Friday Thoughts: Free Agency and The Denver Broncos

Chief Concerns: Connor Dawson

Many of you readers know that I play college baseball. My head coach and hitting coach just happen to be huge fans of the New England Patriots. My other hitting coach has Brandon Weeden as his best friend and my pitching coach is, unfortunately, a Denver Broncos fan. It is safe to say that football has been a huge conversation piece in the last few days.

With the Patriots picking players up like they are the New York Yankees, they are already my favorite to win next year’s Super Bowl. My hitting coach’s best bud Brandon Weeden is probably going to end up in the bottom of the division and my pitching coaches beloved Broncos are projected by most to win an AFC West title.

What I am trying to get at is there is a new season coming. Free agency is in full-throttle and the draft is approaching quickly. Teams like the Chiefs still need to find an Inside Linebacker. The Buffalo Bills have no quarterback and the Vikings have Matt Cassel. Okay, maybe that last one was uncalled for. But, regardless, there are a lot of teams that need players in certain spots.

Obviously, the Chiefs want to win the AFC West title from the Broncos this coming season. With the Broncos picking up Wes Welker and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, they will be a force this coming year. Not to mention that the Broncos have the easiest schedule in the NFL in 2013. The Chiefs need to continue to work in free agency to address as much of our needs as they can so that they can draft for best player available. This leaves many of you may wonder: How do the Chiefs stack up right now versus the Broncos? Here’s your answer.

Offense

The Chiefs are not as powerful offensivly as the Broncos. Denver has Peyton Manning who will throw to three of the best this season in Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, and Eric Decker. The Chiefs may not be as powerful but they are just as potent in my eyes. With a guy like Jamaal Charles, there is no way you can count the Chiefs out as an offensive threat. The offenses will score points, but chances are that the Broncos put more up than the Chiefs.

Defense

The offensive lines are both very solid and will provide protection from defenses. The Broncos defensive line took a hit today with the loss of Elvis Dumervil so that helps the Chiefs quite a bit. I still don’t think that the Chiefs line up on the same level as Denver right now on the defensive line though. I think later in the season they will be comparable but our defensive line is far too young and raw to be considered a threat right now.

At linebacker both teams are incredible. I give the edge to the Chiefs though just based on the fact that we had three Pro-Bowl linebackers last season. To me, the linebackers will make or break this game. Whichever Outside Linebacker gets to the Quarterback the most will win this ball game. The secondaries will be tough to beat on both sides. Although getting older, Champ Bailey is still a factor. And with the Chiefs, having Sean Smith added into the equation creates a whole new dynamic in this game. This game will be decided by the defenses, that I know.

So even though my pitching coach gets overwhelming at times, I will continue to preach the Chiefs pride as we work on competing with the Broncos for an AFC West title. The Broncos have a far more powerful offense but the Chiefs can strike at anytime. The games against Denver will be decided on the defensive side. We just need to hope that the Chiefs come ready to play when they see Denver on the calendar.