Kansas City Chiefs’ Offense On Fire With Jamaal Charles Return
By Dan Salem
A quiet offseason is just what the Kansas City Chiefs needed, because Jamaal Charles is returning to the backfield. Any new holes on defense are plugged by his presence and Kansas City is first in line to win a wide open AFC West.
We’re tackling each team in the league, traveling alphabetically to debate their biggest offseason issues. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.
TODD:
It seemed like the Kansas City Chiefs were simply hanging on for dear life this early offseason to keep at the status quo. Nothing they did made them better. Because of free agency concerns, they were simply attempting to remain just as good.
They tagged Eric Berry, released and then re-signed Tamba Hali, replaced a couple lost offensive linemen with the Mitchell Schwartz signing, brought back Derrick Johnson, etc. But then they still lost Sean Smith to free agency. Really the only “new” move they made that I like is the dirt cheap signing of wide receiver Rod Streater.
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Of course, saying all of that, the main move for Kansas City in 2016 is nothing they had to do in terms of a new contract. It’s getting Jamaal Charles back from injury. Although KC ran it well last year, it missed Charles’ burst and game-changing ability. With Jeremy Maclin, Travis Kelce and even Alex Smith back around, I like the Chiefs’ offense moving forward. As odd as this sounds, it may now be their strength.
The defense is what I’m afraid will take a step back. The pieces are all a year old, especially the returning Hali and Johnson. The secondary is weaker as well. What can this team do to simply keep its spot of last season? There isn’t much cap space to work with. KC already lost a 2016 third-round draft pick because of tampering violations and won’t be picking until late in the first round.
Kansas City doesn’t need to be better than it was a season ago. It needs to be just as good, but I worry it won’t be.
DAN:
With the defending champions reeling and the Raiders still yet to prove themselves, the AFC West is open season for Kansas City in 2016. Even if the defense takes a step back, a fully healthy Jamaal Charles will completely nullify that loss. Besides, the Chiefs are adding defensive players in free agency, specifically at linebacker, they just happen to be unproven. They don’t need every player to pan out, just one or two. That will be enough to hold the fort on defense.
Kansas City’s offense is going to be even better that last season. They were sixth in the league in rushing in 2015 and top three overall is now insight for the upcoming year. Despite a below average passing game, ranked 30th in the NFL, the Chiefs notched eleven wins and a playoff spot.
With an improvement to the rushing attack, because of Charles’ return, Kansas City will see more opportunities for tight end Travis Kelce and top wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. Their win streak was no fluke last season, and with another year of chemistry to build on and all of his weapons back, quarterback Alex Smith is primed to rattle off another one.
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What kills teams year after year is when one weakness exposes another. Alex Smith and the Chiefs tossed the fewest interceptions in the NFL last season, tied with the Patriots. Conversely, the Chiefs grabbed the second most picks of any defense, with the fifth best number of total takeaways overall.
That is why they went on an insane winning streak and why the team looked so unbeatable. It was no fluke. Kansas City will be just as dominant again with Charles in the backfield and turnover numbers leading the NFL.