The Kansas City Chiefs ended up with the number one overall pick in the NFL draft after going just 2-14 last season and after going through some wholesale changes under new head coach Andy Reid, the team looked solid in its first preseason game and so did quarterback Alex Smith.
The Chiefs acquired Smith in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for a very important second round draft pick and the team felt it was a huge upgrade from Matt Cassel last season and the 49ers felt it was time to give Colin Kaepernick the starting job for good after he took the job last season from Smith. The Chiefs loved what they saw from Smith during the offseason and in training camp and the progress under Reid showed in the first preseason game, as he only missed on one pass and finished going 7p-fp8 for 68 yards and led the team on a long 80-yard scoring drive that finished with a touchdown.
The Chiefs struggled in the passing game last season and need to be much more consistent on offense and with Jamaal Charles at running back the passing offense is the one that needs to pick up the slack. Smith looked very sharp in the game and the team is relying on him to put up numbers like he did back with the 49ers when he led them to the NFC championship game. The Chiefs are in an interesting position as a 2-14 team, as they made a number of big changes and could go from worst to a playoff spot after adding Smith as well as Eric Fisher with the number one pick and Sean Smith and Dunta Robinson at corner.
Charles should be a big fantasy and reality producer this season in the running and the passing game and he ended up with three catches for nearly 30 yards in the game and that could be a precursor to what he does in the offense this season. Reid may try to use him like LeSean McCoy and the head coach also likely will use Dexter McCluster in a more expansive role, including on special teams. In the preseason game he had a 55-yard punt return and that showed off his speed, which is something Reid loves to have in the slot and out of the backfield. The team may not make it into the playoffs, but they should be much improved from the 2-14 they were last season.
2013 PRESEASON SCHEDULE
WK DATE OPPONENT RESULT/TIME (ET) RESOURCES
2 Fri, Aug 16
vs
San Francisco
8:00 PM
3 Sat, Aug 24
@
Pittsburgh
7:30 PM
4 Thu, Aug 29
vs
Green Bay
8:00 PM
