The Super Bowl is over and that means the 2012 season is truly upon us. Nothing from last year matters anymore. Those two blocked field goals? Last year. Those losses to New York, Detroit and Buffalo? Last year. It's all in front of the Kansas City Chiefs because now, it's a brand new year.
The biggest key for a successful season has nothing to do with free agents or even the draft. It's about recovery, specifically three knees that needed mending.
If Tony Moeaki can play a full season and continue on his upward trajectory, the passing attack has the potential to be lethal. Kansas City could conceivably have Moeaki, Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston and Jonathan Baldwin all in a pattern at once. Even if Matt Cassel is throwing the ball, that group of receivers will find a way to get open and make plays.
Finally, if Jamaal Charles comes back, the Chiefs will have a top-notch rushing game. Granted, the offensive line needs improvement in a few spots. However, Charles makes an average line look great. He'll absolutely rush for around 1,300+ yards if healthy and catch a handful of passes each game. He takes an inordinate amount of pressure off of the quarterback and the big boys up front to be perfect.
It would be a beautiful thing if Kansas City adds Carl Nicks or a quarterback in the draft, but neither of those things matter as much as the aforementioned trio. Yes, the quarterback position is by far the most important in football, but look at the San Francisco 49ers. They were two special teams gaffes from being in the Super Bowl.
Provided that Carr and Bowe return, this team could be a legitimate force deep into the playoffs. The AFC West is mediocre at best and Kansas City has the best talent of the bunch by a mile. It's always tough to predict what will happen in the NFL, especially with free agency and the draft still ahead of us. That said, I'm very confident in saying Romeo Crennel's team is loaded with playmakers.
One last thing to chew on. Imagine if Charles, Moeaki and Berry come back healthy. Imagine if Bowe and Carr re-sign. Then imagine Peyton Manning signing with the Chiefs and the draft provided them with a right tackle and depth.
Those are a lot of if's, but just imagine. It's a good time.
1 recs | 0 comments
"Only with a new QB"
Yeah, I said it…
severn58 - February 9, 2012
Rec for the pic
LOL
SCKSChief - February 10, 2012
Position-wise, Charles is the guy I'm least worried about as far as the injury hurting his performance.
He really doesn’t make all that many violent cuts. Berry makes a lot of violent cuts, and Moeaki has to cut in and out of routes.
Brsrkr - February 9, 2012
I an worried about Jamaal's speed
He direly depends on that to avoid hits, that definitely take a toll on him. If he isn’t fast enough anymore to get through those holes, a LB will have a chance to get there and light him up
RememberDelaney37 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
ACL is mostly for lateral stability, shouldn't affect straight-ahead movement much.
Brsrkr - February 9, 2012
True, but was talking more about the mental side
RememberDelaney37 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
Yeah, no telling about mentals or genetics.
Personally, I expect Berry to recover faster in those areas. Boy’s a freak.
Brsrkr - February 9, 2012
Agreed. Berry should have no problems, especially where he was at his best: blowing up the run game
I’d like to see the gif of him completely blowing through a lead blocker and taking out of the running back without even falling down. I think it was in the Tampa preseason game?
RememberDelaney37 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
Don't sell Jamaal short on the genetics side of things
kid may not be the brightest bulb in the house but athletically and physically he’s off the charts. He’s shown a propensity to play through pain in his tenure as well so I’m not too worried about the mental side of things, he’s been injured before and never became gun shy or afraid to take hits in their wake.
JHWK - February 9, 2012
Yeah, but Berry's a berserker.
Brsrkr - February 9, 2012
Rewatch some of the 2010 season
I think we’re forgetting just how much of a beast Jamaal is, not to sell Berry short. Some of the hits Jamaal takes and lays on defenders were brutal and he just gets right back up and does it again, most 205lb backs don’t play with his physicality because they just can’t match up against 250lb linebackers but we’ve seen Jamaal take them head on and ring a few bells other than his own more than once.
Long story short, we’re lucky as shit to have both Berry and Charles on our roster. If they both come back at 100% we’re in for a significantly improved record in 2012.
JHWK - February 9, 2012
True, he's more physical than most people give him credit for.
Brsrkr - February 9, 2012
His injury happened so early in the season that he should
be past any mental worries about cutting on his knee…..he has been rehabbing for a while now….all his questions will be nswered before training camp starts…
KCinAZ - February 9, 2012
True
although, he still needs to take those first few hits, especially around the knees/ankles to be 100% mentally prepared. That uncertainty can sometimes cripple a player.
Here’s hoping!
SCKSChief - February 10, 2012
yup
2009: 3.6 yards after first contact per attempt. Led the league.
soybon - February 9, 2012
our two best players
and that’s not selling DJ or tamba short. they are just that freakishly good.
shaytron - February 9, 2012
Problem with ACLs is its such a fluke injury that the key to recovery is mental.
He might be tentative for awhile just worrying that it might happen again. I don’t expect any of these guys near full health physically and mentally until mid season.
GenericBrand - February 9, 2012
Agreed
RememberDelaney37 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
Given how he's handled past injuries (namely his shoulder)
I don’t see him coming back at anything other than 100% in all facets of his game. He’s young and even in some pretty terrible pain was still aggressively fighting for yardage and running into contact on his bad shoulder to milk every last yard out of his carries.
JHWK - February 9, 2012
The good thing is JC is too dumb to think about that stuff
HIV 2 Elway - February 9, 2012 via mobile
Haven't had any interaction with him or really seen any interviews
Is he not the sharpest knife in the drawer?
MNchiefsfan - February 9, 2012
He's a heck of an athelete
Not tooo bright though.
GenericBrand - February 10, 2012
he sure as hell isnt going to step on any more yardage markers!
KCinAZ - February 9, 2012
Man I still get pissed every time I think about that.
TRSChief - February 9, 2012
Taking those first hits
that is what concerns me. Until then, we’ll never really know how they are each responding to the injury. Everything can seem rosy when you can run around the field and make the cuts and catch passes…but in the back of the mind is “will this hold the next time I get hit.” Especially from those ankle-biting DB fuckers…
SCKSChief - February 10, 2012
I agree to all except
The receiving group may find a way to get open, but the QB may not be able to get them the back once they are open. Sad but true
RememberDelaney37 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
Or worse yet...
He might not even see that they’re open because he’s already dumping the ball off to Dex or Jamaal.
Tomahawk29 - February 9, 2012
They're a playoff contender with Cassel.
They’re a SB contender with an upgrade at that position.
Tarkus - February 9, 2012
This
MNchiefsfan - February 9, 2012
Thanks.
That means a lot, coming from an edumacated man such as yourself.
Tarkus - February 9, 2012
I do... what I can do
When I can do it
MNchiefsfan - February 9, 2012
I did something once.
Scared the hell out of me. Now I’m back to just doing nothing.
It’s safer that way.
TRSChief - February 9, 2012
Grammar Nazi says "Nein!"
to be? just kidding but trying to help at the same time.
I’ll leave the picture to someone else.a
chiefs_fan_forever - February 9, 2012
damn autocorrect haha
Flowers24 - February 9, 2012
O/T but....
Raidahs sent Routt packing
GenericBrand - February 9, 2012
S&BP don't seem too upset about it either......sucks.
severn58 - February 9, 2012
He wasn't worth 10M$ a year
But he was still their best DB. They are in full rebuild mode. Please cut Seymour next.
GenericBrand - February 9, 2012
Some fans think this is just a prelude to bringing him back cheaper.
severn58 - February 9, 2012
Why not just restructure him then?
Instead of letting him loose to talk to anyone?
GenericBrand - February 9, 2012
Omg don’t excite me like this!!! I just peed in my pants!!!
Chiefsallday25 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
a Big NO
Superbowl?
This organization?
Maybe if they played in the AFL still.
Redberry - February 9, 2012
Stanford Routt release
WOW would KC go after him because Routt can sign at anytime…..
AngryKitty - February 9, 2012
Crazy
He’s a decent CB. Just not worth huge money.
MNchiefsfan - February 9, 2012
Well he is a solid #2
He’s great on the other side…. Also he wont be that much now after this… nobody is going to pay him that much. Many around the NFL “scoffed” at Routt’s big contract
AngryKitty - February 9, 2012
This could drive the price for Carr down a little as well
His agent won’t be able to point to that contract as a point of reference.
MNchiefsfan - February 9, 2012
Had to say no.
if you said that we were playoff contenders, then sure!
But we need to win a playoff game first before I believe this team can contend for the SB. We need Cassel to be better than his 2010 form because that form did terrible in the playoff game
NJChieffan16 - February 9, 2012
We need Cassel to back up our starting QB
ArrowheadHunter - February 9, 2012
I seriously have my doubts
that Moeaki will ever stay healthy.
KCMizzou - February 9, 2012
Lucky for us, we have a resident doctor around here.
I’m sure he’d be willing to offer his opinion on the matter.
joplin chiefs fan - February 9, 2012
ha!
Buck'O - February 9, 2012
Please, no more whining about injuries
NY Giants:
6 defensive players out for the season with injuries. Multiple starters with ACL injuries.
Rushing offense awful.
Multiple other injuries to DL, WR and running backs throughout the season.
They just won the Super Bowl!!!
They found a guy in a middle school somewhere who came back, started a few games, and made a key interception in the Super Bowl!
Go get some depth Pioli so this team doesn’t lose a couple of players and fall apart.
HowSweetItIs - February 9, 2012
AND...
find us a NEW QB!
The End
Jason Drue Keith - February 9, 2012
I agree we need them to come back 100% healthy
kcchiefs2782 - February 9, 2012 via Android app
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