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Kansas City Chiefs
Posted: Sun April 19, 1998 at 9:53 p.m.
* compensatory pick
QB - Elvis Grbac played well last season... he injured his clavicle around midseason, but returned only to struggle in a playoff loss to Denver. Despite his ineffectiveness in the playoffs, the Chiefs look to have finally solved their QB woes. Grbac got the job done all season long despite have only 1 legitimate WR threat in Andre Rison. With Grbac out, the team found out they have a quality #2 in Rich Gannon too. Gannon used his scrambling style to keep the Chiefs on track the 2nd half of the season. With Grbac, and Gannon playing well, expect 1997 rookie QB Pat Barnes to continue to watch as the #3 guy. In the long run he will benefit by being able to sit and watch.
RB - This is a huge problem heading into the draft. The team has said they won't re-sign FA RB Greg Hill, and Marcus Allen is likely going to retire... this leaves them without an RB, unless they were planning on using tweener Donnell Bennett as the feature guy. The draft will be huge for the Chiefs, and they have to hope they can get a guy who can step onto the field and play tomorrow. This team is too good to be heading into the season with ?'s at RB. They courted Ricky Watters and Robert Smith this offseason, but didn't sign either one. They could still trade for an RB before the draft, they need 2 regardless.
WR - This unit will be much improved this season. WR Andre Rison carried this team on his back for most of the season. Now the addition of WR Derrick Alexander will take the double coverage off Rison. Both players have big egos though, and it will be interesting to see if they can co-exist in the same offense. Don't expect FA WR Lake Dawson to be re-signed... his carrer as a Chief has been plagued with injuries. Tamarick Vanover will continue to concentrate on being primarily a RS... they need 1997 rookie Kevin Lockett to step up and be their #3 guy.
Lockett spent the entire season on the bench. He couldn't have been ready, because they really needed him last season.
TE - Have 2 solid pass catchers in Tony Gonzalez and Ted Popson. Gonzalez reported to camp late, but didn't waste any time in developing into a quality NFL TE. Gonzalez also became a much better blocker by the end of the season. Popson is strictly a receiver, and they are a dangerous duo when in the lineup at the same time. The team released Derrick Walker this offseason... need a big blocking TE to fill his spot.
OL - Not sure how they got it done last season, but they did. LT Jeff Criswell and Glenn Parker held up, and played well. Criswell is more of a backup type, and Parker was cut by the Bills in training camp, a team that was very thin at OT. Regardless of their performances last season, upgrades are needed. Neither is a quality NFL starter, so the Chiefs could benefit by adding an OT or two in the draft. Marcus Spears and rookie Nathan Paeks, don't exactly qualify for quality depth either, although Parks may develop into a solid player. The inside is set with Szott, Grunhard, and Shields.
DL - The guys they have play well, but need to add some depth. DE Vaughn Booker and DT John Browning played much better than advertised, and both could be budding NFL starts. Joe Phillips was released this offseason, and they have a huge hole to fill at LDT... the team courted DT Sean Gilbert, but they couldn't get a deal done. If they can't find a guy in the draft, DE Dan Williams may have to move inside. He had some success there as a pass rush guy last season. RDE Derrick Thomas fought through early injuries to have a fairly productive season. Thomas is slowing down though, and they could draft a guy in his mold to develop for the future.
LB - They were missing one piece, and they got him at the trade deadline when they made a move for SLB Wayne Simmons of Green Bay... his presence really solidified a unit that was reeling from the acq. of FA bust Terry Wooden. MLB Donnie Edwards is not a prototypical run stuffing MLB, but he gets over trash and does a good job of slipping blocks. Edwards is tough to handle when he blitzes, and may be the heir apparent to Thomas as their "Falcon." Look for them to add a LB in the middle rds.
DB - Solid unit. DC's Dale Carter, James Hasty (re-signed) and Mark McMillan may form the best trio of cover DC's on one roster. Despite his size, McMillan could start for a lot of NFL teams. He absolutely owns WR's in the slot, where his lack of size isn't a huge factor. 1996 draft picks Jerome Woods and Reggie Tongue started at the safety spots. The only negative in this unit is their lack of youth at DC. Could add a young guy in the middle rds. of the draft.
ST - PTLouie Agiuar lacks a big leg, but is solid at placing the ball inside the 20 yd. line. PK Pete Stoyanovich bounced back from a marginal 1996 season, highlighted with a 53 yd. GW vs. Denver in the regular season. Tamarick Vanover is a solid RS when he doesn't have to worry about playing WR too. He didn't last season, and had a productive season... needs to do a better job of holding on to the football though.
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