Late Night Bullshit: The 2014 Chiefs > The 2013 Chiefs

[BossChief]

I have read a lot of negativity towards the upcoming season and I'm not sure why. I think that we are gonna be reasonably better.

Lots of "oh my god, we lost 5 starters"

"Oh my god, we play a hard schedule."

Blah blah blah.

1) We upgraded from Tyson Jackson to a young DL that can rush the passer. Tyson was a good fit for 90s football, but guys that get 2-3 pressures per game like Walker are a much better fit for todays NFL...especially in this division.

2) KENDRICK LEWIS IS NO LONGER A CHIEF.

3) Dexter McCluster is a decent possession receiver, but is easily replaceable...even by a guy like Jason Avant.

4) Losing Albert sucks, but Eric Fisher was universally thought of as a "special" talent as a left tackle. If he takes this offseason seriously, it's possible he starts to show flashes of that for us next year. The guy has battled thumb and shoulder problems all year and its possible we even get an upgrade over Albert by seasons end if every scout turns out to be right. Albert was missing a lot of recent time to injury and I wish him the best, but it's possible his injury problems persist.

5) Asamoah and Schwartz both played well (even though Asamoah seemed off, he graded out very well) and its a shame to lose both of them, but right guards aren't something you invest almost 5 million a year on...that's Emmanuel Sanders money. We have 2 guards as depth that played well when called upon and its not like either Schwartz or Asamoah were irreplaceable.

6) Getting Travis Kelce back has a chance to be a game changer. The guy was catching everything in camp and Alex Smith trusted him. That's intriguing because his strength is blocking. If he can come back from that nasty injury/surgery with trust in his knee, he will be our starter at tight end and will be the best one we have had since Tony Gonzalez. Anyone that knows me and my interest in Tony Moeaki knows that's a big statement.

7) A full year and offseason in the defense for Marcus Cooper. He got here as a waiver cut late in PS last year and showed a lot of promise until Houston and Hali both got hurt and our pass rush went to sleep. He knows what it's gonna take to develop his skills and has a lot of film to study to work on homing his skills into the system.

8) DUNTA ROBINSON IS NO LONGER ON THE TEAM.

9) Sanders Commings has a lot of speed and playmaking ability and lost the year to injury...but will infuse the defense with speed once he gets on the field. Can't be worse than Demps/Lewis and has a lot of upside.

10) Knile Davis showed top end ability in camp and performed nicely when called upon when Jamaal went down. He got the taste of what a starting NFL running back feels like and that should drive him to turn it up next year.

11) Husain Abdullah playing more. This guy made plays whenever he got on the field and that time should increase this year. He was offered a long term deal for good starter money with Minnesota before we took his pilgrimage and by years end was a highly effective player.

12) Alex Smith was in his first year with the receivers last year and it took awhile to get up to speed with everyone, but when he did, the offense was able to score a lot of points and move the ball effectively. Andy Reid knows QBs and has wanted Alex Smith for years...in the playoff game, it showed why that is. The guy can be a playmaker and its possible that he play at that level all year for us.

13) Dwayne Bowe took awhile to get up to speed, too...but once Alex Started throwing him the ball, he was pretty effective and it sparked the offense. This is a big year for Bowe and lets hope he and Alex are able to continue the chemistry they showed in the playoff game. I can definitely see Bowe having a big year in 2014.

14) This draft is amazingly deep in the exact positions that we have needs at. Safety, WR, OL, TE...it's a big opportunity to seriously upgrade this team. Those picks in rounds 3-6 are gonna carry a huge premium over the quality of talent usually available at those spots in the draft.

15) Brandon Flowers being healthy. He battled injuries all year and we probably win in Indy if he doesn't get hurt.

16) Scheme continuity. The coaching staffs stayed in place, so the players come into year 2 being able to play faster due to thinking less.

17) The second wave of free agency. This draft class is gonna cause a trickle down effect on the veterans in the NFL because teams will want to start a great deal of guys from this draft and that will lead to a lot of tams releasing higher priced veterans in June...a lot of them will have plenty of gas left in the tank and those are the guys that Dorsey will want to shop for due to the value.

I guess I don't fully understand why there isn't a larger group of posters that are willing to predict a record better than last years...or at least winning 10 or more games.

This isn't the lame coaching staffs we have had the last 10 years, these guys are legit. I don't see them regressing with all this talent. Remember, before last year we thought the 2013 schedule was gonna be a murderers row and look how it panned out, you never know.


I'm thinking 10-11 wins is a lock and more wins than that are possible.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

That is absolutely insane.

[keg in kc]

Two thoughts:

Everything isn't going to work out for the best. Maybe some things will, but some of the moves they make (or don't make) this offseason will flop. Just the law of averages.

The 2014 team could be better than last year's on the field and only win 7 or 8 games. If they play worse, then it could be ugly.

[Iconic]

Our team got arguably worse and our schedule got harder. That's why.

[BossChief]

Give me specific reasons why we will be worse. I'm all ears.

I see a team that -until Hali and Houston got hurt- was being touted as one of the next elite defenses.

I also see a team that its quarterback played at a high level the last 7 or 8 games.

If they can find a way to run the defense how it did before the bye and pair it with the offense from after the bye...how can we not improve?

[BossChief]

Two thoughts:

Everything isn't going to work out for the best. Maybe some things will, but some of the moves they make (or don't make) this offseason will flop. Just the law of averages.

The 2014 team could be better than last year's on the field and only win 7 or 8 games. If they play worse, then it could be ugly.

The only irreplaceable player we lost was Albert. Agree or disagree?

[Hammock Parties]

http://i.imgur.com/yBQL1nt.gif

[RealSNR]

We ain't beating Seattle or San Fran.

We can't seem to even crack a .500 record in our own division in the past several years.

I think schedule IS a huge deal. I don't think we're necessarily terrible or that our easy schedule in 2013 was masking over the poor quality of our team in any way, but this is the goddamn NFC West we're talking about. And for that matter, the AFC West, too. 10 of the 16 games we play are against foes in the toughest NFL divisions. We also have to play the Patriots.

We're not going 6-10 or anything like that. But we're not doing better than 11-5, that's for sure.

If we get out of this season with 10-6, I'll be fucking elated.

[TimBone]

The only irreplaceable player we lost was Albert. Agree or disagree?

I'm not so sure Albert is irreplaceable.

[BossChief]

Show me what position we aren't currently better at.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

*Commings and Kelce have done nothing to this point. They're Kris Wilson until proven otherwise.
*There is no definitive blindside protector.
*The schedule is likely going to be extremely difficult
*There is one game-breaking player on offense
*The safety position has still not improved
*There are only two legitimate pass rushers
*There is no continuity on the interior line, and few proven players
*The defense did not play a single good game against a team with a legitimate, healthy QB.

The '14 Chiefs are more likely to win 4 games than 11.

[keg in kc]

The only irreplaceable player we lost was Albert. Agree or disagree?Agree, obviously; I've said the same in other threads recently.

However, I don't believe the 2013 squad was anywhere close to being a legitimate playoff-contending team. I believe a lot of things went their way, sort of a cosmic rebalancing of the scales from 2012, and I think their win total last year exceeded their actually quality by (at least) 2 or 3 games.

And in that light I think it's going to take a great deal of improvement for the Chiefs to match their win total from last year. But so far what I'm seeing are a lot of lateral-looking moves.

I expect a step back. As much because that's what happens so often in rebuilds as for any specific move they made this offseason. And because it appears to be a more difficult schedule. I think they have more building to do, and I think they're at least a year away from real contention. Maybe they can repeat the magic of last year and get a few unsung heroes to exceed their expected contribution, but I'm not counting on that.

[BossChief]

If our win totals were inflated, then why did we lose one SD game to complete bullshit and the other on a last second miracle catch?

I think after you balance things out, we ended up right where we should have been.

[Chiefs=Champions]

You cant expert all those things to happen, but you cant expect none of them either. The best case scenario is just as likely as the worst. I for one feel we will be better simply because Alex will be better. Good Qb play will fill any of our remaining weaknesses.

[AustinChief]

We'll be a better team but it's hard to imagine we win as many games. But I fully expect us to be better especially on offense. We should start the season close to how we ended last year in that regard. I also expect our D will start as BAD as we ended last year but steadily improve as the year goes on.

All of this assumes no major injuries.

[HoneyBadger]

The only irreplaceable player we lost was Albert. Agree or disagree?

It's not about who we lost, it's about what we didn't do to get better in FA- while other teams capitalized.

[RustShack]

Of course a team will be better their second year in a system than they were their first.

[BossChief]

*Commings and Kelce have done nothing to this point. They're Kris Wilson until proven otherwise.
*There is no definitive blindside protector.
*The schedule is likely going to be extremely difficult
*There is one game-breaking player on offense
*The safety position has still not improved
*There are only two legitimate pass rushers
*There is no continuity on the interior line, and few proven players
*The defense did not play a single good game against a team with a legitimate, healthy QB.

The '14 Chiefs are more likely to win 4 games than 11.

*Commings and Kelce can't be worse than the guys they are replacing.
*true, but even when Albert went down we got solid play from Stephenson.
*Its probable, but you never know. Everyone though last years schedule was gonna be tough, too.
*We scored over 40 points without Charles.
*Safety improved by letting Demps and Lewis walk.
*Walker had a lot of pressures and Poe can rush the passer, too.
*Agreed on the interior line.
*Ouch

[Iconic]

Sanders is a wild card.
Kelce is coming off a knee injury.
Abdullah was good in limited snaps, but can he maintain that sort of play as a starter?
All our core players are a year older and slowly leaving their prime
Technically, losing Tyson Jackson makes us worse against the run
... and we still have a ton of holes and no 2nd pick in the deepest draft in the NFL.

If everyone does pan out, then sure, we'll be better, but that's not changing how difficult our schedule is this season.

[keg in kc]

If our win totals were inflated, then why did we lose one SD game to complete bullshit and the other on a last second miracle catch?

I think after you balance things out, we ended up right where we should have been.My main point was that, as other people have said, I think they can be a better team in 2014 yet win fewer games. In order to win 10 or 11, I believe they'd have to improve a great deal at a number of positions that have already been pointed out by others. To me it's not as much about whether the lost players were irreplaceable, but rather whether the signed or internally-promoted replacements are significant enough improvements over the released guys (many of whom are/were 'jags' in my opinion). And I'm not certain at this point whether or not they are.

But then, you have to quantify what "as good or better" means. If you're talking about level of play, then yes I believe the 2014 team can surpass the 2013. If you're talking about wins and losses, then you already know my thoughts there...

[Rasputin]

On paper this looks like a tough schedule and I'm sure it is but one thing to remember is that a lot of years the good teams can take a slide back and the bad teams are the ones that take surprise and watch out for.

I think some of the tough teams we play on paper wont be that good when we play them.

I think we can be a better team and still go 8-8 nothing to leap for joy, but at least we wont get crushed in the playoffs.

I only care about winning in the playoffs or don't go.

[staylor26]

I'm pretty confident that whoever ends up replacing McCluster and Lewis will be upgrades. Mays is basically the same player as Jordan, but gives our defense some attitude that's been missing.

Walker is a better all-around player and probably an upgrade over Jackson. Bailey and Catapano should continue to develop.

Our line will probably take a few steps back from where they were at the end of last season, but we will have more weapons with the addition of Kelce and potential draft picks.

We will likely come out this draft and the rest of the offseason with an upgrade at WR, more pass rush/OLB depth, a young potential starter at OG, competition at KR and PR, and more depth at CB.

Poe, Houston, and Berry will continue to make strides. As should Cooper, Catapano, Bailey, Parker, Knile, Hudson, Fisher, Stephenson, and Jenkins. Kelce and Commings give us two more young talents already on the roster.

I just don't see any reason to panic right now. We will improve overall, and our offense and the defense won't pull that tale of two seasons bs again. I expect to get a wild card spot again, but get this monkey off our back and win a playoff game.

[Saccopoo]

The only irreplaceable player we lost was Albert. Agree or disagree?

Disagree.

Albert is/was totally replaceable.

And we replaced him with one of two guys (Fisher or Stephenson) who already are more technically sound that he ever was with higher ceilings.

One decent season that he only played 12 games in with three other seasons that were substandard does not make Albert irreplaceable.

[RunKC]

I'll tell you after the draft. Hoping to get at least 3 rookies who are making an impact this year.

[Titty Meat]

This board also said the 2012 Chiefs were a playoff contender.

[BossChief]

This board also said the 2012 Chiefs were a playoff contender.

Romeo Crennel
Scott Pioli
Matt Cassel


Andy Reid
John Dorsey
Alex Smith

Big difference.

I think it's possible that Alex Smith has a really big year in 2014.

Maybe even 4000 yards and 30tds

[RealSNR]

This board also said the 2012 Chiefs were a playoff contender.

And that the 2013 Chiefs were a playoff contender.

[ThaVirus]

I thought Jamaal would have an even bigger year coming up but, with all this offensive line shuffling, now I'm not so sure.

This coming season is one big fucking mystery...

[BossChief]

And that the 2013 Chiefs were a playoff contender.

If we didnt have an unbelievable string of injuries to key players, we would have won at least 1 playoff game.

[Titty Meat]

Romeo Crennel
Scott Pioli
Matt Cassel


Andy Reid
John Dorsey
Alex Smith

Big difference.

I think it's possible that Alex Smith has a really big year in 2014.

Maybe even 4000 yards and 30tds

If they get a guy like Beckham maybe but like Hamas said not all the guys you listed will work out. Theres more questions than answers on this roster IMO and while you could argue that letting some of these guys go were average players and not much different than the guys replacing sure maybe but then I would argue we are at least thinner on depth. The way I look at is theres more holes than resources at this point with only 6 picks and 5 mil in cap.

Bob Sutton?

Who fills in for commings or Abdullah if they get hurt?

What if Cooper still plays without confidence?

What if Charles gets hurt?

Who's the #2 WR?

Who's the starting right guard? What happens if they get hurt?

What if Fisher doesn't improve or gets hurt again?

Those are just some examples.

[RealSNR]

It's always fun to make cracks about how this board is full of idiots and that the majority board opinion will more often than not lead people astray, but it's actually right about a lot of stuff more often than people seem to want to admit.

[Titty Meat]

It's always fun to make cracks about how this board is full of idiots and that the majority board opinion will more often than not lead people astray, but it's actually right about a lot of stuff more often than people seem to want to admit.

Like?

[RealSNR]

Like?

I just gave you an example

[RippedmyFlesh]

I'll tell you after the draft. Hoping to get at least 3 rookies who are making an impact this year.

That is asking a lot unless they trade and get more picks. No matter how much research they do good drafting teams are 50-50 on 1st rounders. I expect a starter in 1st but I would be happy with 1 more starter in rounds 3-5. The rest guys to be developed. When you look at team's drafts if you hit on 2 picks that is pretty good. 3-4 in one class is historically good .

[keg in kc]

Our line will probably take a few steps back from where they were at the end of last seasonI think you may be underestimating just how important that is. The offensive line has the potential to be a real problem, and if that's the case, it's fairly likely that the offense as a whole will look more like it did during the first half of the 2013 season than the second, regardless of the presence, positive or otherwise, of players like Kelce or any potential draft picks (themselves unknown quantities).

[keg in kc]

Alex Smith throwing for 4000 yards and 30 TD may be the craziest thing in this whole thread.

[TripleThreat]

Losing Albert sucks, but Eric Fisher was universally thought of as a "special" talent

hes special alright

[TripleThreat]

Alex Smith throwing for 4000 yards and 30 TD may be the craziest thing in this whole thread.

not impossible, just unlikely if we keep it vanilla like we did in 13'. But some would call that vanilla, "winning football"

[AussieChiefsFan]

Record-wise it's real tough to see KC getting better than 11-5. That doesn't necessarily mean we'll be any worse as a team though, so, to me, getting to the playoffs regardless of record is the thing to do. If we can get to the playoffs with that reg-season schedule, it'll be hard not to be happy.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Chiefs had a bottom 5 defense minus the fluke start and run of 3rd stringers.

[Eleazar]

Might be better, record probably won't be

[The Franchise]

8-8 but it won't be a season of separate halves. You won't see 8 games of no offense and all defense or 8 games of no defense and all offense. Worse record. ...better looking team.

[Rausch]

I think we'll be a better team with a worse record...

[King_Chief_Fan]

I think we'll be a better team with a worse record...
yup

[RunKC]

Alex isn't throwing 30 TD's and 4k yards. The NFC west is a damn good defensive division

[track]

better team worse record

[hometeam]

I said it before, will say it again.

I think the chiefs will end up a better team, with a worse record.

The only losses to speak of where BA and Schwartz. I think Walker is an upgrade from Tjax, and the rest of the guys we lost where JAGS.

Also, whether its Commings, Abdullah, or some other JAG, our FS position has been upgraded. Other guys will continue to improve.

[BossChief]

Alex Smith throwing for 4000 yards and 30 TD may be the craziest thing in this whole thread.

Looking at the last 7-8 games makes me think its very possible. Even with the slow start, he threw close to that last year in 16 starts.

[RunKC]

Looking at the last 7-8 games makes me think its very possible.

Every defense in the NFC west is top 10 caliber. I'll be surprised if Alex can achieve that against this schedule.

[greatgooglymoogly]

Look at the secondary.

Now look at the list of QBs the Chiefs expect to face this season.

Look back at the secondary.

That's why I think the Chiefs will have a worse record. It's easy when half your opponents are playing their backup QBs. The odds of that happening again are extremely slim.

[temper11]

It's not about who we lost, it's about what we didn't do to get better in FA- while other teams capitalized.

But isn't it also about what we will be able to do next year in FA because we didn't do this year in FA? Wouldn't you rather keep A. Smith, J. Charles, Poe etc. who are coming up for extensions next year than extending Albert, Schwartz and Asamoah or bringing in some other FA's for a potential quick fix?

[temper11]

I'm pretty confident that whoever ends up replacing McCluster and Lewis will be upgrades. Mays is basically the same player as Jordan, but gives our defense some attitude that's been missing.

Walker is a better all-around player and probably an upgrade over Jackson. Bailey and Catapano should continue to develop.

Our line will probably take a few steps back from where they were at the end of last season, but we will have more weapons with the addition of Kelce and potential draft picks.

We will likely come out this draft and the rest of the offseason with an upgrade at WR, more pass rush/OLB depth, a young potential starter at OG, competition at KR and PR, and more depth at CB.

Poe, Houston, and Berry will continue to make strides. As should Cooper, Catapano, Bailey, Parker, Knile, Hudson, Fisher, Stephenson, and Jenkins. Kelce and Commings give us two more young talents already on the roster.

I just don't see any reason to panic right now. We will improve overall, and our offense and the defense won't pull that tale of two seasons bs again. I expect to get a wild card spot again, but get this monkey off our back and win a playoff game.

This.

[Titty Meat]

I just gave you an example

Geno Smiith.

[Baby Lee]

*Commings and Kelce have done nothing to this point. They're Kris Wilson until proven otherwise.
*There is no definitive blindside protector.
*The schedule is likely going to be extremely difficult
*There is one game-breaking player on offense
*The safety position has still not improved
*There are only two legitimate pass rushers
*There is no continuity on the interior line, and few proven players
*The defense did not play a single good game against a team with a legitimate, healthy QB.


The '14 Chiefs are more likely to win 4 games than 11.

Glad to see you're on the 'Romo is a shit QB' bandwagon.

[Mr. Laz]

All it will take is for 1 or 2 of these projections to not work and we will be fucked.

walking a thin line

our luck sucks so you know something will go wrong

[JakeLV]

Will they have a better record?

Probably not.

Will they be a better team as the poll question actually asks? Definitely.

Signs from years of abuse are clearly on display here

[HoneyBadger]

But isn't it also about what we will be able to do next year in FA because we didn't do this year in FA? Wouldn't you rather keep A. Smith, J. Charles, Poe etc. who are coming up for extensions next year than extending Albert, Schwartz and Asamoah or bringing in some other FA's for a potential quick fix?

Charles is going to want a big payday. It would be wise to just replace him with a new young back. They are a dime a dozen.

The FAs available this year weren't a quick fix, many had a lot of long term potential.

[HoneyBadger]

Chiefs had a bottom 5 defense minus the fluke start and run of 3rd stringers.

Bob sutton.

[temper11]

*The defense did not play a single good game against a team with a legitimate, healthy QB.


Romo?
Vick?
E. Manning?


Prior to the start of the 2013 season, many here were pegging these games as probable losses. Our defense was exposed and schemed against later in the season and we did nothing to adjust. I can only hope that Sutton has spent his time this off-season figuring out how to account for the complete collapse in back half of 13. I don't think that is all just plug-n-play personnel. I think much of it is on Sutton's shoulders.

[Hammock Parties]

Romo was hurt, Vick's a joke and Manning was shit last year. Try again.

[ThaVirus]

Romo was hurt?

[Hammock Parties]

Romo was hurt?

Yes.

[MTG#10]

http://i.imgur.com/yBQL1nt.gif

ROFL

Perfect

[mcaj22]

If they keep making more signings like Chris Owens and Vance Walker I will say yes

If they do the Joe Mays/Jeff Fartsnshits type signings I will say no

the ball is in our GMs court.

[MTG#10]

If they keep making more signings like Chris Owens and Vance Walker I will say yes

If they do the Joe Mays/Jeff Fartsnshits type signings I will say no

the ball is in our GMs court.Chris Owens is average at best, doubt he'll even see the field much. Walker is the only upgrade we've made.

[beach tribe]

http://i.imgur.com/yBQL1nt.gif

That's awesome

[beach tribe]

*Commings and Kelce have done nothing to this point. They're Kris Wilson until proven otherwise.
*There is no definitive blindside protector.
*The schedule is likely going to be extremely difficult
*There is one game-breaking player on offense
*The safety position has still not improved
*There are only two legitimate pass rushers
*There is no continuity on the interior line, and few proven players
*The defense did not play a single good game against a team with a legitimate, healthy QB.

The '14 Chiefs are more likely to win 4 games than 11.

Welcome to last off-season.

[Cannibal]

Heart says yes, head says no. I'm hoping for the best.

[TLO]

I'm on the better team/worse record train for now.

[RealSNR]

Geno Smiith.

You're pretty terrible at arguing. You know that, right?

[Direckshun]

I have the same attitude now that I did in 2011: going 8-8 would be an accomplishment this year.

[B_Ambuehl]

Negative.

1. This was a 2-6 football team the 2nd half of the season against decent competition. Against a tougher schedule this yr (playing the NFC west) the team would have to play better overall to win 8 football games.

2. History shows anytime you're a running football team and lose 2 starting guards your running game will tend to take a significant step back the following year. It takes rookie offensive lineman a yr or 2 to get up to speed the guard play will most likely take a step back, as will the run game.

3. Still have a slapdick running the defense until that gets straightened out the D will struggle against good passing offenses.

[BossChief]

That is absolutely insane.

Hi

[Rausch]

Houston + Hali > DJ + Berry

2013 OL > 2014 OL

2013 A. Smith < 2014 A. Smith

[Frosty]

Bosstradamus