2014 Chiefs: Nine Reasons To Believe

2. ILB Joe Mays is Better Than Advertised

Joe Mays has looked like the real deal for realz. Mays is all over the field and has made an impact in his first two preseason games. In the first preseason game against Cincinnati Joe Mays was only in the game for 8 snap counts and only had one tackle but oh what a tackle it was… a glorious QB sack. In game two against the Carolina Panthers Mays played 11 snaps but had 3 tackles and again one of those was a sack.

If Mays averages a sack a game during the regular season you can add another linebacker to the pro bowl list for the Chiefs.

While I seriously doubt that is in the cards, Joe Mays has been playing lights out whenever he’s been in the game. And that’s bodes well for a defense needing a player to step up right now. Plug Mays in for four quarters… along with the other Chiefs starters… and the results will be much more to the liking of Chiefs fans who came away with a bad taste in their mouths after preseason game two in Charlotte, North Carolina, last Sunday evening.

3. The TEs Have Got the Power

An essential element of Andy Reid’s offensive scheme that was missing last season is his deployment of these huge receivers down the middle of the field. Of course these huge receivers I’m referring to are the Chiefs healthy crew of tight ends.

Last year, Sean McGrath, Anthony Fasano and Richard Gordon combined for 505 total receiving yards. This year, Fasano, Travis Kelce and Demetrius Harris are all capable of 500+ yard seasons on their own and the corp together should produce over 1,000 yards receiving.

That may sound like a bold prediction but if you split that into thirds it’s only 334 yards each so that projection might be a couple of hundred yards low if they all remain healthy.

Many have ragged on Fasano and some feel he’s not the best TE around and complain that he’s injury prone. No, he’s not the best TE out there but it’s unfair to say he’s injury prone. Prior to last season, in five seasons as a starter, Fasano has only missed 4 games total. That’s less than one game per season. He should be called Mr. Reliable.

The upside for Fasano is that he’s had a strong camp and the potential of this trio of TEs is that they may be the best “set” of TEs the Chiefs have ever had on the same roster at once. Now, some may argue that any set of TEs with Tony Gonzales on it would be better and you’ll get no argument from me about that. However, considering the talents of all three, there has never been a more talented threesome for the Chiefs.

Plus, the upside for both Travis Kelce and Demetrius Harris is off the charts.

Click the NEXT button below to read more reasons to believe