Being a Kansas City Chiefs' fan the last three years has been an unpleasant experience to say the least. The loyalists must feel like they are forced to watch a movie about the Titanic and they keep hoping in vain for a different ending. 2010 should be different for those fans. There is actually hope this year won't be as bad as the last three. Some of that hope came from not signing free agents of having a top pick in the draft. The hope begins with the hiring of Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel as offensive and defensive coordinators this season. The duo were integral parts of the coaching staff that lead the Patriots to three Super bowl wins. Todd Haley has already turned the offensive reigns over to Charlie and will allow him to call the plays in 2010. Crennel gets the same treatment on the defensive side as well, allowing Haley to be the head coach and not a coordinator as well.
However, will there be enough talent on the team to avoid another 4 win season in 2010? Surprisingly the answer is yes. The Chiefs do have enough players on this roster to be better than 4-12. Let's start with the offense. Matt Cassel will be the starter. Like Trent Green when he came to KC, the second year should see marked improvement. He'll be running a system he is familiar with and Weis should know how to use him. If Matt goes down to an injury, the new Freddy Kruger of NFL QB's, Brodie Croyle will step in since I see no other QB on the roster that has any major experience at all. Chief's fans have gotten rid of Brodie so many times in their minds that his presence on the roster seems supernatural. Yet here he is in 2010, clearly the only choice for backup. He has put on weight and stayed healthy for the first time in 2009. Here is an area that probably has Haley and Weis scouring the waiver wires constantly. I have to think another backup is a priority for the team.
Running back should be strength in KC this season. Jamaal Charles came on strong the last 8 games of 2009 and Thomas Jones is a young 32 and coming off a 1400 yard rushing season. Both complement each other and Jones presence should keep Weis from overusing Charles. Jamaal is not a 25 -30 carry per game back. If Charles gets around 20, and Jones 15, this will be a very effective running game and will improve from their 11th place ranking in 2009. The fullback will be Tim Castille in all probability. He is an adequate blocker and has good hands out of the backfield. Second round pick Dexter McCluster will see some time in the backfield too, my guess in certain passing situations. Dexter has speed-a-plenty and will also get work at WR and kick returner. Might even see a little Wildcat with him as well, if Charlie is so inclined to use it. This area should be one of the strongest ones on the team.
Wide receiver is a different story. This could be a good group led by 2007 first round pick Dwayne Bowe and uber-veteran Chris Chambers. They could be good comes from a propensity to allow the football to somehow elude their grasp at key times. If this duo can somehow channel their inner Freddy Biletnikoff and catch the pigskin, (or if the NFL rescinds their ban on stick-em) Matt Cassel can have a good year and the offense can be very effective. If they can't, you'll be seeing a lot of Dexter McCluster (in the role Dante Hall filled in 2002-05), Jerheme Urban (the Cardinals fourth receiver last year), Lance Long, TE's Leonard Pope and Tony Moeaki, and a lot of prayers for Mr. Cassel.
Speaking of prayers, Matt will be saying a lot of them for a better performance from the offensive line this year. If they play like they did the last half of '09, they will be adequate. They seem to be able to run block well enough. Can they improve enough at protecting the QB though? Veteran Casey Weigmann is back in KC and that should help at center. Brian Waters is long in the tooth now but having Casey back should help him with his guard duties. Jon Asamoah, a third round pick from Illinois should be able to earn a guard spot by midseason or at least some playing time. Ryan Lilja, a hometown player, should step in at guard right away. His experience should be a Glenn Dorsey big help to a line that has little real depth. The tackles will be Branden Albert and Ryan O'Callaghan. There is only one other true tackle listed on the roster at this time. Look for KC to scour the waiver wires to add some depth here. This line is not deep, but they do seem to be improving. If they can give Cassel some time to throw and continue to open holes, they'll be fine, but a mid pack line at best. Any injuries or players having bad seasons will hurt the offense considerably. This is the weakest part of the offensive equation for 2010 and they need to be better than last year for Weis to have an effective offense
Greenwood joined the Chiefs last week as they opened camp in their new $15 million training facility at Missouri Western State University. It is the first time in 20 years that the Chiefs have trained in their home state.
Greenwood was joined by four other University of Alabama players at the camp. Brodie Croyle (#12) quarterback; Javier Arenas (#30), Wallace Gilberry defensive tackle (#92), Tim Castile (running back #46) and Greenwood (#74) are the Tide players on the roster.
The Chiefs have two other players with Alabama ties on the squad; both are from Troy University. Cameraon Sheffield (#55) is a linebacker, and Dion Gales (#70) is a defensive end.
The Chiefs will open their preseason schedule with a battle in Atlanta against the Falcons on Friday, Aug. 13 with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Greenwood is currently running second team behind former LSU All-American Glenn Dorsey. He continues to impress the Chiefs coaching staff. A second team position would mean Greenwood would make the squad after spending a year on the taxi squad.
"So far, everything has been positive for me. I have had couple of excellent days working out, and I feel I am on the track to earning playing time," he said Saturday night from St. Joseph.
"I haven't had any injuries and have put on some weight, and feel that I am in the best shape of my life. I'm really excited about this opportunity," he added.
When asked about the Alabama connections on the Chiefs roster, Greenwood was upbeat about the Tide connection.
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