Another possible reason to be optimistic about next year and improving...
 

Another reason to be optimistic about next year is:

I think Kelce could make a sizeable contribution to the offense- a position that is rather significant in Reid's offense, and Smith's favorite target is the TE.

We had squat at that position all year due to a rash of injuries. Check out his highlights.

He's got great size at 6'6 260lbs.

What's more encouraging is he actually has some deceptive speed, and does a tremendous job in gaining additional yards after 1st contact. Seems to have a good low center of gravity, can often shed arm tackles, and doesn't go down easily.

It's already been mentioned during camp that he has very good hands, and doesn't have a history of the dropsies. Also, seems to work well in space and has good recognition of field location in relation to the defense.

Kelce highlights:




Post to follow up will be re: Sanders Cummings: An answer for the abortion that is (was) Kendrick Lewis...

Possibly but right now he seems Moeiaki part 2

Eric Fisher

Omaha

Bob Sutton.

I think its a given the team should improve.

Improving the record is another deal entirely. We have a brutal schedule next year.

Well... in his short career with the Chiefs, he had a case of the dropsies. I hope that's just early nerves.

This.

The team will get better, no doubt, but our record probably won't reflect it.

I would rather go 10-6 while beating quality teams then go 12-4 (our real record this year) beating up on garbage.

Tougher schedule. Hopefully we don't play teams with their starting QB out.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/v9AHIwmH7AY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

We could lose Albert, McCluster, and maybe our Guard (if we decide not to re-sign both Schwartz and Asamoah) and think we'll still end up a better team talent wise next year... even if we don't do a damn thing in free agency.

ROFL

Absolutely.

Kendrick Lewis will be replaced.

No joke.

Dorsey will undoubtedly bring in help as well.

Lets hope so. He couldn't catch a cold during the preseason. Pray he stays healthy.

Based on what? One injury.

Jesus.

Until the week you are going to play a team, you have no idea how brutal or easy a schedule is.

Everyone thought Houston and Atlanta were playoff teams last off-season.

The worst thing about 2013 is that I will feel NOTHING about the Chiefs until January 2015.

Until they have a playoff win, they could go undefeated, unscored-on, TDs on EVERY drive and I won't feel a ****ing thing.

It'd be like the Pat's 19-1 season without the prior or subsequent SBs.

I wouldn't say you have NO idea.

I think you can make an educated guess on how brutal or easy a schedule is, and as you get closer to a particular game, that educated guess gets more educated.

well yea ... if all our injured guys can stop getting injured, it should help

With parity make the edge finer and finer, the distinctions become sharper and sharper.

Back in Priest's day, no way the Ravens were actually as shit-tastic as he made them look. But he sure as shit made them look that way, and with our O-Line then would probably make them look that shit-tastic 8-10 times.

Last year's Giants aren't but a couple of key pieces away from SB champion Giants, but IDing and fixing those pieces are a multi-M$$ job no one is up to at present.

On paper, no way the Texans are as bad as they were last year, but that bad and worse they were.

Heck, heading into the end of a 2-14 season, I still had an aura around them as a team to be contended with, . . . 2-14!!!!!!

Seriously though, the entire league figured out their offensive 'tells' on a scale not seen since Rick Mirer.

TE is favored in Ried's offenses?

More like TEs are Smith's favorites which in turn became Ried's.

You can't be serious

Lewis out is addition by subtraction
Won't get much worse than Hudson, and Kush may end up being much better
I think Nico Johnson will bring a lot more to the table than Akeem Jordan
We've got decent front 7 depth, if our D-coordinator can pull his head out of his ass and rotate players every once in a while
Eric Fisher will get bigger and stronger, and undoubtedly will play better. Maybe much better. Cooper will get better.
Kelce will be back
Sanders Commings... don't know what we have in him, but he's undoubtedly going to upgrade over Demps or Lewis in their roles
Who knows... maybe Rokevius Watkins or Rishaw Johnson pushes for a starting job
And there isn't any doubt that the Alex Smith we saw at the end of the season is significantly better than the one we saw early on

Lots to look forward to.

The Alex Smith we saw at the end of the season is exactly the Alex Smith at the end of the season I saw all season long.

The story of 2013, AS demonstrated himself worthy of all my hopes, and the Chiefs D demonstrated themselves worthy of all my fears.

Ebron and Amaro might be the best players on the board when we pick in the first round.

I'd hate to have to pass on one of them just because we're counting on Kelce to not only be 100% healthy when he comes back but also not a flaming bag of poo.

Remember, his training camp last year was very Jon Baldwinesque. ****ing beast in practice, and AIDS in the preseason games.

If we are able to draft Amaro or Ebron and Kelce returns from injury 100%...Alex Smith will be in hog heaven and might make the probowl next year.

It's crazy to think about the average Jamaal Charles would have with us adding those types of weapons at tight end.

I could see Jamaal averaging close to 7ypc....even though at first glance that seems unreasonable.

I just hope that Smith stays aggressive even if we add a player who could just become a safety valve. One area it helps a ton is in games like Indy where we're getting beat by press coverage, you do need to have these types of guys on your team.

Dude, he isn't gonna stop being aggressive because the team adds some playmakers that can effectively attack the deep seams.

If we have a healthy Kelce and add Ebron/Amaro...that means our receivers will almost always be against single coverage because the safeties will need to keep tabs on the tight ends in coverage.

IMO the combo of Kelce and Ebron would have a good chance of being the best TE combo in the league and would most likely require more than just safeties to cover them...teams would need to be dropping their backers into coverage too....that's whee Jamaal just flat out rapes teams.

nah ... Reid/Dorsey won't pass on a TE just because we have some already.

They wanted to use Moeaki,Fasano and Kelce this year so using 3 TEs in the offense is already in their playbook. Double TE sets we can run or pass from ... 3rd tightend to rotate in and out to keep everyone fresh.

Despite Reids poor clock management skills, i still have more faith in our offense than i do the defense.

If our WR/TEs get separation i don't think Smith has any problem throwing the ball. Who knows, maybe when we get a pass catcher he can trust then he will even start throwing them open and before the breaks.

right now he doesn't have anyone he can truly count on

Season is going to be brutal.
We play every team in the Conference Championship round next year- 5 games when you count Denver for both games.


As for Kelce being Moeaki- that's bullshit speculation at best. Tony dropped specifically because he had a lengthy history of injury at Iowa every year there- otherwise he was a round 1 talent. They took a gamble on him and if he didn't end up on IR faster than Mr. Glass he would have been a solid starter at worst for KC.

Kelce doesn't have a history of constantly being banged up- it was a random chance injury, that just so happened in his rookie camp. Hardly enough to see a pattern that's an issue like Tony. As for the drops- I think that has more to do with rookie jitters.

Yes, the jury's still out on him- simply because we got to see so little before he went down. But, that's my point - I'm calling it and saying he's going to have a good season and surprise some folks next year.

I'd still draft another one given the opportunity.

There's a reason we had so many TEs going into camp before they all dropped like flies. LJ Smith never lived up to being taken with, I believe, a high 2nd round Draft choice. Not to mention, other underperforming guys at that position coupled with their oline already a total mess towards the end of his time in Philly. With their outside guys turning out to be where they did have talent- he obviously adjusted how the offense was schemed based on what he had.

But, here's an article talking about his preference for taking advantage of using dynamic TEs and going with double TE sets to attack defenses if you question his desire to feature the TE heavily in his offense.

Sad that you can't let yourself enjoy the team improving.

You are emotionally weak.

That's true. However, it isn't like he had a minor injury (i.e. meniscus tear). It's a crap shoot as far as how individuals recover (as is the case for all injuries).

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/007255.htm

I think don't think you can count on Kelce at this point for anything. That doesn't mean he should be cut/abandon all hope but it's probably prudent if one of those 3 TEs are available to draft one.

This could be the best tight end class in forever. It has a real chance to be better than the 2010 class.

If one of them makes it to 23, I hope we take him.

I do not know about the guy or the injury. What was the injury? Serious injury? Most players never come back from serious injuries to what they once were, especially in mobile positions.

I think the Chiefs are cursed with 3rd round TEs.

Brad Cottam, Moeaki, Kelce

All have had their career entirely derailed by injuries.

Although, Kelce has only had 1 season.

I know kelse is a draft pick. I know he had a major injury and I hope he gets healthy and can contribute. I don't want to lose McGrath though.

Kelce hurt is McGrath good that ****er only caught the ball on accident wide open against shit teams. Where was he against a good team? Suckin on Dorsey's titty that's where.

If it means getting Amaro/Ebron/ASJ, then I'd gladly be McGrath's Ray Farmer.

Some people I think haven't seen these tight ends play. The three talked about most are game changers. Day one mismatches. Not Tyler Eifert who is good, but not flashy good. These guys are.

I almost want to make a thread.



Almost.

Do it!

All three of them are big, have the speed and tools it takes to almost effortlessly attack the deep seam, have the size to develop into devastating blockers and have fantastic hands and body control. They all give great effort to break tackles, fight for additional yards, first downs and scores and have demonstrated the ability to dominate opponents.

Ebron is my favorite because I think he has Vernon Davis upside...but I'd be thrilled with any of the 3.

Jenkins is like 265-270 and runs like he is 240 and has the strength of a 300 pounder. Amaro is 260 and has the frame to add more muscle to make him a guy that I can't think of more than a handful of defenders that could handle him. He could probably get up to 275 with his frame and not lose his ability as a receiver.

Ebron is the smallest of the 3 at 245 or so, but I think he offers the most as a complete package. Especially in this offense. I think he is quicker and more compact in his routes than the other two at this point and I love watching the guy go get he ball in the air. ...all 3 attack the ball real well.

This... we can, and I do, hope this guy comes out on fire 100% healthy... but if one of those top guys are there for the taking, it shouldnt be surprising if Dorsey/Reid hedge their bet on Kelce.

A dynamic TE is probably more even more important to a guy like Smith than it is to many other QB's... if Fasano or McGrath had to go to the PS or just let go, so be it.

Being three deep with starting quality guys at that position would be a nice problem to have.

I don't know about being more important. Jimmy Graham, gronk, Vernon, heath Miller, pitta are all pretty damn important to their current qbs. Without pitta flacco looked absolutely pedestrian.

I was looking at it from the standpoint that Smiths strong suit is the medium to short game, which is obviously a TE's bread and butter.

Vernon Davis was his ace boon coon... I get that all QB's love a good tight end, just seems like Smitty would benefit even more than usual.

Im not counting on Kelce for anything. Dude put on a clinic on how NOT to catch the ball last preseason. He looked like he was fighting off anything thrown his way. Then he gets hurt...Maybe he was thinking too much but still, he looked like he did not belong in the NFL.

Reported for racism.

Heh, a black Army buddy used that saying all of the time.

our problem going forward is going to be Peyton Manning how long does he play? as long as he plays, the Chiefs will be fighting for a wild card spot. We may get better, but we still can easily not make the play offs.

Its gonna be tough.

As great as he is, they ALL fall apart at some point and its going to happen to him sooner rather than later... and that isnt wishful thinking, just biology.

His hands were fantastic in camp. I think some of those drops were just nerves. Jitters. Oh my god I'm an NFL player playing in an NFL game. Kinda thing.

He would. But the thing with Vernon that people apparently didn't know, don't know, it's that Alex threw all over the field to Vernon.

Where have I seen that kind of thing before?

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0821...jonbts_576.jpg

The thing to worry about is people will have more tape on us, and time to study it.

Meh. There will be a lot of roster turnover. Also Reid's offense constantly evolves.

I'd rather draft a tight end, hope Kelce turns out and be free to cut either Fasano or McGrath.. Leaving the other as a number three. They're both so Damn slow

The biggest reason to be optimistic about next year?

Peyton Manning is going to win the Super Bowl and then retire.

Travis Kelce is about #213 on the list. Right below "Andy Reid figures out how to use a pink unicorn to run the pistol".

Vernon Davis >>>>>>>>>> Travis Kelce

We need to draft a real TE.

I'm down with that, there are some good ones for the taking this year... I love our everyman folk hero McGrath as much as anyone, but we gots no time for feelings next year.

Or, maybe they let Glass Joe Fasano go... either way we could use another player in this corp.

Double post

Since there's a good amount of discussion about the TEs coming out this year, and it's supposed to be a great class, here's a little video of some of the guys.


Top TEs for 2014 Draft


Eric Ebron*, TE, North Carolina*
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 245.*
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.*
Projected Round (2014): 1.*

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Jace Amaro*, TE, Texas Tech*
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 260.*
Projected 40 Time: 4.68.*
Projected Round (2014): 1.*

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Austin Seferian-Jenkins*, TE, Washington*
Height: 6-6.
Weight: 266.*
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.*
Projected Round (2014): 1-2.*

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C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa*
Height: 6-7.
Weight: 265.*
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.*
Projected Round (2014): 2-4.*

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Marcel Jensen, TE, Fresno State*
Height: 6-6.
Weight: 270.*
Projected 40 Time: 4.77.*
Projected Round (2014): 2-4.*

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Arthur Lynch, TE, Georgia*
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 258.*
Projected 40 Time: 4.78.*
Projected Round (2014): 2-4.*

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Xavier Grimble*, TE, USC*
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 255.*
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.*
Projected Round (2014): 2-4.*


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As Chief fans shouldn't we get sick and tired of hearing "Next year"? I know I am ****ing sick of it.

Honestly, how much would it hurt capwise to give Fasano the boot? I get he was injured a lot, but he was never spectacular to begin with in Miami. Cut the losses and get one of the TEs that drop to us...

I'm no capologist, there are a bunch of guys here who know a bunch more about that stuff.

But it wouldnt hurt my feelings if he didnt make the cut next year, as you allude to his time in Miami was no great shakes, in 2012 he averaged a terrible 8.1 yards per catch... so seeing him off in favor of Kelce, a top rookie and Bloodbath would be fine by me.

This.

*leaves thread...*