New protection plan
Revamped O-line critical to Chiefs staying on top
Overhauls are usually reserved for bad teams that miss the playoffs, not ones that play in consecutive Super Bowls.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, however, was impelled to dismantle his offensive line after watching Patrick Mahomes run for his life in the Chiefs’ 31-9 shellacking at the hands of the Buccaneers in the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs were 3-point favorites to defend their title but injuries and opt-outs forced them to use a makeshift group, which was steamrolled. By one calculation, Mahomes ran around for nearly 500 yards while trying to escape the Bucs’ relentless pass rush.
So, Veach brought in five new starters to help protect the team’s half-billion dollar investment at quarterback.
He traded for Ravens left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and signed former Patriots guard Joe Thuney, the first player in NFL history to start in the Super Bowl in each of his first three seasons.
The rest of the line hasn’t ever played in the NFL. Center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith are rookies and right tackle Lucas Niang opted out as a rookie in 2020.
“We’ve come together fast,” Niang said. “We’ve got a ways to go, but we’re doing a good job. Everybody’s communicating, getting on the same page.”
Mahomes figures this work-in-progress line will coalesce quickly.
“I mean obviously they’re all really talented,” Mahomes said. “... When everybody is on the same exact page is when you have those truly great offensive lines and great offenses.
“As games are going on, we’re communicating better and better and we’ll continue to improve.”
All the other familiar names are back — Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Clyde Edwards-Helaire — along with an improved defense, making the Chiefs the favorite for a sixth straight AFC West title and maybe a third consecutive trip to the Super Bowl.
No team has ever won six straight AFC West titles, and the division is tougher than it’s been in a half decade.
Broncos revival?
Von Miller says the Broncos finally have the roster like the one he led to a championship parade five years ago.
“We have some of the same players we had last year, but our team looks totally different,” Miller said. “The energy is totally different. I know I get carried away with some of the comments about my teammates, and I have high expectations for my teammates. This year is going to be a great year for our guys.”
That will require big bounce-backs by Miller (ankle), WR Courtland Sutton (knee) and new QB Teddy Bridgewater, who went 4-11 with the Panthers last year.
New look, new luck
By all indications, Brandon Staley had a successful first training camp as Chargers coach. The Bolts didn’t sustain any major injuries during training camp — something they couldn’t say the last two seasons. Staley also stole a page from former boss Sean McVay and didn’t play most of his starters, including quarterback Justin Herbert, during the preseason.
Herbert, the reigning AP offensive rookie of the year, quickly became one of the top young quarterbacks in the league last season, setting a rookie record with 36 TDs.
New offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi’s system, which is more up tempo, should take advantage of Herbert’s strengths behind an offensive line featuring four new starters, including left tackle and first-round pick Rashawn Slater.
On defense, all-purpose safety Derwin James’ return after missing last season (knee) gives the unit a big lift.
Black eye
The Raiders hope offseason changes can boost a defense that allowed the most points per game and second-most yards per play in three seasons since coach Jon Gruden returned.
Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther was fired late last season and Gus Bradley was brought over from the Chargers with a simpler system that should allow the Raiders to be more aggressive.
The defensive line should be better with Yannick Ngakoue teaming with Maxx Crosby on the edge but questions still remain in the secondary.