Fighting for Week 5 Greatness

Well, there was no “getting lucky” this time. There was no nail-biting finish, no tense final drive to inch out a victory. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, starters were being benched and the game was comfortably in the Chiefs' hands. In a game that Kansas City cynics would say was destined to be disappointing, the team defended their unbeaten status with a blowout against a desperate, talented football team. The Chiefs defense made a two-time Super Bowl winner quiver in his little blue boots. The offense finally stepped up to score when it counted. All the signs that Chiefs Kingdom needs in order to go completely nuts are right here. It's time to go crazy.

But, how will KC fare against the up-and-coming Tennessee Titans? Tennessee seems to be playing their best ball since the Steve McNair days. The Titans have a stout defense, a conservative, smart QB and a speedster running back that the team relies on to move the ball on offense. Sound familiar? It looks like the Chiefs will get a taste of their own medicine today against Tennessee, but their overall stats signify that KC has the edge.

The Titans have allowed the 9^th fewest yards in the NFL so far, but the Chiefs rank 7^th. Tennessee has an offense capable of winning, but not capable of scoring big points against a decent defense. The Titans rank 29^th in the league in yards earned, whereas KC ranks closer toward the middle of the pack at 17^th. Two of Tennessee's three games were won by a touchdown or less, scoring 16 against Pittsburgh and 20 against San Diego. But, the Texans are the only team to score more than 17 points against that tough Tennessee defense.

The Titans will attempt to hit this team in the mouth right out of the gate. A team that likes to get physical like this is dangerous, especially after an emotional start to the season. If the Chiefs come into this game thinking a victory is automatic, they will lose. The Titans are a very similar team that will give KC a legitimate challenge to overcome today. If the Chiefs have too many hiccups on the offense, or they turn the ball over often, this will be a real disappointment. If KC can play their game and control the ball, they should be able to take the Titans down. The Chiefs fight and scrape to win, as they often do, and pull out a victory today, 20-13.

5 Reasons This Giants Game Is Totally Trap-Tastic

Be afraid, Chiefs fans. Be very afraid. Although KC is undefeated and the Giants are winless, this is a trap game for numerous reasons. At least five of ‘em.

1- An accurate QB is this team’s kryptonite. The defense had to be great in order to counter Romo and Dez Bryant, and even Vick gouged the Chiefs for huge chunks of yardage at a time, in a game which could’ve been very different if not for the +5 turnover ratio. Speaking of which…

2- This streak of turnover-less football is certainly impressive, but it only makes sense that it comes to an end today. Expect a pick, or a fumble, or something. It’s simply been too long without one. The Giants are 31^st in the league in turnover ratio, but they just plain aren’t that bad. Something is bound to change.

3- The Giants lost 38-0 last week, giving Carolina their most one-sided win in franchise history, and only the 4^th regular season shutout in team history. Today’s game is as much of a must-win as you can find this early in the season. Think they’ll be motivated?

4- Jason Pierre-Paul still plays for New York, as does a still-legit defense. The Giants rank 17^th league-wide in passing yards allowed against Peyton Manning, Tony Romo and Cam Newton-led offenses.

5- I hate to say it, but the Chiefs are lucky to be undefeated. The Chiefs’ offense was struggling against Dallas, but, thanks to turnovers and defense, KC snuck away with a W. The next week, the Chief’s offense was struggling against Philly, but, thanks to turnovers and defense, KC snuck away with a win. See a pattern here? If the Chiefs wish to really prove themselves as a top-shelf NFL team, the offense has to come together, and soon.

Thankfully, I believe they’ll take steps toward that today. Although this is indeed a trap game for the ages, KC should be able to pull out another gritty victory at home today. In a tense game, the D holds strong long enough for the Chiefs to get their act together on the other side of the ball. Chiefs win, 23-20.

3 Stats Each For the Optimists and Pessimists

A perfect record through the third week of the season has Chiefs Kingdom riled up and ready for Sunday's home game against the win-less New York Giants. Though some fans are already drifting to sleep with playoff visions swirling around in their eager minds, others are beginning to notice chinks in the armor. This team has a disproportionate ratio of believers to naysayers, but sadly, the skeptics present valid points. Today, I offer three messages each for the overly-optimistic Chiefs fan and the justifiably paranoid critic in an effort to (once again) simultaneously curb enthusiasm and relieve the woes of doubt. Let's start with a few distressing stats, if only for the sake of finishing in a happier mood.

1- A seemingly much-improved offensive line has allowed the 10^th most sacks and tackles for a loss in the NFL. The offense is losing an average of 11 yards per game on sacks, which is middle-of-the-road for the league so far this year.

Eric Fisher's effectiveness will be a huge factor in determining the success of this offense. That right tackle position is crucial in almost any situation- deep pass protection, setting up big run plays and earning YAC with short passes. His inability to seal the right side led to sacks and collapsed pockets on several occasions Thursday night. Fletcher Cox and Connor Barwin made him truly look like a rookie for the first time. Fisher did better in Dallas against a presumably stronger defense, so it leaves one to wonder. Only time will tell if the Philly defense is better than most assumed it would be, or if Fisher has trouble with that specific defensive scheme.

2- While a win's a win, the last two wins looked ugly on the offensive side of the ball. The Chiefs showed signs of weakness against a mediocre defense on Sunday, then again against a downright bad defense on Thursday in Philadelphia. Only the Raiders and the Rams have scored fewer points against teams the Chiefs have played this season. Thank goodness for a badass defense, which we'll get into later this week.

3- In a league dominated by passing and elite quarterbacks, KC's Alex Smith has thrown for 669 yards, ranking 24^th overall in the NFL. That's 474 yards behind the league leader in pass yards, Peyton Manning. Although fans know the teams' strengths lie elsewhere, it's still unsettling to think that the offense is producing only 58% of the passing yardage as our most significant divisional rival.

So sure, the offense has shown the fans its ugly side. It's a finesse-y kind of system that can look really bad without the proper rhythm. Alex Smith hasn't thrown for more than 275 yards in a single game, and that probably won't change much. That doesn't mean it can't do enough to win- but shit, we already knew that. 3-0 baby! Let's not forget the things that got the Chiefs this far without a loss.

1- Jamaal is one catch behind Matt Forte for the most receptions by a running back this year. For all the fans praying that 25 wouldn't be under-utilized, this may be the most promising stat of all. His limited, but consistent production running the ball will only get better over time- both through the season, and through each game. Andy Reid's strategy to slice through tired defenses with Jamaal in the 4^th quarter is a wise one. Whether Charles is catching the ball out of the backfield, lining up in the slot or running the ball traditionally, he will continue to be the bread and butter of this offense. That's comforting to anyone who cares about Chiefs football.

2- Zero turnovers. Still. That gives KC the best turnover ratio in the league at -9, and that's after two defenses got consistent pressure on Alex Smith. The Giants will prove to be an intriguing challenge, and the Texans will strike fear in the hearts of any O-line in the league. But, who else is going to put more pressure on the QB than that? This offense overcame one of their biggest tests on the schedule against Dallas, even if they just barely earned a passing grade.

3- Well, they're 3-0. That's a big deal. 75% of teams in the modern era that start the season with three straight wins reach the playoffs. The rest of the season looks to be moderately difficult at worst, and the Broncos are the only team on the schedule still without a loss. The door to the playoffs is wide open, and only Peyton's massive head stands in the way.

I'll be back later in the week to explain how this upcoming match-up against the Giants epitomizes the phrase “trap game”. Until then, let's forget about all that skepticism and enjoy the fact that the team is undefeated and KC's playoff chances look great. Let's save our negativity for that sad, fateful Sunday when we lose to the Browns (no way) or the Raiders (please don't.)

A Hopeful Home Opener Preview

On my list of least likable NFL teams, the over-hyped and under-performing Dallas Cowboys would have to rank 3^rd overall. Since the Raiders are presumably still a joke and we don't play Cincinnati this year, this Sunday will yield for me the most enjoyment I can attain from hating someone for this entire season. Let us revel in communal disgust as we discuss this upcoming Chiefs home opener.

Last year, Dallas' offensive line ranked 22^nd in the league in run blocking and 11^th in pass protection. This year, they've added two new linemen to the starting offense that have zero combined snaps in the NFL prior to last Sunday. DeMarco Murray ran the ball 20 times for 86 yards last week against the Giants. That's not an outstanding performance, nor is it an embarrassment, especially considering that the Cowboys held on for a week 1 victory. MJD's production last week? That was embarrassing.

Maurice Jones-Drew played his 100^th game and carried the ball 15 times for 45 yards, averaging 3 yards per rush. MJD was only held to a lower yard-per-carry average once in the two previous seasons. For the record, Jacksonville's offensive line ranked 17^th in run blocking last year, and with the addition of the almost-1^st overall draft pick Luke Joeckel, they're sure to rank higher in 2013.

The Cowboys will presumably counter the Chiefs' strength in stopping the run by bringing a pass-heavy offensive plan to Arrowhead this week. Romo, who is currently listed as probable for Sunday's game, completed 73.5% of his passes last week against a solid defense. He only averaged 5.4 yards per catch though, which is the lowest average he's ever recorded in a game with at least 4 completions.

The Chiefs, with an uber-athletic secondary that knows how to tackle in the open field, will hope to keep this trend going. If last week's performance is any indication of their chances, their chances look pretty damn good. Just don't forget that those numbers are artificially inflated by Jacksonville's overall crappiness. Gabbert completed 16 of 35 passes. That's less than a 46% completion percentage. He played so poorly, in fact, that he lost his job; Chad Henne will start for the Jags this week against Oakland. Bob Sutton should probably send him some kind of classy fruit basket.

The chess-match was totally dominated by Sutton last Sunday. 3 sacks by future-perennial-Pro Bowler Justin Houston and constant pressure on the quarterback will prove that as coaches review the game tape this week. Not only were Chiefs consistently getting behind enemy lines, they were often doing so untouched.

But how will the Chiefs' offense fare against the Cowboy's D? Feel free to use Wednesday's post for reference, keeping in mind the aforementioned bad-team-based inflation. Dallas gave up 450 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air last week. While Eli>Alex Smith, it's not by a lot, and I'm slowly starting to believe the hype that this offense could be at least as good as New York's. Dallas held the Giants' running backs to 42 yards in 12 carries, but they'll have a wholly different monster to deal with when it comes to Jamaal. My faith will always be with #25. Until Demarcus Ware eats him.

Here are my five predictions for Sunday's home-opener-

1- KC doubles New York's yardage output from last week. That means 84 yards, at least. The offense surprised me last week with a somewhat balance run/pass ratio, so I expect Charles to get significant touches to keep the second level of the Dallas D on their toes. An emerging group of talented receivers will spread the defense out enough for Jamaal to slash and burn as only he can.

2- Romo's completion percentage will drop by at least 8 points, thanks to some applied pressure from KC linebackers.

3- Hali and Houston get at least a sack each, as Dallas struggles to decide which side of the line they should stack.

4- Kansas City earns 25 more yards with kickoff and punt returns than Dallas, as Ryan Succop begins his season without a miss. That's a prediction twofer right there. Lucky you.

5- I'm going to be a downer with my first call of the season, but only for the sake of the unknown. We really have no idea how this offense will react to a better defense, or how this defense will react to a real quarterback. I'm going to guess that the Chiefs will compete, but ultimately get outgunned at home. Chiefs lose, 27-24, and curb the enthusiasm of this tense, excited fan-base just a little bit. It may be disappointing, but unless it's a blowout it won't be enough to stop us from daydreaming about the playoffs. It should be “dropped your beer in the stands” disappointing, not “dropped your heart medicine in the ocean” disappointing. Still, nobody enjoys spilling their beer, so let's all hope I'm dead wrong.

Acing The Easy Test

Well, that's a good start. Take away that embarrassing first set-of-downs and subsequent blocked punt for a safety, and you're looking at a dominant shutout victory for the good guys. KC outperformed the Jaguars in every facet of the game, as they damn well should have. We'll look at the defensive performance later this week, and review some matchups for the upcoming game against Dallas. Today, we're taking a closer look at this new offense's first real-game performance. As always, everything about the offense begins with the quarterback- and holy crap, how things have changed.

Smith completed over 60% of his passes (21/34) and threw for 2 touchdowns to earn a 94.4 Quarterback Rating. For reference, Matt Cassel never achieved that QBR last season, and never threw 2 touchdowns in a game while completing 60% of his passes. This wasn't even a great game from Alex Smith. In fact, it was pretty average- his 2012 QBR was 104.1 and the year prior it was 90.7. He completed 70% of his passes last year, and 61% in 2011. Smith completed passes to 9 different Chiefs, including 4 passes to new fullback acquisition Anthony Sherman.

Some things still worry me about this offense: it isn't built to score early and often, and it isn't built to come back from behind. The quick pace, no-huddle offense wears the defense down with consecutive successful drives. Unfortunately, that fatigue won't show up until later in the game, meaning the Chiefs could have difficulties scoring early against top-tier defenses. Since the offense isn't made to strike fast and come back from a big deficit, this could be a problem with more competitive teams. Still, hypothesizing about how this offense will perform against playoff defenses is considerably more fun than hypothesizing about the number one draft pick.

Speaking of which, Eric Fisher looked strong and the running game was successful. At least to me, it was surprising to see Reid decide to run the ball as often as he did. Along with many other Chiefs fans, I was concerned that the run-game would take a back seat when Andy came to town. 24 run plays and one comfy victory later, I'm convinced that Reid knows how to use this team's talent to its full effect.

6 out of 7, and 9 out of the last 13 seasons began with 0-2 records for KC. For a team that never seems to take a strong first step, a solid performance from the offense and a nearly flawless outing from the defense in week 1 means a hell of a lot. This first test was about as easy as it could be, but the Chiefs passed it with flying colors. Step one for being a winning football team is beating the teams you're supposed to beat, and KC has proven it can do just that.

Many questions remain unanswered. We still don't know how these new-and-improved Chiefs will react to a playoff-caliber team. Thankfully, we don't have long to wait. This week, an all-together different, and much more difficult test comes to Arrowhead. We'll take a closer look at Romo and the Cowboys later this week. Don't you just hate 'em? I know I do.

3 Important Lists For Preseason Week 3

Here we go, Chiefs fans. The wait is kinda over. Today we can forget about training camp, team-building exercises and boring preseason press conferences. There's plenty to talk about and catch up on here, but for now we're keeping it (comparatively) simple. Today, we're talking about preseason Week 3- the first week of football that truly feels like football.

Week 3 of the preseason marks the official moment when actual play is important enough that yelling at TV screens becomes socially appropriate for the next five months or so. To celebrate that important milestone, I have 3 lists of 3 for Week 3. My goal today is to curb enthusiasm, temper negativity and point out important things for fans to keep their eyes on today, all with one oddly-structured welcome-back post.

3 Things to Watch For In Week 3

1- Dave Toub's effect on the special teams play. This post from Mellinger, and the hilarious accompanying video, showcases the positive change being made so far, but many fans will surely continue to underrate this aspect of the game. Probably for life. And it's a shame, considering we have some exciting tools to plug into a proven system that's already shown its ability to change a game completely. No one knows for sure if Devin Hester's success was a byproduct of his own talents or the Dave Toub system. Obviously, it must be a mixture of the two, but who's to say that Dexter McCluster doesn't have all the traits to be the next big deal on special teams? After witnessing the majority of an up-and-down, historically streaky baseball season, the length of the NFL season feels almost unjustly short to me. Every one of those 16 games is huge, and that makes every kick return for a touchdown either a devastating blow or an unequivocal advantage.

2- AJ Jenkin's ability, or lack thereof, to become a factor quickly. This goes for anybody else trying to gain a prominent role in this offense. Wanna guess who has the most catches on the roster? That would be rookie running back Knile Davis, with 7 receptions for 49 yards. To really get excited about this offense, fans need to see guys like Donnie Avery (1 catch for 6 yards this preseason) and AJ Jenkins (never caught an NFL pass) to step up. Especially after losing some heigth with the Baldwin/Jenkins trade, Reid will look to counter this lack of size with a small army of shorter-than-average skill players. Those little guys will make a big difference in Kansas City's 2013 playoff hopes.

3- The secondary's effectiveness in containing another quality QB. Roethlisberger comes into tonight's game with a 3-1 career record against the Chiefs. In those games, he's completed 70.9% of his 110 pass attempts. Limiting Big Ben to a lower percentage would be a welcome sign of improvement for this new and, hopefully, improved secondary. The only other starting QB with significant playing time against this Chiefs defense is Drew Brees. He completed 7 of 10 for 65 yards, but it took the impressive accuracy that you'd expect from Brees and few else to make the Chiefs' secondary look small.

3 Things to Remember When the Chiefs Look Great

1- It's the preseason. Everything is still vanilla on either side of the ball, and within that context athleticism rules the day. Don't be overly-wooed by good play from returning Chiefs. Let's not forget that last year's team posted the worst record in franchise history with the same 5 Pro Bowlers that will take the field today. Tight coverage from Brandon Flowers and jaw-dropping plays from Jamaal Charles are nothing new to Kansas City, and by themselves they won't save the Chiefs from another disappointing season. I know Derrick Johnson is great, I know Tamba's a beast, and I dedicated a whole post to the unheralded greatness of Dustin Colquitt. If KC wants to change their losing ways, fans need to see productivity from someone new. I'm looking at you, Alex Smith.

2- Keep in mind when this offense looks impressive and efficient that it's still limited. Don't let anything fool you into thinking Alex Smith has an arm capable of spreading the field. He just doesn't. This is going to bring consternation from the fan-base, and probably some mostly-undeserved flack to Andy Reid's hairy ear-holes. The third WR spot is also a topic of legitimate concern. The team website's unofficial depth chart lists Junior Hemingway and AJ Jenkins as starters at the 3^rd WR position. These two have a combined total of exactly zero catches in the NFL.

3- Think Sean Smith looks great? He does, until he gets burnt, which happens frequently. His ball-hawking often resulted in big gains for the opposing team during his years with Miami. In four seasons, his gambling yielded only 5 picks in 63 games, which averages out to 0.079 interceptions per game, or 0.98 per season. I know it's early to be skeptical, but getting snickered at by Dolphins fans is a bad omen. I though I could skip my preseason ritual of stocking up on blood pressure medication, especially when Javier Arenas left town (one last dig on that guy, check.) I just hope this new, talented-but-dangerous cornerback doesn't send me running back to the drugstore in jittery rage this year.

3 Things to Remember When The Chiefs Look Awful

1- It's the preseason. The success of the 2013 Chiefs will depend greatly on the effectiveness of a completely new coaching regime. Everything, as I've mentioned, is still vanilla, and if KC finds themselves in the playoff hunt this year, it will be because better coaching created a better product on the field. This aforementioned vanilla-ness (vanillality?) limits the potency of a good coaching staff. Andy Reid will win games this year with X's and O's, but preseason week 3 is largely referred to as the season's dress rehearsal. Winning the chess match is how Andy Reid makes a living, but in this game, all his chess pieces are stuck in the same, predictable spots.

Oh hey, do me a favor and try saying “vanillality” out loud. You can thank me later.

2- Even if the Chiefs lose every preseason game, isn't that better than using preseason as a glorified 2-hour workout? I know it's been a while, but damn. Seriously. How awful was that? More to my point, how awful was that coaching staff in general? Remember Todd Haley sabotaging his own team with 4 consecutive starts by Tyler “The Tricycle” Palko? Yep, he's gone (and he's actually on the other sideline, coaching the Steelers offense.) Speaking of past woes....

3- Just remember last year, and compare the hope we have now to the disgust we had just months ago. Remember Scott Pioli's big, sweaty head? Gone. Remember Romeo Crennel's complete lack of explanation or understanding as to why his team was so dreadfully bad? Never would I imagine that I'd be so happy to substitute “lovable black Santa Claus” with “man who oh-so-closely resembles a walrus.” Remember Matt Cassel? I don't have a smart comment for that one, I just want you to close your eyes and think deeply about Matt Cassel starting at quarterback for your favorite team.

Yeah. The queasiness you're feeling proves my point better than words ever could. There's so much to look forward to, and not only because we can embrace not sucking. We have reasons to believe this is the foundation for a playoff team, if not this year, then soon. If I haven't murdered the word “hope” through overusing it on this blog, I'm sure that I'll finish the job this season. Welcome back, and thanks for reading.

Happy Time

If I had a press pass right now, my first question would go to Dwayne Bowe. If anyone on the team can be more deeply affected by the recent offensive acquisitions, it would be the man who Matt Cassel almost solely targeted last year. I'd like to ask him how he feels about the Chiefs having more viable threats for their passing game. I like to think that makes me a positive kind of person, since I know damn well he must be mighty pleased. There are probably a dozen more poignant or interesting questions I could ask, but now's not the time for that. Offseason is a wonderful, wishful-thinking period full of what-ifs, when everybody's still undefeated. So we're not talking about negative things today. I'm not making any angry criticisms of Branden Albert or Scott Pioli or Todd Haley. Not today. As someone way more famous than myself likes to put it, it's happy time, people. So today, we're talking about happy things.

The Chiefs made big moves to upgrade the offense in recent weeks, so there's plenty of optimism to discuss. The Chiefs not only spent their 2^nd round pick on TE Travis Kelce, they also signed free agents Anthony Fasano and Donnie Avery. Donnie will earn $8.55 million for his three seasons in KC, averaging $2.85 a year. Now listed as the 73^rd highest-paid receiver in the league, he'll find it difficult to make this a bad investment.

Not only is Avery a known deep threat, but in this system he should prove to be a productive check-down option for Alex Smith. He has the speed to get YAC, and the sheer amount of dangerous eligible receivers on the field should give him the space he needs to get open. With Avery and McCluster being viable check-down options, and with Jamaal inevitably catching more short passes than ever before, we can expect to see ordinary check-downs turn into big gains this year.

Donnie Avery played two seasons in St. Louis after the Rams drafted him with the 33^rd overall pick in '08. He then spent a year with the Titans before played last season in Indy. 2012 was his most productive season, with 60 catches for 781 yards. Many, including Adam Schefter, believe Avery has the talent to break out as a big-time receiver. With all the new options for Smith to target, Donnie might get open more than ever before, but he may also catch less passes. That's just fine. He's a deep threat- the guy runs the forty in 4.2 seconds. Every play where he goes deep, he'll influence the game, whether he touches the ball or not.

Avery's speed is going to stretch the field, clearing out the middle for everyone else. This makes D Bowe more dangerous and gets him open more often. This limits the opportunity to blitz, especially with corners or safeties. It makes Jamaal even more deadly in the second level, and it does wonders for tight ends trying to find space in the middle of the field. If KC gets to Week 4 or 5 and Avery doesn't have 10 catches yet, don't worry about it. As long as the guys around him are putting up solid numbers, Donnie's doing his job. Like I said, though, for the reasons mentioned above, he may just break out and be the next big deal. This article explains why Avery will get comfortable quickly in this new offensive system, so fans can expect him to make an impact immediately.

Speaking of tight ends (like five sentences ago, but I'm bad with segues), the Chiefs hope that 2^nd round pick Travis Kelce turns out to be a big deal, as well. Kelce is perhaps a new name to Chiefs fans, but not to Andy Reid. Travis' brother, Jason Kelce, is a consistently productive and gloriously bearded member of the Philadelphia Eagles. In Philly, older brother Luke (and his beard) thrived under Andy's well-groomed tutelage, starting every game of the 2011 season. While still with the Eagles, Reid got to know Jason's younger brother and took note of his potential.

I won't pretend to be an expert on Cincinnati University football, but this article's collection of highlights does a pretty good job of presenting Travis as a strong, gritty player with impressive athleticism. He should fit in well and get a chance as a starter quickly, if not immediately. Tony Moeaki, Anthony Fasano and Kevin Brock are the only other TEs on the roster. Brock played on the practice squad for six teams before playing in two games for Buffalo and recording 2 catches in total. After that, he was out of the NFL until the Chiefs signed him. That means Kelce's only real competition should come from Anthony Fasano.

Fasano started all but 4 games for Miami since 2008, but he's only averaged 2.3 catches per game over that span. Kelce is a proven run blocker with great hands, so why not give him a shot over the veteran? That is, if he looks ready. He'll be high on my list of things to pay attention to in the preseason games. I'll be rooting for him. If KC wants that deadly tight end duo that's proven to be so productive in recent years, they'll get it by starting Moeaki and Kelce. Start thinking up good duo nicknames now.

The Report will return soon with more on free agents, draft picks and any other breaking news. Stay tuned.

The # 1 Pick, And What To Make Of It

Another draft has come and gone, and this year KC made top billing in the headlines with their first round pick. With an insanely over-promoted event such as this, it felt like the whole world was waiting with bated breath as the Commish announced Eric Fisher as the #1 overall pick. It was a predictable choice- many assumed Fisher's last few public workouts edged out Joeckel by just enough to ensure the #1 pick. It didn't make anyone in Radio City faint, and it won't be talked about on ESPN like the picks for Geno or Barkley or Tavon Austin. In fact, you probably won't hear Eric Fisher's name on Sportscenter again- until he goes to the Pro Bowl.

The fact is, Tavon Austin will be inflated into an elite, game-changing receiver before he plays a single professional down. The ascension of EJ Manuel and Geno Smith will be fluffed up to represent this year's changing of the guard at QB. They'll both be compared to Luck and RGIII ad infinitum, even though neither one is as talented or NFL-ready as any 1^st round QB pick from last year's draft. But, the fans need their fresh-faced, rookie QBs with something to prove. That story-line needs to exist. Fans have love affairs with QBs and other flashy, dynamic skill-players, so that's what we'll hear about in sports news. They are the celebrities of the sport- the stars that people idolize.

It doesn't matter if Britney Spears ever does anything with artistic value again- if she gets noticed in a gas station wearing an ugly sweater the world will hear about it. The same goes for Tim Tebow. We're going to hear his story until it reaches its bitter, ugly end whether we like it or not. It's the same for any high-profile athlete, with Super Bowl champs and failing underachievers, alike. Just as men across the globe would weep if Christina Hendricks announced a breast reduction, women would die crying if Tom Brady ever shaved his head. I could make comparisons like this all day, but it is starting to confuse the narrative here. My point is, the elite QBs and offensive skill-players get all the media attention, and that's okay. It's just the way media pushes their story-lines forward. It's natural. Sadly though, much as it is in normal life, the people who protect our beloved stars hardly ever get the credit they deserve.

Scouts commonly reported that Eric Fisher is a hard-working lineman- a real blue-collar kind of guy. You may not hear his name much more outside of Kansas City, but he'll be here. He'll be pumping iron and memorizing the playbook and learning this new offense. John Dorsey wanted to find a no-doubter with the #1 overall pick. He wasn't looking for someone to lead the league in headlines, he was looking for someone solid. From the sounds of things so far, solidity is just what he got.

So the news is good, albeit not shocking, but it does lead to some convoluted circumstances for the Chiefs offensive line. There are a bevy of new concerns now, but let's just say they're all good problems to have.

We can assume that Eric Fisher will be a starter this season, probably even in Week 1, but where will he play? The Branden Albert situation is still completely up in the air, even after talks with Miami sounded promising before the draft. It seemed for a moment like the Dolphins would forgo trading picks for Albert and use those picks to snag a top-shelf lineman high in the draft. They ended up improving their defense early, choosing not to draft an OL until Dallas Thomas in the 3^rd round. Sources say Thomas isn't even cut out for playing tackle in the long run- his footwork leaves much to be desired, so he'll inevitably make the move to guard. If there's any interest in a trade for Albert, it will probably still come from Miami. If there isn't, the Chiefs really have Albert by the you-know-whats.

After all his complaining and holding out, this is still a crucial contract year for a weathered veteran that will soon reach his career's downward slope. If he wants any kind of security in his next contract, from the Chiefs or anyone else, he'll play wherever the coach tells him to play. Adam Teicher of the Star predicts that Fisher will start the season playing right tackle, avoiding any drama from Albert. Should the Chiefs really be that concerned on keeping Albert content, though? He's paid his dues, and he's a proven talent at left tackle, but should that stop the organization from putting the team in the best position to win, not to mention putting their #1 overall pick in the best position to properly develop? What it comes down to is this: right now, Fisher>Albert on the field, so Fisher should play where he is at his best. If you think Albert is better suited to cover the blind spot, that's a completely different argument. Fact is, Fisher projects to be better right out of the gate than Branden Albert will be in his 6^th year of service. If that's the case, he should be plugged right into the spot where he'll hopefully dominate for years to come.

Fisher told the press he's willing to play whatever position the Chiefs ask him to play. Albert has often sounded less than ecstatic about the idea of moving from LT. Based on this, a betting man would guess that KC takes the path of least resistance and keeps Albert at his native position. If my sterling advice goes unheralded yet again, I won't lose any sleep over it. The Chiefs O-Line looks excellent on paper, wherever you plug in the pieces. Along with Fisher and Albert, Kansas City has two high-celing linemen from last year's draft, as well as Jon Asamoah and newly acquired Geoff Schwartz. Now, it seems a familiar face may be joining this growing pool of talent.

In the middle of April, rumors started circulating about Ryan Lilja coming out of retirement for a return with the Chiefs. Ryan called it quits last year after five years protecting Peyton Manning and three more with Kansas City. Nobody could blame him for not returning to the same hopeless offense to defend Matt Cassel. Now that things in KC have changed for the better, Lilja's interest has done the same. Word is though, Ryan only wishes to return if he can play his native position- left guard. He continues to recover from knee and toe surgery as well, but he should be healed up in time for the beginning of training camp. If he does return, it adds to an already impressive upgrade for 2013. With Lilja and Albert, it could project to be top 5 or 10 league-wide. Without them both, Schwartz can play either tackle or guard, and the young linemen from last year's draft will get a chance to develop. Really, the worst possible outcome for this year is light-years ahead of last year's best-case scenario. Yet again, that's something for which all Chiefs fans can be excited and appreciative.

UPDATE: Today on Sirius radio, Andy Reid said he would start Albert at left tackle this year, if he was still a member of the team. This post, released this afternoon, explains that Albert might be willing to hold out should the Chiefs push him to right tackle. So yeah, that's one reason to keep him happy. It is a contract year for him, and he seems far less willing to budge from his opinion than Reid. So, barring a trade of some kind, Albert starts at left tackle, with Fisher at right. Like I said- doesn't break my heart at all.

Season Preview- September

Another major moment in the offseason that often goes unmentioned is the release of the new schedule. Sports media gets clogged with Draft Day talk and free agency moves at this time of year. People make plans to watch with friends or family. Folks gather together in crowded bars, watching Draft Day pregame analysis and enjoying Draft Day drink specials. Sadly, no corks were popped for the important announcement of which teams stand in the way of your favorite club's ascension to greatness. Now that fans know who and when they play, the hypothesizing and the fantasizing become all-the-more concrete. Even with the regular season being over four months away, that's still something to appreciate. So, let's run through Kansas City's 2013 schedule. With free agent acquisitions to look at and Draft Day looming near, there are plenty of things to talk about aside from the new schedule, but I'm doing it anyway. So, we'll take it one month at a time, and that means today we'll be looking forward to September.

Before we get started, just let it be known that I reserve the right to change any game predictions I make here, right up until the moment that game begins. Lots of things can happen, and we've got an entire draft yet to come- as if ESPN could possibly let you forget. I promise I'm not especially flip-floppy. I just want to be thorough.

Week 1- Chiefs at Jaguars, September 8^th

The season starts with a real bang as the league's two worst teams clash in Jacksonville. Last year's Jags offense ranks above only the Cardinals and the last-place Chiefs in points scored. With MJD starting only 5 games, their rushing offense was the 3^rd worst league-wide. To top it all off, they couldn't stop anyone on defense, either. Jacksonville allowed the 3^rd most yards and the 3^rd most points in 2012. The only disparaging thing about those statistics are just how similar they are to the Chiefs last season. However, the changes that the Jaguars made do not serve the optimist as well as the changes made in Kansas City. It's reasonable to assume that the Reid-Dorsey rebuilding process will turn out better than.... whatever they're doing down there in Jacksonville. They could have an A+ draft and still be worse on paper than Kansas City is right now.

Prediction: The Chiefs start the season with a comfortable win and a lot of momentum to bring back to Arrowhead.

Week 2- Chiefs vs. Cowboys, September 15^th

This year's home opener should be intriguing and difficult. This is one of many games that will be much easier to decide after the draft. If the Chiefs supplement the secondary with a 2^nd or 3^rd round pick that makes an immediate impact, I may be predicting a win here in the future. Otherwise, it could be too tough to stop last year's 3^rd best passing offense. Andy has plenty of experience coaching against Dallas, but has always struggled to stop Romo and Company from advancing the ball through the air at their leisure.

Prediction: Jamaal should have a good enough outing to slow things down and keep scoring lower than expected. The game will be decided by a key turnover, and unfortunately, it will probably come from a member of Dallas' talented secondary. The Chiefs lose, and the fans have visions in their sleep of all the interceptions from years past. Many awaken in the dead of night, drenched in a cold sweat, rubbing their eyes furiously, trying in vain to erase the blurry images of Steve Bono and Matt Cassel still lingering in their tortured minds. I shudder at the thought.

Week 3- Chiefs at Eagles, September 19^th

This should be interesting. Andy Reid takes his new team to his old home as the Chiefs take on Philadelphia. It's hard to say right now what Chip Kelly will make of the pieces left over from Andy's era, but there is still plenty of talent in Philly right now. Assuming Vick starts next year, the new-look Eagles could be the NFL's equivalent of a Run and Gun offense. A dynamic offense that stretches the field vertically and challenges the edges with rushing speed isn't too hard to imagine. That all sounds great to a starving Eagles fan-base- that is, until their star QB gets hurt, again, and leaves their team to flounder in mediocrity, again.

Prediction: If Vick starts, the Eagles will get off to an early lead. Then, he'll get hurt, and when Nick Foles comes in to make Philly's offense predictable again, KC turns things around for an exciting comeback win on the road. If Vick doesn't start, said predictability from the Eagles offense should allow the Chiefs to outscore Philly for a slightly more comfortable victory.

Week 4- Chiefs vs. Giants, September 29^th

The Giants come into town this fall with a grudge and a lot of previous success. Even in a down year, New York's offense ranked 6^th in 2012. The passing and rushing game ranked 12^th and 13^th respectively, and improving on those stats may prove difficult this year. Without Ahmad Bradshaw, or a clear answer at tight end, New York has a lot of work to do to improve through the draft and free agency. Even with all the changes on the offensive side of the ball, the defense was clearly what kept the G-Men out of the playoffs. They gave up the 5^th most yards through the air and the 8^th most yards through the ground last year. So, does this mean the newly revamped Chiefs offense can edge out an important win against Eli and the Giants?

Prediction: No. It doesn't. The Giants' front office has successfully retooled the team several times to get them well-equipped for a playoff run. They could draft Eifert from Notre Dame to give Eli another legitimate passing threat, or they could improve their defense and return to their former days of defensive dominance. Either way, the staff in New York will do enough to make the team successful, and Eli will have enough firepower to abuse a KC secondary that will inevitably go through some growing pains.

So, according to these very flimsy predictions, the Chiefs end the month with a .500 record, but are winless at Arrowhead. Hopefully, those losing predictions were hogwash, because losing those home games will do little to improve the formerly intimidating crowd factor. On-again, off-again fans of KC football won't see the off-the-field moves that put this team in a great position to be a contender for years to come. They'll see two losses at home, and a lot of sad fans. Like I said, I hope I'm wrong and Arrowhead has every reason to explode this September. Sadly, two of the toughest games on the league's 5th-easiest schedule are difficult, early games at home.

Thankfully, winning in October should be much more feasible. With games against the Titans, Raiders and Browns, KC should be turning things around before All Hallow's Eve. Next week, we'll break down all the October match-ups. Stay tuned for more free agent analysis and draft day speculation.

Key Players Re-signed, Part 3- The Silent Weapon

Today, we're talking punters. They're weird, they get made fun of constantly, and they look like fifth-graders compared to the other guys on the field. They're also the most underrated player on the team, without question. Furthermore, the one who plays in KC might just be the team's biggest unspoken hero. The Chiefs won't suck this year, but even if you didn't notice (or care), the Chiefs' punting game has avoided sucking for a long time. Actually, it's been an elite punting squad for nearly a decade now, and we have Dustin Colquitt to thank for it. In 8 years with the Chiefs, the Pro Bowler has been consistently clutch, and that kind of performance in crucial situations might give KC the edge they need to reach the playoffs.

Colquitt ranks in the top ten for the last two seasons in net punt yardage. He is also second league-wide in punts within the 20 yard-line and return yards from punts. Statistics can't tell the whole story with a valuable punter, though. It's a very weird, very situational position. Although they're often punchlines in the locker room, a good punter gives his team valuable yardage in crucial moments, every single game of the season. I wouldn't hesitate to call that clutch. In this upcoming year, KC is playing for a playoff berth instead of playing for the sake of avoiding embarrassment. If the season goes well, winning the field position battle could earn them a Wild Card spot. To me, that makes the penning of this 5 year, $18.75 million contract well worth it.

At $3.75 million per year, Colquitt now has the highest average salary of any punter in the league. For the record, that puts his annual wages just a shade above that of backup QB, Chase Daniel. Chase, who has never started a game in his 3 seasons behind Drew Brees, was signed for 3 years/$10 million to almost assuredly hold the clipboard this year, yet Colquitt, the veteran Pro Bowler and special teams MVP, earns about $425,000 more each year. Poor punters.

Key Players Re-signed, Part 2- Struggling With Commitment

Clark Hunt, Andy Reid and John Dorsey, who will hitherto be referred to as Clark and Company, agreed to use the Chief's franchise tag promptly this year. In order to solidify the offensive line, they applied it to Pro Bowl tackle, Branden Albert. Was this the right decision? Could more be done with the tag? How does this influence draft day? And, first off, does having a great offensive line really matter in this era of football? Let's (try to) find out.

The value of an elite offensive line is highly debatable these days. With agile QBs taking over the league, the effect of an unstoppable O-Line may be more diminished than ever before. In fact, according to Advanced NFL Stats, 3 teams made the playoffs with top-ten lines last year, but 3 teams with offensive lines ranking in the bottom-ten also made the playoffs, including the Super Bowl Champion Ravens.

For the record, two of the teams that made the playoffs with bad offensive lines (Seattle and Washington) are led by two of the most athletic quarterbacks ever to play the position. However, Baltimore's line ranked second to last in the league, behind only Pittsburgh, and they won the Lombardi trophy with a kinda-sorta-mobile QB in Joey Flacco. I mention this because Alex Smith is considered by most to be more mobile than Flacco. It's also worth noting that the Ravens passed the ball on 56% of there snaps, whereas both the Redskins and Seahawks threw less than 47% of the time. Even with an incompetent passing game and an offense built around Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs passed on 49% of their offensive possessions last year. With an offensive makeover performed by a pass-friendly veteran coach, the 2013 Chiefs should have a similar passing percentage with similar QB mobility as the 2012 Champion Ravens.

Does this mean KC should avoid using their resources to upgrade the offensive line? No- not when you look at the team's other choices for the franchise tag. The list of other unrestricted free agents is highlighted by Peyton Hillis, Steve Breaston and Matt Cassel. While it would be advantageous to get more value out of your franchise tag than re-hiring an offensive lineman, the Chiefs truly had nothing better to do with it. Would you rather hold onto Breaston for $10.5 million? How about retaining Andy Studebaker for $9.6 million? No way. So KC holds onto its most valuable UFA, he signs the contract and the deal is done.....which would all just be grand, if it actually meant that Albert would be playing here in 2013. Unfortunately, this is not the end of the story.

Albert now stands as a holdout. He is currently the only Chief on the roster not attending the first phase of Andy Reid's new voluntary off-season program. Instead, he waits for KC to offer him a long-term contract, or find a worthwhile deal with another team to send Albert elsewhere. The 28 year old lineman is telling the press he wants a longer commitment before showing up to camp. On NFL AM, Albert said "Until I know my situation with certainty I'm going to stay away." He went on to tell the media that he's unsure of what he'll do when the mandatory program begins.

The Chiefs have from now until then (with "Phase Three" workouts beginning May 14) to either come to terms with their veteran lineman or find an suitable trade offer. It's at that point when things start looking ugly and the team has the right to start fining Albert for every day he misses. On March 22^nd, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted that KC was “seeking a second-round pick in this year's draft as well as another pick in 2014 in a trade for franchise OT Branden Albert.” Judging from the rumors that are swirling around at this point, Miami seems to be the most viable, if not the only, team interested in that deal. Clark and Company have moved swiftly thus far with major, team-changing decisions, so for all we know, a deal could be made tomorrow. However, the upcoming draft, and the Chiefs' position therein, play a key role in determining Albert's worth to the organization.

If the team trades Albert, it would be almost obvious to go with a highly-regarded lineman like Luke Joeckel or Eric Fisher with the first pick, especially since KC has already parted ways with another seasoned lineman in Eric Winston. But, the Chiefs have until prime-time on April 25^th to probe and evaluate and analyze and make damn sure they don't use the #1 overall pick on an overrated offensive lineman. Maybe they fall in love with Fisher or Joeckel. Maybe they retain Albert and decide to upgrade defensively through the draft, instead. Maybe they decide to trade down for more value. There is plenty of time left until draft day to evaluate the numerous options, and it would seem wise to use however much is necessary to get the best deal possible. They would gladly take the previously mentioned original asking price for Albert if someone offered, but it sounds like even Miami would try their best to talk the Chiefs down from that original ask.

Whichever way the Branden Albert situation gets sorted out will define KC's role in the upcoming draft. With the QB situation seemingly solidified and many flawed positions filled with talent from free agency, this signing (or lack thereof) could be the final deciding factor for how KC uses that first overall pick. Things will be much more clear once we know whether or not the Chiefs will need to upgrade the O-Line- to the point where KC's choice could be made very simple by the situation at hand. RGR will be here to report any news on the matter, so we can then make the next step in pondering our draft day fantasies. Stay tuned for any major breaking news, and check in later this week for more analysis of this year's off-season signings.

Key Players Re-signed, Part 1- Dwayne Bowe

The Chiefs successfully retained the bulk of their passing potency from years prior by signing Dwayne Bowe to a long and expensive contract last month. Today, I'll do my best to determine whether or not these huge figures in the new contract are worth what the Chiefs will get back in production for the next five years.

There are two completely different ways to think about whether or not this deal was “worth it”- probably more, really, but I'll stick with these two overlying ideas. First, we can compare the money he earned to other receivers with similar offensive production. Secondly, we can hypothesize about the figures of that contract and what else the Chiefs would have done with that cash. Basically, we can ask what Bowe is worth on the NFL market, or we can ask what he is worth to the Chiefs.

First things first- this new contract keeps the Bowe Show in KC through 2017 for an average of $11.2 million per year. This is the 4^th highest average salary for WRs in the league, behind only Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Mike Wallace. All three of these receivers outrank Bowe in win probability added, yards per reception, yards per target, overall yards, receptions and touchdowns last year. Other receivers like Roddy White, Andre Johnson and Wes Welker show more value over time as well, with Bowe sitting comfortably outside the top 25 in many important stats. Andre Johnson has a similar, but more affordable contract at 7 years for $67.8 million, which averages to about $9.5 million. He dominates Bowe statistically every year. Wes Welker is making only $6 million a year in Denver, and most would think of him as a more valuable asset than Bowe on every single Sunday. Roddy White may be the most dangerous receiver since Randy Moss in his prime, and he makes little over $7.1 million a year.

Unfortunately, comparing Dwayne Bowe's production to that of other receivers is difficult. Sure, with a bevy of marginally talented QBs and a run-oriented offense, 82's numbers don't look impressive. Would anyone's? While Roddy White has Matt Ryan throwing perfectly paced bombs to him and Megatron is constantly targeted by Matt Stafford, Bowe spent years struggling to compete with a uninspiring combination of Matt Cassel, Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn, Tyler Thigpen, Damon Huard and Tyler [expletive removed] Palko. Those numbers are skewed, whichever way you look at them. Many experts around the league regard Bowe as a top-tier receiver stuck in an unfortunate situation. Now that this new regime has upgraded its offense, and most importantly improved at QB, the 2013 Chiefs will give Bowe the opportunity to put up top-tier numbers, as well. Alex Smith won't need to be Tom Brady to let Bowe fulfill his potential. He just needs to avoid being as bad as Cassel, which should be simple enough.

But, even with a reliable passer behind center, can Chiefs fans really expect the Bowe Show to deliver in the same way as a Calvin Johnson or a Roddy White? Since it's never been witnessed, it's difficult to say, but it's also not easy to imagine Bowe cutting his drops in half or doubling his total season yardage by shifting from Cassel to Smith (and from Crennel to Reid). When you compare his projected output to his massive contract, those figures still look inflated. However, upon further analysis of other WR contracts signed this offseason, Bowe's deal doesn't seem so outrageous after all.

At 29 years old, Greg Jennings signed with Minnesota for $9 million a year for five years. Most of Greg's stats are marginally less impressive than Bowe's, and he has Aaron Rodgers passing him the ball. If you ask me, $2.2 million a year is worth it for a way higher ceiling and another year of playing at his prime. Mike Wallace signed with Miami this year for 5 years and $60 million, but many see this as another misstep by the infamously misguided Dolphins organization. Wallace is known as a speedster and a deep threat, but like a Donnie Avery or Randy Moss, he offers little else. Bowe offers a variety of ways to disrupt a defense, and he also isn't scared to block or use his size to his advantage. With all the miscalculations in the Chiefs' past, it wouldn't be hard to envision KC overpaying by hiring Wallace to a huge contract in a failed attempt to replace the presence of #82 on offense. So, when you consider the figures of Bowe's contract in comparison to others this year, it seems to fit the bill for current market value.

Now, we have to consider what Bowe's presence or the lack thereof would mean to the Chiefs offense in 2013. Bowe has led the Chiefs in receptions every year since 2008, when Tony Gonzales last wore the red and gold. Since the team is projected to be far more pass-friendly, losing a receiver of his caliber would inevitably mean signing another talented, expensive WR to fill the void. The aforementioned deals with Jennings and Wallace wouldn't fit for KC, and neither of those free agents would provide a comparable combination of size, strength and speed. Bowe isn't just a deep threat like Avery or Wallace, and he sure as hell isn't just a slot receiver like Welker or Amendola. He's a large wide-out that gets open from a variety of different routes. Jon Baldwin has done nothing to prove he's ready to step up, and McCluster is like the polar opposite style of receiver. Shockingly, it seems that the only man who can fill Dwayne Bowe's role on this team is Dwayne Bowe.

All in all, you can't fault the Chiefs for signing easily their best receiver to a long-term deal, even if you think he's somewhat overpriced. In the current market, this deal is far from a bargain, but it's not highway robbery, either. It hasn't bankrupted the team, and it hasn't stopped Clark from picking up legitimate, high-priced talent through free agency, so who can argue? If this deal stopped KC from improving the team in other ways, there could be some complaint here. Fact is, under its new counseling, the organization is spending whatever it takes to make the team competitive, at the very least. Since re-signing Bowe did not impede our ability to move forward with success, it would seem ignorant to criticize. That is, unless you still think of him as the brash, cocky, big-mouthed youngster that he used to be. Many will always think of Bowe in that vein, but for the past few years, Dwayne has been a studious, hard-working player who is respected and even liked by his teammates. If you can keep those aging quotes of braggadocian immaturity in the past where they belong, just as he has, you should be excited by the news of his re-signing.

Later on in the week, RGR will take a closer look at Brandon Albert, and the effect that franchise-tagging this elite, veteran lineman will have on our new-look Chiefs in 2013. Stay tuned.

The Freedom Of An Open Slate

Where to begin? May has been a busy month for the Chiefs front office, and with draft day on the horizon, their work is far from over. It all started with the official signing of Alex Smith (and subsequent release of Matt Cassel.) Following this moment, the entire organization, and its fan base, seemed freed by the shackles of the past and intrigued by the openness of the future ahead. Clark Hunt started dropping serious cash to make the 2013 Chiefs into a serious contender by re-signing vital parts of the team and grabbing talented free agents to fill glaring holes. Less than two months after the Super Bowl, KC has re-signed their top-shelf receiver in Bowe, come to terms with their most important offensive lineman in Brandon Albert, and signed a long-term deal with their most underrated weapon- Pro Bowl punter Dustin Colquitt. The Chiefs also paid big for a CB demanding figures in the “playmaker range”, acquired their first legitimate deep-threat WR in ages, and added tons of veteran talent for the sake of depth and leadership. But, I'm getting way ahead of myself. Clearly, we should be taking things one step at a time.

Late March is never a time when all eyes are on football. The Madness of college hoops takes control of its huge fan-base and delivers approximately a billion exciting moments per day, for weeks. NBA fans have a close eye on professional ball as their teams edge closer to the end of the regular season. The intrigue of the upcoming baseball season and the World Baseball Classic are enough to leave their fans contently tuned into the MLB Network for the entire month.

This March, however, has been markedly different. Even with the constant action from other sports, many Chiefs fans still have football on their minds- and this time, it's for all the right reasons. I'm not sure, but I think that intrigue comes from this feeling of freedom- an open slate, I guess you'd call it.

There's a new coach, a new GM and a new quarterback in town. All the major figures that represented last year's failures are gone now. That feeling of freedom is being expressed by Clark Hunt in the beautiful language of dollar signs. Now that they've begun anew, he is clearly content on spending the money necessary to build a winner here in KC. With input from Dorsey and Reid, Clark's already done major work to fix the ship thank sank so dreadfully last season. So, I guess the first step that I should take has make itself clear-

Thank you, Mr. Hunt, for making me give a shit about the Chiefs- even in the middle of March.

The Report will return two times a week and sort out all these changes as best as possible. This week, I'll start off with the three aforementioned key players that were quickly re-signed, and how keeping them will affect the team. Make sure to tune in Monday, and make sure to leave a comment expressing just how lame/awesome I am. Probably lame. That's fine.   

The Answer (Probably)

Here it is, everyone. Here's the big news we've all been waiting for- the answer to the biggest question concerning Kansas City football. The Chiefs have chosen their new quarterback, and agreed to terms to bring him to KC. Probably.

Since San Fran officially announced a willingness to trade Alex Smith, the Chiefs have clearly emerged as the team with the most interest. According to Greg Rosenthal of NFL.com, the deal between Smith and KC is “all but done.” A few hours after this news broke, Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports tweeted that the 49ers told other interested teams that a deal involving Smith was “effectively complete. Can't be finalized til league year begins 3/12.” This followed several other tweets from around the league that were essentially announcements from teams pulling out of negotiations for the San Fran QB. By late Sunday night, Kansas City appeared to be the only candidate still in the race.

If it's all true, the search is over. The new franchise QB is here- or at least, he'll be here on March 12^th. We can all move on from the QB situation once and for all. Probably.

In another NFL.com report, Ian Rapaport mentions that because of the odd situation in San Francisco last year, the Chiefs know that Alex “won't tear the place apart if he's replaced.” That's a very important and understated point. Several sources have pointed out Reid's interest in using the first draft pick on offensive lineman Luke Joeckel. However, with this move the Chiefs leave themselves the option to draft whichever 2^nd or 3^rd round QB catches their attention. If Ryan Nassib or Matt Barkley or Tyler Bray become the apple in Andy's eye, the Chiefs can still grab him, probably in the 2^nd round. Probably.

Everything is still up in the air, unfortunately. Who knows how we'll use our 2^nd round without knowing the 1^st round pick? We could trade down and change the draft order. We could trade the 2^nd round pick in free agency. It could be gone already; for all we know, the Chiefs already traded the 2^nd round draft pick for Alex Smith and signed the official/unofficial contract.

Since every theory is built on a foundation of probable-truths and hearsay, nothing will be clear fact until we hear it from the mouth of someone within the Chiefs organization. At the very earliest, this would come on March 12^th, the technical start to the new football year. For now though, it seems as if all the rumors and all the reading between-the-lines point to Smith being the answer. With the mediocre Matt Flynn and the untested Nick Foles* as the other legitimate options in free agency, Alex Smith seems to be the optimal choice. As much as I can read into it, Smith is coming to Kansas City, and the Chiefs made the best decision possible for this situation.

You know, probably.

* The Foles/Chiefs situation has supposedly ended with another stern rejection from the Philadelphia front office. According to USA Today, the Eagles reiterated to Reid on Saturday that Foles was not currently on the market. Why they said this publicly the first time while simultaneously naming their price is still a worthy question. Nonetheless, it seems Foles is officially off the list. That is, until a few weeks from now, when free agency begins, draft stocks shift, and every team's long-term plans become more concrete. Don't let the strong posturing fool you- if Smith isn't coming to Kansas City, Foles still looms in the shadows as an intriguing dark-horse. 

The Answer (Maybe)

The search is on for the new Chief's QB, and a new front-runner just emerged. Andy Reid is dancing a rather awkward dance with the front office in Philadelphia at this moment. Maybe it's less of a waltz and more of a slow-paced boxing match at this point, with Andy waiting to counter after Philadelphia's latest moves. As the hearsay spread that Reid and Co. weren't interested in acquiring Michael Vick, the Eagles resigned him to a one-year extension for $7 million.

It seems like Vick was waiting for an invite from Reid, and he never got one.

News broke earlier this week that Reid and the Chiefs have interest in Eagles QB Nick Foles. This would be the first proverbial counter-punch that Reid threw in response to Philly re-signing Vick and also hiring QB Dennis Dixon to compete with him (and Foles, so they say) for the starting job. Andy was responsible for Foles' hiring in the previous draft, where he picked him in the 3^rd round and saw enough potential in Nick to start him in 6 games. In those six games, Foles completed more than 60% of his 265 pass attempts and recorded a TD/INT ratio of 6/5. After Vick posted a positive ratio for touchdowns and picks 4 out of his 10 games and completed below 58.1% of his passes, many Eagles fans were left hoping for Foles to return as their starter. Even now, that may happen.

The Eagles front office is simultaneously telling the press that they aren't considering trading Foles AND letting the league know it would take at least a 1^st or 2^nd round pick to pique their interest. Whenever you hear business talk like that, chances are the two parties are about to, you know, do business together. So, don't let the lofty valuations or bargaining jargon fool you- Foles is on the market, and the Chiefs want him. This is all part of the dance/fist-fight that will quite possibly end with Foles starting his next season in red.

The question now isn't whether Foles is available- it's whether he can be had for a reasonable exchange. The Eagles are reading off page one of the Haggling for Dummies handbook and setting the bar high as their first step of negotiations. There's been no word from either side, at least not publicly, about what else Philly would take in exchange for their possible 3rd-string QB. All the faith is with Reid here, both from the fans and, presumably, from the front office in KC. He knows Foles, so his valuation of him in the current market will determine what happens next. If he can convince Philly to part with their third-string QB for a reasonable price, Foles becomes the answer to the Chiefs' most important question. If the Eagles can't make it worth it for Reid and Kansas City, we'll go right back to the drawing board to further analyze all the Smiths and Flynns and Barkleys out there.

Reid will hopefully never reach the Big Brother levels of secrecy that Pioli has in years past. Every team, however, (or more to my point, every business) keeps certain things under wraps and out of the public eye for good reasons. Things have been quiet since Saturday. Too quiet. Just the fact that Reid's interest in Foles went public seems a telling sign of at least partial commitment to that plan. I have a feeling that Foles will be here in KC next year- whether or not he will start is an entirely different debate.

So, what do you think? What would you offer to Philly in return for Foles? Do you think Foles is the real answer at franchise QB? Do you think I'm moronic for one reason or another? Let me know in the comments section. You can be as honest and mean as you want, guys, it's the internet.

Hoping For Hope From Hopefuls

This January, the Chiefs signed two offensive linemen, a veteran defensive tackle and a young wide receiver to the 2013 roster. This comes as the first wave of player acquisitions since the induction of the Reid-Dorsey regime. Though I was chomping at the bit to analyze these guys when I saw that we had already hired four free agents, there sadly isn't much here to analyze. My excitement seems to have gotten the best of me. Of the four newly-signed Chiefs, three of them have a combined one game of NFL experience, and exactly zero starts. Only one of the four was drafted- offensive lineman Ryan Durand- and he was a 7^th round pick.

Maybe “boatload of talent” was overstating things a bit.

Although improvement at all these positions is necessary to success, these probably aren't the long-term solutions Kansas City needs. But hey, what do I know? The Chiefs have significantly improved their ability to scout for talent with all the previously detailed coaching hires. Obviously they know more than I do, but right now no one can know whether they hired these players for depth or for serious consideration for a role as a starter.

So, let's see the situation for what it gives to us- another opportunity for hope. These guys aren't rejects or burnouts or busts. They're all just untested youngsters, and they've all caught the eye of somebody in the Chiefs front office. John Dorsey alone brings a dozen years of analyzing the skills of young players. Mark DeLeone, Dave Toub and other assistants plan to- or at least hope to- contribute their opinions to the process of finding talent, as well. By upgrading the Chiefs front office, Clark Hunt leaves fans without a reason to doubt that we've hired players with potential to make an impact.

So, let's meet some of the guys who will make the preseason (relatively) interesting.

Let's start with the obvious outlier in this list of otherwise young, unproven players. Daniel Muir played four seasons with the Colts and one each with Green Bay and the Jets before signing with the Chiefs. Muir got the bulk of his experience with Indy in '09 and '10, when he played in a combined 30 games and started in 24. Dan also brings valuable playoff experience to KC. With the Colts, he started in four postseason games and recorded 11 tackles.

Of all the new members to sign with the Chiefs, Muir probably has the best chance to get consistent playing time. The Chiefs list only two other defensive tackles and two nose tackles on the roster. Anthony Toribio is an unimpressive DT with zero career starts and seven tackles in 15 games. The only other defensive tackle on the team is Shaun Smith, a soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. If you ask me, Smith was great on special teams and provided a spark every time he was plugged into the defense. Clark is showing an openness to spend, but it's easy to envision him putting his money elsewhere to improve the team through free agency (Alex Smith, anyone?) Maybe a defensive line that includes Muir can be effective, but a line that includes Poe, Muir and Toribio looks like the worst in the league on paper. So essentially, Muir>Toribio, but Muir<The Average Starting DT, so the work at this position is far from over.

Speaking of positions with serious need for an upgrade, let's talk about the holes on offense. Dwayne Bowe's future in red and gold is undoubtedly in question, and the rest of the receiving core under-performed through the whole season. Tyler Shoemaker won't fix all the Chief's problems in the passing game, but he'll get a chance to help. Shoemaker is a wide-out from Boise State that was signed by the Bucs after going undrafted in 2012. Before training camp began in Tampa, Tyler was released. That leaves us knowing nothing about this guy beyond his college career. He was the best receiver on his team for a Division I competitor, but wasn't able to impress any team enough to get drafted. Did someone in KC see a spark of greatness in this unknown, undrafted receiver? Was there something important these talented scouts noticed that others couldn't see? I guess that's for them to know and us to find out in fall.

Steven Baker and Ryan Durand play a very different position but come to town with very similar question marks surrounding them. Durand was drafted 239^th overall in 2009 and spent the year with the Titans practice squad. He joined the active roster in 2010, but only played a handful of downs in a single game. The next year, Ryan returned to the practice squad. In 2012, he spent a single week on the Dolphins roster before being released. As you can tell, his resume conjures little confidence.

Baker's history is equally uninspiring. He joined the league with the Colts in 2012, but was released on August 31^st. He spent the rest of the year on the Cardinals practice squad. So if you do the math, that's two guys that yielded zero playing time with four teams. That's four groups of talent scouts that passed on these guys. Like I said- not too inspiring.

Just remember, though, how harshly Scott Pioli was ridiculed and lambasted for not providing depth at the offensive line positions. Remember the injuries that left the Chiefs scrambling just to find 11 guys to run onto the field. Remember the fumbles caused by a guard playing at center for the first time in his eight-year-long career. Remember all that, and appreciate what the Chiefs are trying to do here. Depth isn't a sexy thing to talk about as a fan, but it's crucial to building a perennially successful franchise. Without depth, we'd have a bunch of Sabby Piscitelli's out there every Sunday. I shudder at the thought.

Meet the Gang, Part 10- The Big Finish

We're finishing off our introductions today with a look at the new quality control coaches. Although they go mostly unnoticed, it should be clear to Chiefs fans why quality control is an important focus this year. Allow me to introduce the men who will do their damnedest this year to disallow the same level of crap witnessed in years past.

Mark DeLeone- Mark comes to KC fresh off his first NFL season at the same position in New York. DeLeone coached for Temple, New Hampshire, Iowa and Florida U before making the jump to pro ball. Mark has laid claim to a plethora of job titles in his short career. In Florida, he worked alongside Urban Meyer to prepare wide receivers, offensive linemen and tight ends for SEC football. That year, 7 All-SEC players came from Gainesville. Prior to that, DeLeone began as a defensive assistant for Iowa in '07 and '08, then worked for New Hampshire in 2009 as the director of football operations and assistant offensive line coach. He also attends football camps in the off-season and plans to be heavily involved in the recruiting process. A seriously well-rounded football guy like Mark, whose dad is a former NFL assistant and current college coach, will be well-received here in Kansas City.

Andy Reid also brings with him his former coach's assistant, Corey Matthaei to assist in quality control. Andy also hired his son, Britt Reid, as a quality control coach. After a serious drug possession case, Britt has since cleaned up and engaged himself in football. He's spent three years as a grad assistant helping the offense at Temple, and now with the help of his dad, he gets his first chance at the professional level. Andy's son will likely analyze film and statistical data for the Chiefs in 2013.

And there you have it- that wraps up the new coach introductions for this year. This has been insightful and all that, but I'm ready to get back to the real football talk. When does the season start? September Nth? Oof. Thank goodness for baseball and March Madness. Yeah, I said it football fans. Baseball's great. Just embrace it.

Tomorrow, I'll start with free agency acquisitions. The Chiefs recruited a boatload of talent already, so I have plenty more introductions left to write. After getting to know 18 new coaches and coordinators (yeah, I think I miscounted the first time,) we already have four newly hired Chiefs to meet. Roughly four. So, I've still got a lot of work to do- and I'm excited to do it.

Meet the Gang, Part 9- Behind the Scenes

It's time to get technical, folks. We're going to appreciate the unappreciated. Today we're looking at the guys nobody ever thinks about. Here we have coaches that no one ever sees and no one ever acknowledges, but without them any team in the league could quickly become the Oakland Raiders. Since the Chiefs have flirted with such an abysmal fate lately, it's about time we met the guys behind the scenes and gave them some credit.

Mike Frazier- Statistical Analysis Coordinator- Mike was hired by the Eagles as their first full-time statistical analysis coordinator immediately after graduating Wooster College. This move joined Philly with other successful teams like Green Bay and New England who happily cut a check to someone for providing them in-depth mathematical breakdowns of the game. Not all teams in the NFL have succumbed to this growing trend. After Baltimore hired Sandy Weil to a similar position last year and used his input to win a championship, it just might start to catch on. Hopefully, Mike can bring KC the same kind of success with his number-crunching as Sandy did for the Ravens.

Barry Rubin- Head Strength and Conditioning Coach- Here's some exciting news- the Chiefs just hired a Hall of Famer to their coaching staff. Rubin was inducted into the USA Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003. This came during a successful tenure in Green Bay where those who worked with him praised Barry's efforts in running the intricate strength and conditioning program and helping the medical staff with injury rehab. In 2010, his talents were wanted in Philly by, you guessed it, Andy Reid. Andy brings yet another former Eagles coach with him to KC, but since this time it's a guy with HOF stamped on his resume, the complaints should come few and far between. If the Philadelphia Chiefs are the most athletic team in the league, fans won't mind it one bit.

Rubin brings with him his former assistant in Philly, Travis Crittenden. Before joining the Eagles staff, Travis served as the director of football operations and general manager for Competitive Edge Sports. At this training facility in Atlanta, Crittenden supervised pro players through off-season training and groomed college players for the NFL combine.

Bonus Coach: Kevin O'Dea- Assistant Special Teams Coach- Since I wasn't smart enough to write about Kevin alongside his supervisor, special teams coordinator Dave Toub, let's learn about him now. Kevin spent four years in the Coast Guard before enrolling in Lock Haven University and beginning his coaching career as a wide receivers coach in 1986. From there, he coached at Virginia and Penn State in various positions until being hired onto the Chargers staff in '94. Since then Kevin has coached for five other NFL teams and even spent time in the UFL with the Hartford Colonials. According to Toub, O'Dea is an expert in the art of kicking, so while Dave supervises the return game, it looks like Kevin will keep his focus on Dustin Colquitt and Ryan Succop. 

Meet the Gang, Part 8- Meet the Defense

Defensive line coach Tommy Brasher and secondary coach Al Harris both bring proven success to KC, but they also bring two vastly different histories. By the time Harris was drafted by the Bucs in 1997, Brasher had already logged 15 seasons as a defensive line coach in the NFL. Brasher's career began as an assistant at Arkansas in 1970- four years prior to the birth of Alshinard Harris in Pompano Beach, FL.

Harris spent 14 seasons as a cornerback in the NFL, playing mostly with Philly and Green Bay. That's right- four years with Andy and seven with John Dorsey. With the Packers, Harris started 102 games and reached the Pro Bowl in '07 and '08. In 2009, Al blew his knee out and dramatically altered his future career path. Harris tore a lot of sciencey-sounding acronyms in his left knee and immediately had it surgically reconstructed. Al has fought to rehab the blown left knee ever since. During the 2010 season, Harris signed a 1-year deal with the Dolphins, but after just three games he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury. Shortly after being placed on the Injured Reserve, he was released. So, Al went back to the rehab program, this time for a blown hammy. He healed up fast, and only seven months after being released from Miami, Harris agreed to terms with the Rams. Nine games into his first season in St. Louis, Al's career was dealt its final blow when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. After all that fighting to get back, Harris' season was ended early once again. This wouldn't keep him out of the league for long, though; Harris interned as a coaching assistant in Miami that following season. The work he did there, as well as his determination and affection for the game were enough to convince Reid and Dorsey to give him his first job as a full-time secondary coach. Along with his veteran knowledge from the DB position, Al brings a proven work ethic to a secondary with Pro Bowl-caliber youngsters on the roster. Although his work is being overseen by Emmitt Thomas, this tough, battle-wizened vet will get every chance to put his mark on the Chiefs secondary in 2013.

Facing adversity with toughness is definitely one the things these two men have in common. In 2001, Tommy Brasher received the Ed Block Courage award for his impressive determination shown during his fight against cancer. Brasher spent most of the '01 season battling to recover from surgeries in which 67 lymph nodes and a malignant tumor in one his salivary glands were removed. And oh, by the way, he continued to coach, and the Eagles defense ranked 2^nd overall that year. As Tommy battled through life-threatening illness, his team ranked 7^th in sacks, and his student, defensive tackle Corey Simon, recorded the second most tackles from any defensive lineman in the league. A strong mentality based on toughness and iron will is vital to creating a powerhouse defense. You can bet your ass Tommy Brasher will bring that to Kansas City.  

Meet the Gang, Part 7- Bob Sutton

In 1973, the release of Dark Side of the Moon was blowing the minds of hippies and rebels and flower children everywhere. Richard Nixon was still telling the press he wasn't a crook, The Exorcist was scaring everyone back to church, and Bruce Lee was finally karate-chopping bad guys for an American audience. In baseball, the American League began playing with designated hitter rules for the first time. In football, Dan Shula's Dolphins recorded the first and only perfect season in NFL history. Chiefs owner Clark Hunt was just an eight year old boy watching Len Dawson throw bombs to Otis Taylor.

What was Bob Sutton doing? Coaching football. What's he doing now? Coaching football, for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Sutton brings 40 uninterrupted years of coaching experience to KC's defensive coordinator position. He started his coaching career in 1973, serving as a grad assistant under legendary college coach, Bo Schembechler. After nearly two decades at various positions and colleges, Bob found himself coaching Army in 1991. There he stayed until the Jets hired him in 2000. In New York, Sutton worked at four different positions under four different coaches in 13 seasons.

Bob brings all the stout defensive mentality from New York, without the huge mouth or the drama. Sounds perfect for Kansas City. But, the statistics reveal some sub-par performance in recent years. Overall, the Jets ranked 18^th or lower in three of the last five years. Sadly, two of those crappy seasons outrank Kansas City's defense of the same year, and, not-so-sadly, the stats also show that when the Jet's D is good, it's really good. In '09 and 2010, the Jet's defense ranked 1^st and 5^th, respectively. Each of those years, New York sent two defensive players to the Pro Bowl. Tamba, Houston, Eric Berry and Derrick Johnson all went to Hawaii this year, and they aren't the only Chiefs on defense that will go in the future. With talent like this already in place, Bob Sutton should prove to be a good choice. Coaches and league experts praise Bob for his mentoring abilities and high football IQ. I've stated before that this team has all the pieces necessary for elite status. With any luck (no year-long injuries,) Sutton is the kind of coach that can make them a top-5 defense.