The Kansas City Chiefs are on the cusp of not just getting over the hump and making it to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1970, but they can be at the top of the NFL for years to come. However, they aren’t quite there yet which makes this offseason and the moves Brett Veach needs to make vital for a talented team with the best quarterback in the game still on his rookie deal. The importance of this offseason begs many questions from fans, so we have opened up the mailbag to delve into them. Today, we have six questions from Shane Williams, Clint Switzer, Rusty Arrington, Lara Bee, Annette Weatherman, and former Denver Broncos TE Jeb Putzier so let’s get to them. Remember to please hit up the comments section so I can hear all your takes on these questions and if you agree or disagree with my responses!
Tyreek Hill Trade
I would not be okay with trading Tyreek Hill for numerous reasons starting with the fact that he’s the most dynamic game changing player in the entire league. This offense staying as potent as possible is only going to help Patrick continue to grow and excel as defensive coordinators try to figure him out. I also feel that this defense isn’t as bad as what we saw last season. In 2003, yes the defense was putrid, but they had horrendous players and a serious lack of talent at every single position on the field. This past season, the Chiefs had too much talent to be that bad. Now, yes they need to make an addition or two at each level of the defense to at the very least create a culture of competition. However, I believe that Steve Spagnuolo’s simplified defense where the players won’t be on the field overthinking things, like they did under Sutton’s defense, will lead to improved play on its own. Thanks for the great question Shane and let’s keep the conversation going on this topic in the comments as I’d love to hear yours and others reply to this!
Rest of the West
A very interesting question to take a look at the Chiefs’ divisional foes, so let’s go in reverse order of how the teams finished up last season.
Raiders – If you have a game at the Raiders next season, but they don’t have a stadium to play in, then do you really have a game at all? While you ponder that, I’ll move on to talking about this train wreck of a franchise. After trading away Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper the Raiders now have 3 first round picks and will need to hit home-runs on all 3 to have a chance to be mediocre in the division in 2019. They need weapons on offense as they don’t have any as of right now and their defense is filled with pedestrian type players. Jon Gruden and new General Manager Mike Mayock, previously of NFL Network, say they have a plan and a type of player they are looking for, but the skeptics are out and there are plenty of those! During Mike Mayock’s introductory press conference he stated that he would need help in the day to day duties of a General Manager, so outside of the draft this looks like a dumpster fire of a situation which suits this fledgeling franchise.
Broncos – The Denver Broncos have traded for Joe Flacco which appears to be an upgrade, yet a slight one, over Case Keenum’s lackluster performance last season. Denver needs to address the tight end position as well as the interior offensive line. One thing the Broncos really have going for them are young developing skill players in WR’s Cortland Sutton and DeSean Hamilton as well as RB’s Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman. Denver’s defense should be solid as usual although they are letting go of LB Brandon Marshall so they’ll need to fill his spot and quickly learn new Head Coach Vic Fangio’s defense. I just don’t see the Broncos being ready to challenge for the division crown yet even with a slightly better quarterback. Now, they could be improved enough to come up and beat the Chargers and Chiefs in a game and be more competitive down the stretch, but in the end they will fall several games short of either team.
Chargers – The San Die… Los Angeles Chargers are the obvious team to look at when talking about a divisional foe who could overtake the Kansas City Chiefs. Joey Bosa and Melvin Gordon spent a lot of last season on the injured list and that’s a key cog on each side of the ball for them. The Chargers will have to address the tight end position as Antonio Gates can’t hope to play against Eric Berry every week to make him look young again. The Chargers didn’t pick up the option on Corey Liuget so interior defensive linemen will be a priority as well for a team that looks to bolster an already impressive unit. They could also use help on their offensive line as Philip Rivers isn’t getting any younger and is becoming less and less mobile. I still expect the Chiefs to be the class of this division, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Chargers find a way to win it in 2019.
Great question and hope that was in-depth enough for you Clint! Comment below and let me know what you think these teams need to do that I didn’t mention! Maybe I could have thrown prayer in there for the Raiders and Broncos, haha.
Mahomes Sophomore Slump
I’ve thought about this question a lot, Rusty, even before you proposed it here. Will Patrick Mahomes throw 50 TD’s again? If he doesn’t does that mean it’s a sophomore slump? I could easily see Patrick throwing less than 50 TD’s next season, but being a better overall quarterback. There were two plays, one against the Ravens and one against the Seahawks, where Patrick could have easily ran for a first down on 3rd and short, but tried to make the hero play instead of taking what was there. This is something Patrick will assess and rectify for 2019. Another thing Patrick will be better at is identifying the blitzers and making calls at the line to shore up the pass protection. The Patriots and Ravens caused a ton of confusion for Patrick early in those games by having everyone standing up at the line of scrimmage. Patrick didn’t know if they were all coming or who was dropping back into coverage. He came out in the 2nd half of those games and corrected that and lit each of those teams up. This should be something he has figured out and has plans for before kickoff instead of after halftime.
As crazy as it seems, I don’t think there is an answer to Patrick Mahomes that can be drafted. Yes, you can draft more talented players in your secondary, but he torched everyone last season. The answer to Patrick Mahomes, thus far, has not been a talented player or secondary, yet brilliant defensive minds confusing the young kid before he gets wise to their tricks. Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale and Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick are the answer to Patrick Mahomes, for the time being. As Patrick develops his knowledge of the game and is able to better read defenses to understand what those coaches are trying to do to him and be able to have answers to those defenses; then the only one who will be able to stop Patrick Mahomes, is Patrick Mahomes. I suppose the only other thing that could stop Patrick Mahomes is Demetrius Harris dropping a wide open ball or lining up illegally because let’s face it, that’s what Demetrius does.Great question Rusty, thank you for submitting it to our Monday Mailbag! Let me know what your thoughts are on this topic in the comments below!
Charcandrick in 2019
Charcandrick West shouldn’t have been on the team last season. The Chiefs brought in C.J. Anderson and Charcandrick West for a workout and while stating C.J. looked very good in his workout they went with the familiar face and locker-room guy in Charcandrick. A few weeks later, C.J. was signed by the Los Angeles Rams and proceeded to have 123 yards, 132 yards, and 167 yards to close out the season while Charcandrick barely played. Then in the playoffs C.J. was a key cog in the running game for the Rams, while Charcandrick messed up on his punt protection assignment allowing the Indianapolis Colts to block the punt and score a touchdown. Having said all that, Charcandrick will be in camp with the Chiefs, but I see the Chiefs bringing in more competition at that position and Charcandrick being a preseason cut.
Thank you for the question Lara! I’ve actually been wanting to talk about this for awhile because it was killing me that the Chiefs signed Charcandrick instead of C.J. after seeing all the success C.J. was having for the Rams. Please comment below and let me know your thoughts on Charcandrick and if you think I’m wrong and that he will be on the team in 2019.
Most Important Position after QB
Annette is a patron to us here at the Great American Sports Network and on our Patrick Mahomes Fans group on Facebook! We can’t thank her enough for that and this great question that really got me thinking. If you’d like to be a patron which includes copies of our sports documentaries, talking with former Chiefs players, Facebook live Q&A’s with us, exclusive podcasts, and so much more please visit http://www.patreon.com/gasnsports
Ex. Broncos TE – Lamar Hunt Trophy
Jeb, first of all thank you for the question. I guess my response to you is quite simply, do you know what the Lamar Hunt trophy looks like? You played in Denver from 2002-2005 and then again in 2008. You were 1-3 in the playoffs! The Chiefs just lost in overtime in the AFC Championship game in Patrick Mahomes first year starting. You played in one AFC Championship game where you were destroyed 34-17 by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In your 5 years as a Denver Bronco you had 1,087 yards and 2 TD’s. When Patrick Mahomes wins the AFC Championship game next year I’ll make sure to invite you here to Kansas City so you can see what the Lamar Hunt trophy looks like. Deal?
That’s it for this Chiefs edition of GASN’s Monday Mailbag! Thank you all for the questions, yes, even you Jeb as I know it’s all in good fun. If you want your question answered in next weeks mailbag you can comment below with a question, email us at [email protected], or find me on Facebook – Noah James and I’ll try to answer as many as I can! Thanks to all who participated this week, all of those who have read this, and all of those who comment below, til next week, take care of yourselves and each other!
Anyway to get some updates on guys like Byron Pringle & Kahlil McKenzie? My suggestion is they should have Mckenzie go live with Will Shields like a Foreign Exchange Student does & learn from a HOF great lineman! Pringle had the longest yards per catch average in the entire country his last year of college & flashed at the end of Pre-Season!