Can You Predict The Future?

Also, When This Time Rolls Around Next Year And Your Writing Another "Can You Predict The Future" Jeremy, I Want You To Remember I Picked Mark Bradley And Expect To Read About How I Was Right This Year, LOL.

I Would Have To Say Mark Bradley.

With The Departure Of Tony G The Ball Will Be Spread Around More This Year And Right Now Our Best Option Looks To Be D Bowe. Teams Will Be All Over Him And Lets Face It, Hes Not Gonna Make That Tough/In Traffic Catch That Tony Always Made. Also Teams Are Going To Have To Account For Cottams Size And Make An Emphasis On Stopping Him, So There For The Chiefs Are Gonna Be Able To Get The Ball To Bradley Alot More. I Also Feel Like Mark Will Be Used In The Wildcat And Other Trick Formations And Plays (Reverse Pass To Thiggy For A TD)

I have no idea how the O-line is going to be but with Haley as the new coach I anticipate at least 1-2 WR's besides Bowe having a good year.

I'll go on a limb and go with Terrance Copper, 27 years old, only has 600 receiving yards in his career but he has elite speed.

I think someone who has been overlooked is Zack Thomas. I firmly believe he hasn't finished his carreer yet. I think he will be a big surprise to many.

And I for one will be very surprised if Mr. Irrelevant makes the team.

As a side note I'm pulling for Tanner Purdum to make the team as a long snapper. Thought you would like to know.

Has anyone seen the throwbacks that they're wearing this year yet? I'm getting a throwback Jeff Webb jersey if he ends up being the next Steve Breaston as boldly predicted by double D. With our group of receivers young and unproven, I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of them exceed expectations if they can get the offense down in time to develop chemistry with Cassel.

Well, surprise was supposed to be the theme here wasn't it?

Double D, Jeff Webb busting out would be a huge surprise!

Given Haley's history of developing and utilizing receivers, along with the need to have a solid, physical presence across the middle to make up for the loss of Gonzalez and his production, I'd have to put my money on a guy like (Adam Best will love this) Jeff Webb to bust out with an impressive season. 1000 yds and 5 to 10 TDs wouldn't seem out of the question to me.

Mark Bradley. With D Bowe losing "the Show" he will put up no. 1 receiver numbers and draw much attention. Bobby Engram will make some clutch catches from the slot, leaving Mark Bradley with single coverage much of the time. I look for 60 receptions, 840 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Jeremy,

Great post, man. Very interesting to see who we all have in the back of our minds as becoming players.

Hanson: Taurus Johnson will be AWESOME for the Chiefs!!!! I go to UCF(hour from USF) so I watched the rival Bulls a lot and he can make some moves. It may not happen this year but when it does, he will be a major factor in our return game and probably at reciever. Hope he drinks the Pioli kool aid so he stays on long enough and we can see....

I'm going with Herbie Taylor and Colin Brown, These guys are really good offensive lineman. Taylor showed he could hang last year subbing for Phat Albert, and Brown is a great athlete for his size and has awesome footwork. He handled DEs out on an island last year, and will need some time to work into it.

With these guys the O-line will be much improved and if Barry Richardson comes on to be the road grader his frame supports...... It will be awesome.

Soft spot for lineman

As far as engram, if he can produce and play some serious time, then that would be a surprise.

LJ is a monster, his expectations are low, but I don't beleive his skills are a surprise.

Cassel would not surprise me if he did well.

D-bowe better do well.
Flowers is only going to get better

Jamal Charles would be a candiate for surpise player, but his over 5 yards per carry make his success very foreseeable. Good pick though

Washington, Studebaker, cottam are good candidates for surprise player, any one else guys?

Hammer, Bashman, BucktheFroncos, way to dig deep. But I am going deeper:

Undrafted free agent WR out of South Florida by the name of Taurus Johnson. Taurus will be the Chiefs most surprising player in terms of his KR/PR abilities. He and Quinten Lawrence will split the KR/PR duties in the beginning of the season with Quinten Lawrence later becoming the backup KR/PR (Quinten Lawrence will be ahead of Taurus on the WR Depth chart though). My prediction is based simply upon the fact that we need a KR/PR returner desperately, last years’ options were not good, and Johnson and Lawrence seem the most promising. Lawrence has more speed, but I believe Johnson has more moves. How’s that for a surprise/reach?

I'm going with Bobby Engram. Not popular, I understand, but he's my pick. With Graves' disease constantly harassing him and making him sesceptible to injury (which has plagued his career), Engram has toughed out his injuries and illness to maintain an above average career in one of the most physically demanding sports around. The NFL league average in reception yards was 395, Engram managed 489. As well as keeping an 11.9 average per reception, and a 4.4 average yards after completion. In 2007 he hauled in 94 rec. for 1147 yards.

Are some of these astounding numbers? No. Engram is no Jerry Rice, Michael Ervin, or Larry Fitzgerald. But consider what he's been through. Those numbers attest to his drive, his willingness to overcome, to succeed, and to shine even when touched by such a heavy burden. He is a testament to the spirit of the heart and the spirit of the game. I believe we're lucky to have him on our team, and I look forward to seeing him on the field in red and gold.

Bobby Engram is my breakout pick for '09. I hope and wish him (and all the Chiefs players), the best this season. Go Chiefs!

Buck,

I would love it if Studebaker did turn out to be Vrabel 2.0. Plus, you gotta love the guy because of the name.

Well done Hammer. At least you dug a little deeper for your prediction than most. LJ, Cassell, D-Bowe? Way to go out on a limb.

Andy Studebaker

I'm gonna stick to the same pick I've been pushing for weeks now. My brother-in-law says he won't make the practice squad. But I love the kids intangibles. Every time he gets on the field he seems to make plays and find his way to the QB. He's smart and fits the Pioli mold as a rush linebacker quite nicely. Played some TE in high school and could end up being Vrabel 2.0

I too think LJ and Cassel will have good years. LJ has the talent and is focused when good things are going on around him. With Haley there will be a lot of dicipline and this will be good for LJ and the team as a whole. At first I was scepticle about Cassel but after hearing what he has been doing in the off season, and actually hearing the guy talk and his maturity and confidence, I am really excited to see him this season. He sounds very prepared and and it sounds like this team is getting whipped into shape and is going to be very prepared. I know it sounds a bit crazy but i wouldn't be shocked to see an 8-8 season or maybe a sneak into the playoffs. Worse teams have done it.

Hands down, It's going to be Matt Cassel and here is why. I have watched hours of tape both the highlights and lowlights of this guy's body of work going back to high school here in SoCal. He has an excellent work ethic,tireless quest for knowledge,superb footwork in the pocket, he can make all the big time throws, the soft touch passes, over the middle, and has a cannon, check the Frisco game from last year if you want to see 70 plus yard bombs hitting Moss in stride? Awesome....plus this dude is big and just plain fast, he can tuck it and book up the middle just like Elway used to do, I am telling you this guy was a steel for us Chiefs, and the biggest reason.......He has real passion and heart to lead,play football, and WIN!.

I don't personally like some of these "predictions" because I wouldn't really count them as surprises. Flowers, Bowe.. we already know they're good and improving, so what's gonna be surprising about i?

My answer is Larry Johnson. LJ really seems like his attitude has changed and hopefully he's buying into whatever Haley and Pioli are preaching. If the Chiefs can establish themselves as a threat in the passing game, look for LJ to finally put up decent numbers again.

I don't think he'll be putting up 1750+ yards, but I'm pretty confident in 1000. I also think Jamaal Charles will see his share of touches and be effective. This will be more of a MJD/Fred Taylor type of attack than the old days of handing the ball to LJ and only LJ.

Runner up is Matt Cassel. I really like this guy and he seems determined to take control of his team and win.

I've gotta go with Brad Cottam. I know that typically Gailey likes his TE to block, but hes not going to have much option since we didnt sign anyone to pick up the slack after the Gonzo trade. I like his size and speed and the fact that hes got a starting job now is great. He will blow away every ones expectations.

Okay, I have been gazing long and hard into my crystal ball. The mists of time, the veil over the future begins to part..........

My prediction, the most surprising player of the 2009 season will be a player who has not yet strapped on a Chiefs helmet. That player is Donald Washington.

Washington is six feet, slightly under two hundred pounds. In addition he has a great vertical leaping ability and great athleticism. I predict Washington will make a splash on special teams and in the nickel package. This kid is smart.

Before the season ends, the Chiefs will be looking to find ways to get this kid on the field. We may even (dare I say it) get a look at him on offense as a wide receiver.

So there you have it. I have stuck my neck out big time. A fourth round draft pick who is a diamond in the rough. I am expecting BIG things from this kid. I hope he doesn't disappoint.

My big surprise player for the upcoming season is the team as a whole,, we really don't need superstars we need great teamwork and that!! is the future of the CHIEFS!!!
go Chiefs!!!

On defence I think with a new scheme, a better line, and better backers, I think D.J. has all the help he needs to put in the probowl type season we expect from him. On offence, I think Bobby Engram will surprise a lot of people by catching near or around 80 balls this year. The guy has sure hands and will be Cassel's much needed security, with an unimproved oline and little time to let long plays develop.

IF the front 7 provide some pressure this year, Brandon Flowers will take a huge step forward from last year. He was easily my favorite rookie last year. I especially loved the way he was willing to come in and blow up a running back. I think he is the best run support corner we've had in a long time. Oh, and he covers pretty well too.

D Bowe will be outstanding for 2009. I say this because he seems to be 'buying into the system'. He is willing to drop 'The Show', and become a more team oriented player. He is more interested in improving his game (the dropsies) and being a team player. At least I hope he means all that he says and works hard for the team effort and is not blowing smoke up our @$$e$,

Jamaal Charles is going to light it up this year!!!!
Kinda obvious answer though.....I also think Maurice Leggett(Mo Legs) will have a great year.