http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/712184.html1. Solidify the offensive line
The Chiefs can’t afford to have this area drag them down to the depths as it did last season. With three new starters in Branden Albert, Rudy Niswanger and Adrian Jones and a fourth in a new position in Damion McIntosh, it’s essential that they work together in practice as much as possible. Otherwise, chances for dramatic improvement are slim.
2. Get Croyle comfortable
The Chiefs must play to the strengths of quarterback Brodie Croyle in their new offensive system. Croyle lost all of his starts last season and didn’t have much personal success, so his confidence isn’t soaring. They need him going into the season feeling good about himself. If he’s not, he could struggle at the first hint of trouble.
3. Re-establish Larry Johnson as the featured back
With his holdout, offensive-line troubles and his broken foot, last season was a nightmare for Johnson. It’s no coincidence the Chiefs lost all eight games without him. Their hopes for dramatic improvement hinge on their ability to do what Johnson did so well in 2005 and 2006: Give opposing defenses something to fear.
4. Make Tamba Hali the man
The Chiefs won’t ask Hali to replace all of the sack production lost when they traded Jared Allen. But much of their hope for defensive improvement hinges on Hali’s ability to reach double digits in sacks. He has the skills. He, not Allen, led the Chiefs in sacks in 2006. But he needs to finish better. He lost some sacks last season when he let the QB out of his grasp.
5. Make good special-teams decisions
The Chiefs made bad choices last year when they picked Eddie Drummond to return kickoffs and punts, and first Justin Medlock and later Dave Rayner as their place-kicker. They need this year’s return specialist, either B.J. Sams or rookie Kevin Robinson, to provide better field position and the occasional touchdown. They need their kicker, Nick Novak or Connor Barth, to be far more dependable.
