It’s time to make sure your best Kansas City Chiefs jersey is laundered and ready to go because the Chiefs training camp begins three weeks from today (rookie camp starts earlier, though it’s not open to the public). While we’re packing let’s not forget our binoculars. We’ll need those to take a closer look at some Chiefs players who have a good chance of “showing” or “breaking out” this coming season.
Every year there’s anywhere from one to half a dozen or so players who are either showing us that they have promise in this league… or are breaking out and announcing to the world, “I have arrived!”
Last year, Travis Kelce was the biggest of the breakouts. Undrafted free agent wide receiver Albert Wilson had a breakout camp but didn’t have a breakout year. However, he did “show” late in the season… enough for David Culley (wide receiver coach) to expect much more from him in 2015.
So, there are those who “showed” and those who had “breakout” years.
Why would it be important to project which players will be showing us what they’ve got and which players will be having breakout years? It looks like the overall success of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015 is dependent upon a number of players… showing… or breaking out. These players are going to have to step up… or the team will be taking a step back… this year.
So, who will “show” in 2015 and more importantly, who will breakout? Here, I offer three to breakout… and three to show.
While the cover story for the Chiefs offseason digest has been the acquisition of premier wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, it’s also been pointed out that if opponents choose to consistently double-team him then his addition to the team may mean little. In that case, the overall performance of the wide receiving corp might likely not exceed that of last year’s abysmal unit. Consequently, it’s imperative that someone else steps up and does more than “show” us that they have promise (like Albert Wilson did at the end of last season).
Since were talking about Albert Wilson, he’s the one I am predicting will have a breakout year. As I’ve mentioned before Albert Wilson had an excellent camp in 2014. I was levitating somewhere between shock and surprise when Wilson didn’t get a hefty heaping helping of snaps and targets early in the season. This year, the Chiefs will not keep prince Albert in a can. He may not be “smokin’ hot” but he should do more than smoulder on the bench.
There are a couple of sound reasons for supporting the idea that Albert Wilson will excel this year. Number one, he’s in his second season of this offense and not only does he know it better but both Andy Reid, and more importantly quarterback Alex Smith, know — and trust — him more. Familiarity breeds trust here, not contempt.
The other reason Albert Wilson should have a breakout year is perpetuation. The signing of Jeremy Maclin in essence has forced Alex Smith’s hand to put up or shut up (talk to the hand). From all reports coming out of the Chiefs offseason workouts, it looks like Smith and Maclin are copacetic, on the same page, in the same library, and the same universe. That’s great news for Chiefs fans. If Maclin does indeed make Smith a better quarterback, then those improvements should bleed over to the other receivers. Improvements like:
+ If Smith is willing to let the ball go more by throwing into tight spaces with Maclin… he’ll likely be more willing to do so with other receivers like Wilson.
+ If Smith is willing to throw the long ball more to Maclin… he’ll likely be more willing to do so with other receivers like Wilson (including DeAnthony Thomas or Chris Conley).
+ If Smith is willing to make adjustments based on feedback from receivers like Maclin… he’ll likely be more willing to do so with other receivers like Wilson (Smith says Maclin understands what defenses are doing, just like a quarterback).
It’s called perpetuation.
Next: Will Another WR Break Out?