What the Chiefs Need to Prove Tonight
By Tim Miller
Russell Wilson will be starting tonight for the Seattle Seahawks in pre-season game #3 at Arrowhead Stadium. To say Wilson has looked good in his first two preseason games in his rookie campaign would likely be an understatement. The Wisconsin product has a legitimate chance to steal the starting job for gang moss-green from Matt Flynn. After the horrific performance from the Chiefs first unit defense in St. Louis last Saturday I think they have a few things to prove.
Clearly the secondary, albeit banged up and without Flowers and Lewis for this game, needs to play much better. Javier Arenas in particular has to showcase his worth in nickel and dime defensive sets and get back to flashing the signs we saw from him in his rookie season last year. Arenas has all but solidified his role on special teams returning kicks, but Romeo needs him to cover slot receivers on Sundays when the Chiefs defense forces third and long. Jalil Brown as sited here by AA senior editor Patrick Allen, has to step up in a big hurry. We are all hopeful that #24 will be lined up at corner week one against Atlanta, but if Flowers isn’t ready Brown will likely get the start opposite Stanford Routt. Eric Berry is also in need of a stellar game in my opinion. We know the type of player Eric will be long term, but he (along with the entire defense) didn’t look good against the Rams.
Aside from the defensive backfield I need to see those gapping holes the Rams offensive line opened up against KC’s front seven to get plugged. Several players missed key A gap assignments and more or less got punched in the mouth and pushed off every block. If Marshann Lynch gets the type of running lanes Stephen Jackson had I am going to break my second remote control in as many weeks. The Chiefs linebackers need to apply serious pressure to Russell Wilson all night and make him understand what Arrowhead feels like when the earth shakes. Tamba will be ready to play, still ashamed of his one game suspension upcoming, but I really want to see Justin Houston get loose and put a bull rush on all night. Historically mobile QB’s have given the Chiefs defense fits, so I look forward to the front seven proving to me they can contain Russell and hold him in the pocket.
Lastly the offense, who by all accounts didn’t look bad in the first half last week (aside from Baldwin’s 1st quarter fumble), is facing a nice preseason challenge against a pretty stout Seahawk defense that was top 15 against both the pass and the run last year. Cassel checked down quite a few throws last week, and even though with the speed and power we have in our backfield, I need #7 to prove these deep ball gems Baldwin has been delivering in training camp this summer are ready to be executed in live game action. I like everyone else look forward to seeing Bowe and Baldwin opposite one another for the first time, and if they can stretch the defense as expected Moeaki and Boss should have good games. I wouldn’t mind if Romeo game Charles the majority of the night off after the first quarter, so we can see if Gray can overtake Draughn for third on the running back depth chart.
So what do you think Addicts, do the Chiefs have more to prove with all starters likely going a full three quarters?