Chiefs Look To Make Run In 2013

Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs kept getting humiliated game after game, en route to the worst record in football (2-14). The Chiefs have showed signs they are tired of being pushed around by adding pieces to the puzzle this off-season. The Chiefs fired GM Scott Pioli and head coach Romeo Crennel. Then they hired former Philadelphia Eagle Andy Ried as their new head coach. The Chiefs started their productive off-season by trading for QB Alex Smith for draft picks. Then they signed cornerbacks Dunta Robinson and Sean Smith, so they could be able to mtachup against great offenses, such as divison rival Denver Brocnos. They upgraded their DL by signing Mike Devito and beefed up their offensive line by signing offensive tackle Geoffry Schwartz. They also signed wide reciever Donnie Avery and tight end Anthony Fasano to improve their passing game. They cut ties with quarterbacks Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn, who both failed to get things going on offense last season.

The Kansas City Chiefs were a huge dissapointment last season as their whole team kept falling a part. The Chiefs offense was absolutley pitiful last season as they ranked last in the NFL in scoring last season. The lack of having a consistent quarterback was the main reason to their offensive struggles. Quarterbacks Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn combined for 2,713 pass yards, 8 TD, 20 INT, and a 63.8 QB raiting last season. Cassel also had trouble holding on to the ball by coughing it up 8 times last season. Opponents demolished them last season as they could never get anything going on offense. The lack of protection made Cassel and Quinn throw too many illidvised throws. Other than Wide Reciever Dwyane Bowe (His production dropped heavily last season, but still ended up being the best reciever on the team), the Chiefs barley got any production from their recievers and tight ends.  This was why Cassel and Quinn could never find a consisent passing game last season. Defensivley the Chiefs didn't do any better than what their offense did. They were 25th in scoring defense, produced only 27 sacks (Tamba Hali and Justin Houston had 19 of them), and were 31st in the NFL in tackaways. Even though the Chiefs didn't allow a lot of yards through the air, quarterbacks made it look easy out their as they allowed a league worst, 99.9 quarterback raiting. They only had 7 picks on the year and they gave up 29 touchdown passes. The Chiefs played only 6 good quarterbacks and still had trouble taking advantage of the oppurtunity. The Chiefs were even worse in the running game as opponents ran all over them. They allowed 11 teams run at least 100 yards against them. The Chiefs pass rush was a failure against last season as Pro Bowler Tamba Hali and Justin Houston produced about 3/4 of the team's 27 sacks. Teams made it look easy through the air and on the ground against the Chiefs. The Chiefs speical teams was dissapointing as speedy Dexter McCluster barley touched the ball on special teams (He played a bigger role on offense last season). The Chiefs made it sound like their schedule was impossible, but they only played  7 teams that were above .500 ( They went 0-7 in those games).

The Chiefs are a lot better than what the stat sheet and their record showed. They produced 5 Pro Bowlers last season! The Chiefs have lots of talent on their team, but bad luck and the inability to play their strengths killed them. Running Back Jamaal Charles showed lots of explosiveness and speed last season as he ran for 1,509 yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. If not only for those 6 fumbles (5 fumbles lost), Charles could of done even better. The secondary was a force for this defense as Pro Bowlers Brandon Flowers and Eric Berry both preformed at a high level last season. Outside Linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston applied lots of pressure and havoic against opposing quarterbacks. Inside Linebacker Derrick Johnson anchored and set the tone for the Chiefs defense. His great insticts and crushing hits on ball carriers help slow down the opposition. This defense could of been ranked in the top 10 if they forced more turnovers and increased their sack total. At 5'9, Flowers does a fantastic job covering taller and bigger recievers in the NFL. Wide Reciever Dwayne Bowe size, strength, and hands makes him a huge weapon in the passing game. They added Wide Reciever Donnie Avery to improve a passing game that looked confused last season. Alex Smith could have a better feel for this offense, especially if he has Andy Ried help coach him. Adding Robinson and Smith to the secondary will help matchups against good passing teams. This special teams unit is dangerous. Kicker Ryan Succop and Punter Dustin Colquitt both did a great job playing consistent throughout the season and if the Chiefs gave Dexter McCluster more oppurtunites last season, the Chiefs could have of had better field position and have a home threat on special teams.

The Chiefs a bright future ahead of them. They did a great job addressing their needs in the off-season, but they need to have good team chemistry if they want to a make a run to the playoffs this season. Hiring Andy Ried brings lots of expierence and success as a head coach, to Kansas City. The Chiefs do have a pretty easy schedule this upcoming season and are poised to comeback after a dreadful 2012 season.