I am getting excited about this year. I'm stoked about a few players on this team.

1) Mike Cloud. Here's a 1000 yard rusher, if they just give him the ball. Having about 40 receptions will be a plus.

2) John Tait. This guy is an animal. Period. If not this year, PB next year.

3) TRich. Pro Bowl. Nuff said.

4) SlyMo. I love this guy!!! We needed a receiver so bad, and he's got speed, size, hands, everything. He'll be #1 soon, so DA can move back to where he's comfortable on the other side of the field. 60 receptions, 1000 yards...

5) Donnie Edwards. Pro Bowl. He's gonna prove to everyone how good he is. He's gonna be all over the field.

6) Duane Clemons. Yes, Duane Clemons. Chester will prove the naysayers wrong and open it up for Clemons. 12-14 sacks, I'm hoping.

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Parker

[i]It is no coincidence that fascism is often referred to as a "reactionary movement".</I>

I agree with your posts, but forgot one person, Moreau. This guy may not show much this year, but is beginning to look like the Bus. Future PB for sure.

I agree. I think a lot of the handwringing comes from the upside-down world of last year. All the bad teams that got good in a hurry. Paranioa sets in and you get glum thinking, OK the traditional powerhouses will be back as strong as ever, and all the bad teams will be powerhouses too. The poor Chiefs, no new stadium, no free-agency cash grab, no young turk owner running his team like he's running for office. Why all they're doing is practicing the way Gunther wants a practice run. What good can come of that?

But the immutable thing is all the games played this year will average out to .500. Every game [save the ultra-rare tie] will have one winner and one loser. As per the Schwami - that's why they play the games.

I am up for this season. It'll be great to humble some of our upcoming opponents. We can get back to putting the expert analysis on its ear.

I was rooting for Moreau early on, but then I saw the flashes of Cloud during the first couple of preseason games. This guy has some serious potential to do things that we haven't done before. We can actually use some cutbacks, and sweeps, rather than belly and off-tackle plays every down.

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Parker

[i]It is no coincidence that fascism is often referred to as a "reactionary movement".</I>

Yeah, I think Cloud is our hopes to get out of rbbc, he is the only veteran that has shown anything. I am still crossing my fingers for Kimble and hope he gets a chance to come back strong.

I'd love to root for Kimble but I am a firm believer in youth. I'd rather go 9-7 with a bunch of young guys, than 13-3 with a bunch of old guys, unless there was a SB in it. If we can go 9-7 with the young guys this year, they're only gonna get better and better. We're finally BUILDING a future here.

As for Kimble, I, for one, thought he looked tentative and was actually limping during the game a bit.

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Parker

[i]It is no coincidence that fascism is often referred to as a "reactionary movement".</I>

Cloud: KC finally has a RB with both the necessary balance and speed to bounce a carry outside! I've been most impressed with Mike's ability to make cuts... to change direction & make would-be tacklers miss. Now, if he could only shed the first guy to hit him...

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This space for rent!

The preseason has been rough but the things you mention give me encouragement. Other things I like:

Spirit was back in the last game.
Def line play much better last game.
Rison let go indicating move to young.
Now for a few others Shehee, Gray, maybe even Dishman
High percentage passing and the fact Grbac has not seemed rattled yet
O-line play of starters in last game

Things are starting to come together http://www.ChiefsPlanet.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Jim Reynolds

For what it is worth, I wouldn't mind a 7-9 season if we get some playing time for the younger guys. I remember Kevin Ross getting toasted pretty heavily the first year, but he learned by it and became a player.

It's great to talk Chiefs agains ain't it!!!

mmaddog
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I, too, am anticipating a youth movement. We have needed this the past two years, but we probably didn't have enough youth to try it. I am not being pessimistic, but the schedule is a killer, and we need to rebuild, so if we start out in the toilet, lets stay there, and play our kids the rest of the year. However, we play our best guys, as long as we are in the race. With the AFC West looking so even, that might be all year, even with some losses.

So, which position are we hurting the most at on age? At first glance I would say corner... but with all the new young corners we *may* be ok. Any other positions that are reaching AARP status?

I take pre-season w/ a grain of salt. That's how Gun & Co. seem to take it as well--a chance to evaluate talent, nothing else.

That said, I'm getting concerned w/ two areas on the team as we head onto regular season--

1) The Corner--or, more specifically, the opposite corner. Hasty, I still have faith in, but Dishman? He may be done for in our currrent D scheme. And Warfield--Beginning to smell like a project that's not going to pan out--I don't care how much the organization likes him--He has deeply disappointed me. Gray is a total bust. The others are too young to even think of starting. IMO, we have a big problem there.

2) Backup QB--Need anything more be said?

Eric

I saw a couple of polls before the season that asked if we would be willing to see a .500 season to build up the youth for the future, everyone said yes.... now its going to happen, don't get discouraged! I thnk some young players are gonna step up and make some things happen this year!Watch Mike Cloud, i think hes gonna be great, he's got MOVES!
GO CHIEFS!!