Hoping For These Chiefs-Related Signs of Life

by Matt Conner on Aug 15, 2009 10:25 AM CDT in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp

Yesterday we posted on what we the Chiefs game should tell us but today, before game time, we air out what we hope the Chiefs-Texans game will begin to reveal. On to the action:

1. Running Game is Set - Larry Johnson can be one of the best backs in the NFL. Jamaal Charles displays Leon Washington-like potential and could become a real gamebreaker on game day. Kolby Smith could provide a more than adequate third down back. Javarris Williams ran like hell in Division 1-AA. It'd be nice in these pre-season games to come away with the feeling that all this pressure isn't necessary.

Think about this. If the running game isn't absolutely set, almost all of the following must happen: Brad Cottam must step up at the tight end position; someone must emerge at the receiver position out of the stuck-in-potential crowd of Terrance Copper, Devard Darling, Jeff Webb, Mark Bradley; veterans like Amani Toomer and Bobby Engram must deliver an unexpectedly productive veteran performance.

Some of these might still come true either way but what if LJ, Charles, Smith and Williams step up in a major way. If the running game is set, the Chiefs could really be a force this season. Think about the success the Vikings have had with a trash can at the quarterback position and a comparable receiving corps. (Of course, it helps to have a killer defense, but the point still stands. Adrian Peterson simply is the offense.)

More hopes after the jump...

2. Old Faces Thrive In New Places - The dream would be to find Tamba Hali finally delivering the pass rush force and Glenn Dorsey blossoming into the force on the d-line we believed he would eventually be when we drafted him. The latter is much more plausible than the former, but both guys have the potential to do just that.

If Dorsey steps up his game and becomes that Sapp-like force on the line, he will elevate the game of everybody around him. Players like that change the entire face of the game with their ability to handle multiple offensive linemen and free up his team mates to make plays on the ball. We don't even need multiple players to step up, but just key guys like Dorsey to realize their potential.

3. Scott Pioli Still Holds His Draft Magic - More than possibly anything else, it'd be wonderful to find Alex Magee and Tyson Jackson are both solid-to-above average starters on the defensive line in their first season in the NFL. It'd be equally as impressive if Ryan Succop can become a great NFL kicker. It'd be fantastic if Donald Washington could capitalize on his athleticism and become a force in the defensive backfield. It'd be a dream if Colin Brown's work in camp at both guard and tackle provided much-needed flexibility and relief on the right side.

4. Matt Cassel's The Real Deal - Preseason won't tell us this at all. We'll really only begin to uncover this when he stares down the Baltimore defense in Week One and makes something happen against perhaps the most intimidating front seven in all of football. But signs of life could be found in the chemistry Cassel begins to develop with Bowe, Cottam, Engram and Toomer. It can be found in the way he carries the huddle and the confidence that could come with a few preseason wins. And really, after last season's performance, there's little reason for this not to come true.

5. No Injuries - This is the bottom line. The ultimate hope is the Chiefs line up exactly the players they want as their 22 starters on opening day, not having to deal with a profound and unfortunate injury to a key performer in the preseason.

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Im on thee way

I can’t wait I’m so effin jacked and its only preseason!

by weller_t1 on Aug 15, 2009 10:58 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Good write up Matt

1. We sure won’t be seeing Kolby Smith, but I would expect to see a generous helping of Jackie Battle tonight. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a little Dantrell Savage. But I would like to see how Williams looks, we really haven’t heard much about him. I agree, the running game is a key to this year, and I think whether it be dominated by LJ or is by committee, that it will be decent this year. I really think the O line will be better this year than last…probably a middle of the pack line.
2. I do expect Tamba to provide some pass rush this year. I guess my biggest fear is he will overrun on runs and not cover well on passes. Dorsey is going into his second year, which means he should be better than last year but may not yet be showing his full potential until next year. If he can plug up the line and make some stops this year I think I’ll be happy. The old face in a new place I look for to thrive this year is Tank at NT. He is coming into his third season so he SHOULD be showing us what his potential really is. If Edwards and Tank can jam the middle up that will go a long way to making the 3-4 work.
3. Pioli’s draft magic….don’t know how magical it’s going to look this year. I would caution against high expectations for Jackson and Magee…D line rarely excels in first year. Dorsey had a good first year and an awful lot of people call him a disappointment if not a bust. I see the same thing for Jackson and Magee this year. Even if they put up solid numbers will people be happy? I doubt it. I see Jackson being able to plug up the left side of the D line but not posting big numbers, nor is he really expected to. Magee will be backing up Dorsey and should see a fair amount of time, but still we just can’t expect too much. Washington might be able to get some time on the field, and I hope to see Brown getting some time so he can get experience, but I don’t think either will shine this year. Lawrence will hopefully show us something as a KR/PR but I don’t anticipate a lot of playing time in the offense. I think Jake O’Connell will make the team, but will probably see mostly special teams action. With the number of RBs we have, I’m not sure if Williams will make the 53 unless he show up big time in preseason. Of all the draft picks, Succop will probably be the one that looks more magical than any other this year.
4. I think Matt Cassel will have some early struggles. It’s almost unavoidable. I do think he’s the real deal and will be what we hoped for, but I’m going to hem and haw about just how soon he will look that way. All I can say is I really really hope the line can open up some holes for the running game. If that happens, then things can have a chance to gel in the passing game. Otherwise things could be ugly until after they bye week.
5. Let’s hope the intense training and physical camp has got these guys ahead of where they’ve been the last few years. I’m praying.

Chiefs go 9-7. LJ makes 1400 yards. DBowe makes 1200 yards. Defense #18.

by Zodeman on Aug 15, 2009 11:06 AM CDT reply actions

Cassel in preseason

If you look Cassel in the preseason last year, he really sucked, but had a great season. So give the guy a chance if he blunders a bit. They were calling for his head in NE last year by the 3rd game of preseason.

by Chiefsuntilidie on Aug 15, 2009 11:06 AM CDT reply actions

true

SD when they went 1-15 under Riley, were 4-0 in the preseason
Last years Lions were undefeated preseason, winless during the season.

Cassel will have a tough start, just because it makes sense, and fans will be clamoring for Thiggy since he will pull a printers and play well against a 3rd team D.

I will be the first(not really) to say that regardless of the next 4 games, Cassel will be the leader and star QB of this team(duh)

by SDChief on Aug 15, 2009 11:32 AM CDT reply actions

Let's be realistic...

Preseason is meaningless as we all know… but I think the coaches and players know how important it is to win the game to get that winning attitude back into the locker room.

However as mentioned earlier by SDCHIEF, your record means nothing. I think we all want to see positives however those could be meaningless based on what our opponent is doing (or isn’t doing… having said that, lets also not get carried away if KC doesn’t look good considering we’re likely only using page one of the play book and chemistry could be an issue as we’re basically a team starting from scratch with a new QB, coach, GM, players, bodies (as in their in shape).

by golfbard on Aug 15, 2009 11:40 AM CDT reply actions

I'm heading up there soon from Springfield Mo.

I’m real excited to see what this team is going to be all about. It’s great to be a Chiefs fan and to be overly optimistic year after year. That 2 win season is out of my mind and all I can think about just being respectable in this league again. Hopefully the Chiefs do their thing and give the fans at Arrowhead and around the state something enjoyable to watch.

by Jew Boy on Aug 15, 2009 11:43 AM CDT reply actions