The Best Offensive and Defensive Trios In Chiefs History
By Laddie Morse
Len Dawson, Mike Garrett and Otis Taylor. Derrick Thomas, Neil Smith and Dan Saleaumua. Joe Montana, Marcus Allen and Willie Davis. Those trios top the list of players at key offensive positions for the Chiefs during their 64 plus year history. These aren’t the only key positional trios that make a team great. ER (edge rusher)-ER-DT, it could be argued it every bit as important as the QB-RB-WR triad.
The Kansas City Chiefs are into their second season of transition with a new coach and general manager so let’s take a look at how they’re doing in the great trios arms race and how do these players compare to the best trios in Chiefs history?
QB-RB-WR
First, let’s finish the conversation about quarterback-runningback-wide receiver combos. Basing the following rank upon the best season any of these groups had playing for the Chiefs, I’d rate them in this order,
- Trent Green, Priest Holmes and Tony Gonzales
- Len Dawson, Mike Garrett and Otis Taylor
- Joe Montana, Marcus Allen and Willie Davis
- Alex Smith, Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe
Trent Green, Priest Holmes and Tony Gonzales
Considering Tony Gonzales is likely the greatest TE to ever walk onto a football field, it’s hard not to go with these three as the quintessential Chiefs deity. Yes, Montana is arguably the best QB of all time but his 2 years (actually less than that) was not his best ball. Yes, Marcus Allen is in the Hall too but his best output in a Chiefs jersey was 890 yards in 1995, the year after Montana retired. Priest Holmes was an amazing running back for the Chiefs for 6 seasons but had excellent production during his first 4 years as a Chief. During those four years he score 70 TDs. Compare that to Tony Gonzales 17 year career production of 111 TDs. Priest had 63% of Gonzos production in less than 25% of the time. Trent Green was a solid QB who was part of 121 TDs in his six seasons running the Chiefs offense.
Len Dawson, Mike Garrett and Otis Taylor
How can you argue against the threesome that brought the first Super Bowl victory to Kansas City? Dawson is not only a Hall of Fame QB but a Hall of Fame man and continues to share the iconic status of KCs greatest sports figure with George Brett. In his career, Dawson threw for more than 28,000 yards and was part of 239 TDs. Mike Garrett was the first in a long line of legendary USC tailbacks who moved on to the pro game and enjoyed huge success. He won the 1965 Heisman Trophy and was responsible for inspiring many other top prospects to sign with “Tailback U.” Garrett was one of the first “do-it-all” backs and returned 73 punts or kickoffs for USC and also caught 36 passes. Otis Taylor remains the top WR in yards gained to this very day.
Joe Montana, Marcus Allen and Willie Davis
Obviously, Montana and Allen were among the best players who ever played their respective positions… but not while they played for the Chiefs. Were they excellent for the Chiefs? They were very, very good and their excellence shown through at times but their best years were prior to coming to K.C.. Willie Davis had 909 receiving yards in 1993, Montana’s first of two seasons for the Chiefs but he never sniffed a thousand yard season. Allen scored 44 TDs during his limited time in Kansas City and while he was productive, he wasn’t really the player who was voted MVP of Super Bowl XVIII.
Alex Smith, Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe
This conversation begins with Jamaal Charles. Charles is knocking on the door to become the Chiefs all time leading rusher. He should have no problem becoming that guy. If he continues to play at the pace he’s played at (prior to this season) for at least four more years then he should get HoF considerations when his career comes to an end. I say, “prior to this year” because Charles is being limited in his use by Coach Andy Reid to the extent that JC is averaging less than 50 yards per game while in prior years he averaged at least 75 yards per game. Not a good sign moving forward, for either the team or Jamaal Charles. Dwayne Bowe is also not far from becoming the Chiefs all time leading WR. Otis Taylor currently hold that distinction and although Bowe only needs 710 yards to overtake Taylor, Bowe only gained 673 yards last season in Andy Reid’s offensive scheme. It’s more difficult to handicap the performance of Alex Smith and although he’s had solid games, it looks like he’s capable of having a Trent Green-like career for K.C. at this point as long as the front office can get him more tools to work with in the shed.
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Now, let’s take a look at the defensive side of the ball and see who might show up as the number one ER-ER-DT trio.
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“The Best Offensive and Defensive Trios In Chiefs History”