Chiefs at Packers - Week 3 - Record: 1-2 Part II

After last night's disaster and thinking far too much about it, I simply had to add a few thoughts in this blog post. I'm not going to get into all the technical details of our failures, but I will address them. I encourage you to slip over to Arrowhead Pride because they have people who do an excellent job with posts detailing the intricate stuff that happens with plays on the field and so forth.

I did want to bring up some ugly things about last night's game, and offer the disclaimer that indeed, everyone can have bad games and when you're playing against Aaron Rodgers, a bad game can be especially gruesome. I will never give up on the possibilities that the brutality from this one can be efficiently rectified, and that we do have the personnel from top to bottom to do that.

Thing is, yes, I'm afraid I'm going to single out one individual in particular for censure here, so forgive me. I don't dislike this individual and, as I've already said, I have that above-board devotion to him as a key Chiefs component of our success.

But damn.

Did Andy Reid get mnfmp-faced last night.

Here are the critical indictments.

1. Our running game, specifically the run-blocking. We have three backs who should be flying down the field, Jamaal, Knile, and De'Anthony. Alex Smith should be able to do that deep drop and hand the ball to any one of these guys and have them shoot the gaps that the O-line provides for them -- the issue is, they're not getting those gaps. Last night it seemed like there were 18 defenders swarming our backs.

Who are these guys on the line?

Eric Fisher. Sorry, but he absolutely must play more like the No. 1 pick he's supposed to be. Yes I know it isn't all on him, but he should be doing much more to open those lanes.

Ben Grubbs. Major pick-up from free agency who I'd heard nothing but great things about. Now these first two guys alone should be getting our backs the room they need.

Mitch Morse. The center who's been drawing raves, but he's still young and green and learning.

Laurent Duverney-Tardif. Where'd this guy come from? Seems like this is a guy who just got the job because he happened to be the best of a weak bunch. I don't know, but it looked like the Packers were just mauling him last night.

Donald Stephenson. Slotted at that left tackle position to protect the pocket. At the beginning of the season he was switched from right tackle when, ahem, Eric Fisher apparently couldn't handle that tackle job. At the beginning of the game the announcers were saying the Packers have been switching guys all around. Seemed to work for them. What's our excuse?

We just flat out didn't seem to know how to run-block. It just didn't seem to be there, even though it just doesn't seem like they're all that horrible individually.

Who is this the responsibility of?

The head coach. And I thought Andy Reid was a master working with the offensive line.

2. Our passing game. Alex Smith got sacked seven times last night.

Seven - nfnknk'ing - times.

So this offensive line that was so offensive also did an abysmal job of pass-blocking, but you know? Alex Smith is mobile, and he did have enough time to get throws off. The number of times I screamed at the television "JUST THROW THE BALL!" -- really, had to have been a record.

Why were we so out-of-sync? How come the Packers seemed to just know everything we were going to throw at them? And why can't Alex Smith just make those laser strikes to a receiver with a DB all over him?

Any time a team looks overwhelmed with an opponent that seems to psychically portend every - single - thing we did, that's on, do you know?

The head coach.

Andy Reid's passing game plan was predictable, his receivers unresponsive, his routes smothered. And here's the key.

Alex Smith looked scared all night long. I mean he looked like a bug in a bat's lair. What a contrast to the breezy, confident Aaron Rodgers. Yes, Rodgers is indeed the best player in the NFL. But Alex Smith has still got the skills, he does. I know people want to give up on him, but don't quite yet. Thing is, and this just isn't a new thing as those who know him from his early pro days, Smith can easily get shaken up.

That's on the head coach for not doing things that Alex Smith needs a coach to do. This is so critical. Smith is such a phenomenal talent, but he needs a coach to make the things happen that get him to use his abilities to the fullest.

Oh wow has Reid been failing at that, let's just face it. I mean it's been okay before, let's give him credit, we've won games with the Reid-for-Smith plan. But yeah, last night, it was like Reid just flat-out lost complete track of who his quarterback was and what he needed to do to make him successful.

3. Our pass defense. While a mediocre Packers defense looked like their 1967 version, our celebrated defense with 57 All-Pros looked like a luscious pad of room-temperature butter sitting there on the kitchen counter.

The Packers offensive players, every single one of them, had wide open spaces before them on every running and passing play. Their backs shot out into the wild like gazelles, their receivers inspired and dominant like soaring eagles. Our D-backs looked like annoying stumps.

And the Chiefs had one of the top-rated pass defenses in the NFL last year? Only this time with added fine players, and more experience, and Eric Berry back? Sorry, but a missing Sean Smith was not the reason for this failure.

It was, ahem,

The head coach.

And if you looked at Andy Reid when the cameras were on him last night, he just had that look of aggravation all night, I mean it was the same look every time you saw him. Here's the distressing thing: it was clear the look wasn't about what the Packers were doing to him, but rather that his game plan in every single area was an abject failure and he was just feeling it.

Errgh errgh errgh.

Now, this is one game. But I don't have a whole lot of confidence that the 3-0 Bengals who I presume are healthy and at home are going to make it any better next week.

Now maybe this'll all be great gut-check stuff. But it won't matter if Andy Reid doesn't have that deft insight into how to prepare for this week's team and do what it takes for him to make Alex Smith succeed.

Now just maybe our modestly inspired play in the 4th quarter of last night's game means something about the character of this team.

I'm hoping.
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Chiefs at Packers - Week 3 - Record: 1-2

I'm just going to start this post mid-3rd-quarter. This is yet another late night showcase game, this one a Monday Night Football affair against the Packers. Yet again I've got work early in the morning, and I might as well blow this baby out.

As it is this one's shaping into a real embarrassment for the Chiefs. We're still barely in it, down 24-7, but Aaron Rodgers has been carving us up. He is the best quarterback in the NFL, so we shouldn't be too disappointed.

I remember when the 49ers were so dominant with Joe Montana at quarterback, and I thrilled at his ability to make plays. I sometimes thought, I sure am glad I'm not a fan of the opposing team. I sure am glad Joe Montana is on my team.

Well, I have to think Packers fans often think that regarding Aaron Rodgers.

So far though, my thoughts.

I can't believe this Packers team has all the injuries they have and they're still putting it to us. I'd heard they had all these injuries before the game, and they were having Packers drop left and right during the game, yet they are still thoroughly dominating us. You know how some games feel like the other team has 14 players on the field while you've only got 9? This is one of those games. In fact, the Chiefs have already been called for two penalties for having 12 men on the field. So I'm sure we're thinking maybe we could get a few more guys out there to be able to beat these guys.

But then, I think you could have a Pop Warner team out there with Aaron Rodgers and he'll still find a way to win.

Just now Alex Smith threw his first strike to Jeremy Maclin, and he drops it. Meanwhile, the Packers go-to guy, Randall Cobb, has already caught something like 57 passes, I'm sure it's something close to that.

Annnnnd... Alex Smith just throws a pick, on a play that (a) he broke out of the end zone to have the golden opportunity to throw it to a wide open receiver, and (b) our O-line was flagged for holding.

Annnnnnnnnnnnd... there's Randall Cobb getting a quick pass in the flat and scoring. How many hundreds of Jeremy Maclin plays do we have like that?

I really don't think I'm going to post much more about this unless we have some miraculous comeback. This is a terrific disappointment especially after every single indication was that we'd actually not only compete but win this game.  But then, having to rely on a bunch of Packer injuries to think you have a chance is not very encouraging.

This team has to defeat teams that are good to be a contender. Meanwhile, our offensive line has been abysmal tonight, our wide receivers are invisible (what's new), our pass defense has been shredded (but hey, Aaron Rodgers), and our D-line has been shoved up and down the field.

I must tell you that there is one individual I'm starting to get a bit cool too, and I'm sorry, but that is Andy Reid. Yeah, he can call great plays and be a player's coach, but I'm afraid of the worst, and that is that he just isn't the guy to bring that one thing we need.

You know what it is.

The got-it.

It is obvious.

The Packers have got-it smothered all over them. I mean, really, who are these guys? The number of times they said this Packer or that Packer is some free agency pick-up or some released guy snatched off the reject pile or someone like that and yet, they're making our full collection of healthy 1st round draftees look silly.

That's because they've got got-it.

And I'm very very very very very sorry, but let's face it, let's be perfectly honest.

We've just not got it. We just don't.

I mean, the Rodgers connections to his receivers (and none of them are Jordy Nelson! Just doesn't matter!) is like they're psychic -- no, that's just got-it. They've got it.

Oh how much I long for our Chiefs to have got-it. Ohhh. And I really don't have any idea when we're ever going to get it. And here's the thing, I do believe that much of the got-it must come from the head coach. Do you really see the got-it coming from Andy Reid?

Please know I'm not giving up on him yet, at all. But, I mean, come on, is there really any reason this what-we-all-reasonably-believe-is-a pretty decent Chiefs team is looking like it is playing with 9 guys against a team of 14?

At least, for me anyway, there were these two brief moments tonight when the MNF people graced us with two features of players from two of my other favorite teams, the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco 49ers, who have/had planet-loads of got-it -- Steph Curry (comparing his quickness and accuracy with that of Aaron Rodgers) and Joe Montana (comparing his footwork with Rodgers'). And hey, aficionados of all things Kansas City, the announcers did give a brief nod to a team that definitely has some got-it, baseball's Royals, who're storming their way back into the playoffs this year. At least there's that.

Wait.

And what about that. Whaddya know.

Smith to Maclin -- Touchdown Kansas City.

How about that. A wide receiver touchdown catch. Yay!!!
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Nkay, a whole quarter later, and for a while there the Chiefs played with some ganas. How about that. We never gave up, we got close to being within a single score in a game the Packers utterly dominated -- very proud of our Chiefs.

Maybe there are the seeds of some meaningful got-it.

Don't get me wrong.

I'd so love to see that.
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Broncos at Chiefs - Week 2 - Record: 1-1 - The Take

It's already started. And it's only going to get worse.

Oh, no, I'm not talking about the Chiefs by any means. I'm great with the Chiefs, they're just fine, don't worry.

What's nasty and bound to get more wretched is what the media and their toadies want us to think about the Chiefs. That is actually the only real concern I have about anything Chiefs right now. Oh yes we'll talk all about the things the Chiefs need to improve, that's all standard practice.

But the way the media and the powers-that-be who incestuously drive how the game is perceived and arranged are the most critical concern.

Let's just begin with what happened Thursday night. The first most important thing to know is that the Chiefs dominated that game. Make no mistake, the final score should've been 45-10 and everyone who knows pro football and is honest with themselves know it. And please remember, I'm not a whistle-in-the-dark guy, there have been countless times when the Chiefs have won a game they had no business winning and I know it and I say it, no matter how joyful I feel. Broncos fans have got to be thrilled right now, but the honest ones know the truth.

The detractor vultures, however, are going to swoop down around the dead carcass they're calling the Chiefs. Just watch, this week the Chiefs will be relegated to No. 16, 17 on everyone's power rankings, while the Broncos will be at No. 2, 3, something like that. The Chiefs will be dismissed as classic chokers -- a mistake prone team no longer worthy of any meaningful consideration.

So yeah, the Chiefs season is over.

Really?

When every team has those heartbreaking games committing a slew of turnovers they simply cannot overcome -- no team can win these kinds of games, even the very best ones. The Chiefs had four of their five turnovers in the absolute worst possible places and times. And yet they were still ahead 24-17 with under a minute left.

But these Broncos, wow they're great!

Really?

When the Broncos felt they had to intimidate the Chiefs to win. The Chiefs were ambushed by a Denver team that had, what, at least four or five unnecessary roughness calls -- Denver is really that much better when they had to rely on a headhunting style of play to win this game?

Oh but it worked and the Chiefs caved and they're now out of it.

Really?

When you had a Chiefs run defense that finally solved Denver's offensive line and thoroughly snuffed out their running game? Who's Dontari Poe? Jaye Howard was a monster in there shoving people back and blowing up plays. Our linebackers and strong safeties were phenomenal.

Oh but the Chiefs are losers.

Really?

When you had a pass defense that did a fine job of containing Denver's passing game except for the standard laser accurate Peyton Manning throws he will have no matter what. Marcus Peters, the greenest rookie you can ever see, is showing he's already big-league. The other D-backs were smothering Denver's fantastic receivers and it required the few times Manning was on target to beat us.

But that means the Broncos are the team everyone should love!

Really?

When the Broncos defense could not stop Jamaal Charles or Knile Davis, when their aggressiveness cost them big-time and we completed short passes to our tight ends and backs for big gains, when Alex Smith's athleticism got plays off quickly and efficiently.

But the Broncos still played defense well enough to force those turnovers!

Really?

When Andy Reid admitted he made bad calls at the end of the first half, essentially handing the Broncos a short field at a terribly inopportune time any decent team can take advantage of, when Jamaal Charles has two of the worst fumbles anyone can have when he regularly never fumbles, when the Broncos only scored 28 of their 31 points with two minutes left in each half, half of those points coming on gifts from the Chiefs and, of course, the horse curse gods.

That horse curse, yeah, still there.

But its days are numbered.

That is simply because this Chiefs team is for real, and you saw it plainly on the field there at Arrowhead Thursday night.

What are the genuine things of concern for the Chiefs, however? What things are the things the team needs to work on?

Andy Reid's notorious two-minute drill failures were indeed ablaze, we have to admit that. At the end of the first half, as just noted, Reid confessed that his play-calling was abysmal. I'd like to think that he's learning and that'll be taken care of. At the end of the second half he just looked like Marty Schottenheimer, that's all. Of course, that's a harrowing thought, but hey, us Chiefs fans, we can take it. We all felt the agonizing pain of this loss, but hey, we know Marty in a perversely endearing kind of way, so we understand.

Andy's 3rd-down conversion percentage has got to get better. we're something like 3-for-20 on 3rd down this year. But this is a two-game sample, the teams we've played in those two games have fine defenses, and we do have the offensive weapons to make this better.

Where are the other receivers besides Jeremy Maclin? I don't think any other receiver caught a pass, I'm sure of it. Maybe I missed one. But where was Albert Wilson? Jason Avant? Chris Conley? Don't get me wrong, I think our long drought without a receiver touchdown pass is way overblown. Who cares if we win games with TD passes to tight ends and backs? I don't care if we never throw another TD pass to a receiver. But I do think for us to be successful more passes need to get to other receivers than Maclin. Again, too early to tell.

Our offensive line still needs to gel. It did hold its own against a ferocious Denver pass rush, but we still gave up a few sacks, allowed too much pressure on Smith, and the team as a whole compiled far too many penalties. Remember in the Houston game, when we had only two penalties total? We got two called against us in the first few minutes of the game.

Here's the bottom line with all this.

This was a terrific game for the Chiefs. Yes, it was an abominable loss, but honestly,

This was the best thing that could happen to the Chiefs.

The only thing that is distressing is the way the media and the powers that join with them work through intimations and the officials on the field to arrange outcomes that benefit the investors -- anyone with a financial stake in the NFL. There are just so many instances when things have happened that compromise the integrity of the game simply so the NFL can make sure people like the advertisers are happy.

I recently saw a video about the 2013 NFC championship game between San Francisco and Seattle, and it showcased even more of the horrific things that happened to the 49ers to work the game in favor of an eventual Seattle-Denver Super Bowl matchup. I do remember how robbed the 49ers were in so many instances, but this just showed how expansive it was. Of course, every Chiefs fan knows what happened in that Kansas City-Denver playoff game from the 1997 season when it was clear the powers desperately wanted a John Elway featured playoff run. The Broncos put petroleum jelly all over themselves? Ha! -- We're all supposed to chuckle and slough it off, yuckitty yuckitty let's just move on alright?

Sure you can dismiss me as a conspiracy theory kook, go ahead and stop reading here. Go ahead and say "You're just a tin-foil hat wearing whiner." That's fine, I can take it. But the NFL is officially characterized as "entertainment" as opposed to sport, which gives it the authority to arrange it anyway they want with perfectly legal impunity. Of course they can't make it too much like WWF wrestling because that pushes away all the people who do watch it for the authentically competitive endeavor that it is mostly, granted.

I agree the players and coaches and most of those with their hands in the on-field activity are not involved, and any team that can evoke the lion's share of interest will be adopted for certain, um, arrangements to be showcased in more, shall we say, creative ways. Often those ways are so obvious that they can't be missed, as they were in those two games mentioned above. I'm sure many others can cite their own, like the Lions fans who still smart from what was going on with their playoff game against Dallas last year.

Thing is, if Kansas City were one of those teams, then the powers will work things for them, but let's be honest, who wants that? We want to win on the merits.

You may wonder then, quite reasonably, why do I still pay attention to all this, to the Chiefs and to the NFL?

Here's how I feel, like it or not. In spite of this, there is still the thrill of the game, and I confess, the mere entertainment value -- all the pageantry and competitive rigor related to just being a Chiefs fan among all other Chiefs fans. Is it rigged? Yeah, some.

But the best part is this, and it is the part that I've already written earlier in this blog effort, is what is required to overcome the horse curse, and the pride of watching our boys valiantly take it on with the combination of plain talent they put on the field and the team leadership and camaraderie that makes it all go.

Again, this Chiefs team has it.

This is why it is preposterous for people to say this loss will be so crushing the Chiefs will not overcome it, and why I bring up the concern about the media narrative driving the perception that may cost the Chiefs as the season progresses. I should briefly add that I do not believe there was anything in this game that the league officials did to alter the outcome. Nothing was obvious at all and it did seem the officiating was thoroughly on the level. My only point here is that the media remarks are heavily weighted in favor of a set-up for more widespread acceptance of what may happen.

After the game CBS announcer Jim Nantz called the Chiefs, his exact words, a "train wreck." The color man, Phil Simms, droned on about how the Chiefs will never recover from a loss like this -- not a single word about how well they played otherwise. The next day a tease for the story from NBC Sports' website was something like, "When does a tough loss become legendary?" All of this designed to convey the idea that the Chiefs are terminal chokers and not worth the attention, and it is great for the powers because Kansas City is never favored in any search for a team to showcase.

Here's the key thing about all of that.

Do you really think that the Chiefs players and coaches went back to the clubhouse and sat around moping, "Yep, we're just a bunch of losers. Yep, we don't amount to anything. Yep, we can't do anything right. Yep, we might as well pack it in right now."

Do you really think the Chiefs for even a second have assumed all this shit upon themselves?

It is comical.

And yet this is the narrative that is being driven by the people who may just not want to see the Chiefs succeed.

What do I think?

Again, I think this loss was the best thing for the Chiefs.

They can now come together more deeply as a team, see the adversity for the opportunity that it presents for them, envision more clearly what it takes to be successful and that it is within their reach because they do have the tools. Sure, a lesser team may indeed look at themselves and honestly see despair.

But I can't believe this team can't see that they are as good as they truly are. I actually believe the Chiefs are quietly taking stock in how dominant they can be and that they must now step it up just that much more to ensure that the horse curse will end and the media powers don't get away with distorting the truth. They now not only have the physical talent, but because of this game they have that much more mental toughness and emotional fortitude to do what it take to overcome those exploitative machinations.

Watching them grow and move on with all this, this is what makes it all worthwhile.

I honestly don't think it will take much.

In fact, don't take it from me, and especially don't take it from those media cranks.

Take it from Peyton Manning.

I never look much at the after-game stuff following a loss like this, too depressing. But after this one I actually did hang around a bit with the telecast, and I did watch Peyton Manning.

First, Manning said in an interview on the field right after the game that this Chiefs defense was the best they ever had. He knew what it took to beat this team. This is not something you say about a team that is dead already with 14 games left in a season.

Second, he was more ebullient than he ever was after a game, that's one thing the commentators went out of their way to mention. This tells me Peyton Manning knew it was miracle win like no other. This was a game they pulled out of the fire with the help of the rare generous gifts the Chiefs gave them.

So yeah, this must mean the Chiefs will collapse exactly like this every game this season. This must mean they'll have the most insane turnovers they've never had before, all the time. This must mean the Chiefs are not professionals who are where they are for a pretty good reason and are themselves smart enough to know that. This must mean John Dorsey hasn't constructed a damn good team that we all saw in brilliant colors Thursday night.

Really?
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Broncos at Chiefs - Week 2 - Record: 1-1

I sure wish I could blog here and get paid for it! Sadly, I do have a job and I must rise early in the morning. No full blog post for right now!

But please Chiefs fans, be despondent no more! This was a horrific loss, yes, but one I believe is a terrific thing for this young team.

I can't wait to share my take with you! It'll be up soon!

Meanwhile, sleep well tonight, and take stock in these Chiefs! You'll see!
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Chiefs at Texans - Week 1 - Record: 1-0

There are two ways to look at this game. One, we controlled it from start to finish and simply took care of business. Two, our offensive line is still a tremendous liability and because of that we simply could not do what we really wanted to do in the second half -- we scored a grand total of zero points after the 4:55-to-go point of the first half.

If you take the first view, we can truly revel in the fact that we have the most complete team we've had in a long time. Andy Reid has taken what John Dorsey has given him and molded these guys into a truly competitive team. And by competitive I mean authentically ready to move deep into the playoffs.

If you take the second view, we should feel extraordinarily concerned about an O-line that didn't allow our backs to get untracked nearly as well as they should. And what was with Alex Smith running these option plays and quarterback draws and all that? Please!

As for our weapons, my thoughts.

Jeremy Maclin. Wow. He provided an object lesson in how pathetic our receiving core has been for years and years and years previous. The receiving core today was just that much better with him out there -- Albert Wilson looked pretty good too.

Travis Kelce. Wow wow. Not only did he score the first two touchdowns, but his play on 3rd and 6 with three minutes left in the game to get that key 1st down was just amazing. He caught the ball in the flat, then ducked under a certain tackle and was able to sprint to the 1st down.

De'Anthony Thomas. What a weapon, as both a punt return guy and scatback. He only got the ball for, what, two plays from scrimmage, but if we can do more to get him in the mix and get him exploding like he can -- look out -- come on offensive line!

I can't say I'm totally down on the line. I think everyone knows they've got to gel, they need the time to do that, and they've got Andy Reid to get them there. Good. It looked to me like Mitch Morse did well managing things, and sheez, you plug in brand-spankin' new Jah Reid at right tackle and tell him to spend all day blocking J.J. Watt, none other than the NFL Network's No. 1 ranked player of them all this year...


I'd say we did pretty well...

- Only two sacks allowed, and that was even with J.J. Watt being his standard exceptionally All-Pro future Hall-of-Fame self out there.

- Zero turnovers.

- For the entire Chiefs team only two penalties on the day.

- Five sacks on defense, and my son tells me the Texans O-line is one of their strengths.

This is all a great argument for the first view.

I have to say that I do feel like saying something about the officiating, which drives me crazy sometimes. I want to rant and holler about so many things, but there's this one thing from today's game. Tell me, really, please, tell me, what's with this.

In the 1st half we punted and it was yet another spectacular punt by Dustin Colquitt. The ball landed at the four or something, bounced toward the end zone, and was batted back into play by Chris Conley at the one. Great. Except that the officials reviewed the play and saw that Conley barely stepped on the goal line. Okay, that's cool. That's fine. That was the play, get it right, fine.

In the 2nd half we punted again and Tyvon Branch batted the ball back after going into the end zone for a moment, but clearly re-establishing himself in the field of play before he touched the ball. One official said the ball is down right there at, something like the three yard-line. Another official stormed in and insisted it was a touchback. I mean he just screamed at the other official that it was a touchback, when replays clearly showed it wasn't -- Branch was clearly not in the end zone when he batted it back.

Of course, the ball was placed at the 20. Whaaaa?...

Thing is, why wasn't that play reviewed?

Even the expert replay guy in New York said, "Wull, I guess it just depends on which ref is the loudest and meanest -- he gets his way!" And everyone in the booth just yucked it up.

Now granted, maybe I'm wrong about the interpretation or the rules. Maybe you can't go into the end zone and come back out again, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I didn't see it exactly the way it happened. I'm okay with that. But why did all of this transpire so awkwardly as it did?

Why didn't they go out of their way to get the call right for us?

Now, the play didn't end up hurting us. But this kind of thing just drives me crazy, because it is exactly the kind of thing that does hurt us sometime.

The most important "maybe" is a very encouraging one: Maybe, just maybe we'll be so complete a team and our coaching staff has got such a handle on things that those kinds of things just can't kill us this year.

As it is, we'll definitely take this win. If this were like last year when we lost the first game we should've easily won, and we're destined to finish 9-7 at the end of this year, then this year that'll be 10-6 because we did get this game -- an opener we should've gotten.

Only thing is, I'm hoping for a lot more than 10-6. We've got the tools and skills and smarts for the record that will take us far playoff-wise, 11-5, even 12-4 or better. We've got a lot of season here in front of us to show we've got that got-it to make that happen.

Denver on Thursday, a huge test, at home!
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No worries! The Chiefs 2015 Preview Post

The 2015 Chiefs season is upon us, and I thought I'd punch in some things that I'm thinking. I can't deny that I'm very excited, especially since this is our third year of the Dorsey-Reid reign and everything's been going well so far. Remember, the Chiefs have had two winning seasons already since they arrived, and they've continued to work hard to build not just a winner but a true playoff contending winner.

I'm going to share with you these thoughts in three ways, first, the top three things we have absolutely no worries about -- we've got these nailed. We'll be beast with these things. Second, what I do worry about, and third, what we should be worried about but I think we shouldn't be so worried. They are ranked in order of severity, commensurate explanations accompany as usual.

No worries at all

1. Our punting unit. Yeah, I know, how goofy is that. That's our greatest strength? But you know, it really is. It seems like it is such a minor part of the game, but do you realize how well the Chiefs command field position throughout a game because we have Dustin Colquitt as our punter and Dave Toub as the special teams coach? It really isn't even funny.

Yes, this was a bit better in '13 than last year, but we can still dominate in this area with Colquitt. I really believe the guy should end up in the Hall of Fame, I am not exaggerating. The Hall is miserable at recognizing punters -- I was shocked when I heard a few years ago that Ray Guy was the first punter elected. Well, here comes Dustin Colquitt.

In this year's exhibition game against Seattle, Colquitt punted one ball that landed at the -- not kidding you -- one-yard line, and -- here's the amazing part -- it bounced straight up and was summarily downed right there with the most minimal effort a cover team could expend. And you know? He is so good at it he does stuff like that regularly. I'm pretty sure I saw some stat during some game last year that showed he's the leader in punts downed inside the 5, something like that.

2. Our pass defense -- pass rush and defensive backfield. These two units together formed the best pass defense in the entire NFL last year. They did not allow a single 300-yard passing game all season. Dee Ford joins Justin Houston and Tamba Hali to make for a genuine triple threat. If Hali slips a bit because of his age, Ford is right there to take over, and all I hear about is his first step being very "Derrick Thomas-like". I'll take that.

My slight concern here is the injury to Dontari Poe. He's so good at occupying linemen to allow those speed rush guys to command the edge. Will his absence for a month (hopefully only that) be a factor early?

Sean Smith missing a few games is a concern, but our cover guys are terrific. And at safety, dang, Eric Berry and Tyvon Branch are the second string guys. Berry surely is there just to make sure he's good to go physically after his miraculous recovery from cancer this year. That he's back at all is just fine with me.

My one other very small concern is in our ability to squeeze those interceptions. The number of times balls banged around and out of a given D-back's hands last year was beyond aggravating. I think I saw on some preseason broadcast that last year the Chiefs had a miserable turnover-getting number of some kind. Yeah, I get that. Again, much of rectifying that is finishing the stand. If we don't make those picks, our stellar pass defense isn't much if the needed picks are required to win games.

3. Our running game. What else can be said except "Jamaal Charles." He appears just as fit and ready to zip up the field as always. Knile Davis is a splendid back-up, but I'm still concerned about his ability to make things happen at the line of scrimmage once he gets the handoff. Charcandrick West showed he could give Knile a challenge as the No. 2 guy.

Then there is DAT, De'Anthony Thomas, and if Andy Reid continues to be at least modestly imaginative there's no telling how much DAT could impact a game.

May have worries, let's be honest

1. Our offensive line. On the one hand there are some things that are very positive. First, John Dorsey knew about the woeful performance of the O-line last year, clearly the team's greatest weakness. He went and got Ben Grubbs and Paul Fanaika, with Grubbs being the key acquisition by far. He also drafted Mitch Morse to play center, and he's won the job playing admirably so far. Second, Andy Reid is renowned for his work with the offensive line, so it is good we can put this unit in his hands and trust he'll make it work.

Okay, here're the scary things. First, how can there be any question marks when you have the first No. 1 overall pick in the draft a couple years ago at left tackle? Now yeah, Eric Fisher needed time to adjust and learn and all that, agreed, and yes he has suffered a number of injuries -- this year in preseason he suffered a sprained ankle. Will that hobble him? We'll see. Second, and this is the major one, the offensive line must work as a unit, they must gel and flow and instinctively react in a split-second, and the best units have been doing it for a while. Again, there is Andy Reid in there, whew, just hoping he can make that all happen with a bit more haste. Losing Jeff Allen to injury doesn't help in that we are in that quasi-scrambling mode to find exactly the right mix in all this.

2. Our quarterback. Yes, I will emphasize again that I am not on the anti-Alex Smith bandwagon. I know some Chiefs fans are. I still think Smith's intelligence, versatility, mobility, and raw skill can get us to the promised land. But I will confess that Smith absolutely needs the O-line to provide him with exceptional pass protection, because if it is merely adequate protection, Smith ditches his progressions far too soon.

Ever notice that with still a good split-second left to throw the ball at that precise instance when that receiver is going to consummate the pattern, Smith bails and starts looking around for ways to escape the pocket? Smith is an extraordinary scrambler and broken play adjuster, he really is. He is even frequently commended for his conservative play that is beneficial: instead of throwing a pick he tosses the ball away or even picks up a few yards with a run.

The problem with this is obvious. He isn't letting the receivers make the plays they must for an NFL team to succeed. Remember, this is a passing oriented league, and for centuries the Chiefs have struggled to have quarterbacks and receivers par excellence -- or even close.

Now we all know this could be academic if the new receivers we got will provide Smith the confidence he needs to make things happen. So yeah, we do need a combination of fine O-line play and a fine measure of Smith courage to see this happen. Will it? We'll just have to see.

3. Our kicker. Sorry, but I'm just worried about this idiotic new rule about kicking extra points from 33 yards away. Purely idiotic. There was no reason at all to change it, who gives a rat's nard about them being automatic? But ohhh! Whoaaa! We have to be more entertaining now, don't we! We have to make it more dramatic don't we!

Errgh. All it means is that the Chiefs may lose a critical critical critical game 17-16 all because they decided to screw us with this stupid new twist.

I'm fine with Cairos Santos, really, he's been fine, but I heard he did miss an extra point attempt in the preseason. I confess I did watch some of those exhibition games, but I missed that part of that one. Probably a good thing. I am worried about it.

What we should be worried about, but I'm not

1. Injuries. Needless to say this is always the number one worry for anyone. Last year losing people like Derrick Johnson and Mike DeVito so early really cost us. We were great against the pass but teams could run against us and in a few games, even just a few, that was the difference maker. I mean, we win one more game last year and we make the playoffs.

This year we are very deep. We were the only team to go undefeated in the preseason, and the Chiefs always suck in preseason. I heard it was the first time since 1969 we went undefeated in exhibition play -- I really hope that's a good omen.

Sure they may say preseason is worthless, but if you do well then, it could be a true indicator of how deep your team is. With the second unit playing at a higher level, key injuries may not hurt as much.
This is quite a comforting thought going into the season.

2. Our run defense. The key here is Ramik Wilson. Yes, I know, we cannot expect him to morph into Ray Lewis overnight, but he played very well in preseason, and with Derrick Johnson back and healthy we should be fine in this area. Josh Mauga is a good guy back there, even though he last year he did get taken out too often. The team also likes their other draft pick D.J. Alexander, and let's hope he blossoms into a run-stopper too.

I will offer this very profound disclaimer here, and it is why it is in the "Why we could be justified in worrying about this" section of this post. It just flat-out has to do with Denver and its offensive line. You remember that the key reason we couldn't beat Denver last year wasn't as much because of Peyton Manning; it was because the Broncos offensive line beat the living crap out of our defense. Manning is, what, 108 years old? He'll keep playing well as long as that line is as good as it was against us. Manning doesn't really matter, their receiving core doesn't really matter, their backs don't matter -- it's their offensive line. If we don't find a way to solve them, we're toast. Now again, I don't follow anything about any other team, so I know nothing about the Broncos right now. I only know what happened last year. And I so remember what happened last year.

What helps here too is our stout pass defense. If our specialist coverage guys can be particularly beast, we can key a bit more on the run and frustrate the entire opponent's offense. I'm looking for good things in this area this year.

3. Our wide receivers. Obviously this should be a cause for worry because of how atrocious Chiefs receivers played last year. Everyone has heard to death the whole thing about how many thousands of touchdown passes our receivers did not catch last year.

Naturally this shouldn't be a concern because of the acquisition of Jeremy Maclin, who has shown he was well worth the investment. We also picked up a fine receiver, the steal of the draft to many, Chris Conley, who does need to gain experience but is still smart and fast. Tight end Travis Kelce is shaping into one of the best in the NFL and our backs are fine receivers also. We can also use DAT in so many different formations and so forth, that alone should make things wide open down field (please oh please oh please Alex Smith don't ditch your progressions!!!)

We actually struggled this year with which wide-outs to keep in trimming to 53! I did peek and it looks like we still cut Fred Williams, who did show fine ability to run routes and make tough catches. I'd like to think this is an indicator that the core guys we're putting out there are going to be pretty danged good.

There you go. There's the sincerely honest take on the Chiefs this year, with all its worries, warts, and wondrous winning ways, all.

Next week, we take on the Houston Texans, and I'm hoping recollections of how disastrous our season opener was last year against a miserable Titans team will be brightly front and center in the minds of the Chiefs this year.
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