Envisioning Kansas City Chiefs' Starting Lineup for 2015 Season
With the exception of one—maybe two—free-agent additions, the Kansas City Chiefs have completed their offseason after an active free-agency period and a strong draft.
Going into the 2015 season, the Chiefs have a lot of positive things to build off, such as having one of the league's best at each of running back, full back and tight end. On the other side, the Chiefs have a dangerous defense, which consisted of a league-leading sacker, a group of defensive backs whom pleasantly surprised the Chiefs and a unit that finished second against the pass.
Though the defense was weak against the run and was without inside linebacker Derrick Johnson, defensive end Mike DeVito and safety Eric Berry, it never surrendered 30 or more points in a game last year.
General manager John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid found a couple of pieces to help complete the puzzle, filling in some holes and forming a more complete football team.
Here is what Kansas City's Week 1 starters will look like.
Quarterback
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Starter: Alex Smith
The starting quarterback is an obvious one. The Chiefs traded two second-round draft picks for Alex Smith back in 2013 when Reid and Dorsey arrived to take over the franchise.
2014 was one of the toughest seasons for Smith, as he was sacked 45 times, the most in his career. He also had little help from his wide receivers, going the entire season without throwing a touchdown pass to any of them after completing 11 to nearly the same receiving corps the year before.
Reid and Dorsey still believe in Smith, as they spent the entire offseason bringing in plenty of players on offense to help improve the unit and also give Smith more to work with on the field.
Smith was given a free pass in 2014 because of the limited talent around him. Now, he has what he needs in order to succeed.
Running Back
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Starter: Jamaal Charles
Yet another obvious starter on the team at the running back spot in Jamaal Charles, who saw significantly fewer touches last year than he did in 2013.
Charles has carried the offense the past two years, but he won't be the lone leader anymore. With an improved receiving corps and experience at tight end, Charles will now become one of multiple leaders on offense.
With that said, Charles will still be used in the rushing and passing games.
Knile Davis and De'Anthony Thomas are two running backs who possess breakaway speed. In a system in which Reid likes to use running backs in the passing game, Davis and Thomas will help relieve Charles and can help do damage against defenses.
Fullback
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Starter: Anthony Sherman
The fullback position is a dying breed in the NFL, but not in Kansas City.
Anthony Sherman has become the team's best fullback since Tony Richardson. Like Richardson, Sherman's run-blocking ability is a huge reason for Charles' dominance the past two years.
Again, similar to Richardson, Sherman's main duty on the field is to block, as he gets a limited amount of touches but still comes through when he has the ball in his hands.
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Wide Receiver
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Starters: Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant
Jeremy Maclin, without question, is the clear No. 1 wideout. With Dwayne Bowe's release, we have our first unknown at a starting position, and it comes at a spot where the team struggled the most last year.
Jason Avant and Albert Wilson are the two most likely choices.
Avant is the ideal player to begin the season as a starter because of his experience and familiarity with Reid. Avant was picked up midway through the 2014 season and was unable to make a significant impact. With an entire offseason in Kansas City, however, Avant can spend time with Smith during OTAs and training camp as the two look to build some chemistry on the field.
With Maclin on board, he will open up the field more and allow Charles, Avant, Travis Kelce and other teammates to get open in addition to him improving the position.
Tight End
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Starter: Travis Kelce
Kelce, who was briefly mentioned in the previous slide, is expected to start all 16 games after splitting some starts last year with Anthony Fasano, who is now with the Titans. Kelce led the Chiefs in receptions, touchdown catches and receiving yards, being the only tight end in the NFL to lead his team in each of those categories.
After missing the entire 2013 season due to an injury, 2014 was essentially Kelce's rookie campaign, and he did not fail to impress—especially when the offense needed to get the passing game going.
Whether it is catching or blocking, Kelce has already propelled himself into being one of the best tight ends in the league, right behind Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski.
Offensive Line
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Starters
Left tackle: Eric Fisher
Left guard: Ben Grubbs
Center: Mitch Morse
Right guard: Paul Fanaika
Right tackle: Donald Stephenson
The offensive line had trouble before the start of last year. After Branden Albert, Geoff Schwartz and Jon Asamoah signed with other teams, injuries took place and Donald Stephenson was hit with a four-game suspension, forcing the Chiefs to use then-rookie Zach Fulton (a sixth-round draft pick), Ryan Harris and Mike McGlynn.
Kansas City now has a much better line going into this season, with Ben Grubbs and Paul Fanaika being key additions before the draft. During the draft, the Chiefs selected Mitch Morse from Missouri, who is likely to be the only offensive rookie to start for the team in Week 1.
Eric Fisher continues to have more downs than ups. He spent his rookie year as a right tackle and shifted to left in 2014. If he does not step up in 2015, his third year, Dorsey and Reid have to accept the fact that they missed with their first ever draft pick and must seek a new tackle the following offseason.
Defensive Line
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Starters
Left end: Allen Bailey
Nose tackle: Dontari Poe
Right end: Mike DeVito
DeVito was a key asset to the Chiefs against the run in 2013. He suffered an Achilles injury in Week 1 of last year, forcing him to miss the rest of the season as Allen Bailey took over at right end.
Bailey rose to the occasion, finishing with five sacks, fourth on the team behind Pro Bowlers Dontari Poe, Tamba Hali and Justin Houston.
DeVito agreed to a pay cut earlier this offseason, while Bailey earned a contract extension during the 2014 season. The Chiefs will want to use both defensive ends and may shift Bailey to the left side. These two are the best defensive ends on the team. Don't be surprised if Reid tries to use one of them to play a position he may not be used to.
Poe continues to be the most important defensive player on the team, having a big hand in Hali and Houston's dominance against quarterbacks.
Poe anchors a strong front seven—possibly the best in the NFL.
With this defensive line, quarterbacks must have great blocking, and running backs will need to avoid great defenders in the trenches.
Linebacker
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Starters
Inside linebackers: Derrick Johnson and Josh Mauga
Outside linebackers: Tamba Hali and Justin Houston
Johnson was heavily missed last year, as he suffered an Achilles injury to start the season. Kansas City will need him to improve from its 28th-ranked rush defense. With Johnson and DeVito back, the defense will do better in that area.
Josh Mauga had some flashes in 2014 but needs to be more consistent. With Johnson beside him, he will learn from one of the best inside linebackers in the league and should see improvement.
Hali and Houston have a long list of offensive tackles they have beaten and a list of quarterbacks whom they have managed to distress.
With three of the four linebackers being Pro Bowlers and regarded as some of the best at their positions, the Chiefs are going to continue to have one of the best defenses in the NFL, especially with their leader in Johnson returning.
Secondary
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Starters
Strong safety: Eric Berry (or Ron Parker)
Free safety: Husain Abdullah
Cornerbacks: Marcus Peters and Phillip Gaines
I would have put Sean Smith instead of Marcus Peters, which is a surprise to many of you since Peters is a first-round draft pick.
While Peters may be the most talented cornerback coming out of the draft, the transition from college to the NFL is the toughest for cornerbacks, behind the quarterbacks.
With an underrated corner in Smith, he will for sure start in Week 1 unless he is hit with a suspension stemming from a DUI charge from 2014.
If Smith has to miss the first couple of games, then Peters will be thrown in early.
There is no doubt that Peters will succeed, but given the challenge for rookie corners, the ideal transition for Peters would be to start as a nickel cornerback behind an underrated Smith and Phillip Gaines, who had a solid rookie season last year. Then, Peters would build his way up and start midway through the season.
Husain Abdullah saw improvement in 2014 after a quiet 2013 season.
As for Eric Berry, he is listed as a starter. If he has not been cleared to play, Ron Parker will most likely fill in after serving better as a safety rather than a corner in 2014. Tyvon Branch, who joined after spending seven years with the Raiders, will be active and see plenty of time on defense.
Special Teams
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Starters
Kicker: Cairo Santos
Punter: Dustin Colquitt
Long snapper: James Winchester
Thomas Gafford was a good quality long snapper for seven seasons and has moved on to the Chicago Bears. It is uncertain what the Chiefs will do now at this spot.
James Winchester and Jorgen Hus are the likely candidates, but neither has any NFL regular-season experience.
Each has participated in OTAs and training camps but was cut shortly after being signed. In the end, one is likely to take the spot at long snapper. If Morse can start right away at center on offense, and the Chiefs are unhappy with both Winchester and Hus, Eric Kush might be a possible candidate on special teams.
Punter Dustin Colquitt will continue for the Chiefs, as Cairo Santos looks to get off to a better start after missing two of his first four field goals as a rookie.
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