KC Chiefs Depth Chart Released
The first Kansas City Chiefs depth chart of the 2012 season has been released.
Let’s take a look at how things shook out heading into the first preseason game.
OFFENSE
WR Steve Breaston, Dexter McCluster, Josh Bellamy, Devon Wylie, Aaron Weaver, Zeke Markshausen
LT Branden Albert, Donald Stephenson
LG Ryan Lilja, Jeff Allen, Rich Ranglin
C Rodney Hudson, Lucas Patterson, Rob Bruggeman, Cam Holland
RG Jon Asamoah, Darryl Harris , Justin Cheadle
RT Eric Winston, David Mims, Ray Willis
TE Kevin Boss, Tony Moeaki, Steve Maneri, Jake O’Connell, Tim Biere
WR Jon Baldwin, Terrance Copper, Jamar Newsome, Jeremy Horne, Brandon Kinnie, Junior Hemingway, Dwayne Bowe
QB Matt Cassel, Brady Quinn, Ricky Stanzi, Alex Tanney
FB Shane Bannon, Patrick DiMarco
RB Jamaal Charles, Peyton Hillis, Shaun Draughn, Cyrus Gray, Nate Eachus
DEFENSE
RDE Glenn Dorsey, Amon Gordon, Brandon Bair, Ethan Johnson
NT Anthony Toribio, Dontari Poe, Jerrell Powe
LDE Tyson Jackson, Ropati Pitoitua, Allen Bailey, Jerome Long
ROLB Tamba Hali, Cameron Sheffield, Edgar Jones
RILB Derrick Johnson, Cory Greenwood, Leon Williams
LILB Jovan Belcher, Brandon Siler, Caleb Campbell, Dexter Heyman
LOLB Justin Houston, Andy Studebaker, Gabe Miller
RCB Stanford Routt, Javier Arenas, De’Quan Menzie, Neiko Thorpe, Mikail Baker
LCB Brandon Flowers, Jalil Brown, Jacques Reeves, Chandler Fenner
FS Kendrick Lewis, Travis Daniels, Donald Washington, Tysyn Hartman,Dominique Ellis
SS Eric Berry, Abram Elam, Jean Fanor, Terrance Parks
SPECIALISTS
P Dustin Colquitt, Matt Szymanski
K Ryan Succop, Matt Szymanski
KO Ryan Succop, Matt Szymanski
PC Thomas Gafford, Cory Greenwood, Andy Studebaker
KC Thomas Gafford, Cory Greenwood, Andy Studebaker
H Dustin Colquitt, Brady Quinn, Ricky Stanzi
PR Javier Arenas, Dexter McCluster, Devon Wylie
KR Javier Arenas, Dexter McCluster, Devon Wylie
This is actually a pretty interesting depth chart and I think it tells us a lot about where the team is heading and what they are planning. Let me run through some notes.
Offense:
– This kid Josh Belamy has been turning heads since OTA practices. He is now listed as a 3rd string WR behind Steve Breaston and Dexter McCluster. He has a real shot to make this team but it is getting crowded at WR.
-Dexter McCluster is no longer listed as a RB. He’s back at WR and he is high on the chart, sitting right behind Steve Breaston.
-With Bowe staying home, the star WR is at the bottom of the list. Because of this, Terry Copper moves up to the #2 slot behind Jonathan Baldwin. If Belamy continues to impress, Copper could be in trouble.
-The WR group is getting seriously crowded. The Chiefs have added so many pieces that some of these guys are in serious danger of getting cut. Junior Hemingway has been battling injury and finds himself way down the list. Even Devon Wylie is down there. The Chiefs are certain to keep:
1. Bowe
2. Baldwin
3. Breaston
4. McCluster
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?
The Chiefs could carry up to seven WRs, depending on what they decide to do at RB and FB. They also have some flexibility on the offensive line because they have some players who can play multiple positions. I think there is a chance the Chiefs could go without a fullback this season. Hillis has played the position and could do it again in some situations this year. It likely depends on how the Chiefs feel about Shaun Draughn and Cyrus Gray. Right now it looks like Draugnhn has the edge. One of those two could end up getting stashed on the practice squad.
It is going to be interesting seeing how this all plays out.
-Kevin Boss is listed ahead of Tony Moeaki. This may not mean a whole lot as the camp reports we are getting seem to indicate that the Chiefs are running a LOT of two tight end sets.
-Jamaal Charles is listed as the #1 RB. Go figure.
-Amon Gordon is at DE. He played both NT and DE last year. With the emergence of Anthony Toribio and the addition of Dontari Poe, it looks as though Gordon’s is trying to make the team as Dorsey’s backup.
-Ropati Pitoitua has jumped Allen Bailey at DE behind Tyson Jackson. Interesting to say the least.
-With Demorrio Williams out of the picture, Corey Greenwood has stepped up as DJ’s primary backup. Belcher continues to hold off the injured Siler.
-Jalil Brown is listed as the primary backup for Flowers, though Travis Daniels has sometimes covered this role in practice.
-Daniels is listed as the second string free safety. I think this is a brilliant idea. Daniels is experienced and has a nose for the football. He isn’t a starting corner in the NFL but he can help out in a pinch. Free safety may be a better spot for him given his athletic limitations.
Those are the things that jump out at me. Obviously a lot can change between now and the final 53 but what do you guys think?