The Miami pre-season 24-0 loss hurt like a regular season loss. The Chicago 24-20 pre-season win felt like a regular season win. The Arizona pre-season 27-17 loss felt like a pre-season game. When I finally arrived home at 3:30am Sunday morning, I realized that none of them really counted and yet, I was hoping the team would play better Thursday night in the Governor's Cup game against the Rams.
I also was thinking on the early morning drive home from KCI (is 3AM the night before or is it the next day..it always seems in between to me) what do I really know about the 2008 Chiefs and what don't I know? Here is what I think I know:
1. Chan Gailey's offense, play calling and game planning gives the Chiefs and Brodie Croyle a chance to be competitive. The Miami game notwithstanding, I've seen enough of this scheme to realize that it plays to the strengths of Larry Johnson, Tony Gonzalez and Dwayne Bowe. It also gives the young players a chance to contribute much sooner than last year's offense.
2. Derrick Johnson is good and can be great if he can be consistent this year. The Chiefs biggest defensive plays in the pre-season games and practices have usually been provided by DJ. He needs some help in that category.
3. The 2008 rookie class is talented and may even be better than originally thought. Glenn Dorsey is starting to come on at defensive tackle. Brandon Flowers is the best cornerback the Chiefs have had since the Carter/Hasty days. TE Brad Cottam was doing very good things before his injury. RB Jamaal Charles was doing very good things before his injury. WR Will Franklin was doing very good things before his injury. OT Brandon Albert was doing very good things before his injury. Now, they just all need to get healthy and back on the field. S DaJuan Morgan is as impressive as Flowers. RB Dantrell Savage still could be the steal of the class. He looks like one of the better college free agents the Chiefs have had in a while.
However, the regular season starts at New England two weeks from me writing this blog and there is much I/we don't know about this team. That list includes:
1. How this young team will hold up against the rigors of a 17 week grind. Let's hope the famed "rookie wall" is not the Great Wall of China.
2. The entire linebacking corps sans Derrick Johnson (see 2 above) has had its struggles this pre-season. Donnie Edwards and Demorrio Williams injuries, uncertainty at the Mike backer position and lack of progress from back-ups presents Gunther Cunningham one of the greatest challenges of his long NFL coaching career.
3. How will the offensive line progress? The injuries to Brandon Albert and Damion McIntosh have thrown off cohesion and placed young hopefuls Herb Taylor and Barry Richardson into the fight a little prematurely.
The Rams and the Governors Cup loom on the immediate horizon (who has the Governors Cup?) but my gaze is to the east and a daunting trip to meet the Patriots in two weeks.
