Kansas City Chiefs 2010 Season Preview

Football Betting Lines

08/19/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In the critically acclaimed but sadly short-lived Starz comedy series "Party Down," boss Ron Donald and his catering team are confronted with a pre-banquet choice.

They can take a 20 percent gratuity in advance for the work they will do that evening, or put out a tip jar and take a chance that a job well done will yield them a figure above that amount.

"Bet on ourselves," Donald implores of his team, with predictably disastrous results.

In a sense, the Kansas City Chiefs have bet on themselves as well, though only time will tell whether things work out better for the struggling franchise than they did for the Party Down catering team.

Despite a 10-38 record over the last three seasons, including the mostly unwatchable 4-12 campaign of 2009, the Chiefs did not blow up their team.

Head coach Todd Haley and GM Scott Pioli instead brought in no meaningful competition for quarterback Matt Cassel, who neither lived up to the six-year, $63 million contract the Chiefs gave him last year nor justified the second- round pick they handed to the Patriots in order to acquire him.

They did little to upgrade a group of offensive tackles which allowed 42 sacks of the plodding Cassel a year ago.

Defensively, a Chiefs team that finished in the bottom half of the league in most meaningful categories did spend its first-round draft choice wisely, selecting Tennessee safety Eric Berry, but other impact players did not follow him to the west end of Missouri.

The approach of the Kansas City brain trust was to largely rest on the personnel in place, hoping that it improves during a second year in the Haley/Pioli regime, while finding itself a couple of new sideline leaders.

Reunited for the first time since they helped preside over the New England Patriots' most recent Super Bowl title in 2004 are coordinators Charlie Weis (offense) and Romeo Crennel (defense), who failed to achieve sustained greatness as head coaches but are proven underlings.

It's a gamble for Weis and Crennel, who don't have nearly the talent in Kansas City that they did in New England, and will see their reputations take a major hit if they can't get their groups playing up to speed.

For Weis, the goal will be molding Cassel into the solid QB he looked on the verge of becoming as a Patriot back in 2008, while addressing the o-line and not forgetting about a crowded backfield where Thomas Jones and rookie Dexter McCluster are competing with incumbent Jamaal Charles for playing time.

Crennel's charge will be getting top-five disappointments Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson to start earning their money up front, while helping Berry and the young secondary navigate a steep learning curve.

Haley believes that both men can help enable a large degree of positive change, and that a roster filled with holdovers really can mature.

"Last year was a breakdown year," Haley recently told CBSSports.com. "We had to break down all the thought processes, the attitudes, the way people thought things should go. That was the breakdown year."

"Things are changing."

Below we take a capsule look at the 2010 edition of the Kansas City Chiefs, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2009 RECORD: 4-12 (4th, AFC West)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2006, lost to Indianapolis, 23-8, in AFC Wild Card

COACH (RECORD): Todd Haley (4-12 in one season with Chiefs, 4-12 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Charlie Weis

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Romeo Crennel

OFFENSIVE STAR: Jamaal Charles, RB (1120 rushing yards, 40 receptions, 8 TD)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Eric Berry, S (1st Round, Tennessee)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 11th rushing, 25th passing, 23rd scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 31st rushing, 22nd passing, 29th scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: RB Thomas Jones (from Jets), RB/WR Dexter McCluster (2nd Round, OleMiss), WR Jerheme Urban (from Cardinals), TE Tony Moeaki (3rd Round, Iowa), G Ryan Lilja (from Colts), G Jon Asamoah (3rd Round, Illinois), C Casey Wiegmann (from Broncos), DT Shaun Smith (from Bengals), CB Javier Arenas (2nd Round, Alabama), S Eric Berry (1st Round, Tennessee)

KEY DEPARTURES: RB Kolby Smith (to Broncos), WR Bobby Wade (to Redskins), TE Sean Ryan (to Redskins), G Andy Alleman (to Colts), G Mike Goff (released), OL Wade Smith (to Texans), S Mike Brown (not tendered)

QB: Cassel (2924 passing yards, 16 TD, 16 INT) did not play well in his first year in a Chiefs uniform, and there is no reasonable argument to be made to the contrary. At the same time, it's hard to tell whether his 3,600-yard season with the Patriots in 2008 was an aberration, or if last year's dismal showing was a by-product of a weak supporting cast coupled with a new system. Either way, if Cassel doesn't produce this season, Kansas City is going to be forced to explore other options. Backing Cassel up for a second straight year will be ex-starter Brodie Croyle (230 passing yards, 2 TD, 0 INT), who played fairly well in his one start last season (Week 1 against Baltimore) but is 0-9 with a 70.6 passer rating over his four-year career. The battle for third-string duties is between two former Pitt Panthers, Tyler Palko and Bill Stull, but don't be surprised if both guys get cut.

RB: The work of Charles was the bright spot in the Chiefs offense last season. Though the 2008 third-round pick out of Texas didn't get the ball more than six times in a game before mid-November, he made up for lost time by rushing for 90-plus yards in six of his final eight contests, including a 259-yard effort in a win at the Broncos in Week 17. So, how did Kansas City reward him? By signing free agent Thomas Jones (1402 rushing yards, 10 TD with the Jets) to a two-year, $5 million deal in March, then using a second-round pick on Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster. Those moves make it clear that Haley and Pioli don't have a ton of confidence in Charles as the lead back, though he should nominally be the starter in Week 1. Jones is 32 and should be in decline, but his five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and 29 touchdowns over the past two years must be proof of something. McCluster looks like a scat-back in the Darren Sproles mode, but the Chiefs seem determined to get him on the field in year one. Fullbacks Mike Cox (10 receptions, 1 TD) and Tim Castille (55 rushing yards, 1 TD) could be fighting for one roster spot depending on how things shake out elsewhere.

WR/TE: The Chiefs entered last season without Tony Gonzalez on the roster for the first time since 1996, and the absence of the 10-time Pro Bowler was felt dramatically in the passing game. Kansas City tight ends accounted for just 46 catches and four TDs all year, and the team's wideouts did little to fill that void. No. 1 wideout Dwayne Bowe (47 receptions, 4 TD) had the worst season of his three-year career, and Cassel seemed to have more confidence in outside targets like mid-season replacement Chris Chambers (36 receptions, 4 TD) and the since-departed Bobby Wade. Kansas City needs a resurgence from Bowe this season, and must have younger players like Lance Long (20 receptions) and McCluster become capable pass-catchers. Leonard Pope (20 receptions, 1 TD) returns to the tight end position, but fellow holdover Brad Cottam (9 receptions) comes off neck surgery and is a question mark. The player to watch at this position could be third-round pick Tony Moeaki, who was among the best blocking tight ends in the draft and will be an important cog for the Chiefs up front.

OL: As they get further away from the Will Shields/Willie Roaf era, the Chiefs offensive line seems to get worse and worse. What seems like the group's biggest deficiency - the tackle position - was not really addressed in the offseason. The team is just hoping against hope that former first-rounder Branden Albert can start to come into his own on the left side, and that additional experience will help right tackle Ryan O'Callaghan as well. Backups Ikechuku Ndukwe and Barry Richardson are unlikely to make a serious push for starting time. The interior is in better shape, especially after the Chiefs brought prodigal center Casey Wiegmann (ex-Broncos) and guard Ryan Lilja (ex- Colts) in via free agency and used a third-round pick on guard Jon Asamoah (Illinois). Two of those three figures could start immediately, with trusty left guard Brian Waters remaining the lynch pin on both the interior and the o- line in general. Incumbent center Rudy Niswanger has a chance to hold off Wiegmann, however.

DL: Given the money each is making as a former top-five pick, Chiefs fans will be watching extra closely to determine whether ends Glenn Dorsey (54 tackles, 1 sack) and Tyson Jackson (38 tackles) can actually produce. Last year, neither did, with the unit's rank of 31st in NFL rushing defense telling you all you need to know. The hope in Kansas City is that the addition of Shaun Smith (8 tackles with the Bengals), who is a big body though not always a great teammate (see: his sucker-punch of ex-teammate Brady Quinn) will help free up Dorsey and Jackson to make some plays. Incumbent nose tackle Ron Edwards (29 tackles) is still around too, but if the Chiefs line up with the same three guys as they did last year, the defense will again be in trouble. Backup ends Alex Magee (8 tackles, 2 sacks) and Wallace Gilberry (22 tackles, 4.5 sacks) are serviceable, but not the answer to K.C.'s d-line woes.

LB: One season after recording the fewest sacks since the NFL began recording the statistic (10), the Chiefs' move to a 3-4 in 2009 helped give them some push in that regard. Kansas City was still near the bottom of the league with 22 sacks, but former first-rounder Tamba Hali (62 tackles, 8.5 sacks) looked at home as an outside linebacker in the new scheme, and ex-Patriot Mike Vrabel (53 tackles, 2 sacks) at least gave opposing tackles something to think about. That duo should remain in the starting lineup, though the team is also high on the developing Andy Studebaker (28 tackles, 2 INT) and fifth-round rookie Cameron Sheffield (Troy) could crack the rotation as well. On the inside, Demorrio Williams (117 tackles) and Corey Mays (85 tackles) are the incumbents but neither is safe. That's because the team is looking for a bigger role for second-year man Jovan Belcher (47 tackles), and while not a perfect fit for the 3-4, Derrick Johnson (37 tackles, 3 INT, 1 sack) is still capable of making plays from the ILB spot.

DB: The Chiefs relieved a big headache when they drafted Berry, who is seen as a playmaking safety in the Ed Reed/Troy Polamalu mold but is also capable of playing corner if needed. But Crennel still needs to reach for the aspirin when it comes to his secondary, because Berry's possible running mate Jarrad Page (19 tackles) doesn't look set to return to the team any time soon. Page is holding out of training camp in a contract dispute, and seems serious when he says he'll never play for the team again. Complicating matters is that Jon McGraw (46 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT), who would play strong safety in Page's absence, was injured early in the preseason. That situation could force promising but raw fifth-round draft choice Kendrick Lewis (Ole Miss) into the starting lineup immediately. The team is seemingly in better shape at corner, where Brandon Carr (62 tackles, 1 INT) and Brandon Flowers (65 tackles, 5 INT) both had their moments last year and second-round draft pick Javier Arenas (Alabama) looks able to assist.

SPECIAL TEAMS: With major uncertainty on offense and defense, it's good that all is well with the Kansas City kicking game. Kicker Ryan Succop (25-29 FG) did a nice job as a rookie last season, and punter Dustin Colquitt (45.4 avg.) is as reliable as they come at his position. The changes will come in the return game, where Arenas is expected to make an impact after excelling in that area while at Alabama. McCluster didn't do returns much at Ole Miss, but his speed, hands and elusiveness would seem to make him another natural option for that role. Thomas Gafford returns for his third season as the Chiefs long- snapper.

PROGNOSIS: Haley can say all he wants about this team building a foundation, but you'll have to forgive Chiefs fans if they're a little skeptical that this building can stand on its own. Arguably the weakest areas of this team last season were quarterback, offensive tackle and the entirety of the defensive front seven. The offseason additions made to all of these areas were negligible, so to believe the Chiefs will take a step forward is to believe that all of the weak links in the chain will suddenly pull together in 2010. The big sell here, other than "the system" needing time to take hold, is that Weis and Crennel are a couple of white knights who will steer their units to greatness. Sure, Weis and Crennel are proven, but last year's play-caller (Haley) and defensive coordinator (Clancy Pendergast) were proven too, and that duo drew up a total of four wins. It will be a surprise if Kansas City takes a step backward this season, but is anything better than a .500 finish really plausible? We'll go with "no" on that one.