Can the Chiefs bounce back?
By SBGGlobal.com
There is really no where to go but up for the 2009 Kansas City Chiefs. They are coming off a miserable 2-14 season in which they were not very competitive even in the weak AFC West. The good news for the Chiefs is that extreme improvement is possible in 2009, especially now that they have Matt Cassel at quarterback. The Chiefs are considered a real longshot in Super Bowl odds at 55-1.
The Chiefs made a lot of off-season moves including in the front office where general manager Carl Peterson and head coach Herm Edwards are gone. Kansas City also gave away tight end Tony Gonzalez to Atlanta but that was one of their only bad moves in the off-season. Scott Pioli takes over as the main man in Kansas City and he has already put his stamp on this team. He got Cassel from New England and also brought in Mike Vrabel as well. He hired Todd Haley as the head coach and added veterans like Zach Thomas and Bobby Engram.
Kansas City’s offense is going to be better with Cassel running the show. He had a great 2008 season and was one of the biggest surprises in the NFL Betting. The Chiefs have an excellent wide receiver in Dwayne Bowe but then it gets a little iffy. Losing Gonzalez hurts but the Chiefs weren’t winning with him anyway and his value was overrated. Kansas City still has Larry Johnson to run the ball and he could be primed for a bounce back season in 2009.
Kansas City had a young secondary last year that should be better this year with another year of experience. Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr and Maurice Leggett are joined by Donald Washington who the Chiefs took in the Draft. Kansas City also got defensive lineman Tyson Jackson with the third overall pick so the pass rush should be improved as Jackson teams up with former teammate Glenn Dorsey.
Kansas City is definitely the most improved team in the AFC West this season. Whether they are improved enough to make the playoffs is the question but they can definitely hold their own against Denver and Oakland. Going toe to toe with San Diego might be difficult. Keep in mind that San Diego won this division with an 8-8 record last year and the Chiefs could be capable of playing .500 ball in 2009.