Will Kolby Smith Start for the Kansas City Chiefs?

by Joel Thorman on Nov 21, 2007 6:44 AM CST in 2007 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

Entering this season, the Kansas City Chiefs certainly had questions at running back. Mainly, will Larry Johnson sign his contract on time? Will Priest Holmes really play? The answer to both of these turned out to be yes.

After we saw Priest get a handful of carries, the Chiefs thought they were set at running back. Here we sat in the Green Bay game, with Priest looking legitimate and LJ, well LJ was still the 2nd best back in the league the last two years but struggled this year. Then, the unthinkable happened. LJ injures his foot in the Green Bay game.

Enter Priest Holmes. This former back-up to Ricky Williams at Texas and Jamal Lewis at Baltimore was the first fantasy phenom setting an array of team records in his path. After LJ's injury, Priest stepped onto the field in Arrowhead against Denver as a starter for the first time in over two years. 39 carries, 120 yards and a re-injured neck later and the outlook on the Chiefs running back situation appears to be bleak.

Enter Kolby Smith. 10 NFL carries for 19 yards. Potentially the new starting running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, Smith, like Holmes, has been overshadowed most of his career. When he was drafted with the 148th pick in the draft this year, most viewed Smith in the Chiefs long-term plans. Certainly no one imagined the possibility of Kolby Smith becoming the featured back in Kansas City's run happy offense. Can he carry the ball 20+ times? Who is behind him to spell him? Unanswered questions abound, the Chiefs enter this weekend's game against the Raiders by placing all their chips on an unproven quarterback and a rookie running back.

Admittedly, I don't know much about Kolby Smith. Certainly Louisville's pass happy offense doesn't help our case because he has never proven he can carry a full load. His college and NFL stats can be seen here. This entire situation is making me nervous. This coy attitude from the Chiefs regarding Larry Johnson's injury status, Priest's neck situation, and a rookie running back who wasn't even the featured back in college combine to create many question marks regarding the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Oakland Raiders this Sunday.

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Comments

Hey Chris

you leaving might be bad luck.

by Joel Thorman on Nov 21, 2007 6:53 AM CST reply actions

Well Then Maybe

we should run an offense a little more like Louisville's this week...Hear that Solari??? Throw the damn ball!

by PVChiefsfan on Nov 21, 2007 7:02 AM CST reply actions

We might not have any other option

by Joel Thorman on Nov 21, 2007 7:05 AM CST up reply actions

No Running Backs

This is a very dangerous situation for the Chiefs and their future.

I'm a huge Brodie Croyle supporter and have alot of confidence in him, but the fact is he is still young, inexperienced and has yet to solidify his position as a legitimate NFL QB.

The worst thing that could happen for the future of the Chiefs is for this young guy to feel everything is suddenly riding on him.

Alot of playing QB is about confidence. Right now I think he has alot, but if everything is riding on that arm of his and he makes some bad decisions, it won't take long for the media and fans to crucify him as we seem to do to all our quarterbacks.

When LJ went out I was worried, but we still had Priest. Now that BOTH of them are out, I'm extremely worried about our new QB who the fans and players will be looking expectantly on him to carry the team.

He may be able to take advantage of the situation and legitimately become the next Joe Montana. Or, he may have his confidence shattered and become the next David Carr.

by DJ @ Arrowhead Pride on Nov 21, 2007 5:24 PM CST up reply actions

Exactly

Couldn't have said it better myself. This will only fuel the controversy. If Brodie doesn't play well, then we will have one side saying that we need to give him a fair chance with a real RB. Then the other side will be saying, we told you so. Ohhh, I am so sick of QB controversies!!

by Joel Thorman on Nov 21, 2007 5:30 PM CST up reply actions

No QB controversy

I don't think we'll have a legitimate QB Controversy like we had this year at least until 2009.

Even if Croyle is horrible this year (no signs of it so far) they will at least give him next year to show what he's got. Remember, Herm is a very patient man.

by DJ @ Arrowhead Pride on Nov 21, 2007 6:03 PM CST up reply actions

You would

think it would be atleast 75% pass anyway.Boomer appearance?

by Eric @ Arrowhead Pride on Nov 21, 2007 7:17 AM CST reply actions

Regardless of how Boomer

is coming along in the offensive scheme, we just need some bodies running the ball. I don't think having Boomer run the ball at FB was part of the plan.

by Joel Thorman on Nov 21, 2007 7:28 AM CST up reply actions

If

he could hold on to the ball,could he be a short yardage bruiser might be able to get the same yardage we have ben getting all year out of the other backs.We are not burning down the field anyway.

by Eric @ Arrowhead Pride on Nov 21, 2007 8:17 AM CST up reply actions

Herm would rather lop off a foot

than go 75% throwing.

by sm7600 on Nov 21, 2007 9:58 AM CST up reply actions

Good thing we dumped Bennett.

by Bill Grigsbys Cirrhosis on Nov 21, 2007 9:29 AM CST reply actions

this

is what eveyone seemed to want so, now you have it, the young players getting thier chance to show what they have. I think we're really out of it this year, beacause we dont have enough leadership on offence. For some reason I think Kolby will run better than Priest did, and give LJ a run for the money, get it (run for the money). This next game will prove if Brodie can have success against a fast secondary.

xX Ram-Bowe Xx

by D Thomas on Nov 21, 2007 9:43 AM CST reply actions

No, all it will mean is that he had a good game

against a team with 2 wins.

After all, the Colts secondary is fairly fleet of foot

by sm7600 on Nov 21, 2007 9:57 AM CST up reply actions

Well

they have one of the best corner tandems in the league. It will be a good test.

by Joel Thorman on Nov 21, 2007 10:16 AM CST up reply actions

thank

u, at least someone knows the Faider's strength, and its not culpep!!!!

xX Ram-Bowe Xx

by D Thomas on Nov 21, 2007 10:21 AM CST up reply actions

NFL

network reported Priest will atleast miss the rest of the season any ideas on who they might try to bring in?

by Eric @ Arrowhead Pride on Nov 21, 2007 10:20 AM CST reply actions

Tiki

Barber????

xX Ram-Bowe Xx

by D Thomas on Nov 21, 2007 10:24 AM CST up reply actions

That

would not be good Tiki already complained about being overused could you imagine how that would go!

by Eric @ Arrowhead Pride on Nov 21, 2007 10:26 AM CST reply actions

Trust

me, I'm joking Eric, we could try Curtis Martin!!

xX Ram-Bowe Xx

by D Thomas on Nov 21, 2007 10:48 AM CST up reply actions

Marcus Allen

think maybe he has got a few moves left!Oooh I know Donnel Bennet!

by Eric @ Arrowhead Pride on Nov 21, 2007 10:57 AM CST up reply actions

mabye

Otis Taylor on the other side of Bowe, that might work. Lets just hold our draft at the nursing home.LOL

xX Ram-Bowe Xx

by D Thomas on Nov 21, 2007 11:09 AM CST up reply actions

You guys dont know what you are

talking about. Harvey Williams is obviously the answer here. No question about it. If he doesn't work out, or is too expensive, Natrone Means is only a stones throw away.

by Joel Thorman on Nov 21, 2007 11:22 AM CST up reply actions