Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp 2014: A Wish List
Jun 17, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Aaron Murray (7) and linebacker Dee Ford (55) pose for photos after the Kansas City Chiefs minicamp at University of Kansas Hospital Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
7. Dee Ford Looks Like A Big Time Pass Rusher
Many KC fans were caught off guard when the Chiefs used their first round draft pick on another outside pass rusher when they already had Houston and Hali on their roster. As has already been discussed before, the Chiefs clearly recognized their need for more depth when their pass rush production fell off a cliff when both Houston and Hali suffered some injury problems. While some fans may still want to discuss if this was the best use of their first pick or not, that ship has sailed. The only question now is if Ford provides an instant impact either as a substitute or in special packages with all three rushers on the field or if Ford spends his rookie season sitting on the bench as a developmental project.
If the Chiefs defense is going to return to the dominance we saw at the beginning of last season then KC needs Ford to show that he can get after the QB from day one. The reports are that Ford’s explosive first step makes him a special player. If he can prove that to be true then the Chiefs will find ways to get him into games and he should have an instant impact.
6. Either Travis Kelce Or Demetrius Harris Becomes A Weapon In The Passing Game
The tight end position on the Kansas City Chiefs should be a productive one. Andy Reid’s West Coast Offense is designed to use the tight end in the passing game. Quarterback Alex Smith has shown himself to be a “careful” decision maker who often used the TE as a safety valve while in San Francisco. The Chiefs have very little proven production at wide receiver, making the need for a pass catching TE all the greater. Literally, every sign out there points towards the Chiefs TE being a productive one. They just need someone to step up and do it.
Enter Travis Kelce and Demetrius Harris. One of these two must be a break out player in the KC offense this season. The odds are on it being Kelce if he’s fully healthy since KC used a high draft pick on him last season. However, there is a lot of buzz around Harris who is an undrafted former basketball player. While it would be FANTASTIC if they both worked out, the bottom line is that in order for the KC offense to take another step forward this season one of these two pass catching tight ends must step up.
5. The Free Safety Position Is Upgraded Over Last Season
Look, Kendrick Lewis seemed like a good guy. He tried hard. He seemed to be a good teammate. The guy just wasn’t a very good starting NFL free safety. Okay, if I’m being honest, “wasn’t very good” probably is a drastic understatement. The guy was terrible. Going into the 2014 season the Chiefs just need to show that this position has been upgraded. The assumption going into camp is that the Chiefs will use some combination of Husain Abdullah and Sanders Commings to fill the position. Neither guy has to step up and be a Pro Bowl caliber player (although that would be great) they just need the position stabilized.
There reached a point last season where it appeared that Lewis couldn’t cover anyone one on one, couldn’t provide help to the CBs over the top on deep passes, or even make tackles in the run game. I mean…..I just……..Wouldn’t you think???????? (sigh)
The position needs to be better. Let’s leave it at that. Moving on…..
4. Two Clear Starting Cornerbacks Emerge
Fact: The Chiefs CBs were exposed down the stretch last season.
Fact: The Chiefs cut the most accomplished CB on their roster, Brandon Flowers.
Fact: The only significant additions to the team at CB were a 5’9″ journeyman nickleback and a third round draft pick out of Rice.
The facts, my fellow Chiefs fans, are not very pretty. That doesn’t mean that there is no reason for hope, it just means that the KC CBs have a lot to prove going into training camp. Similar to what I said about the starting RG position, the Chiefs NEED two of their CBs to step up and prove that they deserve to be starting at the NFL level. The four CBs that will have a chance to do this are Sean Smith, Marcus Cooper, Ron Parker, and Phillip Gaines. At this point in his career, Sean Smith is what he is. He’s not a #1 CB, but he’s not terrible either. While his arrest this offseason proves he’s a knuckle head, he still may be one of the clear top two CBs on this roster. The other three players are still young, unproven, or both. Marcus Cooper flashed brilliance early in the season but was later exposed by some elite QBs. Once again, the “who” doesn’t really matter. The Chiefs just need two guys to step up and truly earn the starting CB spots.
Hit “Next” for the top three…..