Kansas City Chiefs

NFL Previews - Kansas City Chiefs

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2007 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PREVIEW

(My Sportsbook) - The year 2006 may best be remembered in the annals of the Kansas City Chiefs as the one that contained the passing of the franchise's groundbreaking owner, Lamar Hunt. The team fittingly paid tribute to its beloved patriarch by playing a brand of football synonymous with the early days of the AFL, the league Hunt founded some 40-plus years ago.

For the better part of this decade, the Chiefs were a team known and feared for a quick-strike, aggressive offense capable of churning out yards and points in pinball-like numbers under head coach Dick Vermeil and offensive coordinator Al Saunders. Things couldn't have been any different, however, once former New York Jets sideline general Herman Edwards, more a proponent of the "three yards and a cloud of dust" approach, took over the reigns from the retiring Vermeil following the 2005 season.

Actually, it was more like 4.3 yards and a cloud of dust, which was what workhorse running back Larry Johnson averaged on his NFL single-season record 416 carries last season.

Run Johnson left. Run Larry right. Run No. 27 up the middle. Those were all familiar commands uttered from the mouths of Edwards and new OC Mike Solari, who replaced Saunders after the latter departed for Washington at the conclusion of the Vermeil era. And although that attack was effective, as the Chiefs compiled a 9-7 record and sneaked into the AFC playoffs as a wild card, it was also about as exciting as watching paint dry and as predictable as the ending of a Jerry Springer taping.

Edwards' Newt Gingrich-esque philosophy certainly didn't fool the Indianapolis Colts, who held Kansas City without a first down through the entire first half of January's 23-8 victory in the opening round of the postseason.

Kansas City's offense may be boring, but the club's offseason had its share of interesting storylines. There was first the mini-soap opera involving quarterback Trent Green, whose future was placed in a three-month state of limbo while the front office dragged its feet on a trade that eventually sent its longtime signal-caller to Miami. Then there was the resulting training- camp quarterback controversy between Damon Huard, the career journeyman whose surprisingly capable play in place of an injured Green concussion was an essential ingredient to last year's playoff march, and second-year prodigy Brodie Croyle, believed to be Edwards and the organization's preferred choice to seize the starting job.

Huard will begin the season as the No. 1 quarterback, but odds are he'll give way to the younger and stronger-armed Croyle some time before the year's out, especially if the Chiefs stumble out of the blocks.

A 3 1/2-week holdout staged by Johnson in an attempt to secure a long-term contract provided another preseason distraction. That problem has fortunately been resolved, since Kansas City will likely have to rely even more on its now well-paid superstar and an improving defense to reach its goal of a fourth winning campaign in five years.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2007 edition of the Kansas City Chiefs, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2006 RECORD: 9-7 (t2nd, AFC West)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2006, lost to Indianapolis, 23-8, in AFC Wild Card

COACH (RECORD): Herm Edwards (9-7 in one season with Chiefs, 48-48 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Mike Solari

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Gunther Cunningham

OFFENSIVE STAR: Larry Johnson, RB (1789 rushing yards, 41 receptions, 19 TD)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Jared Allen, DE (77 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 1 INT)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 9th rushing, 22nd passing, 15th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 18th rushing, 18th passing, t11th scoring

FIVE KEY GAMES: at Houston (9/9), Cincinnati (10/14), at Oakland (10/21), Denver (11/11), San Diego (12/2)

KEY ADDITIONS: WR Dwayne Bowe (1st Round, LSU), WR/RS Eddie Drummond (from Lions), OL Damion McIntosh (from Dolphins), DT Turk McBride (2nd Round, Tennessee), DT Tank Tyler (3rd Round, N.C. State), DT Alfonso Boone (from Bears), LB Donnie Edwards (from Chargers), LB Napoleon Harris (from Vikings), S Jon McGraw (from Lions), S Chad Williams (from 49ers), K Justin Medlock (5th Round, UCLA), LS J.P. Darche (from Seahawks)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Trent Green (to Dolphins), WR Dante Hall (to Rams), WR Rod Gardner (released), G Will Shields (retired), T Jordan Black (to Texans), T Chris Bober (out for season/injured), DE Eric Hicks (to Jets), DT Ryan Sims (to Buccaneers), DT Brian Howard (released), DT Steve Williams (released), LB Kawika Mitchell (to Giants), CB William Bartee (released), CB Lenny Walls (to Rams), S Sammy Knight (to Jaguars), K Lawrence Tynes (to Giants), LS Adam Johnson (released), LS Kendall Gammon (not tendered)

QB: With the exception of Johnson, no player was more important to Kansas City's success last season than Huard (1878 passing yards, 11 TD, 1 INT), who made the most of a long-awaited extended opportunity presented when Green suffered a serious concussion in Week 1. The 34-year-old compiled an outstanding 11-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 98.0 quarterback rating, a number bettered only by Peyton Manning, while guiding the Chiefs to a 5-3 record in his eight starts. Huard was deservedly rewarded with a three- year contract in February, but his status as the main man under center appears to be far less secure than his financial portfolio. Croyle was practically handed the starting job in the preseason, but the former University of Alabama star gave it away with a string of poor performances during the exhibition schedule. He's still viewed as the team's quarterback of the future, however, and should see extensive action at some point this year. Ex-CFL superstar Casey Printers is set as the No. 3 quarterback.

RB: Johnson parlayed his record-setting workload into a six-year, $45 million contract that was agreed to shortly before the third preseason game. Although the All-Pro back is only 27 years old, history indicates the Chiefs may have made a risky investment. Four players (James Wilder, Eric Dickerson, Jamal Anderson, Eddie George) have previously amassed 400 rushing attempts in a single season, and all of them saw a decline in productivity in subsequent years. There's little reason to believe Johnson won't remain an elite runner this season, however, provided the Chiefs make the effort to keep their franchise player fresh. Kansas City does possess another 1,000-yard rusher on the roster in Michael Bennett (200 rushing yards, 9 receptions), but the ex- Viking has been dogged by injuries for a good part of his six-year career. The Chiefs did select Louisville's Kolby Smith in the fifth round of April's draft to help out, and there's still an outside chance that three-time All-Pro and club career rushing leader Priest Holmes could make a contribution. Holmes, who hasn't played since suffering a devastating neck injury midway through the 2005 campaign, has resumed working out but is still a long shot to make the active squad. There's not a true fullback on the roster, but reserve tight end Kris Wilson (15 receptions, 3 TD) often lines up in the backfield to serve as Johnson's lead blocker.

WR/TE: Perennial Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez (73 receptions, 5 TD) and savvy veteran Eddie Kennison (53 receptions, 5 TD) finished 1-2 on the team in catches for the third consecutive year in 2006, and the pair once again figures to be Kansas City's top receiving targets this fall. Gonzalez earned an eighth consecutive trip to Honolulu last season and is as sure-handed as they come, while the 34-year-old Kennison showed he can still be a downfield threat by averaging 16.2 per catch. Samie Parker had a career-best 41 grabs opposite Kennison, but the fourth-year pro's one touchdown and numerous drops prompted the Chiefs to take LSU's Dwayne Bowe in the first round of the 2007 draft. The team is also high on speedy second-year receivers Jeff Webb (3 receptions) and Chris Hannon, with Webb the likely choice to initially take over the third wideout role previously held by Dante Hall. The tight end corps will again include 11th-year vet Jason Dunn (4 receptions), who's valued greatly for his blocking skills, and could also contain prospect Michael Allan, a seventh-round draft pick out of Division III Whitworth University.

OL: The Chiefs used to annually field one of the NFL's premier trench units, but this area has gone from a clear strength to a potential weakness following the retirements of two potential Hall of Famers in back-to-back years. Left tackle Willie Roaf called it quits during training camp last summer and rock- solid right guard Will Shields ended a 14-year reign of excellence in April. Kansas City still has a pair of proven anchors in left guard Brian Waters, a three-time Pro Bowl honoree, and seasoned center Casey Wiegmann, but the other three line positions are a little more unsettled. Ex-Dolphin Damion McIntosh will man left tackle after signing a six-year deal in the spring and Chris Terry, who's started 80 career NFL games but none since 2004, is slated to take over a right-side spot that was a revolving door last season. John Welbourn, the team's primary right tackle in 2004 and '05, has been shifted to his natural guard position in Shields' absence. The Chiefs brought back colorful veteran Kyle Turley to add depth at tackle, but he's now the only reserve with significant experience after interior player Chris Bober was placed on injured reserve.

DL: Kansas City is in good shape at the ends, where both Jared Allen (77 tackles, 7.5 sacks) and Tamba Hali (58 tackles, 8 sacks) form a young and speedy duo that can effectively disrupt enemy quarterbacks. Hali started all 16 games as a rookie last year and looks like a future star on the left side, while Allen has racked up 27 1/2 sacks over his first three pro seasons. The tackle tandem of Ron Edwards (20 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Edwards favorite James Reed (37 tackles, 1 sack) was merely adequate, but the Chiefs added some beef up front with the offseason signing of former Bear Alfonso Boone (26 tackles, 2 sacks), who takes over one starting slot and will be counted on to improve the inside pass rush. Jimmy Wilkerson (24 tackles) is a solid backup who will probably start the first two games while Allen serves an alcohol- related suspension. Look for 2007 draftees Turk McBride (second round) and tackle Tank Tyler (third) to play more significant roles as the season goes along.

LB: The Chiefs have the makings of one of the top linebacking groups in the league after acquiring both Donnie Edwards (San Diego) and Napoleon Harris (Minnesota) through free agency to team with rising star Derrick Johnson. Edwards (141 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 INT), one of the game's most active playmakers and a revered leader in the huddle, returns to the organization with which he spent his first six NFL seasons after a successful five-year run with the rival Chargers. The 34-year-old's well-regarded coverage skills should prove to be an asset on the weak side, where Kendrell Bell (49 tackles, 1 sack) has made a minimal impact over the last two years. Harris' (59 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 INT) intelligence and speed make him a prototype middle linebacker for Kansas City's Cover-2 scheme, while the athletic Johnson (75 tackles, 4.5 sacks) enters his third season as the strongside starter and could be primed for a breakout year. Bell's salary and backup status have put his roster spot in jeopardy, but if he stays he'll head a useful reserve corps that also includes Keyaron Fox (52 tackles, 1 sack), special teams ace Rich Scanlon (9 tackles) and 2006 practice squad member William Kershaw.

DB: Kansas City's biggest area of concern on defense likely lies on the corners. Ty Law (65 tackles, 4 INT) and Patrick Surtain (66 tackles, 1 INT) have been to a combined seven Pro Bowls but are 33 and 31 years old, respectively, and depth behind the two aging ballhawks is an issue. Diminutive Benny Sapp (17 tackles) is tough and fairly reliable as a nickel back, but the next two corners on the depth chart are Dimitri Patterson, a former Redskins' practice-squadder who was out of the league for virtually all of last season, and undrafted rookie Tyron Brackenridge. Youth will be served at the two safety positions, where talented second-year players Jarrad Page (35 tackles, 3 INT, 1 sack) and Bernard Pollard (10 tackles) are the new starters. Page, a seventh-round steal, displaced longtime free safety Greg Wesley (67 tackles, 3 INT) by season's end, while the emergence of the physical Pollard enabled the Chiefs to let valued veteran Sammy Knight go in the offseason. Wesley could be a trade target of teams during the final roster shuffle. If he isn't dealt, the eighth-year pro will combine with Jon McGraw (43 tackles), another one of coach Edwards' ex-Jets, to provide an excellent backup duo.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Chiefs weren't particularly pleased with Lawrence Tynes' performance a year ago, so they shipped the kicker to the Giants shortly after selecting UCLA's Justin Medlock in the fifth round of the draft. Medlock has had a shaky camp, however, highlighted by two field goal misses in the second preseason contest. The return game will also be going through transition following the draft-day trade of the electrifying Hall to St. Louis. Eddie Drummond, who made the Pro Bowl with Detroit in 2004, was picked up late in preseason to compete with Webb and undrafted rookie Ean Randolph for runback duties. Kansas City also cut loose long snapper Kendall Gammon, a mainstay in the league for 15 years, but found a capable replacement in ex-Seahawk J.P. Darche. Punter Dustin Colquitt (44.3 avg.) returns after rebounding from a disappointing rookie season with a strong sophomore campaign in 2006.

PROGNOSIS: The Chiefs' fortunes could very well be determined in September, when the team will play three of its first four games on the road -- including stops in Chicago and San Diego. A 1-3 start or worse might lead Herm Edwards' urge to throw the untested Croyle into the fire, and unless the 24-year-old improves leaps and bounds from his preseason showings, Kansas City's playoff hopes will effectively end with the change. An inexperienced quarterback and an offensive line dotted with question marks could also hinder the performance of Larry Johnson, which would put the season in further potential peril. The Chiefs will always play hard under Edwards and will be consistently competitive, but a break-even record may be the best-case scenario for a team going through a transitional phase. At worst, Kansas City will be fighting to avoid being passed by the hated Raiders for third place in the AFC West.

August 30, 2007, at 05:10 PM ET

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