Like every year, Touchdown Actu offers you its traditional pre-season files. You can find them all by clicking on this link.
Crowned with the title of champion after a comeback to the Super Bowl, the Chiefs have only one desire in 2020: to sign the first double since the Patriots 2002-2003 and thus lay the foundations of a new dynasty in the NFL.
A mission more complicated than it seems as the champions of recent seasons have struggled to confirm the following year.
Last season: 12 wins – 4 losses, Champion against the 49ers (31-20)
Offseason movements
Side Chiefs have played the continuity with the extensions of Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones and Travis Kelce. Not surprisingly given that they are the three best players in the franchise.
For the rest, the team still records the withdrawal of Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff due to COVID19 and a few defensive departures which cause the workforce to lose a little depth. On the other hand, the offensive line sees the arrival of two veterans (Remmers and Osemele) who could well be useful in the long race towards the double.
In the Draft, the Chiefs surprised by selecting a rider with their choice of the first round. Promising player Clyde Edwards-Helaire could make this attack even more formidable, but was it really necessary?
Otherwise it is the defense which was rather considered with four reinforcements in total including Willie Gay, who could well be the missing link in defense.
Notable arrivals: Taco Charlton (DE), Mike Remmers (T), Kelechi Osemele (G)
Re-Signatures : Chris Jones (via franchise tag), Mike Pennel (DT), Bashaud Breeland (CB), Matt Moore (QB), Demarcus Robinson (WR)
Draft : Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB), Willie Gay (LB), Lucas Niang (OL), L’Jarius Sneed (S), Michael Dannas (EDGE), Thakarius Keyes (CB)
Notable losses: Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff (G, COVID19), Damien Williams (COVID19), Emmanuel Ogbah (DE), Kyle Fuller (CB), LeSean McCoy (RB), Stefen Wisniewski (G)
Chris Jones continues his adventure with the Chiefs
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Le(s) point(s) fort(s)
Can we start this section with someone other than Patrick Mahomes (14 games, 26 TDs, 5 int)? In two seasons as a starter, the young player has put the league at his feet with 1 league title, 1 Super Bowl MVP title, 1 regular season MVP title and shovel shots. A new face to the league, the player will once again be his team’s number 1 asset for the coming season.
It must be said that Mahomes is well accompanied to shine. Beyond the schemes of his coaches, he can count on a squad of top quality aerial targets: Travis Kelce (1229 yards and 5 TD), Tyreek Hill (860 yards and 7TD), Sammy Wtakins (673 yards and 3TD), Mecole Hardman (538 yards, 6TD) and Demarcus Robinson (449 yards, 4TD). Speed, Safe Hands… Kansas City has multiple options and can play the width and length of the field as many teams in the league.
The defense is not lacking in assets either. First, Kansas City can rely on a quality defensive line, carried by Chris Jones (9 sacks) and Frank Clark (8 sacks). To accompany them Mike Pennell, author of a very good season last year, and Alex Okafor are players of good level. Then the Chiefs have one of the best pairs of safeties in the league with Tyrann Mathieu (even if his role goes beyond the position of safety) and Juan Tornhill, who had started his rookie season very well before getting injured in the carries the playoffs.
Finally, the defense of the Chiefs, if it collects yards, knows how to be decisive as shown by the stats of 2019: 45 sacks (top 15), 16 interceptions (top 5), 60.5% of authorized passes (top 5), 36.6% of 3rd down authorized (top 10).
The weak spots)
Despite everything, this champion has weak points in his workforce, and especially in defense.
On paper, the squad of cornerbacks to start 2020 is puzzling: Charvarius Ward, Bashaud Breeland and Rashad Fenton for starters a priori. Without being bad players, the level is relatively average and the Chiefs lack an elite cornerback. Last year, they made do with it, and the franchise must think they can do it again …
In the middle, the rating on the linebacker squad is pretty much the same. If Damien Wilson and Anthony Hitchens are players of duty, they are probably one of the weakest starting groups in the league. If the versatility of the Chiefs’ defensive backfield can save them at times, this group needs to do better.
X factor (s)
It may seem cliché, but the mind or even the nervous impulse to go for the double could be a determining element in Kansas City. Since the Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons, no franchise has managed to double it, although some have come close.
How to explain this? Bad luck, injuries, decline in performance, equality of forces in the league… The factors are numerous but undoubtedly the psychological aspect, the difficulty of confirming, the taste of the objective already achieved which may arise in some, can hurt a champion team just as much.
More precisely, it is Andy Reid and his coaching who could be the X factor this season with the Chiefs.
Player to watch: Willie Gay Jr.
Honor to rookie Willie Gay for this column. As mentioned above, the Chiefs are looking for a top linebacker and in particular a player who can adequately cover the pass. A high-level athlete renowned for his cover play, the young player could be the missing link in the Chiefs’ defense.
If Gay is ready to start, he could quickly become a starter in this team and be an added value in the race for the title.
Calendar
Texans, @Chargers, @Ravens, Patriots, Raiders, @Bills, @Broncos, Jets, Panthers, BYE, @Raiders, @Buccaneers, Broncos, @Dolphins, @Saints, Falcons, Chargers
The audio preview of the Podcast
In summary
Kansas City is the title favorite among many punters. Not surprisingly, this attack and Patrick Mahomes can take down any team in the league.
But beware, the quest will be long and the few faults in defense could complicate the path of the Chiefs.
The forecast: 14 wins – 2 losses, playoffs
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