Hard not to like the improvement in WRs...
 

What was our depth chart at this time last year? Can we go back that far?

Now we've got a legit stud (Bowe), two players with good-to-great ability (Bradley & Wade), an uber-experienced vet (Engram), and a young athlete who needs a ton of refining (Lawrence).

This corps goes from good to brilliant if we find someway to add another stud -- not even a stud, just a really reliably good, game-in-game-out compliment to Bowe.

My best attempt to go back one year... tell me if I'm wrong:

Bowe, Darling, Webb, Franklin, Robinson?, Sams?

We hadn't added Bradley yet.

I think you're being overly nice to be honest with you.

That's fair. Maybe the long night is getting to me.

But what do we have? Compare our roster to last year's.

Bowe is a legit stud with Pro Bowl Talent, Bradley is immensely talented if only he can work on some mental fundamentals and improve his durability, Wade is a solid if unspectacular #2, which I don't think we've had in a decade, Engram will be good for a few yards every game and perhaps some tutorial ability. And Lawrence is a standard raw project. Every roster should have one of those.

All that seems pretty clear from debate. Obviously it will need an upgrade but this is already a huuuuge upgrade from last year, and it took the form of a complete reconstruction. Nobody, but Bowe, is the same.

I hate doing that because our WR's last year were asshole too.

I think you should always place your value on the position with the rest of the league. Basically ask yourself how many of these guys can play on a winning team.

Bowe's a starter regardless of team and Wade is probably a 3 or a 4 the rest of those guys it's pretty tough to find them a spot. Something is better than nothing but we still have a long way to go at that position.

I'm not any kind of impressed at WR or O line...

This.

This team is a long way a way as far as talent goes.

with proper coaching and a few more drafts, I think we'll be right back where we always wanted to be.








8-8.

I still wish we would find a "Larry Fitzgerald" for our Dwayne Bowe.

Bowe is a solid #2, maybe a decent #1.

We have one good receiver (Bowe), one average receiver (Bradley), and the rest are role players (Engram and Wade) or complete crap (Lawrence).

Not impressed. They don't scare any defensive coordinators.

We need another guy at Bowe's level or better that's a true deep threat to be a great offense. And that is what Haley will be shooting for. As it is now this group needs a good line and great running game to make them more of a threat. We certainly don't have that. This group of receivers probably would have done well on Vermeil's teams, though.

There is no way this is a true statement. Wade is a third-down slot specialist like Engram.

at this point, I just want to see what Cassel brings to the table.

Seriously though, how many teams actually have 2 WRs at Bowes level or better..?

Bowe's a tweener man...

He's 'meh' as a #1...or an excellent #2.

I dunno i think he has quite a bit of potential... I mean hes obviously not a Larry Fitz or a Andre Johnson but i think hes up there...

I think hes way more than an excellent #2 more like a super star IMHO...

well lets hope

Several teams do actually.....Bowe is a really nice player but there are a few teams with outstanding WR groups.

So how many teams have WR's that good..I'm just taking a stab I'll say 5-7.

Indeed :thumb:

Ok i have Bills, Pats and Cards then maybe you could count Colts, Bengals and Broncos...

Not trying to nit pick, but to me it really dosnt seem like many teams (succesful ones at that) have two outstanding WRs...

Packers have better WR's...

Ok yer forgot them... :)

I think 5-7 is high.
If a team has 2 wr the quality of bowe you would have to say that they would be toward the top of the league talent wise. You could win a super bowl with 2 wr the quality of bowe.

I like what we've done, and you're usually Mr. Negative ;), but I think even saying 5-7 might be generous.

Oh hell then, we better stand pat. We wouldn't want to do that.

Denver, Arizona, NE, Pittsburgh, Cincinatti, Bills, Indy, SD, Green Bay, Saints.

Forget the wideouts right now. We need some right sided o-linemen.

Hopefully, we can hit a home run with either Lawrence or Long stepping into a role similar to what Wes Welker does for the Patriots. If by the end of the season, either one of those two can handle that type of role, our offense could take a huge jump forward going into the next season.

Denver
bowe vs royal or stokely
stokely had 1 year 2004 with numbers close to bowe
royals numbers are similar to bowe

NO
I take bowe over meacham,moore,thomas

The point being 2 wr as good as bowe would get the job done better than most.

When you stop and think about it, Haley and Pioli may have an interesting offensive personnel strategy playing out here.

Surely, we can assume that both Pioli and Haley realize that our o-line is sub-par and unable to consistently provide sufficient run-blocking to establish a significant rushing threat or (God forbid) pass protection. I have to believe they recognize this problem and would, in an ideal world, prefer to build the offense inside-out.

However, they've been unfortunately unable to either identify, recruit, or acquire (for whatever reason) meaningful upgrades to the line - at least, up to now.

So, instead, they're attempting to dramatically improve the receiver corp. This might make sense. If the line can't be depended upon to allow the QB to consistently take 7 step drops and/or go through all his possible reads, sure-handed receivers who can run quick 5 to 15 yard routes might be a back-handed solution to the problem.

We might be looking at an offense that features more 3 to 5 step drops, rollouts, and boots combined with quick outs, slants, as well as short curls and hooks. Reminiscent of the West Coast offense. To do that, you need guys who aren't afraid to catch the ball in traffic, have sure hands, and can take a hit. You also need guys who will block for the other guys, if you want YAC, that is. That may be why we're going through so many receivers ... trying to find players who can dependably fill that role. Possible?

FAX

With a fixed oline to be able to actually run down field patterns and the right counterpart at wr he could be a solid 1. The dropoff after bowe here is so great it's almost hard to picture what he would look like in that scenario.

Makes perfect sense.
I think a team will hold onto solid backup olineman at the expense of a serviceable backup wideout. In a nutshell easier to find wideouts than olineman. A wideout from a small school can do well but usually the ideal size lineman tend to go to name schools. Bigger pool to pick from.

Its an improvement, but not a big one. It could get us by if we had an Oline and running game though.

Coles and Gonzalez? Child please.

The problem is there is NO fix for the OL you can pick up off the street. Just no upgrade out there. Apparently Runyan was no help but we looked. We traded to Miami to get a RT so they are trying just no help thats an upgrade out there.

I don't remember a coach in the history of the organization that has so much knowledge of and puts so much emphasis on the WR position. Pioli and Haley are making this team one that will be fun to support.

I'm just happy Haley has set a higher level of expectations for our recievers. Bradley really made a couple of poor attempts to get a first down and now he has Wade breathing down his neck for playing time. So while the talent level isn't there yet the expectations to run better routes and get the first down are.

I think the right analogy is that the Chiefs offense is house with a leaky roof and a broken HVAc system. We're going to throw some tar paper up on the roof and buy a couple of window fans and make the best of it, while we wait for the repairman to arrive. If the HVAC man shows up before the roofer, we'll at least be cool, but the house won't be in acceptable shape until both problems are fixed.

SD have two Vincent Jacksons..? Im going to call :BS: on that one... Oh and Pittsburgh? Holmes is great, but Ward is almost done, hes not really talented per say either more so an over achiever if you ask me...

EDIT:

Wait and NO to??? Colston id fantasic but they dont have anyone else greater or equal to Bowe on that roster... Potentially they do, but not yet...

It's like when your cougar girlfriend gets implants and some surgery. Sure she looks good enough to keep banging for the near future but at some point you're going to want to upgrade.

I like analogies.

I agree I am looking long term. People think you can just snap your fingers and a good olineman will appear. At this point it's a little late for this year. A $$ free agent in the off season and a draft pick next year is the soonest I see it being fixed.

WR's: suck
Oline: Uber suckage
LB: suck
KR/PR Uber suckage

Not many, but shhh... Don't say that too loudly.
People think it's normal to have Fitzgerald AND Boldin AND Breaston.

Mecca, I think you're being overly critical.

There are some teams that have a lot worse WR corps out there now.

Look at the Giants. They're starting two rooks. They may end up better, but right now, I don't think you can say they are better.

The Cowboys have Roy Williams who has been reasonably on par with Bowe, then what? Crayton? I don't remember.

Who the hell does San Fran even have?

Jacksonville doesn't have anyone to get excited about, either does Tennessee.

The Raiders are in pretty much the same boat as NY.

Chicago's leading threat is Dante Hall pt 2.

I think we're on par with Miami, Jets, Seachickens, and there are several other teams, like St Loser, Cleveland, and Redskins (though I imagine that the redskins have a solid lineup) that I have no clue what they're fielding.

I think it is fair to say that our squad is average. How the **** long have we waited for an average group.

But the point is the progress we've made without dropping huge money and high draft picks (yes I know Bowe was a #1, but the OP makes the comparison to last year) is pretty ****ing solid. These guys aren't going to set records, but they are a significant improvement from last year.
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The Chiefs WR corps is drastically improved over 1 year ago.
If Bradley can stay healthy... You've got your #2. A very productive #2.

Did he miss any games last year after we picked him up?
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So... in summation, No. It is NOT hard to not like the improvement. Apparently some do not like to see improvement in WRs, until the O-Line is improved. Good try.

There is no excuse for Cassel not to throw for 350 yards every single game.

LMAO

I was ready to see Bradley fired on the spot last week, but he flashed hard on the 50yd basket catch one-hander, with a defender tied to his belt loop...if he'll quit avoiding crucial contact, he could still be a decent #2 IMO.

And if he doesnt, Haley will find someone who will...gah, i love it.

I agree, the WR position still not what it should be, but it has improved alot over the past year.

The Eagles. Maclin and Jackson.

The point is that it's hard to be a Super Bowl team without the services of at least two great receivers.

The Chiefs WILL need a serious outside threat to compliment Bowe or they just won't make it to the Super Bowl.

everyone wishes we had an all world tight end

Yeah... I miss Jason Dunn and Kris Wilson too :(

Ward isn't almost done, Dude. That guy is a fierce competitor and showed it again last Thursday night. They also have Limas Sweed and Mike Wallace on their roster (a 2nd year second round pick and a rookie). If either of those guys breakout, the Steelers are going to be even tougher to beat.

...plus upgrades at C, RG, RT, NT, 3 LBs, and SS. And by the time we acquire those, we'll need a new RB, LG, and really it's possible we need a new QB if Cassel doesn't work out.