Top Ten Reasons To Be Really Excited For 2013

[Direckshun]

I can't wait until the season. I am super excited for the new Chiefs. Here's why.

1. Alex Smith. Say what you want, but we were all there at the tail end of 2011, that shit season where we honestly had to root for a team without Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles, with Matt ****ing Cassel under center, and still managed to go 7-9. That was a weird, difficult season, but we were all there for the Kyle Orton Experiment in the last three games. While Kyle Orton was no world beater, it was the only time since Trent Green was under center did I not cringe watching the offense walk onto the field. I just knew that Damon Huard, Brody Croyle, Tyler Thigpen, Matt Cassel, Tyler Palko, and Brady Quinn were going to find ways to lose games. But Kyle Orton, especially in the wake of the Packers upset, was serviceable and it kept the game very interesting. I happen to think Alex Smith is far better than Orton, and in the right system, he can be a Top 12 guy like he has been the past two years. And if I get to root for a team that actually HAS A CAPABLE QUARTERBACK, I simply don't know what I'm going to do.

2. Coaching staff. I seem to always like the offensive systems implanted by our coaches. Herm Edwards favored a power run game with Larry Johnson, and I loved it (when it was working), and Todd Haley/Charlie Weis was gambling and aggressive, and I loved that too. I don't know if that makes me a homer -- I think it just means I really love football, but whatever. But I really liked the pistol when it was run by Thigpen, even if Thigpen had no clue what he was doing. The more I learn about its ability to capitalize off the QB as an athlete, and its difficulty in defending, the more I like. But our offense was bad, bad, bad last year because we had an OC who was probably the worst I've seen. Reid & company will hopefully install an offense that will stay for years, and keep defenses guessing instead of keying in on one or two things we're doing. This will legitimately change everything, as it will make our offense capable (if not dynamic), and our defense will step up now that they aren't just resting for three plays and a punt.

3. Offensive line. I've started a thread on this already. This offensive line gets me hard, and that's a True Fan thing to say but I ****ing love a good offensive line. There's literally no scheme we can't run because our offensive line will give us the ability to at least try it out adequately. Jeff Allen at left guard still spooks me, but Reid seems high on the guy.

4. Improved defense. The name of the game is to improve yourself as much as possible, and the Chiefs have mostly done that across all three levels. In the secondary, we're now legitimately six or seven-deep. At linebacker, what was a weakness at inside linebacker is now a strength with an infusion of talent with Akeem Jordan and Nico Johnson. And I'm high on Catapano. I think DeVito is an upgrade over Dorsey, and Poe's development is going to make him fun to watch.

5. Legit talent at TE. The past two years of praying Jake O'Connell or Steve Maneri could develop faster are finally put to rest. Neither Kevin Boss or Tony Moeaki are fun to root for if you're fearing injury every single time they get hit. Anthony Fasano is not a flashy player but he is a solid contributor with good hands, which this offense desperately needs, and Travis Kelce is a slam dunk at tight end -- I think he'll be very good this year if he stays off the sauce.

6. We are better insulated against injuries. Chalk this up to depth. QB and OLB are the only exceptions, as we're pretty thin there, but I like our depth at RB, WR, TE, OL, DL, ILB, and secondary. Hopefully Smith, Hali, and Houston stay healthy all year.

7. Easy schedule. I think the Chiefs could make a lot of noise against this schedule. There's only like four games that I think are cannot-wins, and two are against the Donks.

8. Dontari Poe. Already have a thread on this guy.

9. Jamaal Charles. Even when the team is 2-14, there are few pleasures greater than watching Charles glide through a hole. He is such a beautiful runner (NTTAWTT).

10. Nico Johnson. I was high on this guy all draft season, and I love that he's a Chief. Right now it sounds like he's battling against Akeem Jordan for that other ILB slot, and I think he'll own it by the end of preseason. Nico is such a great field general and an excellent two-down thumper. He stood out to me playing at Alabama, and with the improved play along the DL this year, it would be hard not to expect him to thrive in Kansas City.

[ptlyon]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm excited about the upcoming season. Things can only look up.

Only to be said again after the 1st game

[AdumbGuy]

Things to be "excited" about?

Well, our best case scenario is that our qb puts up numbers well, well above anything he's ever done in 7 years, and that we'll incorporate parts of a pistol offense that half the league will probably also try to copy just like the wildcat from a few years ago.

**** that shit - the only thing I can see being actually excited about is charles possibly breaking off a few more runs.

Unless you really do get excited about offensive lineman, nothing this off season really warrants excitement - only mild curiosity.

[MagicHef]

Hey, remember this:

Matt Cassel is 19-30 in his 49 career games with the Chiefs.

He is 15-9 in games where we ran the ball more than we threw it.

He is 1-1 in games where rushes and passes were equal. Rivers gifted us one win with a fumbled snap. We lost one other game where Ryan made Cassel cry.

However, in an NFL that is classified as a pass first league, he is 3-20 when we put the ball in the air more than we run it.

These games are - 2009 Steelers, 2009 Raiders, 2011 Vikings. The Chiefs have averaged 19.3 points in these wins. Gus threw 3 TD total.

Do you want to know what Alex Smith has done in the same circumstances?

He's 28-5-1 in games where there were more rushes than passes

He's 1-1 in games with the same number of rushes and passes

He's 11-35 when he's asked to throw more than the RBs run

And that is on a vastly more talented team, only one of those 5 losses with more runs has come since December 2006.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

Do you want to know what Alex Smith has done in the same circumstances?

He's 28-5-1 in games where there were more rushes than passes

He's 1-1 in games with the same number of rushes and passes

He's 11-35 when he's asked to throw more than the RBs run

And that is on a vastly more talented team, only one of those 5 losses with more runs has come since December 2006.

And the last two seasons?

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

And the last two seasons?

8-4 vs 14-1-1.

Speaks of an enormously talented team being held back by one guy.

Over the last 4, it's 10-18 vs 18-1-1.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

Hey, remember this:



Do you want to know what Alex Smith has done in the same circumstances?

He's 28-5-1 in games where there were more rushes than passes

He's 1-1 in games with the same number of rushes and passes

He's 11-35 when he's asked to throw more than the RBs run

And that is on a vastly more talented team, only one of those 5 losses with more runs has come since December 2006.

The 49ers were a pretty weak team roster wise for the first 4 years of Alex Smith's career, especially on the OL. They had a few nice players like Staley, Gore and Davis, but not much else.

Then they draft Crabtree, but he holds out for his entire rookie year, so his rookie season turned out to be 2010 instead of 2009.

Then in 2010, they finally upgrade the OL, but Anthony Davis had some rookie struggles (especially against us that year. We owned him).

2011 was the year the offense as a whole finally started to come together because of good coaching. But even then they had a few problems, like Adam Snyder and Chilo Rachal.

With that strong supporting cast, Alex Smith was top 10 in QBR the last 2 years, never threw INT's and had a good completion %.

I think we have a good enough roster on offense to help Alex maintain those numbers.

[RealSNR]

What's worse?

Alex Smith or Hurricane Katrina?

[kcxiv]

The number 1 on your least, has me the least ****ing excited. This is the least excited i have been entering a KC Chiefs season, since well i became a Chiefs fan.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by SNR

What's worse?

Alex Smith or Hurricane Katrina?

Alex Smith, Katrina fills up stadiums, Smith is going to clear Arrowhead. lol

[Thig Lyfe]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

Alex Smith, Katrina fills up stadiums, Smith is going to clear Arrowhead. lol

Holy shit, the perfect response.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

Alex Smith, Katrina fills up stadiums, Smith is going to clear Arrowhead. lol

That's a winner, fellas

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by RunKC

The 49ers were a pretty weak team roster wise for the first 4 years of Alex Smith's career, especially on the OL. They had a few nice players like Staley, Gore and Davis, but not much else.

Then they draft Crabtree, but he holds out for his entire rookie year, so his rookie season turned out to be 2010 instead of 2009.

Then in 2010, they finally upgrade the OL, but Anthony Davis had some rookie struggles (especially against us that year. We owned him).

2011 was the year the offense as a whole finally started to come together because of good coaching. But even then they had a few problems, like Adam Snyder and Chilo Rachal.

With that strong supporting cast, Alex Smith was top 10 in QBR the last 2 years, never threw INT's and had a good completion %.

I think we have a good enough roster on offense to help Alex maintain those numbers.

How nice.. an educated man.

[Thig Lyfe]

Originally Posted by Mac-NinersChiefs

How nice.. an educated man.

Die.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Then they draft Crabtree, but he holds out for his entire rookie year, so his rookie season turned out to be 2010 instead of 2009.

.

He missed 4 games. San Fran was also 3-1 at the time he signed.

[milkman]

I think Alex Smith is a solid game manager, nothing more, and I was not happy that we hired Andy Reid.

So, no matter what else we do, those two things temper any possible excitement I would otherwise have.

I am not getting any younger, and I just don't see this coach getting this team a SB, and have even less confidence that it will happen with this QB.