Posts Tagged ‘Glenn Dorsey’

2009 Kansas City Chiefs: Five Things to Watch For

 

See: Edgerrin James.

While Todd Haley isn’t a fool, he sure isn’t a fan of pounding the ball, either. He and the Chiefs will never be a smash-mouth, run-first offense, and the quicker everyone realizes it, the better.

Matt Cassel is on board to help make Dwayne Bowe a machine, and to take enough attention off the ground game to make Johnson appear less slow and banged up than he truly is.

He may not have a ton of tread left on his Herman Edwards-ran rampade tires, but he’s still an elite back if used correctly.

Does that mean a rushing crown and a happy camper hat for the entire season? Very unlikely, but if there’s consistent balance, Johnson will undoubtedly be a huge part of it.

But his attitude and work ethic have to change. Immediately.

Bowe has been consistent in his first two seasons, and with excellent build, solid speed, and great body control, he has the makings of an Anquan Boldin in Haley’s explosive air attack offense.

A few weeks being demoted to the third team unit should have him ready to prove himself in 2009.

That’s right, Brodie Croye. Sit back down, Tyler Thigpen.

Gone are the days of the spread offense. Gone are the predictable offensive sets, as fun as some of them were to watch.

With Matt Cassel (after week one, of course), the Chiefs finally have a passer that has the arm and legs to carry an offense, something they haven’t had since Steve Bono (forive me for saying so).

Cassel certainly is seeing a talent drop-off from his magical run in New England, but he still has enough talent and good coaching to win some games and help KC make some noise.

That, or this was the worst trade Scot Pioli has ever made, and the best one Bill Belichick has.

The offense will be more balanced and more efficient, but without Tony Gonzalez and another dependabe option across fro Bowe, it will be hard to top 4-5 wins.

On the bright side, however, the Chiefs aren’t exactly playing in a tough division, with only one team (San Diego) posing as sure-fire division contenders; a division returning zero teams with better than an 8-8 record in 2008.

But can Haley really be expected to take this tea to glory without Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, or a polished veteran like Kurt Warner at his disposal?

And woeful is putting it nicely.

Through three pre-season games this year, Kansas City has registered four sacks, which is only six shy of their league low total of 10 in 2008.

Are they getting better? Sure, but that really isn’t saying much, now is it?

Through three pre-season games, they’ve shown an ability to lock things up inside the 20, refusing to allow more than 17 points in a game.