This looks like it could be a very good year for the Chiefs.

Barring major injury, of course, but that's true for any team.

The Chiefs had a pretty good year last year. They led the league in scoring last year. They arguably have the best RB in football in Priest Holmes, the best TE in Tony Gonzalez, the best offensive line, and perhaps even the biggest threats at WR with Mark Boerigter and Dante Hall both being able to score from anywhere on the field.

But they went 8-8. The negatives weighed them down too heavily. The defense gave up the most yardage in the NFL. Their #1 draft pick, Ryan Sims, played sparingly in just 6 games, never hitting his stride before an elbow injury put him out for the season. The defensive line never mounted pressure, exposing a weak secondary that was already hurting from losing one of the League's best (and underrated) safeties in Jerome Woods for the entire season. The starting wideouts, Kennison and Morton, never really got in rhythm with Green, and Tony Gonzalez had an off year, ending up #3 in receiving for TEs. Priest Holmes suffered a potentially career-ending injury and missed the final two games.

So why is there reason for hope? The Chiefs are better and everyone else in the AFC West appears worse.

WR Johnny Morton has moved to his traditional position, and has had another year with Green. Mark Boerigter has had another year with Green, and shows no signs of slowing down (and may even move into the starting rotation). Tony Gonzalez is on a mission to regain his crown as the NFL's #1 TE, and has shown signs of being able to catch the ball in stride over his shoulder, which would be a big step forward for him. Jerome Woods is back and appears fully recovered. LB Barber and DE Holliday seem to have meshed unusually well (aside: no matter how great the free agent, it usually takes until the 2nd year for them to mesh well) with the rest of the defense. We have a new, young gun pass rusher in Truluck, who has added both weight enough to bullrush LTs and enough speed to get around the corner. DT Ryan Sims now has the benefit of an entire camp to be in shape and mentally ready to make some waves, and he created enough chaos and carnage in the preseason to expect him to have a stellar year. The improved DL and LB corps should help protect the cornerbacks and keep them from struggling, but we still added Dexter McCleon as a teaching influence and help for the still-young starting CBs, but who is also a huge improvement as a nickel CB.

We have shored up every glaring hole on defense, maintained our strength and depth on offense, and have even developed some hopeful insurance for both Trent Green (in an experienced and effective Todd Collins) and Priest Holmes (as both Blaylock and Johnson starred in preseason games against 1st-team defenses).

And this is Dick Vermeil's 3rd year... Maybe that means nothing. It was his 3rd year that he got the Eagles to the Superbowl, where they lost. He won the Superbowl with the Rams their 3rd year, and then handed a Superbowl-quality team off to Mike Martz, who has been unable to do much with it. Sure, the Chiefs might not win the Superbowl this year.... But doesn't that sound great? What other team can you say, "Sure, they might not win this year...."??? And the Chiefs do appear poised and ready.

And the rest of the AFC West? Well, LaDanian Tomlinson is nursing minor injuries, I'm still not convinced Drew Brees is the real thing.... But the big problem is replacing Rodney Harrison and Junior Seau. Sure, the Chargers still have Donnie Edwards, but.......
(and if history is any teacher, even if the Chargers win the division and home field advantage, Schottenheimer will lose the first game in the playoffs, opening the door for a Wild-Card Chiefs team...)

Denver isn't looking too strong at any position besides tailback. They've had problem after problem after problem at nearly every position. Shanahan is trying desparately to snatch the title of "Genius" back by trying to rehabilitate an erratic and undisciplined Jake Plummer. But even if that works, question marks about on the defense, particularly in the secondary. They've lacked any consistency at DL for years, as well.

And the Raiders appear to be out of time. Sure, the cast is all still there, but giving up 52 points to Dallas?!??! Quincy Carter tore them apart? Puh-leeze. It's over.

The only team that could've mounted a challenge on the Chiefs this year would have been the Seahawks (who have problems of their own), but they are in the NFC now... Yeah, I'll probably be mourning that move for a few years, but I guess it is better to have my 2nd favorite team in a totally different conference, so as not to divide my loyalties at all.

In fact, about the only thing that could hurt the Chiefs this year would be their lack of depth at LB and OL. Every other position could take 1 hit (like QB or CB), and some could take two major hits without losing stride. But one area we weren't able to shore up at all was OL. Yeah, everyone starting is awesome and durable, taking every significant snap last year. But let's just point out that if you want to win the Superbowl, you have to be good and lucky...and that means nearly free of major injuries to major playmakers.

We'll see.

Okay, I'm not actually talking about cuts, but I didn't want to break the trend of recent posts. But they did make some, I'm sure.