A Look Forward

The overall outlook for the Chiefs 2010 has to be a success. Not only did the team win 10 games it also won the division which nobody could have expected. Despite being blown out in the playoffs there is clearly talent on this team and the holes are defined and can be addressed.


There are many holes on the team lets start with the offensive line. The interior part of the line was manhandled against the Raiders (minus Richard Seymour) and the Ravens. A big part of this was having an undersized guard (Lilja) and an undersized aging center (Wiegmann). The first move should be dump Wiegmann, put Asamogha at Right Guard, move Lilja back to his natural position of left guard, and either try and trade Brian Waters or bring him into camp and let him compete for the center spot. A possible first round pick might be Penn States center Steve Wisinewski. Between Lilja,Wisnewski, Asmagoha the Chiefs would have a solid interior offensive line.


The next position that absolutely needs to be addressed is Wide Receiver. Verran Tucker, Dexter McCluster, Kevin Curtis all might be good #3 guys but the Chiefs need someone who is dependable. I would argue Dwayne Bowe is not a consistent #1 wide receiver. The Chiefs will have options at this position free agents who could be #1 guys and stretch the field include Vincent Jackson or Steve Smith from the Giants. A trade for Fitzgerald is possible however the Chiefs aren't just one player away so trading multiple picks for a player doesn't make much sense. As far as the draft goes the best Wide Receiver in the draft not named AJ Green is Oklahoma States Justin Blackmon but is he a Pioli kind of player?


On the defensive side of the ball the Chiefs Defensive ends were great as for the Nose Tackle position not so much and this showed against power running teams like the Raiders. Abroyo Franklin of the 49ers would be a great pick up and should be one of the Chiefs priorities in the offseason. Also a nose tackle should be drafted in the middle rounds to be groomed as Franklins replacement and provide depth on the line.


Linebacker: This unit improved a bunch this season but still needs to improve getting to the QB. Besides Hali this group didn't have much in that department. Will Cameron Sheffield be back? He showed some promise in the preason. Like every other hole the Chiefs have on the team once again there are some great options. Von Miller in the first round or do you try and make a trade with Pittsburgh for Lammar Woodley who's a possible free agent and Pittsburgh has depth at that position.


If all of these positions are addressed in the off season I believe the Chiefs will have a great chance at defending the AFC West title and winning playoff games.

Chiefs-Ravens Playoff Game Preview

Coming out of blogtirement to write about the improbable- The 2010 Chiefs have made the playoffs!




Looking at this game the first thing that comes to mind is each teams record. Baltimore is 12-4, Kansas City is 10-6. Heres an indepth look at both teams strength of schedule:




Chiefs:
Losing records:
Denver 4-12 (W 10-6, L 29-49)
Arizona 5-11 W 31-13
Seattle 7-9 W 42-24
St. Louis 7-9 W 27-13
Tennessee 6-10 W 34-14
Houston 6-10 L 35-31
Buffalo 4-12 W 13-10
San Francisco 6-10 W 31-10
Cleveland 5-11 W 16-14
*Oakland 8-8 (L 23-20, L 31-10)
*Jacksonville 8-8 W 42-20

Winning records:
Indianapolis 10-6 L 9-19
San Diego 9-7 (W 21-14, L 0-31)

Combined record against and of losing teams:
9-4 and 66-110 avg schedule of 6-10
Combined record against and of winning teams:
1-2 and 19-13 avg schedule of 9.5-6.5


Ravens:
Losing records:
Cincinnati 4-12 (L 10-15, W 13-7)
Cleveland 5-11 (W 2-17, W 20-10)
Houston 6-10 W 34-28 (if you watched this game then you saw the way they let Houston come back before a horrible pass by Schaub led to a game winning pick six)
Carolina 2-14 W 37-13
Miami 7-9 W 26-10
Buffalo 4-12 W 37-34
Denver 4-12 W 31-17

Winning records:
New York Jets 11-5 W 10-9
Pittsburgh 12-4 (W 17-14 before Big Ben came back, L 10-13)
New England 14-2 L 20-23
Atlanta 13-3 L 21-26
Tampa Bay 10-6 W 17-10
New Orleans 11-5 W 30-24

Combined record against and of losing teams:
8-1 and 32-80 avg schedule of 4.5-11.5

Combined record against and of winning teams:
4-3 and 71-25 avg schedule of 12-4

We're 7-1 at home and they're 5-3 on the road

Keys to the game:

On Defense: Stuff the Ravens running game making Joe "Unibrow" Flaaco beat us. The Ravens recently have struggled moving the ball and Kansas City's secondary matches up well with their possession receivers.


On offense: The Ravens have a solid front 7 even though this year only 3 other teams have less sacks than the Ravens. The key will be to shutdown Terrell Suggs allowing Cassel and Bowe to shread the Ravens secondary.

Special Teams: The Ravens have played just about every game this season closely, Ultimately the game will come down to turnovers and field possession.


Edgar Allen Poe sucked and so do the Ravens. GO CHIEFS!