Chiefs vs. Seahawks: Players to watch
By Chris Clark
Welcome back to football and more importantly, Chiefs football!
Today the Chiefs will face off against the Seahawks in a game that doesn’t matter much to the fans. The bottom half of the Chiefs 90-man roster however, have a lot to prove. Play in preseason games is a huge determinant in who makes the team and who doesn’t. Most of the bottom end of the roster will be looking for a job in a month. Their play today and in the coming weeks could decide their careers.
This is a team that is built for a Super Bowl run now and they need to take advantage of the pieces they have in place this season. Many people have said that this team will live or die by their pass rush. I agree that pass rush is a big issue. There are several other players on each side of the ball that could contribute in big ways to the Chiefs in 2016 and beyond.
Check out Friday’s Episode of Locked on Chiefs. We discuss what to watch in Saturday’s game and the players that need to step forward.
Chris Conley is coming into what could be a pivotal season for him in this Chiefs offense. While at camp I watched him really attack the ball with his hands and not wait for it to get to his body. This may seem like a small change but it could have big ramifications. The simple act of attacking the ball in the air has two major benefits.
First, there is the benefit of having a split second less time for the DB to react to the incoming pass. More importantly, Conley attacking the ball keeps it from getting into his pads and body. This should help his drop rate as well as make it less likely the ball bounces off him and gets intercepted.
Conley spent time with Jeremy Maclin training in the offseason. The work he has done to this point shows that the time with Maclin has helped. Conley will still need time to digest the entire playbook. His size makes him a very good red zone target.
Add in a three-tight end set with Charles in the back field and the possibilities are endless. Conley is one of the Chiefs better blocking receivers and with that jumbo set, even with the TE’s bunched out wide, the run is still a great option.
Next: Offensive line options...