The offseason saw the Chiefs do their usual... nothing. They brought in several new cornerbacks, including former Pro Bowler Ty Law. However, the biggest acquisition the Chiefs made was new head coach Herm Edwards, trading the Jets a fourth-round pick for his services. This was the beginning move to what fans hoped would be an active offseason, one that would greatly improve the defensive situation. Of course this move could pay off for the Chiefs, at least early on, as it's the same move they pulled two years ago by bringing back Gunther Cunninghman. That was the last year the Chiefs made the playoffs.
On offense, there are few questions. The biggest one, though, is the offensive line; a unit that is usually not worried about. The difference this year is there will be no Willie Roaf at left tackle. Now filling that role is Kyle Turley, who didn't play last year.
Things are looking better for the Chiefs at wide receiver. In past years it's been a worry that they won't have enough playmakers. Eddie Kennison, who's been the most consistent WR since joining the Chiefs, and Samie Parker, a speedster who should be a bigger part of the offense this season, are the expected starters. Of course, the backfield will consist of Pro Bowlers Trent Green at quarterback and Larry Johnson at running back.
Defense wins championships. If that's the case, the Chiefs will never win one. When Cunningham first rejoined the team, the defense was good for the first nine weeks. Since then, however, the defense has been miserable and the Chiefs have thus failed to make the playoffs.
Things don't look to be much better this year. A lackluster pass defense was little improved in the offseason, despite the team bringing in a slew of new CBs. Ty Law, Patrick Surtain, Sam Knight, and Greg Wesley are expected to start in the secondary. While that looks good on paper, it may not be. Knight is only average against the pass, and Ty Law isn't the Pro Bowler he once was.
Johnson, Mitchell, and Bell form a good athletic group of linebackers who can defend the pass and are good against the run. The front four is a bit of new group. Only one starter from a year ago, Jared Allen, will be starting again this year. Hicks, Sims, and Dalton have respectably been replaced by James Reed, Ron Edwards, and rookie Tamba Hali.
The most difficult thing the Chiefs face is their schedule, with games at Denver, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Arizona, and St. Louis and home games against Cincinnati, Seattle, San Diego, Denver, and Jacksonville. With that difficult of a schedule, the Chiefs could be looking at a 9-7 or 10-6 season, which may not be good enough to get into the playoffs in the AFC. When, and if, the Chiefs miss the playoffs again this season, they can look at their lack of offseason moves that address major needs.
I look for the Chiefs to go 9-7, miss the playoffs, thus missing their window of opportunity with the offense, and then go into rebuilding mode in 2007.
