WARNING LONG POST!
Comparing this years team to the 07 playoff team: winners in bold.
Starting with the defense.
Ty Law and Pat Surtain this year<
Ty Law and Pat Surtain last year. They may be regressing a bit but they are still in the top half of the league as for as duos go.
Jarrad Page and Wesley/Pollard > Knight and Wesley. This one isn't even close
Derrick Johnson this year > Derrick Johnson last year. A very talented young player that was injured for 4 games last season. Should be a pro bowl candidate this year.
Donnie Edwards and Nap Harris >>> Kawika Mitchell and Kendrell Bell. Kendrell Bell was with little doubt in my mind the worst defensive starter in the league last year. Kawika and his massive contract he just signed showed how great the rest of the league thinks he was
No matter how old Edwards is and how underachieving Harris has been this is still a HUGE upgrade.
Jared Allen and Tamba Hali this year = Jared Allen and Tambi Hali last year. Allen will be suspended for who knows how long, but that is offset somewhat by having a capable backup in Jimmy Wilkerson and a year of experience for Hali who was promising last year.
Alphonso Boone/Ron Edwards/James Reed/rookie > Sims Edwards/Reed last year. Weak spot of the defense is improved with the addition of Boone and hopefully Justin Harrell. Reed and Edwards haven't really regressed yet but probably have peaked so we can expect similar production from last year. Perhaps the worst DTs in the league BUT its still an improvement over last year!
Overall the defense last year was 11th in points and 16th in yards and there is absolutely no reason to believe they won't be a top 10 unit this year. They are showing improvement on every position but corner and still half a top 15 tandem there.
Now the offense
Damien McIntosh >> Jordan Black. Jordan Black was probably the worst LT in the league last year. Even though McIntosh is average at best, its still a HUGE improvement.
John Welbourn <
Will Shields. Shields is one of my all time favorite players and is likely a hall of famer. That said, he is 36 and had regressed a fair amount last year. Welbourn was an average tackle, but his natural position is guard and he was an above average performer at that position. A downgrade no doubt, but not the end of the world and LJ fantasy owners shouldn't be as concerned about the loss of Shields as they are.
Casey Wiegmann this year <
Casey Wiegmann last year. He is regressing and gets blown off the line of scrimmage easily and doesn't totally fit in to the Chiefs offense, but the same things could have been said last year. Another downgrade but not a big one.
Brian Waters this year = Brian Waters last year. One of the better guards in the league, just turned 30 but at the top of his game. Expect similar production from last year.
Kevin Sampson/Chris Terry/Chris Bober/Will Svitek > the same committee last year. Sampson is a fine player when healthy, which he hasn't been in the past. Terry and Bober are vets who add depth and stability to the line. If the Chiefs don't draft Harrell and can land Staley at #23, the tackles will be fairly solid.
WRs this year > WRs lasts year. I am grouping all of the WRs together because I am not totally sure where the improvement is going to come from, but it will come. Kennison has peaked and started regressing and Parker is worthless but the same thing could have been said last year. Jeff Webb and Chris Hannon are wildcard unknowns who the coaching staff seems to love. If either show even a little promise, the WRs would have to be an improvement over last years squad which was probably the worst in the league.
Tony Gonzales this year = Tony Gonzales last year. Has peaked but hasn't really regressed and is still the most complete TE in football. Not quite the reciever Gates is but he makes up for it with his blocking and leadership.
Damon Huard/Brodie Croyle > Trent Green/Damon Huard. Anyone who watched the Chiefs last year knows Trent Green was more harm than help. One of the better and most underappreciated QBs of the past 5 or 6 years, but wasn't even close to the same player coming back from the injury. I don't think Huard this year or Croyle can match the numbers Huard was on pace for last year, but whoever wins the job should be able to do the 202 YPG 18 TDs 12 INTs of last year.
Larry Johnson this year = Larry Johnson last year. I won't predict an injury for a player, so I fully expect LJ to be the same force he was last year. His touches will be down but YPC should be up. Also Michael Bennett played great as a change of pace back last year and should do well with the extra carries should he stay healthy.
Overall the Chiefs were 15th in scoring offense last year and 16th in YPG. I see this years squad being a bit better this year but probably still outside of the top 10. Also consider that last year was Mike Solaris first year of being a coordinator ever and there should be improvement there as well.
All things considered, on paper the Chiefs should be a better team this year than last. A top 10 D and a top 15 offense is definitely above average and the Chiefs should compete for a playoff spot again this year.
Almost forgot Dante.
New Returner > or = Dante. I love the guy, but the people on the boards that are saying what a horrible trade this year didn't see any games last year. His blocking wasn't as good as it was years ago but not bad enough to warrant the performance Chiefs fans were forced to watch. There was a point last year where everytime there was a punt or kick I would start saying "please dont fumble, please dont fumble!" or "just get positive yards PLEASE!" I don't know where to look for the statistics, but if someone could find an average starting position on kickoffs they would more than likely see the Chiefs in the bottom half of the league. Getting a 5th round pick for that is gold.
here. I actually like the Chiefs but I don't see how this team is positioned to do well this upcoming season.
thingys.Oh! And didn't the Chiefs make it to the playoffs last year? Who was their coach? 
