GRETZ: Off-Season Look: Offense

Jun 24, 2005, 6:04:09 AM by Bob Gretz - FAQ

In the days before the Chiefs held their mini-camp last week, Dick Vermeil said he was more concerned at that point about his record-setting offense than he was about his defense that has produced such horrible results over the last two seasons.

That statement surely brought a few guffaws around the National Football League. Sure, the Chiefs had a number of key offensive contributors watching the off-season work, rather than participating. And, they lost two weapons from last year, RB Derrick Blaylock and WR Johnnie Morton.

But the reality is this: the Chiefs offense in 2005 should be as good, maybe even better than it was in 2004, 2003 or 2002. There’s more experience, more depth and more talent at offensive coordinator Al Saunders’ disposal than any other time over the last five seasons.

Saunders was pleased with the off-season work that began many weeks ago and wrapped up yesterday with the rookies.

“I’m very happy with how we worked,” he said. “We were able to install the core of your offense and we were able to give the new faces an introduction to our terminology and techniques. They got an idea of the tempo that we work at in practice.”

Missing most of the work was a trio of Pro Bowl linemen, Will Shields, Willie Roaf and Brian Waters, along with Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez. That’s what raised Vermeil’s concern. But in the case of Roaf and Shields especially, Saunders wasn’t worried.

“I heard Bill Rogers the marathoner say something years ago that I’ve never forgotten,” said Saunders. “He said when you’ve been training for a long time, rest is the best recovery. It’s as important as the training itself. I think with Will and Willie, we know what they are capable of doing.

“If we had all those guys missing and we were putting in a new system or we were only in the second season with it, then it would have been a problem. I don’t think it should set us back at all. It gave some of the other guys a lot of snaps in practice and hopefully the other guys will be fresher for the start of the season.”

Here’s a look at the Chiefs offensive roster and where they are better.

OFFENSIVE LINE: At the start of last season, the Chiefs were trying to figure out who was going to be John Tait’s replacement at right tackle. A year later, they are still searching for a starting right tackle.

Yet, the offensive line situation is better than last year for several reasons. John Welbourn came over from Philadelphia in a trade, but was still nursing an injured knee. That’s not the case this year, as Welbourn has gone through the OTA practices and mini-camp and seemed to move without any problems while playing guard. He also displayed the feisty attitude that made him something less than a defensive lineman’s favorite over in the NFC.

At this time last year, Jordan Black had not played. But thrown into the action last year, he responded and showed that he has a future with the Chiefs and in the league. He’s in the mix to start at right tackle.

And so is second-year man Kevin Sampson, who wasn’t even part of the picture when the Chiefs went to camp last year. A seventh-round choice that battled a history of neck stingers during his college career at Syracuse, Sampson wasn’t even on most people’s radar screens. But he ended up making the roster and has continued to develop. Some people around Arrowhead think Sampson is the favorite to open the season at right tackle.

Last year, the Chiefs had six blockers they could count on: the starters and backup Chris Bober. This year, they have eight blockers they can count on and that doesn’t count Brett Williams, who Saunders said has improved a lot over the off-season.

As long as there’s no drop off in the play of Roaf and Shields in their 13th seasons, this group will be even stronger this season than last year.

BACKS: Priest Holmes is healthy. Tony Richardson is healthy. Larry Johnson is healthy. It’s all good in the backfield and improved over last year with the play of Johnson. He showed at end of last season the talents that made him a first-round draft choice. That progress continued through the off-season. He’s more aware of his role in the offense, running with more power and catching the ball. His offensive talents exceed those of Blaylock, who left in free agency for the New York Jets.

The battle for the No. 3 running back spot will depend on special teams play and will come down to a fight between journeyman Dee Brown, first-year man Jonathan Smith and rookie free agent Sam Gado out of Liberty University.

Gado has caught the eye of Saunders.

“He’s got some talent,” said Saunders. “He’s intelligent and he’s a hard worker. He’s got a chance.”

The backup fullback spot looks like it will fall to veteran Robert Holcombe, who did earlier stints in St. Louis and Tennessee. There really isn’t any other competition for the job.

The quarterback situation remains the same. As long as Trent Green remains healthy and able to take the snaps each week, the backfield remains a real Chiefs strength.

RECEIVERS: Both Gonzalez and Eddie Kennison are coming off the best seasons of their career. Gonzalez was able to rack up his record setting numbers despite the foot problem that led to off-season surgery. His rehab is on schedule and he’ll be ready for the start of training camp. Kennison did not miss any of the off-season work.

Samie Parker has returned for his second season and displayed a grasp of the offense, the ability to run proper routes and he’s catching the football. Those flashes he showed at the end of last season have continued and there seems little question he will get the bulk of the snaps as the No. 2 wideout.

Slowly, Kris Wilson seems to be returning to the form he displayed last year until a now outlawed horse collar tackle in the final pre-season game left him with a broken leg that took away most of his regular season. It will probably take some game action, where Wilson gets knocked around a bit and comes away from the contact fine before he feels completely confident that he’s beyond the injury. He made progress in the off-season work as his chances to work with Green were enhanced because Gonzalez watched the workouts. If he returns to his pre-injury abilities, he’s going to be a major factor in the offense. Working in concert with Gonzalez, Saunders has two pass catching interior receivers that create big match up problems for defenders.

Jason Dunn should return as the blocking tight end, but there’s a real battle brewing for the receiving spots after Dante Hall. That’s two positions with Marc Boerigter, Chris Horn, Freddie Mitchell, Craphonso Thorpe, Richard Smith, Jeris McIntyre and Darrell Hill in the competition. Boerigter has to be a favorite for one spot, largely due to his special teams work and ability to be a pass catcher in the scoring zone because of his size.

Right now, Mitchell is a veteran security blanket for the Chiefs, should Parker falter. But for Mitchell to make the 53-man roster, he will have to play special teams. Last year, he contributed one tackle in the kicking game for the Eagles.

Should Wilson and Parker continue their progress, the Chiefs will be better at receiver in 2005.

The opinions offered in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs.

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A former beat reporter who covered the Pittsburgh Steelers during their glory years, Gretz covered the Chiefs for the Kansas City Star for nine years. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Board of Selectors. He has been the senior columnist for the Chiefs web site since its inception.