Midwest Freelancer archive article
Who knows? The 2006 Kansas City Chiefs
(Published Friday, March 24, 2006))
By Eric Williams/Midwest Freelancer
I’ve never claimed to be a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon (although some people say I need to see one) but when it comes to figuring out what kind of team the Kansas City Chiefs will field in 2006, no person in either brain-powered profession would be able to pinpoint exactly how good the Chiefs will be.
Yes, the Chiefs have hired Herman Edwards - one of my favorite coaches in all of football – to replace the retired Dick Vermeil (another one of my favorites) and have one of the most exciting running backs in all of football in Larry Johnson, not to mention an explosive offense that has been one of the best in the league for the past several seasons, but what about the atrocious defense and lack of salary cap space available to sign quality free agents?
Those are just two of the questions that Edwards and GM Carl Peterson will have to answer before the start of the ’06 regular season.
Let’s take a quick look at what the Chiefs free agent and draft needs are.
Offensively, the Chiefs are in pretty good shape. They could obviously use another wide receiver. Preferably a number one who could help take some of the pass-catching pressure off of all-world tight end Tony Gonzalez.
The offensive line will also need to be addressed – especially if they lose guard Will Shields. However, it should be interesting to see how the Chiefs offense evolves since Edwards is definitely more of a play-it-close-to-the-vest kind of coach than Vermeil. Defensively, the Chiefs are absolutely atrocious. I don’t know any other way of putting it, except to say that the Chiefs secondary reminds me of my favorite female rapper of all-time – MC Lyte.
Why?
Because the Chiefs defensive backfield is exactly like my favorite song by Lyte – “Paper Thin.”
All jokes aside, the Chiefs may be in serious trouble defensively. Kansas City has already released veteran corners Eric Warfield and Dexter McCleon, leaving an already weak area perilously close to being totally inept. Even with the presence of cornerback Patrick Surtain, I would have to rate this secondary as one of the worst in the league.
I think the Chiefs will eventually develop into a really good defensive team under Edwards, but that may not happen for another year or two since it looks like they are going to try to address the majority of their needs through the draft.
Right now, I think K.C. could either go 6-10 or 10-6 next season – and right now, I vote for the latter.
By Eric Williams/Midwest Freelancer
I’ve never claimed to be a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon (although some people say I need to see one) but when it comes to figuring out what kind of team the Kansas City Chiefs will field in 2006, no person in either brain-powered profession would be able to pinpoint exactly how good the Chiefs will be.
Yes, the Chiefs have hired Herman Edwards - one of my favorite coaches in all of football – to replace the retired Dick Vermeil (another one of my favorites) and have one of the most exciting running backs in all of football in Larry Johnson, not to mention an explosive offense that has been one of the best in the league for the past several seasons, but what about the atrocious defense and lack of salary cap space available to sign quality free agents?
Those are just two of the questions that Edwards and GM Carl Peterson will have to answer before the start of the ’06 regular season.
Let’s take a quick look at what the Chiefs free agent and draft needs are.
Offensively, the Chiefs are in pretty good shape. They could obviously use another wide receiver. Preferably a number one who could help take some of the pass-catching pressure off of all-world tight end Tony Gonzalez.
The offensive line will also need to be addressed – especially if they lose guard Will Shields. However, it should be interesting to see how the Chiefs offense evolves since Edwards is definitely more of a play-it-close-to-the-vest kind of coach than Vermeil. Defensively, the Chiefs are absolutely atrocious. I don’t know any other way of putting it, except to say that the Chiefs secondary reminds me of my favorite female rapper of all-time – MC Lyte.
Why?
Because the Chiefs defensive backfield is exactly like my favorite song by Lyte – “Paper Thin.”
All jokes aside, the Chiefs may be in serious trouble defensively. Kansas City has already released veteran corners Eric Warfield and Dexter McCleon, leaving an already weak area perilously close to being totally inept. Even with the presence of cornerback Patrick Surtain, I would have to rate this secondary as one of the worst in the league.
I think the Chiefs will eventually develop into a really good defensive team under Edwards, but that may not happen for another year or two since it looks like they are going to try to address the majority of their needs through the draft.
Right now, I think K.C. could either go 6-10 or 10-6 next season – and right now, I vote for the latter.