Kansas City Chiefs: Creating the Blueprint for Optimal Offense in 2015

The Kansas City Chiefs entered the 2015 offseason knowing that the team needed to make adjustments at the offensive line and wide receiver in order to build a better offense. General manager John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid did exactly that this offseason.

The Chiefs signed Jeremy Maclin and brought back Jason Avant, both who were drafted by Reid in Philadelphia. Maclin reunites with Reid while Avant, who joined midseason last year, gets to spend his first full offseason with the Chiefs, allowing him to get to know his teammates through offseason training and in training camp.

During the draft, the Chiefs picked up Chris Conley, who caught eight touchdowns during his senior year at Georgia.

As for the offensive line, the Chiefs acquired Ben Grubbs in a trade and signed Paul Fanaika, both allowing one sack each in 2014. Kansas City added more muscle in the second round of the draft when it drafted former Missouri Tiger Mitch Morse, a versatile offensive lineman who is suited to do well as a center in the NFL.

The departure of center Rodney Hudson is the team’s only major loss as the offense returns running back Jamaal Charles, tight end Travis Kelce and fullback Anthony Sherman, all who are tabbed as either the best or among some of the best at their respective positions.

In football, it has been said that a good offense helps a good defense, and vice versa.

Last season, Kansas City’s worst point differential in a game came in Week 1 against the Titans when the Chiefs lost by 16 points in a 26-10 game. The Chiefs faced Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers twice while also going up against Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick and Ben Roethlisberger. But the defense never allowed more than 29 points in a game in 2014.

Kansas City’s defense kept the team competitive in every game, never allowing a blowout loss and always staying within two possessions.

The Chiefs know the defense will dominate again, but the offense has to match the defense’s success. If the offense does so, Kansas City will be a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.

Quarterback Alex Smith received plenty of excuses from fans. Smith was sacked 45 times, tying for the fourth most in the league, while not being able to connect with a wide receiver in the end zone.

With better offensive linemen and receivers, Smith has no excuses in 2015. He arguably has one of the best set of offensive players to work with and must take advantage of the talent around him.

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Running back and fullback

Sherman is a top-notch blocker who also comes through in the passing game. Ranked as the No. 1 fullback on Pro Football Focus, Sherman is a well-balanced player who can block, catch and run whenever asked.

Sherman is a huge reason for Charles’ success, who uses his breakaway speed to beat defenses.

Behind Charles, the Chiefs have two scatbacks in Knile Davis and De’Anthony Thomas. Both backups have showcased their speed as return specialist, Davis returning a kickoff and Thomas taking a punt back for a touchdown last year.

On offense, the Chiefs will want to use both running backs more and take advantage of their speed.

Wide receivers

Maclin had a breakout season returning form an injury and the Chiefs hope he puts up even better numbers. Avant has never been a key player, but he will serve as a serviceable No. 2 receiver.

At the same time, the Chiefs have a bright-eyed player in Albert Wilson, who has tremendous speed and showed some flashes late last year.

If Smith can spread the ball and utilize his pass-catchers well, Wilson will have a chance to turn last season’s late flash into consistency. Conley is another player to keep an eye on as Kansas City traded up for him in the third round. Thomas, while also a running back, will line up as a receiver at times.

Tight end

Kelce led the team in catches, receiving yards and touchdown grabs, basically coming through when the offense needed a pass-catcher. His speed impressed plenty of fans after a knee injury kept him on the sideline for his rookie campaign in 2013.

With Maclin on the team, defenses must pick their poison. Kelce and Maclin will both make each other better, allowing the other to free up, get open and make a big catch to move the chains and eventually score.

Already joining the ranks of Rob Gronkowski and Jason Witten and a couple of others, Kelce is the fourth best-rated tight end on Pro Football Focus.

Smith loves passing to tight ends, and Chiefs rookie James O'Shaughnessy can expect some passes to be thrown in his direction this season.

Offensive line

To open the season, the Chiefs may start with Eric Fisher at left tackle, Grubbs at left guard, Morse in the middle and Donald Stephenson at far right. As for right guard, the Chiefs can use Jeff Allen, a versatile blocker who missed the 2014 season. Zach Fulton is also a viable candidate after he was thrown in as an immediate starter, despite being a sixth-round draft pick, due to injuries. Fanaika is also an option as he saw some success last year with the Cardinals.

While Grubbs is an elite guard, the rest remain a mystery.

Fisher has yet to come together going into his third year. Morse is a rookie that has to prove himself. Stephenson’s four-game suspension limited him in his playing time for 2014. Allen missed all of last year and is currently in competition with two other players.

The offense will be good depending on how the offensive line and Smith do. If the Chiefs get better blocking this year and if Smith takes advantage of the protection and better position players around him, then the Chiefs’ offense will be competitive on game days.

For Reid, there is no doubt that a big part of his focus is on improving the line. If the line does well, the Chiefs can utilize some of the top players they have and light up the scoreboard, giving them a greater chance to compete with Denver for the AFC West title.

Follow @Farzin21