Six Chiefs Make PFF’s All-AFC West Team

If you’ve been reading the site for any length of time then you know we are big believers in Pro Football Focus’s grading and evaluation system of NFL players, so when ever PFF recognized a Chiefs player, we love to let you know.

The folks at PFF put together their All-AFC West team recently and the Chiefs had a respectable six players make the squad.

They were WR Dwayne Bowe, KR Javier Arenas, ILB Derrick Johnson, OLB Tamba Hali (made team as a DE), CB Brandon Flowers and G Ryan Lilja.

The big surprise on the list is Lilja. I know many of you were down on Lilja this season and his play certainly took a dip in 2011, however, I never thought he played as poorly as some have suggested. According to PFF he struggled early on in the year before settling down, though he did struggle with his run blocking. I’m still in the camp that believes Lilja will be fine when he is blocking for backs like Charles and McCluster who fit the team’s zone blocking scheme rather than backs like Thomas Jones and Jackie Battle. Still, even PFF admits that the guards in the AFC West were weak and inconsistent this season.

I am also glad to see Arenas made the squad. He still has yet to return a kick for a TD but his consistency in return average is perhaps more valuable. Arenas is good and eventually he is going to break one eventually. He keeps the Chiefs out of the shadow of their own endzone, unlike some “home run hitters” who often spend so much time dancing from side to side that their teams are constantly starting inside the 20.

The rest all make sense. Bow had another solid season despite playing four games with Tyler Palko at QB and Hali, DJ and Flowers are studs. Next year, I’d like to see Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry, Tony Moeaki and Justin Houston added to this list.

What do you think Addicts? Are any Chiefs missing from this list?