Kansas City Chiefs: How the West was won in 2015
By Laddie Morse
When Kansas City has the ball, it should be an improvement. Many will point to the offensive line as the hole in their bucket but the skill position players for the Chiefs are undeniable. Jamaal Charles says he feels like he’s 21 years old again. If he is able to stay healthy this season, he should have a better year than 2014 when he played through aches and pains.
Tight end Travis Kelce is entering his third season after a breakout year in 2014 and should establish himself as one of the best in the league. His ability to provide Smith with a big target over the middle should help keep Smith’s jersey clean and spleen intact.
De’Anthony Thomas is electric. He’s not only fast but quick and nearly impossible for one man to cover. The Chiefs’ blogosphere is agog this offseason as to whether or not DAT will be a receiver or running back. The reality is, it doesn’t matter. If he was practicing routes on the beach in California to improve that part of his game and for no other reason, can I get an Hallelujah!?!
Who cares if his role is changing from running back/receiver to receiver? If Thomas improves this year in any way, it’s going to be scintillating. Once again, expect the part of Kansas City’s offense that involves DAT to be better. Better might be a poor choice of words. Dynamic, is more like it.
Let us not forget the chosen one: Jeremy Maclin. It’s been documented that Maclin knows Reid’s system better than the man himself (especially when you consider he’s the one who’s executed it for years). Maclin should be a major step up from the man he’s replacing in Dwayne Bowe. Still, don’t forget Bowe was an above-average blocker for a receiver. It says a lot about both Reid and Maclin that the two wish to be reunited. It should mean another improvement for the Chiefs offense.
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While quarterback is a touchstone for controversy among Chiefs fans, you must admit Alex Smith looks poised to have his best year in Reid’s system. A somewhat improved offensive line and more weapons should help.
Charles, Kelce, DAT and Maclin. Those are some nice choices for Smith. However, someone else needs to step up and be dangerous or else the Broncos should be able to deal with those four. Heck, the Broncos do that every day in practice. Albert Wilson, draft pick Chris Conley out of Georgia, Da’Rick Rogers, tight ends Demetrius Harris or James O’Shaughnessy … if one of these men can achieve the level of play that requires defenses accounting for them … it should make Kansas City’s offense one of the league’s best.
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