This is the year that RB Larry Johnson finally starts for the whole season and gets down with his bad self.  BUT WAIT!  The offensive line isn’t the same with the losses of Willie Roaf and John Welbourn and a slimmed down Kyle Turley trying to come back after taking a few years off to, umm, I don’t know what – which is pretty much what we can all expect from Turley as the season approaches.  So, how badly will this affect Johnson?

It won’t.

Johnson is everything you’d want in a RB – big, fast, goes in and out, can crush a linebacker or outsprint a safety (and vice versa).  As long as Johnson can stay healthy, he will reap the benefits of new HC Herm Edwards’ philosophy of getting a lead and keeping it safe by pounding the rock down the opposing D’s throats and control the clock.  I couldn’t think of a better back to do that than Johnson.

Of course, this more conservative style of play will need some getting used to by QB Trent Green, TE Tony Gonzalez, and speed receivers, Eddie Kennison and Samie Parker.  Things haven’t been all that great during the preseason, but I’m sure these vets will adjust and take advantage of all the attention of the defense being on Johnson. 

Speaking of defense, the Chiefs’ D should be better this season, even if, again, it is a bit more conservative.  No more blitz, blitz, blitz.  And that may be good for LBs Kawika Mitchell and Derrick Johnson as they’ll be able to concentrate more on getting to the ball and using their sideline-to-sideline speed.  DE Jared Allen is a beast and is basically doing it all by his lonesome on the D-line.  Hopefully, rookie Tamba Hali gets it done on the other side and really puts some pressure on the QB.  The Chiefs signed Ty Law to combo with Patrick Surtain at the CB spots and both are of the “cagey vet” sort, but more importantly Pro-Bowl quality.  This defense should be a lot better.

The Chiefs are playoff caliber on paper, but the offense will need to jell with the new philosophy.  Can they do it?  I truly believe the D gets better and like the chances of Derrick Johnson showing his stuff the way he did in college.  In the end, the team is too much of a conundrum for me, so I’ll have to place them third in the division.