That's one thing I think a lot of the analysis about the Chiefs' offense without Hill is missing.

Reid and co. did a good job adjusting and making Hill effective in short and intermediate areas. But catching the ball through contact was NOT his biggest strength.

The adjusted passing attack, with these weapons, has more size and ability to make plays through contact.

If the threat of Hardman and Marquez Valdes-Scantling deep keeps teams in a 2 deep safety look (and I don't see how it can't), the additions of Smith-Schuster and Moore as the primary WR targets on the short- and intermediate routes is going to really stand out.

I’ll have to look for the stat but cover 2 is now the primary defensive formation in the NFL. QB’s across the league did not do well against it.

Fortunately Mahomes had experience against it last year and overcame it. Now that he’s got an entire offseason to review it and the team had decent (at worst) players throughout our WR corps it’s will really help.

I think we’re gonna see Patrick destroying 2nd and 3rd corners this year in the middle of the field.

Chris Simms is picking the Chiefs to win the SuperBowl. Also saw that Peter Schrager and Bill Simmons on a podcast and they both predicted the Chiefs getting back to the Super Bowl, so it is not just local Chiefs homer podcasts.

This may be the best all round team of the Patrick Mahomes era--- and the Chiefs have never failed to win less than 12 games in the Mahomes era-- and they have had a tough first place schedule each and every year.

12 wins is a reasonable expectation until proven otherwise.

Direckshun, do you think the win totals for the Donkeys and Bolts are reasonable? Considering that they are unproven and have not achieved those win totals in years? The Chiefs have proven they can win with a tough schedule, and have done so repeatedly.

That's the thing. The Chiefs, generally, are ahead of the pack in terms of offensive innovation, based on what opposing defenses are doing.

When Cover 3 became the thing, Reid designed a scheme that absolutely demolishes it. It wasn't the first time he adjusted to what NFL teams are generally doing and exploited it.

With cover 2 man and quarters becoming the defenses du jour, Reid will likely find a scheme that exploits them as well.

An offense that provides enough threat for defenses to stay in those deep shells (big-armed QB, WRs with deep speed) that also has personnel better equipped to work the middle, work through contact, and create plays after the catch sounds like a good start, and the Chiefs' personnel is lined up to do just that.

This is going to be one of those threads that gets bumped when the Chiefs win the SB, isn't it.

I kinda feel like that's why Direkshun made it.

I don't understand the anxious wailing of "the schedule, it's this it's that"

THey play a tough schedule. They always do. When you win, it's what happens.

The tough schedule has a silver lining, too.

They're going to be fully tested by the time the playoffs roll around.

See, I just don't care to hear "tough schedule eeek" stuff.

It is what it is. Can't control it.

You know what you do to combat it? Win games.

I remember all the growing pains we experienced with drafting a gunslinger with no footwork. Remember all the dumb picks he threw in his first year starting?

Jesus, it was awful.

New guys coming in, simply cannot do the job at a high level guys.

You cant just turn over a defensive roster in one offseason and win a superbowl. Wait....did that happen?

You cant just get better across the board at receiver with that gimmicky backyard football flash in the pan gunslinger and win a superbowl. Yeah. Thats it.

Cuz new guy growing pains.

Don't forget the offensive line. No way would it be one of the best in the league with all those new pieces.

Least popular opinion on this board: I think the Chargers are built for us and have a damn good shot at sweeping us this year. Meeting Mahomes in the playoffs is a different beast, but in the regular season they may get us. I'm very high on that team.

The Broncos are going to be what most every Russell Wilson team is: dynamic and intimidating for the first half of the season before collapsing the last month and a half.

So you have more faith in an unproven Chargers and Donkeys team than you do in the team that has hosted 4 straight AFC title games. Got it.

A Chargers team that, without fail, underperforms every year. Let's not forget that.

Lol wut

Brandon Staley attempting to hatch another cunning plan to win the AFC West this year:

https://c.tenor.com/IGl690rxkbEAAAAM...nes-coyote.gif