The Chiefs Look to Give Bowe Help in the Passing Game

Considering he had a muddling quarterback situation, little if any running game to compliment him and was often shaded by the secondary, Dwayne Bowe surprised many with his explosive rookie season.

The 6-2 wide receiver from LSU caught 70 balls for 995 yards and five touchdowns, while proving to be a viable deep threat for a Chiefs offense which needed all the yards they could get. He caught five passes or more in seven games, 70 yards or more in six games and a touchdown in three straight games.

All of that with the likes of Samie Parker or Jeff Webb flanking him on the other side of the field. Pretty impressive, huh?

In his second season, the question now becomes, can he become a pro-bowl type wide receiver for KC, which hasn’t had one since 1998, when Andre Rison made the trip to Honolulu? A Pro Bowl selection seems far-fetched at this point, but with the Chiefs figuring to be behind in many of their games, Bowe should certainly get an opportunity, if he stays healthy, to eclipse last season’s numbers.

Tight end Tony Gonzalez will do what he always does and open up space in the middle. The Chiefs though, need a second downfield threat to take double teams away from Bowe.

 Devard Darling will get the first chance to be that guy. In appearing in 16 games with Baltimore last season, Darling caught 18 balls for 326 yards, which equates to an 18 yards per catch average; Bowe’s was 14.2.

Also figuring into the mix is rookie Will Franklin from Missouri, who’s been impressive so far in the preseason. Through the very early stages of his career, Franklin appears to be more of a slot receiver however.

No offense to Johnnie Morton or Eddie Kennison or Derrick Alexander but this is the first legitimate wide receiver in the Chiefs’ organization since Rison in 1998 and that may even be a stretch. 

All he needs is a little help.

Darling may be the answer or even Franklin at some point. Gonzalez only has so much in the tank, which is too bad because the Chiefs wasted his hall of fame career.

It’s too way too early to tell if Bowe’s career will be a hall of fame one, in fact it’s ridiculous to think that.

But let’s just hope the Chiefs get Bowe some help and find a way to not make waste the new, big talent.