NFL 32 in 32: Kansas City Chiefs

By Ryan O'Halloran on July 4, 2009 into Redskins 360

(update -- yes, we handed out two Nos. 27; that's been corrected to reflect that the Chiefs are actually 26th)

26. Kansas City Chiefs

Coach: Todd Haley (first year)

Last year: 2-14 (Herm Edwards and long-time grand pooh-bah Carl Peterson were fired).

NFL rankings: Offense - 24th in yards, 26th in scoring; defense - 31st in yards; 29th in points.

Additions: Haley, general manager Scott Pioli, QB Matt Cassel, LB Mike Vrabel, WR Bobby Engram, OL Mike Goff, LB Zach Thomas and draft pick DL Tyson Jackson.

Substractions: TE Tony Gonzalez, QB Damon Huard, LB Donnie Edwards, CB Patrick Surtain.

Overview: Ownership's decision to cut ties with Peterson was long overdue but King Carl's mistakes the last few years equals a massive rebuilding project for Pioli, formerly the Patriots' front office chief. Cassel was a good first step and the Chiefs should be able to produce offensively with Cassel, RB Larry Johnson and WR Dwayne Bowe. On defense, KC is shifting to a combo 4-3/3-4 and they drafted defense in the first two rounds. The Chiefs' 10 sacks last year were worst all-time in a 16-game season and it will be tough for KC to be competitive defensively.

Fantasy pick: WR Dwayne Bowe should benefit the most from Cassel's arrival and Gonzalez's departure. Bowe caught 86 passes for 1,022 yards and seven TDs last year ... and each number ranked second behind Gonzalez. Bowe is in for a huge year.

Projected starters

Offense: QB Matt Cassel, FB Mike Cox, RB Larry Johnson, WR Mark Bradley, WR Dwayne Bowe, TE Brad Cottam, LT Branden Albert, LG Brian Waters, C Rudy Niswanger, RG Mike Goff, RT Damion McIntosh.

Defense: LE Tyson Jackson, NT Glenn Dorsey, RE Alfonso Boone, OLB Mike Vrabel, ILB Derrick Johnson, ILB Zach Thomas, OLB Tamba Hall, CB Brandon Flowers, CB Brandon Carr, SS Bernard Pollard, FS Jarrad Page.

Specialists: K Connor Barth, P Dustin Colquitt, PR/KR Quinten Lawrence.

Projected record: 5-11 (third in AFC West). The Chiefs will take a step forward this year but this is still a multi-year project. KC's first four games include road trips to Philadelphia and Baltimore plus a home game against the Giants. The Chiefs will be able to finish strong with three straight December home games.

Ryan O'Halloran

Comment

There are 4 Comments

OHalloranisamoron

WOW, Ryan not only do you show you know nothing about football in your silly little 32 teams in 32 days blog but then you show us you can't even count. 2 teams at number 27? WTF? been sniffin' Portis' jock strap this weekend? Thanks for showing me that the Washington Times will hire any jackass to work there. It just gives me one more reason to reach for the Washington post or the USA Today

Mark as offensive

MAThompson

Why must we endure such vitriol? Can't you just say you disagree with his team assessments, without attacking the writer personally? Also, if you are going to disagree, please elaborate specifically with what you disagree on. Too many nutcases out there attack the person and not the issue; quantify/objectify your position instead of responding with childish, name-calling rhetoric. By doing so we can enjoy a more intelligent discussion. You should probably assess why you are so angry over such a trivial issue as sports entertainment prognostication. By the way, I like the assessment on the Chiefs. I hope they do better than projected.

Mark as offensive

jackB

Ryan, Glenn Dorsey will not be the starting nose tackle. Clearly you haven't researched the Chiefs at all. They are moving him to end. Plus the offense didn't really have problems "producing offensively" until the 4th quarter last year. With an o-line that has question marks at RT and LG (depending on if Waters buys in or not) how well do you reallly think Cassel will be able to produce? Cassel was sacked 47 times last year with a good if not great o-line. He's not nearly as mobile as Thigpen who was sacked only 27 times with no RG and a man who is referred to as Glass-intosh at RT. I understand that the Chiefs sucked last year and you many not think they deserve being research or that no one will read about them that knows anything. But PLEASE you work for the Washington Post com'on! I realize this is a brief overview of NFL team, but the Defense was the chiefs achilles heel last year and you only wrote two sentences on that?! Maybe you thought the defense side of the chiefs story is over played, but the defense was HORRIBLE last year, and defense wins championships. Overall I rate this article a D+ You also forgot to add anything more than a footnote about the chiefs losing there #1 receiver Tony G!!! almost 100 receptions and over a 1000 yards last season gone and you mention nothing about the task of replacing those numbers. Okay, now I've decided this article gets an F. I hope your boss reads this, and next time try researching the team you are writing about instead of getting your information about possible starters from your copy of Madden.

Mark as offensive

LarryDoggyDog

The Chiefs did not draft defense in the first two rounds (as stated in the "Overview" section). They drafted defense in the first and third rounds. The second round pick was traded for Cassel and Vrabel. The word "Substractions" is also misspelled.

Mark as offensive

Please login or register to post a comment

NFL 32 in 32: Kansas City Chiefs

There are 4 Comments

Advertising Links

TWT Store

TWT Affiliates