KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
2009 RECORD: 4-12-0
(4th in AFC West)
HEAD COACH: Todd Haley
Key Additions: RB Thomas Jones (FA/NY Jets), G Ryan Lilja (FA/Indianapolis), C Casey Wiegmann (FA/Denver), WR Jerheme Urban (FA/Arizona)
Key Losses: WR Bobby Wade (FA/Washington), C Wade Smith (FA/Houston), G Mike Goff (FA)
Offense: Quarterback Matt Cassel and running back Jamaal Charles are the keys to the Chiefs offense.
Last season, Cassel passed for 2,924 yards and had 16 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions. Brody Croyle is the backup quarterback.
Charles rushed for 1,120 yards (5.9 ypc average) and scored seven touchdowns in 2009. In addition, Charles had 40 receptions.
Thomas Jones comes over from the New York Jets after running for 1,402 (4.2 average) and scoring 14 touchdowns. Jones is 32 years old and has shouldered a lot of carries through the years, so he may not get as many in KC as he has in the past few seasons with the Jets and Bears.
Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers will be the wide receivers. Bowe had 47 catches for 589 yards and four touchdowns. Chambers caught 36 passes for 608 yards and four TD. Jerheme Urban (18 catches in '09) comes over from Arizona to provide depth. The tight ends are rookie Tony Moeaki and Leonard Pope, who had 20 catches and a TD last year.
The line will have center Casey Wiegmann, guards Ryan Lilja and Brian Waters and tackles Branden Albert and Ryan O' Callaghan.
Defense: After finishing 30th overall in the NFL on defense, the Chiefs need some help.
Enter Romeo Crennel, the former Defensive Coordinator for the Patriots' Super Bowl run from 2001-2004.
The Chiefs allowed 388 yards per game last season, including 157 on the ground, which was 31st in the league.
Ouch!
Playing a 3-4 defense, Kansas City has Ron Edwards at nose tackle with ends Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey.
The linebackers include inside linebackers Derrick Johnson and Demorrio Williams and outside backers Tamba Hali and 14-year veteran Mike Vrabel, a holdover from the glory days with Crennel in New England. Hali led the Chiefs with 8.5 quarterback sacks last season.
The cornerbacks are Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr and the safeties are Jarrad Page and Eric Berry, the team's top draft choice from Tennessee.
The Chiefs secondary was lit up to the tune of 231 yards per game a year ago and the defense allowed 424 points.
OUTLOOK: Head Coach Todd Haley knows his team has a daunting task ahead in 2010 as they try to compete in the AFC West, which is considered the worst division in the NFL.
With Crennel running the defense and new Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis, also from the New England Patriots glory days, on board this season, Chiefs fans are optimistic.
Newsflash!
The talent in KC in 2010 is not the same as the New England Patriots talent from the Super Bowl days.
With Cassel in charge, the team has a nice, young quarterback who will continue to improve when given time. The Chiefs allowed 45 sacks last season.
The Kansas City running game appears solid as the 2010 season looms. Charles is a fast back and Jones will provide experienced depth at the position.
If the Chiefs can get it together on defense and Cassel continues to progress, then there is definitely reason for optimism.
Just not this year as the Chiefs finish with a 5-11 record while looking to a brighter future.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- vs. San Diego
Week 2- at Cleveland
Week 3- vs. San Francisco
Week 4- Bye Week
Week 5- at Indianapolis
Week 6- at Houston
Week 7- vs. Jacksonville
Week 8- vs. Buffalo
Week 9- at Oakland
Week 10- at Denver
Week 11- vs. Arizona
Week 12- at Seattle
Week 13- vs. Denver
Week 14- at San Diego
Week 15- at St. Louis
Week 16- vs. Tennessee
Week 17- vs. Oakland
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