A.A. : Kansas City Chiefs Power Rankings: Pre-Camp Edition

[Ace Gunner]

Since they are so often ignored and disrespected in power rankings columns around the NFL, I thought that this year it would be fun to introduce a new feature to Arrowhead Addict that I’m calling the “Kansas City Chiefs Power Rankings.”

Throughout the season, we often see a player’s stock rise and fall. For instance, Justin Houston appeared to have high value last preseason. Then, once the season began, I imagine his ranking would have fallen significantly before rising back up.

I thought it would be fun to do these each week and to see which player comes out on top at the end of the year. These rankings won’t be based on just talent alone. How a guy is playing will be very important. He may be one of the best players on the defense but if Tamba Hali struggles for a couple of games, he may see his ranking tanking. That doesn’t mean he’ll fall down below a guy like Cameron Sheffield, but he may see a drop until he resumes his dominance.

We’ll do 32 rankings to match the number of teams in the NFL.

Without further ado, I present the pre-camp Kansas City Chiefs Power Rankings!

1. Derrick Johnson

The call between one and two was tough but DJ is at the height of his powers. His ability to not only stuff the run (remember the Raiders goal-line stand last season) and pick off balls gave him a slight edge. DJ at his best really can do it all and he’s at his very best right now.

2. Tamba Hali

I really could have flipped a coin here. Hali is so consistent and so dominant that he easily could have been number one. Following his big year in 2010, teams paid even more attention to Hali in 2011. The emergence of Justin Houston and the addition of Dontari Poe should make him even more dangerous. His performance against the Packers last season was inspiring.

3. Dwayne Bowe

Inconsistencies and contract issues aside, if you want to win in the NFL you have to score points and Dwayne Bowe moves the chains.

4. Brandon Flowers

Flowers has been teasing us for a few years now. He’s very, very good but he has never been able to put together that really elite season. Part of the reason may be that he plays through injuries. Regardless, Flowers is a key member of this defense and one of the most talented players on the roster.

5. Eric Winston

Winston could end up higher on this list later this season. We’ll have to wait and see how he looks playing in a Chiefs uniform in a new offense but as a Texan Winston was one of the best RTs in the NFL. #5 isn’t a bad debut.

6. Jamaal Charles

Charles is another player who could easily top this list. His importance to KC’s offense is underrated to everyone outside of Chiefs Nation. The Chiefs missed Moeaki and Berry last season but make no mistake, if Jamaal Charles played the entire season the Chiefs would have won the West. This guy is special.

7. Eric Berry

Berry is coming back and if he is able to quickly shake off the rust, the Chiefs defense could very well go from good to great. This guy has the potential to be the best safety in the NFL.

8. Peyton Hillis

Hillis is coming off a poor year, sure, but we need to consider that he was playing in a Browns offense that was absolutely putrid. He has some injury concerns but when right, make no mistake, this guy is the real deal. He runs tough, he’s a load to bring down and he has rare athleticism for a man his size. He will be immensely important to KC’s prospects in 2012. Think Thomas Jones in 2010. The only think is, the 2012 version of Peyton Hillis should be much better than the 2010 version of Jones.

9. Justin Houston

Houston is riding high following a strong finish tot he 2011 season. If he can keep the good times rolling in 2012, you’ll see him shooting up this list. Though with so many good players, it could get crowded at the top. Consistency will be key.

10. Kendrick Lewis

Defense rules the day early in these rankings. Lewis made strides last season despite being without his BFF Eric Berry. He stood out in a safety group that Todd Haley and Scott Pioli put together with some duct tape and the reanimated corpse of Mike Brown.



11. Branden Albert

Albert has a quietly solid season in 2011 while improving his pass protection. He survived yet another season of “move Albert to guard” talk and remains a solid first-round investment at LT. He’s more important to this offense than he’ll probably ever get credit for.

12. Dexter McCluster

Don’t look now but McCluster was KC’s best running back in 2011. He put up a solid average with his carries and his running seemed to improve as the season went on. If properly used, he could make a big impact in 2012.

13. Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson

These two are pretty much the same player so until one of them starts to distinguish himself from the other, I’m putting them together as a tag team. Run stoppers first, if one of these guys can begin to put even a little bit of pressure on the QB this year KC’s defense is going to be terrifying.

14. Stanford Routt

Routt comes in with questions. He had a poor season in Oakland last season but to be fair to Routt, he never should have been put in the position of being a #1 CB for an entire season. The Raiders defense as a whole was also a lot worse. Romeo Crennel will know how to play to Routt’s strengths and there is a chance his physical style of play could have KC fans forgetting about Brandon Carr rather quickly.

15. Dontari Poe

Ahhh. The Great White Big Hope. Poe is the giant-ass, round, final piece of the puzzle to the KC defense. Can Romeo teach him to make an immediate impact? I don’t know but I’ll tell you this, if he pancakes Peyton Manning I’m putting him #1 that week.

16. Tony Moeaki

He can be awesome but can he stay on the field?

17. Matt Cassel

I’d like to put him higher but I still have too many questions. Hoping the 2010 Cassel returns in 2012.

18. Jon Asamoah

Asamoah enters the all-important year three.If he can run block this season as well as he pass blocked last season, the Chiefs could have a Pro Bowler on their hands.

19. Steve Breaston

He chipped in 785 yards last season but only two TDs. To be honest, last year was pretty much par for the course for Breaston. He may not be great but he is incredibly reliable. You can pretty much always count on four catches for around 45-50 yards from him. In 2012, with the addition of KC’s other weapons, Breaston could be dangerous.

20. Jonathan Baldwin

Other than Cassel, there is no other player I’d like to see move up this list. The OTA reports were great but Baldwin just didn’t do enough last year to be higher at this point. On potential, however, the sky is the limit. Go get it son!

21. Javier Arenas

Areanas is playing solid defense and his return average is very good. He is entering a big third year as well. If he can finally break a return or two it could have the Dante Hall effect for the Chiefs.

22. Jovan Belcher

He isn’t overwhelming but he shows up and does a tremendous job helping DJ shutdown the run. He’s not a starter on every NFL team but on a defense this good, Belcher can contribute.

23. Ryan Succop

Succop looked to be heading for disaster early in 2011 but he settled down and continued to be a solid kicker for the Chiefs. You can put your Justin Medlock nightmares on the shelf for a while.

24. Dustin Colquitt

You could arguably put Colquitt higher on this list but it is the offseason and he is the punter. If the Chiefs’ offense can actually move the ball a little bit this season, Colquitt could help tremendously by pinning teams deep. I expect he’ll be moving up.

25. Rodney Hudson

Hudson is a big unknown. He played well in limited time last season but I am still paranoid about having a brand-new center.I still sometimes wake up in a cold sweat yelling “Niswanger!”

26. Ryan Lilja

Has to be better in 2012. I think he will be.

27. Allen Bailey

Big year for Bailey. This is his chance to show the Chiefs they can let either Dorsey or Jackson (and their big salaries) ride off into the sunset. He will likely start the season as a sub-rusher alongside Dontari Poe. He needs to produce.

28. Kevin Boss

He’s a solid blocked and can also snag some balls. He had a down year in Oakland last season but then again, doesn’t everyone play like crap in Oakland? Boss could be very important and is primed for a rise up this list once we get a look at him.

29. Andy Studebaker

Not spectacular but solid. Great motor and a special teams contributor. The anti-Shabby Piscitelli.

30. Devon Wylie

There is a lot of excitement around this kid but is he Dexter McCluster or Wes Welker?

31. Amon Gordon

Gordon won the 2011 Shaun “Perv” Smith award and he didn’t even have to grab anybody’s junk. Don’t scoff at Big #99′s place on this list. He could very well start the season at NT so the team can ease Poe in. He also got a couple of sacks last season, which for a KC defensive lineman is unheard of. He’ll contribute again in 2012.

32. Brandon Siler

We haven’t seen this guy do a damn thing yet as a Chief but we know he has the potential to unseat Belcher. We’ll see.




http://arrowheadaddict.com/2012/07/1...-camp-edition/

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Clever idea, decent points. Although, the "Siler to replace Belcher" comment is so tired. Matt Cassel should be #32 -- who's with me

Sorry for the interruption, you may now return to your Bowe tirades

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by -King-

Wait, so there's a huge dropoff behind an All Pro player? Mind. Blown.
Posted via Mobile Device

So, Sabby?

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by buddha

There is really an argument going on involving Siler vs Belcher? Wow.

Neither one is great, and one could argue that neither is even good by NFL standards.

Isn't our time better spent watching SNR hold his breath until Stanzi gets his big break?

nlm

You're right. Siler and Belcher isn't worthy conversation for a Chiefs football forum. Since their roles with the team are so specialized and unimportant compared to other players, let's not talk about them. Let's not talk about any of the other positions like that, either. In fact, let's just stop talking about football on Chiefs Planet altogether.

Also, who the hell shoved a lobster up your asshole today?

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by -King-

Wait, so there's a huge dropoff behind an All Pro player? Mind. Blown.
Posted via Mobile Device

there's a drop off at every position not just the All Pro players, which there is only like 2 of them on the team. So yeah.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

yes it does. This team lacks depth which means it lacks talent. It has good players on the team but after the really good core homegrown players there is a huge drop off of talent and unknowns that get by based on HYPE and havent even shown a hint of production on the field yet.

You saw this last season when Berry got hurt or Charles. It's no different if DJ or Tamba would go down this season, their depth behind them and the reliance on a guy like DJ Or Tamba, without either, our season is ****ed.

That is lacking talent. Chiefs have been like that for years. Great players with no compliments.

Bullcrap. Every team lacks depth. The Chiefs are comparable to every other team in the league talentwise except at QB.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

there's a drop off at every position not just the All Pro players, which there is only like 2 of them on the team. So yeah.

Give me 10 teams that have better depth than the Chiefs.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

yes it does. This team lacks depth which means it lacks talent. It has good players on the team but after the really good core homegrown players there is a huge drop off of talent and unknowns that get by based on HYPE and havent even shown a hint of production on the field yet.

You saw this last season when Berry got hurt or Charles. It's no different if DJ or Tamba would go down this season, their depth behind them and the reliance on a guy like DJ Or Tamba, without either, our season is ****ed.

That is lacking talent. Chiefs have been like that for years. Great players with no compliments.

When the Packers sustained all those injuries in 2010, they didn't have all this fantastic depth you're implying. They had the "unknowns that get by based on HYPE and havent even shown a hint of production on the field yet":

Desmond Bishop
Charlie Peprah
Sam Shields
James Starks
Andrew Quarless
Bryan Bulaga
Marshall Newhouse

Guess what happened? The unknowns stepped onto the field, and because they were highly touted quality draft picks (like the Chiefs have been acquiring for several years now) they BECAME homegrown talent. And more often than not in the NFL, it takes an injury to a star player to unearth that unproven talent in a player.

There's a huge difference between Eric Berry getting injured with only Slappy Passdaspaghetti backing him up, and Atari Bigby getting injured to be replaced by Charlie Peprah. At a position like OLB or ILB, yes, we'd be ****ed, but at least the youth and talent is there to make a shot at it.

If Tyson Jackson got injured, I'd be comfortable with Allen Bailey. Same goes for one of our CB spots. Or along the offensive line. Or at receiver. We've got a lot of positions backed up with young guys who are ready to play and contribute. Another few years and we'll be just as stocked as those Packers were.

If only we could find a ****ing QB...

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

yes it does. This team lacks depth which means it lacks talent. It has good players on the team but after the really good core homegrown players there is a huge drop off of talent and unknowns that get by based on HYPE and havent even shown a hint of production on the field yet.You saw this last season when Berry got hurt or Charles. It's no different if DJ or Tamba would go down this season, their depth behind them and the reliance on a guy like DJ Or Tamba, without either, our season is ****ed.

That is lacking talent. Chiefs have been like that for years. Great players with no compliments.

Gee, that sounds like pretty much every ****ing team in the league. Teams aren't stacked full of super stud backups.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by RustShack

Well Siler was better in college. Better prospect in the draft talent wise. Was a hell of a lot better stopping the run in limited action in SD. Was used in goal line situations in SD because hes so good against the run. Had better LB's infront of him preventing him from starting. Has the talent to be better against the pass, just needs the chance. He has that chance and coaching here.

So, to recap. Hes already better against the run than Belcher. And has the talent to be better at everything else also, just needs the chance to show he can be.

Siler was a 7th round pick out of an SEC school.

Belcher was a small school DE that was converted to LB after signing as an UDFA.

In San Diego, the ILBs had a legitimate NT in front of them blowing up blockers, allowing both to make tackles and plays, and Siler has been pretty much the same player since he was drafted, and Stephen Cooper wasn't exactly an all pro.

Belcher has improved in each of his 3 seasons, and without a legitimate NT in front, Belcher has been doing the grunt work, blowing up blocks, allowing DJ to make plays.

It is no coincidence that DJ's play has improved at the same time as Belcher play has improved, and he's become more physical.

And even with the fact that he has done outstnding work just blowing up blockers, he also was second on the team to DJ in tackles.

If we get real legitimate NT in front, Belcher will be blowing shit up.

But either way, Siler isn't the physical player that Belcher is, and this defense needs that physical brand of play from the Mike.

[milkman]

I almost stopped reading this tripe when I saw McCluster at #12.

Midgets are overrated everywhere, it seems.

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by -King-

Give me 10 teams that have better depth than the Chiefs.

off the top of my head and in 1.2 seconds I can immediately think of one time, the Cowboys, who have more overall depth. I'm not saying they are better, but they are definitely deeper. I can probably name some more teams but what's the point?

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

yes it does. This team lacks depth which means it lacks talent. It has good players on the team but after the really good core homegrown players there is a huge drop off of talent and unknowns that get by based on HYPE and havent even shown a hint of production on the field yet.

You saw this last season when Berry got hurt or Charles. It's no different if DJ or Tamba would go down this season, their depth behind them and the reliance on a guy like DJ Or Tamba, without either, our season is ****ed.

That is lacking talent. Chiefs have been like that for years. Great players with no compliments.

There's not a team in the league that fields 53 starting quality players, and there's not a team in the league that will be fielding 53 players who aren't unknowns.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

off the top of my head and in 1.2 seconds I can immediately think of one time, the Cowboys, who have more overall depth. I'm not saying they are better, but they are definitely deeper. I can probably name some more teams but what's the point?

Can you name a couple? yeah, probably. But to act as if the Chiefs are deficient in talent compared to the rest of the league is out of touch with reality. A few teams have incredible depth in critical areas, like the Giants. Most don't.

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

off the top of my head and in 1.2 seconds I can immediately think of one time, the Cowboys, who have more overall depth. I'm not saying they are better, but they are definitely deeper. I can probably name some more teams but what's the point?

OL depth is a huge concern for the Cowboys.

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by milkman

Siler was a 7th round pick out of an SEC school.

Belcher was a small school DE that was converted to LB after signing as an UDFA.

In San Diego, the ILBs had a legitimate NT in front of them blowing up blockers, allowing both to make tackles and plays, and Siler has been pretty much the same player since he was drafted, and Stephen Cooper wasn't exactly an all pro.

Belcher has improved in each of his 3 seasons, and without a legitimate NT in front, Belcher has been doing the grunt work, blowing up blocks, allowing DJ to make plays.

It is no coincidence that DJ's play has improved at the same time as Belcher play has improved, and he's become more physical.

And even with the fact that he has done outstnding work just blowing up blockers, he also was second on the team to DJ in tackles.

If we get real legitimate NT in front, Belcher will be blowing shit up.

But either way, Siler isn't the physical player that Belcher is, and this defense needs that physical brand of play from the Mike.

Ya, good post. Belcher is a rangy sideline to sideline type of player, Siler doesn't have that run & hit quickness they get with Belcher.

[RealSNR]

I think some people actually blame Todd Heap eating us alive in the 2010 playoff game on Jovan Belcher. So Brandon Siler comes along and they think, "Awesome! That should fix the coverage problems!"

Our outlet receiver defense isn't going to get any better if Siler or Belcher is starting. Siler will come in and perform the exact same duties that Belcher has been doing for the past two seasons. He'll do a pretty good job I imagine, but shit isn't going to change.