The 2017 NFL season is just around the corner and optimism is high around the league. Fans of all (or almost all) 32 teams have high hopes for the upcoming season, daydreaming about their favorite player on their favorite team becoming league MVP, Super Bowl MVP and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy all in the same season. For the Kansas City Chiefs, many fans are expecting a continued sweep of the AFC West, where the Chiefs have won 10 straight, and another division crown. But, are those expectations born in reality? Should we be tempering expectations of the Kansas City Chiefs? Let’s take a look.
Tempering Expectations of the Kansas City Chiefs
The Optimism
When you talk to a lot of Chiefs fans, we are quick to point out the bright spots. Tyreek Hill is a dynamic playmaker that will see more playing time. Travis Kelce has turned into one of the league’s most dominant tight ends. The Chiefs offensive line played better as the season went on and Parker Ehinger is returning from injury to claim his spot at left guard. While the running game faltered a little bit after Ehinger went down, his return, combined with the potential of rookie Kareem Hunt and veteran Spencer Ware, should inject some life into the Chiefs historically strong ground game.
Eric Berry and Marcus Peters were named All-Pro for their respective positions in 2016. Both are premier players and some might even argue the best player in the league for their respective positions. In 2016, a couple of defensive injuries cost the Chiefs big time. Justin Houston missed a lot of time with nagging knee issues, Derrick Johnson tore his achilles, and Dee Ford missed significant time with a hip injury and still managed to turn in a career year. All players will return, and have proclaimed that they will be ready for the start of the NFL season.
One of the biggest issues for the Chiefs last year was their inability to stop the other team’s rushing attack. The Chiefs went out and signed tackle Bennie Logan, who Pro Football Focus ranked as the second best run defender in the league for 2016. Allen Bailey is also returning from injury and should give the Chiefs a boost in this category.
Also, just hearing the name Chris Jones makes many in the Chiefs Kingdom giddy with excitement. Jones flashed phenomenal play making ability last year and will only get better with experience. Plus, many-a-fan is still riding high with the thought of Patrick Mahomes waiting in the wings. An almost 30-year drought of not drafting a quarterback in the first round will do that to you.
The Pessimism
This all starts with one player: Alex Smith. Many fans feel that the Chiefs have reached their ceiling with Smith under center. Clearly, the organization feels the same, as they sent a ransom to the Buffalo Bills in the draft to move up and take Patrick Mahomes. While many are not expecting Mahomes to play very much this year, they also know that Alex Smith is still under center. A lot of things need click for the Chiefs to break down that wall from the past two seasons.
The offensive issues may extend beyond Smith, however. Beyond Hill and Kelce, it’s not easy to identify a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball. There have been reports of strong offseason by Chris Conley and DeMarcus Robinson, but we’ve all been down this road before. Anyone else remember Jonathan Baldwin‘s Herculean training camp that resulted in nothing but disappointment during the season? This is not to say that the young receivers cannot develop and be good players for the Chiefs. But if they do not, the Chiefs offense will be lacking throughout the season. The offense will not be able to run through just two players in Kelce and Hill and sustain success.
On defense, there are question marks at many positions. The starter opposite of Peters is expected to be Terrance Mitchell. Mitchell, a former journeyman, found success with the Chiefs after getting an opportunity thanks to the injuries of others. Was Mitchell just a flash in the pan or did he finally find a scheme that showcased his ability, despite three other teams giving up on him? Everyone will find out early since the Chiefs will face Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, and Derek Carr all in the first seven weeks of the season.
A lot of the success is riding on the health of the Chiefs veterans. What happens if Justin Houston is not back to his high level of play before his injury? What if Derrick Johnson and Bennie Logan cannot stop opposing ground games? There are a lot of “ifs” that could fall on either side of the fence.
The Realism
There are a lot of things to consider when a fan steps back and takes off their rose-colored glasses. Some thought there was dissension in the organization with the sudden and shocking departure of John Dorsey as general manager. But the fact that the Chiefs hired from within should quell a lot of those fears. The Chiefs would have hired someone from outside the organization if this internal issue was that bad. By choosing an in house candidate that Andy Reid is familiar with, the Chiefs made a great choice and a profound statement. They are ready to compete this year and into the future.
But, where are they focusing more on? The release of Jeremy Maclin and drafting of Patrick Mahomes seems to indicate that the Chiefs are building towards the future. While most know that Mahomes will not see action week one against the Patriots, there are plenty of reasons to expect to see the rookie gunslinger if the Chiefs do not make the playoffs.
This isn’t to say the Chiefs are going to coast through the season. There is still plenty of talent to go around. Additionally, the veteran coaching staff will do what they can to win. Andy Reid and Brett Veach have both signed on for the next five years. This isn’t a “win or else” season for the coaching staff or operations side. With all that in mind, this could be a transitional year for the Chiefs. They know they need to keep one eye beyond 2017 while doing their best to win this year.
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