The Chiefs’ Offseason: Broncos in our Sights
By Miles Yi
The Chiefs have had a tremendous offseason and the upcoming draft promises even more talent for our team. We’ve all talked and read a lot about the approach John Dorsey and Andy Reid have taken to the offseason. Some have suggested that Dorsey and Reid have utilized the “best available player” approach as a rationale for their moves thus far. Others have offered a needs-based philosophy as a potential guide for our offseason moves.
But is it possible that the real driving force behind our offseason maneuvers is what’s happening in Bronco-ville?
Some football thinkers believe that you draft primarily to win the division. I believe in that philosophy. All of our offseason moves need to be focused on one goal – winning the AFC West. With a division win comes potential home field advantage in the playoffs, and then all bets are off on how far you can progress.
Just as the Chiefs have had an incredible offseason, so too have our sworn enemies from Denver. When the Broncs got Wes Welker, I felt physical pain in my body. Now, Peyton has Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and now Welker in the slot. Additionally, the Broncos have the 28th pick in the first round, and there’s a darn good chance they’ll select ‘Bama running back Eddie Lacy. It’s not like Peyton needed more weapons. Now, the Broncos’ offense is fully loaded, and that’s not good for our hopes of winning the AFC West back from Denver.
If you adopt “winning the division” as the main motivator for offseason moves, the Chiefs’ work this winter starts to really come into focus. Demaryius Thomas is 6’3”. Eric Decker is 6’3”. Brandon Flowers and Javier Arenas both stand at 5’9”. Now I believe Flowers can cover anyone. If he sticks on Thomas, then picking up Sean Smith was genius. Smith is also 6’3” and can take on Decker all day long. That leaves the not-so-small matter of covering Wes Welker all over the field, which requires an equally fast and shifty guy. That guy’s name is Javier Arenas. WIth Eric Berry freed up to play centerfield, we may have the right combination to neutralize the Broncos’ receivers.
Peyton has always performed well with a good running back behind him, like when he had Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes with the Colts. The Broncos may be done with either Willis McGahee or Knowshon Moreno. Picking up Lacy wold be a smart move for them, and be fairly bad for the Chiefs. That’s why I think we brought in run-stopping beast Mike DeVito from the Jets, and it may explain why we’re hearing a bit more noise about drafting a defensive player with the first pick. An inside linebacker like Alec Ogletree from Georgia could round out our linebacking corps, or even Manti Te’o if we get an early second round pick in a trade for Brandon Albert.
Bottom line: Dorsey and Reid have made sure our defensive secondary can now match up with the Broncos new and high-powered receiver set. Our linebacker and defensive ends are prepared to stop whatever running backs the Broncos have to offer. All this, in the year when Tamba Hali and Justin Houston will become the best pass-rushing tandem in the league.
Peyton, you may be in trouble.
Addicts, do we have what it takes to stop the Broncos’ high voltage offense?!