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Chiefs Defense SS FS Berry CB Lewis ILB ILB CB Carr OLB Johnson Belcher OLB Flowers Hali DE NT DE Houston Dorsey Powe Jackson Baldwin Moeaki Albert Waters Hudson Lilja Richardson Bowe WR TE LT LG C RG RT WR Cassel Charles QB McCluster RB W/R Chiefs Offense
When will it start?
Who will the Chiefs go after?
Will the Kansas City Chiefs spend money?
Is Clark Hunt cheap, or was he preparing for a Super Bowl push?
Are the Chiefs better off staying out of free agency and spending all of their money in house?
Arrowhead Pride are you happy with the above depth chart?
You have questions? I have got more, we all have flapping yaps and frantic fingers when it comes to our Chiefs team. Especially when free agency is concerned. Fans talk about Clark Hunt's money as if it is coming out of their own wallets (myself included.)
There have been a bunch of free agency threads lately, but today I am going to show you a couple different looks. Taking our current depth chart and switching out some names for a few different scenarios that could play out. Just to give you a visual look at just how FA can change the appearance of this team.
The Kansas City Chiefs are already looking like they could be one of the most balanced teams in the NFL. So just imagine what a few smart moves by Scott Pioli can do for this 2011 squad.
Look at this depth chart:
Chiefs Defense |
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SS |
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FS |
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Berry |
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CB |
NCB |
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Lewis |
ILB |
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CB |
Carr |
Arenas |
OLB |
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Johnson |
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OLB |
Flowers |
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Hali |
DE |
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NT |
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DE |
Houston |
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Dorsey |
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Mebane |
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Jackson |
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Baldwin |
Moss |
Moeaki |
Albert |
Waters |
Sendlein |
Lilja |
Richardson |
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Bowe |
WR |
Slot |
TE |
LT |
LG |
C |
RG |
RT |
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WR |
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Cassel |
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Charles |
QB |
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RB |
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Chiefs Offense |
Follow me to discuss the possibilities...
Additions
Wide Receiver - Santana Moss (Redskins)
Santana hasn't averaged less the 12 yards per catch in his nine year career. The Chiefs could use his experience and 52 TD's that he brings to the table.
He is not the long term solution in the slot, but he would be a great mentor for all of our wideouts. Especially Dexter McCluster, he might be able to teach him how to use his small stature to create separation on routes and how to avoid taking the crushing hits.
Both Dwanye Bowe and Jonathan Baldwin would learn a lot of from Santana Moss, if you are looking for veteran leadership at the wide receiver position than this is your guy.
Nose Tackle - Brandon Mebane (Seahawks)
At 6'1", 311 Lbs Brandon brings good but not great size to the 3-4 NT that the Chiefs would like to employ. Being only 26 years old is a positive as well. With Jerrell Powe waiting in the wings, Brandon would bring four years NFL experience in which he started 43 games, and has 148 tackles and 10 sacks. He would be an energetic boost to a position that needs it, and a great solution until Jerrell Powe is ready to be the dominant NT we all think he may be.
Is he Aubrayo Franklin? No, obviously he is not. However, he is five years younger and doesn't come with the questions of only playing for a big contact.
Center - Lyle Sendlein (Cardinals)
Rodney Hudson? Before you say anything, Yes, I am aware of his presence. However I am also aware that Lyle Sendlein is one of the best centers in the league. Playing in all of his last 48 games, this guy is a great center that went to the Super Bowl in Todd Haley's Offense calling the blocking schemes.
Also, I am aware that we have two aging guards in Ryan Lilja and Brian Waters. Plus, we have a center in Casey Wiegmann that will probably retire soon. Jon Asamoah and Rodney Hudson are both capable of playing outstanding guard or center. That leaves a big hole somewhere in the interior of the line.
That is where Lyle Sendlein puts his cape on and comes in to save the day. So that our line someday could look like this.
Albert - Asomoah - Sendlein - Hudson - Richardson.
If we don't get a new tackle so that Branden Albert can back to his natural blah blah blah...
Here is another scenario:
Chiefs Defense SS FS Berry CB Bailey ILB ILB CB Carr OLB Johnson Burnett OLB Flowers Hali DE NT DE Houston Dorsey Powe Jackson Baldwin Moeaki Albert Waters Hudson Lilja Richardson Miller Bowe WR TE LT LG C RG RT TE WR Cassel Charles QB RB Chiefs Offense
Safety / Nickel Cornerback - Champ Bailey (Broncos)
Tight End - Zach Miller (Raiders)
Inside Linebacker - Kevin Burnett (Chargers)
Sometimes you have to think big. What would happen if you took away three of our AFC West foes best players?
The Chiefs would get better and the Raiders, Broncos, and Chargers would suffer losses. It is a win for the Chiefs big time. Look at the depth chart and tell me that doesn't have you drooling. Yet, still there are other possibilities.
Check it out:
Chiefs Defense |
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SS |
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FS |
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Berry |
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CB |
NCB |
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Lewis |
ILB |
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CB |
Carr |
Arenas |
OLB |
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Johnson |
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OLB |
Flowers |
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Hali |
DE |
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NT |
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DE |
Houston |
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Dorsey |
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Franklin |
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Jackson |
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Baldwin |
Breaston |
Moeaki |
Albert |
Waters |
Hudson |
Lilja |
Richardson |
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Bowe |
WR |
Slot |
TE |
LT |
LG |
C |
RG |
RT |
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WR |
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Cassel |
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Charles |
QB |
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RB |
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Chiefs Offense |
Wide Receiver - Steve Breaston (Cardinals)
Nose Tackle - Aubrayo Franklin (49ers)
This is a popular scenario among Arrowhead pride readers. It looks nice seeing it on screen.
Let's dive deeper into the free agent pool:
Chiefs Defense |
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SS |
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FS |
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Berry |
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CB |
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Lewis |
ILB |
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ILB |
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CB |
Carr |
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OLB |
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Johnson |
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Belcher |
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OLB |
Flowers |
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Hali |
DE |
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NT |
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DE |
Houston |
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Dorsey |
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Jenkins |
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Jackson |
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Baldwin |
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Moeaki |
Albert |
Waters |
Hudson |
Lilja |
Light |
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Bowe |
WR |
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TE |
LT |
LG |
C |
RG |
RT |
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WR |
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Cassel |
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Charles |
QB |
Leach |
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RB |
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FB |
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Chiefs Offense |
Nose Tackle - Cullen Jenkins (Packers)
Offensive Tackle - Matt Light (Patriots)
Fullback - Vonta Leach (Texans)
This one is a bit realistic, I could see the Chiefs grabbing a Fullback, ex-Patriot and a versatile NT from a Super Bowl winner. The Chiefs love to run plays using a FB, the only problem is that Mike Cox and Tim Castille are not very good.
Vonta Leach is the best Fullback in the NFL and would make Jamaal Charles even better (Scary thought.)
Sure, Matt Light is older, but so was Willie Roaf when he came to the Chiefs. I think Willie Roaf worked out pretty well. What say you?
One more depth chart:
Chiefs Defense |
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SS |
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FS |
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Berry |
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CB |
Lewis |
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ILB |
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ILB |
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CB |
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Carr |
OLB |
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Johnson |
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Posluszny |
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OLB |
Flowers |
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Hali |
DE |
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NT |
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DE |
Houston |
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Dorsey |
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Powe |
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Jackson |
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Baldwin |
Smith |
Moeaki |
Albert |
Waters |
Hudson |
Lilja |
Harris |
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Bowe |
WR |
Slot |
TE |
LT |
LG |
C |
RG |
RT |
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WR |
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Cassel |
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Charles |
QB |
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RB |
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Chiefs Offense |
Inside Linebacker - Paul Posluszny (Bills)
Wide Receiver - Steve Smith (Giants)
Offensive Tackle - Ryan Harris ( Broncos)
Though I am not sure that the Buffalo Bills will let will let Paul Posluszny out of their organization. He would be an excellent addition to the Chiefs and make that first game against the Buffalo Gailey's a little more winnable.
Steve Smith is one of my favorite 2011 possible additions. Look at his career: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Smith_(American_football,_born_1985))
Year | Team | Games | Rec | Yards | Y/R | TDs |
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2007 | New York Giants | 5 | 8 | 63 | 7.9 | 0 |
2008 | New York Giants | 16 | 57 | 574 | 10.1 | 1 |
2009 | New York Giants | 16 | 107 | 1,220 | 11.4 | 7 |
2010 | New York Giants | 9 | 48 | 529 | 11.0 | 3 |
Total | 46 | 220 | 2,386 | 10.8 | 11 |
In 2009 before he had some injury issues, the guy was a beast. Just picture that production on the Chiefs... I'll wait! This is a dream addition to the Chiefs roster and I pray that it comes true to life.
As for Ryan Harris, I see the Chiefs as a team with no solution at back up LT. So, in order to solve that, I say we pick a Ryan Harris (or even Tyson Clabo) and let them fight Barry Richardson for the RT job. Who ever wins plays RT, and then the Chiefs also have one of the best swing tackles in the NFL.
Bottom Line.
The Chiefs are going to be great even without FA. However, if your rehash my post it is obvious that with a couple signings, that this team is on the fast track for greatness. Hold on Kansas City, you are in for one helluva ride.