Chiefs Vs. Packers: 5 Players To Watch
I wish I could say I am wildly excited about tonight’s preseason game but I would be lying. The Chiefs will be playing with no real game plan and their starters are likely to be pulled after just a series. There may be some guys that we may not see at all. If a starter is even a little dinged up, he will probably be rested. What matters now is getting ready for the San Diego Chargers.
That being said, there will still be some players on the field that will be worth watching. Since the Chiefs are a little shallow on depth, we are likely to see a lot of some guys who might make the team. Look for guys like Jeremy Horne and Bobby Greenwood to get a lot of action.
We’ll have a live chat as usual tonight. Be sure to stop by about 30 minutes before kickoff for that.
Now here are your 5 players to watch for tonight’s game:
1. Matt Cassel
Cassel will probably only get one series with the offense but if that series results in a 3 and out, he may stay in a bit longer. I expect the Chiefs to try to quickly get the ball moving down field on their first series and if I were a betting man, I would say the first play on offense will be a pass. Cassel was less than stellar against the Eagles and Haley likely wants to wash the bad taste out of his mouth. Look for the Chiefs to be aggressive and if they pickup some points, the starters will sit. Cassel needs to play well in his limited action.
2. Jeremy Horne
Horne is probably going to get a lot of looks on special teams as well as in the offense at WR. The rookie WR has been one of the surprises of the offseason and he has a chance to solidify is position on the team with a strong performance tonight. With Brodie Croyle expected to get the majority of the snaps at QB, guys like Horne and Urban will have the benefit of a down field passing game that they haven’t really gotten playing with Tyler Palko. This may be the most meaningless preseason game for the starters but for guys like Horne, it is their last chance to make an impression.
3. Jerhemy Urban
Urban was thought to be a shrewd pickup by a Chiefs team that was drastically thin at WR in 2009 but after a strong start in OTA’s, Urban has kind of fallen off the radar a bit. He hasn’t made much, if any impact in the preseason so tonight is his chance to prove he can make an impact at wideout should something happen to Dwayne Bowe or Chris Chambers. When Chambers was given a day off in practice this week, Urban started in his place so it appears the coaching staff feels he is the primary backup at WR. Tonight, Urban has a chance to show fans why.
4. Tony Moeaki
Moeaki has played well in practice but did little in the third preseason game against the Eagles. The only memorable play from the TE thus far was when he bobbled a Matt Cassel desperation heave into the air. The ball was eventually picked off.
Moeaki has missed time due to injury so he could get an extended look tonight, especially if the Chiefs hope to use him as a starter at some point this season. Moeaki is unlikely to unseat Lenard Pope before the opener but he has a much higher upside so this will be his last chance to show he is ready to contribute before the games count.
5. Cory Greenwood
Greenwood is a guy who is on the roster bubble. Drafted third overall in the CFL draft, Greenwood presents a lot of raw talent with solid measurable. The Chiefs took a chance on the Canadian and it appears he has a shot to make the squad. Yesterday in his press conference, Haley mentioned Greenwood, David Herron and Justin Cole as players that are on the bubble. All seem to have stepped up in special teams play but to make the roster, they are likely going to have to prove they can be reliable backups at the linebacker position.
Greenwood seems to have the most upside here so I would expect to see him get playing time as part of the defense. If he plays well, he could be one of the last guys to make the roster.
Those are my 5. Your turn Addicts. Who will you be watching in tonight’s preseason game?