Chiefs’ offense is still a mystery

By Mike Ash  |   Friday, September 07, 2007  |  Comments( 7 )

Kansas City Chiefs
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With just three days to go before the Kansas City Chiefs open their 2007 campaign against the Houston Texans, the biggest question mark surrounding the team undoubtedly centers around its formerly high-octane offense. The Chiefs didn't accomplish much when they had the ball during the preseason, averaging just eight points a game and only scoring two offensive touchdowns.

Based on both the Chiefs' preseason performance and their dismal effort against the Colts in last season's playoffs, there seems to be a general sense of doom when it comes to the offense in Kansas City. And as easy as it would be to fall in line with those predictions, digging a little under the surface shows that there is actually some reason for optimism when looking at the team's offensive unit.

In Week 17 last year, one game before their playoff loss, the Chiefs scored 35 points against a Jacksonville defense that ranked second in total yards and fourth in points allowed last year. They accomplished the feat despite the fact that then-starting QB Trent Green was mostly ineffective on the day, throwing for just 181 yards and causing three turnovers.

The week before they beat the Jaguars, the Chiefs went on the road to play their rivals in Oakland, where they put 20 points on the NFL's third-ranked defense. Green struggled in that game as well, completing just 50 percent of his passes for 148 yards, one TD and one INT.

Despite the poor play of Green, who never seemed to recover from the concussion he suffered in Week 1, the Chiefs' offense closed the regular season by scoring 55 combined points against two of the league's best defenses. And when taking a look at the group that will line up Sunday afternoon in Houston, Kansas City's offense is no worse - and may actually be somewhat better - than it was at the end of 2006.

Green has moved onto Miami and will be replaced at QB by Damon Huard, who excelled in key areas - accuracy and avoiding turnovers - that Green struggled with upon his return to action. Although Green at his best is unquestionably the superior player, Huard's steady play should offer an improvement from the shaky QB performances the Chiefs dealt with at the close of last season. Additionally, Kansas City's WR corps, while hardly a strength in recent years, has been improved upon with the addition of first-round pick Dwayne Bowe.

Most questions, though, seem to surround the Chiefs' offensive line, which lost future Hall of Famer Will Shields to retirement. But considering that Shields was ready to hang it up a year earlier and only laced up his cleats because left tackle Willie Roaf talked him into playing another season - only for Roaf to turn around and retire himself - the drop-off at his position shouldn't be nearly as steep as some assume it will. Shields was, after all, at the end of a 14-year career in which he started 224 straight games. He wasn't exactly in his prime.

The team also upgraded its left tackle position when it let Jordan Black leave in free agency. Black allowed over 13 sacks in 2006, the most of any LT in the league, and added another two in the postseason.

Damion McIntosh, signed during free agency, may not be anywhere near Roaf's level, but he should offer more stability at the position than Black, who became known in Kansas City as "I-65" for being a road defensive ends could take that would get them straight to the quarterback. McIntosh only gave up five sacks a season ago, numbers that are even more appealing to the Chiefs when considering that Miami dropped back to pass over 140 more times than Kansas City did.

As for the offense's numerous struggles in the preseason, they're definitely cause for concern. But things shouldn't be blown out of proportion, especially considering that the Chiefs took the field without a few key players. Larry Johnson, the engine that makes their offense go, took part in only three plays during the preseason, rushing three straight times and picking up a first down - something the team struggled mightily to achieve without him.

They also played without new left tackle McIntosh, who was battling a knee injury. Will Svitek, the backup at the position, has only two years of experience as an offensive lineman and struggled with pass protection in his first extended taste of NFL action. It's expected that McIntosh will be ready to go on Sunday, and Johnson will certainly see plenty of action. Huard, who played sparingly in the preseason, will get his first sustained on-field time, as well.

Considering all of these issues, it's hard to imagine the Chiefs' offense being as bad as some are predicting. Will it light up the scoreboard like it did during the days of Dick Vermeil and Al Saunders? Probably not. But those who expect the offense to finish at the bottom of the NFL rankings may be a bit premature in their assessment.
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