Camp countdown: Chiefs on track for season of significant progress
Article By Unknown on 7th July, 2010
Adam Teicher, Sporting News correspondent
This is the 26th in a series of team breakdowns to be published before the start of training camp.
After three seasons of a deep slumber, Kansas City appears headed for an awakening in 2010.
The Chiefs aren't Super Bowl contenders yet, but the worst appears to be over for a franchise that had just 10 victories over the past three seasons. Certainly, they've run out of excuses if stuck again at the bottom of the AFC West when the '10 season concludes.
Coach Todd Haley has had a season to learn the nuances of the job and institute his policies. With the hiring of new coordinators Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel, he has veteran and trusted assistants running his offense and defense.
What's new Offense: Even though Weis is taking over as the coordinator from Haley, don't look for much to change. The Chiefs will take their shots downfield, but they found an identity last year when Jamaal Charles emerged as the feature back. Kansas City will make plentiful use of Charles and free-agent pickup Thomas Jones in both the running and passing games. Jones lacks Charles' big-play potential but is a complete and dangerous back.
The hiring of Weis and the addition of two veteran offensive linemen (right guard Ryan Lilja and Casey Wiegmann, who will compete for the starting center spot) and two wideouts (rookie Dexter McCluster and veteran Jerheme Urban) change the picture for quarterback Matt Cassel. The Chiefs should be better around him, so he will have to improve as well. His 55-percent completion percentage needs a huge boost.
Defense: The Chiefs began their move to the 3-4 system last year, so they have already suffered through many of the growing pains. Adding Crennel as coordinator shouldn't have much of an impact. He will tailor the game plan each week for the specific opponent more than most coordinato...
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After three seasons of a deep slumber, Kansas City appears headed for an awakening in 2010.
The Chiefs aren't Super Bowl contenders yet, but the worst appears to be over for a franchise that had just 10 victories over the past three seasons. Certainly, they've run out of excuses if stuck again at the bottom of the AFC West when the '10 season concludes.
Coach Todd Haley has had a season to learn the nuances of the job and institute his policies. With the hiring of new coordinators Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel, he has veteran and trusted assistants running his offense and defense.
What's new Offense: Even though Weis is taking over as the coordinator from Haley, don't look for much to change. The Chiefs will take their shots downfield, but they found an identity last year when Jamaal Charles emerged as the feature back. Kansas City will make plentiful use of Charles and free-agent pickup Thomas Jones in both the running and passing games. Jones lacks Charles' big-play potential but is a complete and dangerous back.
The hiring of Weis and the addition of two veteran offensive linemen (right guard Ryan Lilja and Casey Wiegmann, who will compete for the starting center spot) and two wideouts (rookie Dexter McCluster and veteran Jerheme Urban) change the picture for quarterback Matt Cassel. The Chiefs should be better around him, so he will have to improve as well. His 55-percent completion percentage needs a huge boost.
Defense: The Chiefs began their move to the 3-4 system last year, so they have already suffered through many of the growing pains. Adding Crennel as coordinator shouldn't have much of an impact. He will tailor the game plan each week for the specific opponent more than most coordinato...
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