Chiefs have lots of position battles on offense to watch vs. Cardinals, not so much on defense

Let's get right to it. The Chiefs position battles facing the Cardinals tonight...

Right tackle: If you asked me two weeks ago I would have said this is Donald Stephenson's job. Then the Chiefs switched things up and put Jeff Allen at right tackle. They have kept it that way and Andy Reid likes that. Allen will be starting at right tackle tonight. MNChiefsfan wrote this excellent piece on what to watch for when watching Allen at tackle. He doesn't look like a tackle but he is capable. After Allen, let's watch Stephenson closely. He played a few snaps last year but really hasn't played in a meaningful game since 2013.

Right guard: It might be easier to list who isn't in the running for the right guard job. Ben Grubbs will handle the left but on the right Zach Fulton is currently slotted as the Chiefs starter. If Donald Stephenson starts at tackle, Jeff Allen would be the man at right guard. Paul Fanaika, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and even Mitch Morse could be seeing time there, too.

Center: Mitch Morse has apparently taken the lead over Eric Kush. Andy Reid likes the line right now that has Morse at center. If Kush doesn't win the job, he would be on the roster bubble. I would probably keep him on my 53-man roster prediction but I don't think you can say a backup center is ever 100 percent safe. Plus, I'm always looking out for the next Rishaw Johnson -- the linemen who plays on the first team all offseason and then is surprisingly cut or traded.

No. 2 receiver: Albert Wilson, right? Probably. I thought Chris Conley was going to make a run at this but he missed the first half of camp with a knee injury so he probably missed too much time to make a run at that early in the year.

No. 2 tight end: Travis Kelce is the No. 1 but the No. 2 looks like rookie James O'Shaughnessy. Watch him in the preseason game tonight for sure. He is a fifth round pick out of Illinois State but he looks like an NFL player. I was impressed because a fifth round pick out of Illinois State could easily flop. But he looks like he will play. Ryan Taylor and Richard Gordon will be competing with him for time in those two tight end sets.

No. 3 running back: This is going to Charcandrick West. After Cyrus Gray was cut, I think this position battle was over. Frankly, this is more of a No. 2 running back position battle between West and Knile Davis because West has gotten second team snaps. He's a better receiver out of the backfield which is his advantage.

Nose tackle: How are the Chiefs replacing Dontari Poe? It will be a mix of Jaye Howard and Mike DeVito. Keep an eye on that in the Chiefs first team defense this evening. How many snaps does Howard get vs. DeVito? They're similar players in that they're solid against the run so I'm not sure I have a preference. Hopefully Poe is back sometime during the season.

No. 3 cornerback: Sean Smith will be out the first three games of the season. Marcus Peters and Phillip Gaines will replace him on the outside. So who is the third corner on the field when the Chiefs go to nickel? The best guess at this point is that Jamell Fleming comes on the field and plays on the outside with Peters while Gaines plays inside. But what about Marcus Cooper? I still believe he can play his way into that spot that Fleming has. Cooper knows this is a big season for him.

Long snapper: It's Andrew East vs. James Winchester. There is no leader right now. I have no idea who will win.