Offseason Potpourri, Vol. 1
The New England Patriots are world champions again, Pete Carroll is still somewhere in hiding, and fans of America’s favorite pastime have officially entered Week 1 of the NFL offseason. We’re a scant 222 days away from the next regular season game for the Kansas City Chiefs. In short, we’ve got a lot of time on our hands here, Addicts! It’s still a wee bit early for me to start the free agency conversation so I have a few disjointed thoughts for you today. I’m sure I’ll have more of these scatter-brained moments over the next eight months so we’ll call this series the “potpourri’ pieces. Let’s get started, shall we?
1. WWAD? (What Would Andy Do)
Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
In the closing seconds of Super Bowl XLIX, Chiefs Kingdom had more in common with its neighbors to the northwest than a noisy stadium. Chiefs fans could actually empathize with the collective pain they’ve suffered after a disastrous playcall. Not many of them understand the agony that accompanies a loss in the big dance (see: the “Super Bowl loss reactions compilation for proof”), but they fully understand how gut-wrenching a bone-headed offensive decision can be. Andy Reid’s no stranger to those and that’s the scariest part about it. If we’re really being honest, Kingdom hearts (score one for gamer nerds everywhere for that reference) dropped like those in Seattle because many of us know there’s a good chance Reid makes the same decision in that situation. A half-yard might’ve been the difference between postseason glory and preserving a 44-year drought for the “Sea of Red.”
2. Chiefs players are buying in.
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Since Kansas City’s season came to a disappointing end in late-December, two major pieces of the Chiefs’ puzzle have come forward to express a desire to stick with the Reid-Dorsey script. Tamba Hali told 610 Sports that he’d like to stay put:
"“At this stage of my career, it isn’t about money,” Hali said. “The Kansas City Chiefs have taken care of me, financially. I have some good people in my corner that have positioned me to be able to live a lifestyle a lot of people won’t be able to live. So I’m not one of those guys who gets all bent out of shape over money. I love playing the game, I want to win a championship in Kansas City.”"
Justin Houston followed suit in the week leading up to the Super Bowl:
"“I would like to stay in Kansas City, me and coach Reid, we got a relationship going on. I think that he’s a great coach.” Houston said. “He’s part of the reason I got 22 sacks. He would pull me off to the side and keep me motivated, and always pushing me in practice, never letting me take days off.”"
Two key cogs in the defensive wheel going on record like that is a great sign. It suggests that the team’s best players believe in the vision of the Reid-Dorsey administration. They think they can win with a few tweaks to an already talented roster. That kind of veteran support for the new regime can be contagious in a young locker room, even for fellow vets with expiring contracts. “Keeping the family together” could soon become a priority for all parties involved.
3. Are the Seahawks a poster child for the Chiefs?
Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Most of the people who know general manager John Dorsey would probably say he’s building his new franchise with a Packers model in mind. Still, it’s hard to ignore the similarities between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks. Think about it for a second: Russell Wilson and Alex Smith are both smart, mobile quarterbacks who take good care of the football. Marshawn Lynch and Jamaal Charles are both dual-threat backs with noses for the end zone. Both teams lack elite receiving talent. Each of them feature big, physical secondaries with versatile safeties who can play near the line of scrimmage. The two teams even share a love of the west coast offense.
Seattle is clearly more adept at throwing the football down the field, but that’s largely because they have a quarterback willing (and able) to pull the trigger and receivers who can stretch the field. If the Chiefs can continue to develop De’Anthony Thomas and Albert Wilson, they may soon have the same offensive options. It just might behoove Dorsey to keep a close eye on what’s happening in Seattle over the next few seasons. Carroll’s construction of that team will keep them in the Super Bowl conversation for years to come.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on each of these bullet points. Use the comment section below to start the conversation. I always appreciate the things our readers have to say! You all are truly some of the most well-informed NFL fans anywhere in the blogosphere. As always, we appreciate your readership and support.
Until next time, Addicts!