Why This Year Will Be Easier to Watch the Chiefs

Read this interesting article on ArrowheadPride.com

i've never been more anxious for the start of the season.

it's funny, last season's performance really lowered expectations.

then, the 2008 draft added a huge amount of optimism.

that's a good combo, i guess.

i really hope these Chiefs come out show people who are saying: "they are going to suck for 2-3 years because they are REBUILDING" they didn't know what they were talking about.

i think if you look a little closer, you see a lot of potential here. i'm not saying they're a playoff team this year, but crazier things have happened. its just that i can't understand people who call themselves Chiefs-fans who are afraid to be a little hopeful, and they always spout negativity. i guess when you expect the worst, you are always satisfied.

Here are some reasons the 2008 Chiefs will win more games than last season:

1. Mike Solari out / Chan Gailey in.

2. Larry Johnson will play.

3. Glenn Dorsey comes in and improves the rushing defense from Day One.

4. The Chiefs were already a young team before the big 2008 draft. Guys like Tamba Hali and Dwayne Bowe will take the next step.

5. Herm Edwards will be coaching his players. Only a handful of guys remain from the Pre-Herm Era. This team has been hand-selected to fit his coaching style.

6. Easy Schedule: They will get the Dolphins, Bills, Falcons, Bengals, Jets along with the Raiders and Broncos twice each. Actually, only five games are against teams who had winning records last season. Only five: Patriots, Chargers(twice), Titans(home) and Buccaneers(home).

Reason they won't win more than last season:

1. Jared Allen took his 1 Sack-per-Game average and went to Minnesota.

The Big Question Mark going into 2008:

I think we all know who's name goes here. I have read that he has really dedicated himself to learning and improving this offseason. Let's hope he is ready.

So, I have no idea how it will  play out this year for the Chiefs. Nobody does. But, I do know there are plenty of reasons for the fans in KC to be optimistic, instead of being stuck on the fact we are "rebuilding."

The Chiefs will be a much improved team for the reasons this article states. Much of our offensive problems I believe, can be greatly attributed to Mike Solari's incompetence at the offensive coordinators position.

The Chiefs are in a rebuilding state this is true, but not only is the team young and vibrant, they also retained veteran guys that mix in with the youth. So we aren't just a young team with no immediate hope of vast improvements. Tony Gonzalez, Larry Johnson, Brian Waters, Damion McIntosh, Damon Huard, heck, even Dwayne Bowe played somewhat like a veteran last season. Now with Chan Gailey calling the shots on offense, I see no reason why the Chiefs should be any worse, or even as bad as they were in 07. The Chiefs will be better in 08, no doubt!

I completely agree with this article 816! Every word of it comes true to me. I can't wait to see what happens this season for the Chiefs offense. I expect a productive offense in 08!

Chiefs in 08!

Let's not forget that Mike Solari was the "offensive" Offensive Coordinator for 2 years. I thought it was obvious that he was in over his head after his first season. We probably shouldn't have seen that rerun last year. Replacing Solari's play sheet with Chan's play book will make things much more interesting and competitive even while Brodie and the Offense grows.

Kevin Robinson, Jamaal Charles and possibly B.J. Sams will not only make Special Teams better, the field position that they create will make the Offense and Defense better. Teams can take some risks and mix it up a little when they have the field positon advantage.

Agree with the assessments above. The only area that may be less exciting is seeing Jared's sacks. But if Tambia steps up to the job at RE and Boone or Tank at the LE, adding Dorsey in the middle could match or increase the sack total as well.

All around better in '08. Go Chiefs!!

Personally, I can't understand why so many Chiefs fans are so negative. I understand that last season was quite a downer for us. It was painful to watch and took all the steam out of our passion for the team, but that was last season and the team we're putting on the field this year will be vastly different from that one.

Better? Maybe, maybe not. There are a lot of question marks around this team right now, but why should we assume that those questions all have negative answers? Isn't it just as likely that there are positive things waiting to be seen?

The O-line played badly last year, yes. However, look at the starting line-up. Most of those guys are gone. Are the ones we have now better? Who knows, but why assume they aren't? They could be. Optimism and hope is what being a fan is all about isn't it?

Brodie is no Peyton Manning. True, at least for now. Maybe he never will be, but we can't honestly say we know that for sure right now can we? Why get discouraged? Why not have a little hope that he does well? He may not throw 40 TDs this year, but does he need to? Not with the running game we're trying to build. He just needs to avoid throwing 40 INTs. I'm exaggerating of course, but you get the idea. As long as he doesn't lose the game for us, we should be OK. Unlike the Colts, this offense isn't designed around Brodie. He doesn't have to carry it on his back. Just play smart, avoid turnovers, and let the very well paid LJ carry us.

The defense was pretty decent last year. At least for the first half of the season. I suspect they were on the field too much and got worn out. Plus, there's not much hope when you know the offense isn't going to move the ball and help you out. We lost Jared Allen, yes, but as exciting as he was, he isn't the whole defense. We've added Dorsey up front, a new linebacker that could give us some flexibility, new corner (possible corners), another young safety who is apparently good.....Why are we looking at the negative side. That's a lot of change. It could just as easily be a positive thing couldn't it?

Special Teams, which didn't really help us much last year, should have a plethora of new players. Can they contribute? Who knows, but is it really possible that they could be any worse than last year? Hope and optimism again.

New Offensive Coordinator. We've pretty well beaten this dead horse for the whole off season, but isn't it likely that Chan is better than Solari? I mean, is it such a stretch to imagine? Could he be worse than Solari? Not very likely if you ask me. So why not look at the bright side here too?

We all know there are a ton of questions, but why focus on the negative and ignore the possibility that things are better? Have some faith people. There's a ton of potential around here. Things could go either way, but there's no reason to be so sure that things are going to be bad.

I am not thinking the Chiefs are going to storm into the playoffs. I am thinking they might be like the 1989 Chiefs. Tough, fun to watch, on their way up, new life. The 1989 team was 8-7-1, but you knew there was something special going on. I am looking for that in 2008.

Go Chiefs

Hey Racyman, how about those Red Sox.

i think they spent a 2nd round pick on Kris Wilson, didn't they? then he had a season ending injury in game 1 of his rookie year. maybe, he never fully recovered, who knows? but he was never a FB, too small to be TE. so what is he? oh well, at least he's an Eagle now.

Also, going back to the pessimistic Chiefs fans that like to point out Brodie Croyle didn't win as a starter last season. He has never started with a healthy Larry Johnson, among other positives i won't mention. I don't want to beat that dead horse. Peta is in an uproar over horsies right now. 

This guy might be the lamest sportsfan of all-time.

(and an even worse speller.)

I would agree with pretty much everything in this article. 
But here's something to think about...

I've heard a lot of people mention getting LJ back healthy will make a big difference.  To that, I ask, when LJ was healthy last year, what did he do?  Yes, he had a couple of good games, but he had no where to run and for the most part he faced 8 or 9 guys in the box.  My point is, LJ healthy doesn't make a huge impact unless the OL can play better and Brodie completes more passes.