As the Chiefs prepare for their season opener Sunday with a four-headed backfield of Jamaal Charles, Charcandrick West, Spencer Ware and Knile Davis, they are doing so with the understanding that all of them will get ample opportunities to make plays in Reid’s offense. How confident are you that they’ll take home the division crown? If you keep him in there, he’ll go 8,000 miles an hour. Steven Nelson, a third-round draft pick out of Oregon State a year ago could be that cornerback, particularly with the recent trade of Marcus Cooper to the Arizona Cardinals.
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Philip Rivers looked terrific during the limited action that he saw but if I were to choose the Most Valuable Player of the preseason, it was definitely Melvin Gordon. The four-time Pro Bowl selection has been practicing for weeks but did not participate in any preseason games as he works his way back to game speed.
Charles has been trying to come back from his second ACL surgery, this time to his right knee. “I mean, we have smart coaches”. Coach Andy Reid called it unlikely Charles would play Sunday.
But Houston, who returned an interception for a touchdown against the Chargers last season, begins the season on the physically unable to perform list and won’t return until at least October.
Meanwhile, Berry missed most of training camp after negotiations on a long-term contract broke down and he refused to sign his franchise tender. If Te’o and Perryman fill the running lanes and tackle with force, the Chargers should be able to force the Chiefs into passing the football more than they would like.
One day into the National Football League season and I’m already concerned about the Chiefs’ chances at the AFC West.
The defending NFC Champions are still one of the best teams in the league on both sides of the ball. Two of Smith’s favorite targets return in Jeremy Maclin (1,088 yards, eight TDs) and tight end Travis Kelce (875, five) and he will benefit from having Charles back soon, if not on Sunday. But Charles has yet to regain the featured back role he had before the injury. He’s been pretty dang consistent over two seasons so I’d expect another 70 catches and 800-something yards. Records from previous year show that Melvin Gordon did not record a single TD score all through and as such the San Diego Chargers desperately needs him to be up and doing.
“We lost a lot of guys last year – well, this year – so we’ve got to pick it up”, Peters said. Reid and new offensive coordinators Brad Childress and Matt Nagy will instead go with the hot hand.
In both instances, the transition has been relatively seamless.
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2016 is a new season for San Diego though.
