Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp 2014: A Wish List
Dec 22, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Fisher (72) blocks Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Bjoern Werner (92) during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Colts won 23-7. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
3. Eric Fisher Is A Solid Left Tackle
No single player on the Kansas City Chiefs roster has more pressure to improve his performance from last season than Eric Fisher. By the end of his rookie season the first overall pick in the entire draft wasn’t able to start KC’s playoff game and most fans at that point thought that the team was better without him being on the field. That’s not good. Fisher is essentially getting a “do over” after injuries, an attempted switch to right tackle, and a rough transition from Central Michigan to the NFL combined to torpedo his rookie year.
The Chiefs clearly believe in Fisher because despite his struggles and the presence of a solid potential LT in Donald Stephenson on the roster, the Chiefs still feel comfortable giving Fisher the spot before camp even starts. If Fisher can prove this faith is warranted it will go a long ways towards stabilizing a very young offensive line. If Fisher is no better at LT than he was last year at RT then the Kansas City Chiefs may find themselves in big trouble.
2. Alex Smith And The Passing Offense Continue To Build Off Their Late Season Production
Some of you may be surprised to see this one ranked so high up on this list. Is this really more important than Eric Fisher succeeding or finding our starting CBs? I believe so. In my opinion, the success of the 2014 Kansas City Chiefs is directly tied to the evolution of Alex Smith in Andy Reid’s offense. If the Chiefs want to be a contender in the AFC West where their competition is lead by Peyton Manning and Phillip Rivers, then the Chiefs passing game must continue to improve.
During the second half of last season the passing game began to take off and in the playoff loss to the Colts Alex Smith turned some heads by putting up over 40 points on the road without Jamaal Charles. If Reid and Smith can continue to build off that second half then KC has a chance to compete. The Chiefs didn’t go out and bring in a bunch of free agents this offseason. Instead, they are hoping on in house development to fuel their improvement. That starts with Smith.
1. No Major Injuries
This one is self explanatory. There will always be some bumps and bruises and a player missing a practice or game or two, but the Chiefs can’t afford to lose any of their core players to injury. I’m just superstitious enough to not want to jinx things by naming players that KC could least afford to lose. You know who they are. So while everything else on this list is important, making it out of camp healthy is still at the top of the list.
So what do you think Addicts? Do you have any objections with my training camp wish list? Is there anything I listed that you don’t think is a big deal? Is there something key that I left off? Do you have major objections with the order that I have them in? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
As always, thanks for reading and GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!