Jimmy Dorsey
Just a few short seasons ago the Kansas City Chiefs were a playoff team, but they have looked like anything but while winning four or fewer games each of the last three seasons.
Kansas City is in rebuilding mode, and it is hoping that the addition of Charlie Weis can help speed up the process. It certainly won't hurt a team that only scored 18.4 points per game (23rd in the NFL) last season. But the offense is actually in better shape than a defense which allowed 26.5 points per game a season ago (29th in the NFL).
Offense: With Weis calling the plays, and with the addition of running back Thomas Jones, there is reason to believe the offense will be better in 2010. If the additions of guards Ryan Lilja and Jon Asamoah are able to bolster the offensive line, Kansas City could build on its already formidable running game.
The Chiefs averaged 120.6 yards per game on the ground in 2009 (11th in the NFL). Jamaal Charles, and his 1,120 rushing yards, led the attack. Now, he will be joined by the perennial 1,000 yard rusher Jones, who is coming off a tremendous 1,402 yard season. Weis should also be able to dial up a few plays to get speedy rookie Dexter McCluster to the outside.
While the running game is important, this is a quarterbacks league. That means Matt Cassel must perform better if the Chiefs are going to take the next step. Cassel is coming off a very mediocre season in which he threw for 2,924 yards and 16 touchdowns with 16 interceptions. Weis will do his best to put Cassel in positions to succeed. Cassel should also benefit from having top wide receiver Dwayne Bowe for a full season.
Defense: The Chiefs finished the 2009 season ranked No. 31 in the NFL against the run and No. 22 against the pass. Their pass coverage should continue to get better after a solid draft in which they landed Eric Berry, Kendrick Lewis and Javier Arenas. Berry has the potential to be the best safety in the NFL a few years down the road.
After adding a few more solid cover guys, the Chiefs must get more out of their pass rush to really start improving their pass defense. So far, Glenn Dorsey hasn't met expectations, and Tyson Jackson really struggled in his rookie campaign. The Chiefs will need a lot more production from both of these guys, along with Alex Magee, this season. Tamba Hali has quietly been a solid performer the last four seasons, recording 7.5 or more sacks in three of those campaigns.
In order to exceed expectations in 2010, Kansas City must find a way to do a whole lot better against the run. The Chiefs were torched for 156.5 yards per game last year. They're going to need much better play from their nose tackles to bring that number down.
Prediction: 4th AFC West - The Chiefs are adding more and more talent each year, and it doesn't look like it will be long before they are challenging for the playoffs again. But in the meantime, they still look like a last place team to me.
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