Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud
(Post 12906352)
The Chiefs had several issues on offense last year:
1. Lack of a true #1 WR
2. Loss of starting left guard
3. Wearing down of Spencer Ware
4. Injuries to Charcandrick West
5. Ankle injury to Mitchell Schwartz (which he played through)
6. Kelce's immaturity
7. Demetrius Harris and his hands of stone
8. No viable TE behind Kelce
The forum is completely out of touch with how the NFL views Alex Smith that it's laughable. Everything is his fault, regardless of whether or not he leads the offense to 44 points in a playoff road loss or he leads the offense to only 16 points in a home playoff loss.
There's no doubt that he had a bad year in 2016, but to pretend like he's the only one is ludicrous. Schwartz, the "savior" at right tackle struggled mightily for most of the season. Parker Ehinger, who was clearly better than Zach Fulton, was lost in Game 5.
Demetrious Harris continually dropped perfectly placed passes, many of which would have been big gainers. DAT disappeared. Maclin was nothing short of awful. Spencer Ware disappeared against the Texans and was a non-factor by December. Charcandrick West was hobbled in training camp and never displayed the speed and vision that made him the Chiefs leading rusher in 2015.
Reid and Dorsey drafted a RB in the 3rd round that will likely be the starter by mid-season and elevated two second year wide receivers to starters, while cutting their most experienced wide receiver on the roster. They extended their starting right guard and brought in a talented TE that's seen few snaps during his NFL career.
The bottom line is that all of these moves, if successful, will aid the QB and if Hill becomes a true #1 and they get production from their running game and second tight end, the running lanes will once again be available for Alex Smith, which is a necessary part of his game.
I think it's more likely than not that Smith returns to his 2015 level of play. If that happens, and the Chiefs can avoid injuries to their best pass rushers, this team will compete for the AFC crown.
If not, they move on to Mahomes next year and STILL have a very young and talented team. But considering the NFL gave the Chiefs a record six Prime Time games, the general feeling is that the Chiefs under Smith will be very, very good this season.
Keep in mind, even with the loss of Houston, Bailey, Howard, Ehinger, March and DJ, this team lost two games by 2 points that had they won, would have put them at 14-2, the best record in the league.
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