and held his own. More valuable to the team as a supersub than people realize.

by sunny D on Jul 13, 2009 12:43 PM CDT reply actions

good response

I agree, except for Kolby Smith… I don’t think he will even make the team this year.
IMO, they are going with the rookie, Williams.

I think Demorrio and Herb are quiet contributors that help make this a deep team going forward.

by stagdsp on Jul 13, 2009 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions

This preseason will be very interesting to me

People like Kolby will have to endure the judgment of a whole new set of people. I figure the ones that make the final 53 and were also on last year’s team are probably the real deal. Regarding Kolby, earlier I started to type that he is durable (meaning can carry the ball 20+ times a game) but the argument doesn’t hold much water since he was injured. ha.

I would certainly be more excited to see Williams stay as a running back, because the turf is always greener when they keep a guy for whom we haven’t yet seen his ceiling. Plus, I would love to have someone on this team who can take a 50-yard play and make it all the way to the end zone! i.e. speed (or maybe it was the coaching mentality that haunted runners/receivers with a voice that said, “Slow down and take the first and goal. You’ve got defensive teammates that need their beauty rest. Don’t score too fast. Points are for sissies.”)

by sunny D on Jul 13, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Smith's injury has nothing to do with durability issues

the toughest guy in the world can still blow out a knee, or separate a shoulder, etc. It’s just part of playing a physically violent game.

The fact that Smith can recover from his injury (didn’t he tear his Achilles’ Tendon?) and still play tells me he’s got some toughness.

I think Kolby Smith could carry the ball 20 times a game for 16 games…

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on Jul 13, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Quicker than Larry

I guess my positive view of Kolby is based mostly on how he looked behind the same line when Larry was having little success. Kolby seemed a lot quicker and somewhat more elusive, but not a speedster, yet can still pound the ball. Kind of a tweener, I guess. I’m much higher on Charles, but I don’t think of him as underrated. Charles is not really a secret. The reason I hope we don’t see much of Kolby is that I perhaps LJ surpises us with one more good year and that Charles does what many of us believe he’ll do and the two of them will both have outstanding years.

And yeah, there is a blurry line between durability and freak accidents. So does that make Croyle a durable quarterback who is just terribly unlucky? …wink, wink…

by sunny D on Jul 13, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions

durability

I’m not questioning his durability…
but I don’t think he has what it takes to make this team.

He MIGHT not even be ready to go for the season, and end up on PUP.

He is coming back from a nasty injury, and I think that’ll make it tough for him to prove himself to the coaching staff.

If he’s not ready to go, or is barely healthy enough to play by the end of camp, I don’t see him making the 53 man roster. My guess is that the No. 3 and 4 RB positions will go to players who assert themselves in training camp, and a guy drafted by Pioli/Haley (williams) has a leg up on holdovers from the prior regime

by stagdsp on Jul 13, 2009 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions

As much as I like Kolby Smith...

He really has to show something before the season starts. Either Smith or Savage will get cut… and Savage has experience returning punts.

If it was just down to RB status I would keep Kolby Smith, and cut Savage.

by ravenhawk on Jul 13, 2009 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I really agree with your comments-especially about Herb T.

I think he is a sleeper guy who can really help this team. He might be being groomed to replace BW in case they can’t work out their differences. His performance was very good when he filled in for Albert last season and I think he could play almost any position in the line and, I would almost go as far as saying that with more playing time, could become a valuable starter for many years if necessary. The O-line is the part of this years team that concerns me more than anything else.
If Coach Muir can get this line up to speed that will equate in a happy, healthy Matt Cassel which will make for some big plays in the passing game. If the right side of the line can become more solid, maybe our run game could become relevant as well which could help Cassel out even more.
I, as well as the rest of you know what LJ can do behind a dominant line. We can keep the pressure off the Defense and the QB and put ourselves in a great position to really surprise some people this year. IMO, if LJ has a successful year, this team will be very good, if they do not find a way to make him successful, we could be in for a very long season. I do not have enough faith in this passing game to think that it can carry the whole offense.

By the way, I am not really expecting much out of K Smith this year. If I have my way, we won’t see much of him if he even makes the team. He has some talent but, I was very unimpressed with what I saw from him last season.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Jul 13, 2009 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Seems like this topic could generate discussion

Because we’re being asked to name and defend people we don’t think the rest of you appreciate. :) Kind of a blog administrator’s dream topic, isn’t it? Automatic disagreement?

by sunny D on Jul 13, 2009 12:50 PM CDT reply actions

A blogger's best friend

Lists!

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Jul 13, 2009 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Internet lists!!

Viva 65tosspowertrap! The master of incoherent, nonsensical ramblings.

by HIV 2 Elway on Jul 13, 2009 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions

In your sig,

I might change ramblings to punctuation. The guy sure could ramble, but punctuation is really where he shined.

I've been rapping for about seveteen years okay? I don't write my stuff anymore I just kick it from my head you know what I'm sayin? I can do that. No disrespect but that's how I am.

by soybon on Jul 13, 2009 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions