Kansas City Chiefs Power Rankings: Pre-Camp Edition
11. Branden Albert
Albert has a quietly solid season in 2011 while improving his pass protection. He survived yet another season of “move Albert to guard” talk and remains a solid first-round investment at LT. He’s more important to this offense than he’ll probably ever get credit for.
12. Dexter McCluster
Don’t look now, but McCluster was KC’s best running back in 2011. He put up a solid average with his carries and his running seemed to improve as the season went on. If properly used, he could make a big impact in 2012.
13. Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson
These two are pretty much the same player, so until one of them starts to distinguish himself from the other, I’m putting them together as a tag team. Run stoppers first, if one of these guys can begin to put even a little bit of pressure on the QB this year KC’s defense is going to be terrifying.
14. Stanford Routt
Routt comes in with questions. He had a poor season in Oakland last season, but to be fair to Routt, he never should have been put in the position of being a #1 CB for an entire season. The Raiders defense as a whole was also a lot worse. Romeo Crennel will know how to play to Routt’s strengths and there is a chance his physical style of play could have KC fans forgetting about Brandon Carr rather quickly.
15. Dontari Poe
Ahhh. The Great
White
Big Hope. Poe is the giant-ass, round, final piece of the puzzle to the KC defense. Can Romeo teach him to make an immediate impact? I don’t know, but I’ll tell you this, if he pancakes Peyton Manning I’m putting him #1 that week.
16. Tony Moeaki
He can be awesome but can he stay on the field?
17. Matt Cassel
I’d like to put him higher but I still have too many questions. Hoping the 2010 Cassel returns in 2012.
18. Jon Asamoah
Asamoah enters the all-important year three.If he can run block this season as well as he pass blocked last season, the Chiefs could have a Pro Bowler on their hands.
19. Steve Breaston
He chipped in 785 yards last season but only two TDs. To be honest, last year was pretty much par for the course for Breaston. He may not be great but he is incredibly reliable. You can pretty much always count on four catches for around 45-50 yards from him. In 2012, with the addition of KC’s other weapons, Breaston could be dangerous.
20. Jonathan Baldwin
Other than Cassel, there is no other player I’d like to see move up this list. The OTA reports were great but Baldwin just didn’t do enough last year to be higher at this point. On potential, however, the sky is the limit. Go get it son!