Originally Posted by Saccopoo
I'm taking a post in the Jamaal Charles thread and putting it in here as it is more reflective of this thread than the Chicken Little terror over in that one...
Theoretically, they should be in the Super Bowl hunt in the 2015 season.
They should have an outside shot this season if they don't suffer injuries at key positions.
Considering that they reeled off a 9-0 start last season and were in the playoffs and should have won that game if not for some seriously inexcusably bad plays by Dwayne Bowe, Kendrick Lewis and Dunta Robinson as well as injuries to Jamaal Charles and Brandon Flowers (in addition to a hobbled Houston), while operating in a new system with an entirely new coaching staff on both sides of the ball and with a totally new QB roster, this is a team that should seriously contend for at least one or two playoff wins in 2014 and, if they keep the offensive line and QB together, add one more weapon at WR (or someone emerges), they should be Super Bowl ready by the 2015 season.
Offensively, we will be better simply by building on the continuity and experience of last season, which saw the offense operating at a NFL Top 5/10 level the last half of the season. Getting Fisher and Stephenson at their correct positions (LT and RT respectively) will help. Charles, while 27, has really only played four seasons in the NFL and left after his junior year in college. There is ample tread left on those tires and the Chiefs coaching staff was getting Knile Davis more involved in the run and spreading Charles out more as the season went along. This will help preserve Charles as well.
And having a healthy Fasano and Kelce will be significant. Reid's offense has always utilized the tight end a lot, but last season, due to injuries, was forced to lean on a guy who was a rookie with only one year of very, very small college ball under his belt (McGrath). And while he performed admirably all things considered, it hampered the effectiveness of Smith in the system. (Smith was a different QB when Fasano was in the game, especially in the beginning of the season.)
In addition, while Smith received the "game manager" tag around here, he was basically forced to do so due to the limitations he had at WR, TE and the inexperience of the offensive line (which was basically all "rookies" as starters with the exception of Albert). Especially against the good teams. As the season wore on, Smith began to open it up and by the time the playoff game came around the guy was slinging it, even without Charles in the lineup. You'll see substantially more of that this season and substantially less of the game manager. Guaranteed.
Defensively, we are going to be better by subtraction, where guys like Lewis and Robinson and Jackson are gone. The presence of Vance Walker will be a boon to Houston and Hali and Mays will be a tone setter on a defense that, at times, lacked a true killer instinct. (Dude can't cover much in the pass, but he'll tear a guys head off if he gets the chance.)
In addition, we've upgraded our Special Teams from a personnel perspective. Guys like Albert Wilson, Dan Sorensen, Sanders Commings, De'anthony Thomas were all special teams aces and should immediately upgrade that area, especially under the tutelage of Dave Toub.
There is nobody in the AFC that scares me. The Donkeys retooled their defense and TJ Ward is their most important free agent acquisition and will have an impact, but they lost some key players on offense (notably Eric Decker and Zane Beadles) and the loss of those two will be noticeable. As well, Manning is another year older as is his arm.
In all honesty, the Chiefs have as good a chance as anybody in the AFC and should be better this season simply based on the continuity of the team in the system. The talent is there, especially on the defensive side of the ball where we are better by subtraction (Lewis, Robinson, Jackson).
The NFC West is the class of the NFL right now, but they aren't the end all be all. Seattle lost contributing defensive players and their offense with Wilson is questionable at best, as is the Rams with Bradford and the 49ers with Kaepernick.
The 2014 Chiefs should be just fine and by the end of the season, they'll be in contention for the AFC West lead.
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