Can The Chiefs Have an Atlanta and Miami-Like Turnaround?

It's not a secret—there's so much parity in the NFL that teams can go from rags to riches in a couple of seasons. After massive regime changes and major overhauls in player personnel, Miami and Atlanta did it last season.

Signs are indicating that the Kansas City Chiefs may be the next team to have a substantial turnaround in the win/loss column. Though they still have some question marks, they have addressed many of last season's key weaknesses using the Donald Trump strategy; "you're fired!"

Bye, King Carl. Welcome, Mr. Pioli.

Have fun in the booth, Herm. Good luck, Coach Haley.

Sorry Tyler Thigpen, but it's back to the bench. We're trying to build a Cassel. 

All you young guys—you finally have some veterans to learn from. 

Kansas City had to continue to learn from history and follow Atlanta's and Miami's leads. After the Mike Vick fiasco in Atlanta and the quarterback reshuffle in Miami, the Falcons and 'Phins determined the importance of the most vital position on the field.

Matt Ryan saved Atlanta. Chad Pennington drove Miami.

OK, so Matt Cassel played on the Patriots with Randy Moss and Wes Welker. He also had a better offensive line, though it did allow 48 sacks last season, compared with Kansas City's 37 sacks allowed.

Does Cassel have the weapons in Kansas City? Let's take a look.

Dwayne Bowe's a rising superstar. Sure he dropped some balls, but there's no questioning his athleticism and potential. Please just look at the stats before all the Bowe bashing. In two seasons, he's caught 156 passes for 2017 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Beyond Bowe, the skill positions do have some uncertainty, but they also have potential and hope.

Chiefs fans can hope that not-so-sure-handed Mark Bradley performs well opposite Bowe. He has speed and playmaking ability. He and Bowe will also have a mentor in veteran Bobby Engram. Engram might just light a fire in these guys. 

Brad Cottam, who's replacing Tony Gonzalez at tight end, at 6' 8", is a big guy who can block. He also didn't look too bad when asked to catch passes. He impressed Gonzalez, who once compared Cottam with Neo from the movie The Matrix.

Haley's scheme in Arizona didn't require much pass-catching from the tight end, so that ultimately may have made Gonzalez expendable. Either way, Cottam has the tools to succeed. 

Now it's on to running back. Larry Johnson—Kansas City's T.O. He likes money, and his best opportunity to make money is in Kansas City. I'll say it; Johnson has matured. He's going to have a good year. He needs to and he knows he's done if he doesn't.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Chiefs can only get better. There's no way they will only record 10 sacks. With a move to the 3-4, the linebackers should be able to provide some extra pressure on the passer. 

Herm Edwards wanted all young guys. He did so with the expectation that they'd develop and, ultimately, grow up. Well, it's time that this defense grows up.

This year, the defense will have veterans like Zach Thomas and Mike Vrabel to help jump start that growth, not only with the young guys and draft choices, but also with already talented players like Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali.  

Indeed, the defensive backs grew up last season. The Brandon tandem, Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr, performed well beyond expectation at corner. They can't regress this season if the Chiefs want to have a shot.

Let's not be too hard on Edwards. His defense itself could have filled a hospital last season with all the injuries it suffered. He was forced to not only bring in, but actually start, numerous journeyman players.

A healthier defense is a better defense, and anyone who's played fantasy football for more than one season knows luck with injuries runs in cycles. Perhaps the Chiefs will have some luck this season.

Kansas City has a reason to be cautiously optimistic. All the above factors have to work out perfectly for the Chiefs to make the playoffs.

If the offensive line fails to protect Matt Cassel, if the newly-acquired veterans don't provide some experience and leadership, if the wide receivers get complacent, if Brad Cottam doesn't become recognizable, if L.J. isn't motivated, or if the defense doesn't grow up, it could be another long season at Arrowhead.  

But after the Jay Cutler trade in Denver, Oakland's Al Davis surprising no one with a speed-influenced botched pick, and San Diego's history of under-performing, the AFC West is wide open.

Maybe, just maybe, the Chiefs will become the new leader of the pack.