The 2019 season marks one of the most anticipated in Chiefs franchise history.
It all begins Saturday at 7 p.m. CT when the Chiefs host their first preseason game of the season against the Bengals. It’ll be a first look at the 2019 team, including rookies and new players. Here are five things that fans should watch for during the game:
Competition at WR
The wide receiver battle has been one of the most intriguing parts of the offseason.
Undrafted free agent rookie WR Cody Thompson has continued to impress during training camp. Fans expect him to make a push for the roster as both a receiver and special teams ace. Thompson’s best bet at making the team is to show up during the preseason and make plays, which all starts against the Bengals.
Byron Pringle is another wide receiver to keep an eye out for. He nearly made the 53-man roster last season but suffered a pesky hamstring injury in the final game of the preseason. During that game he had 122 receiving yards on only four receptions. Pringle has a strong chance to make the roster if he can replicate that performance this preseason.
Other players to watch at this position are Marcus Kemp and Rashard Davis. Kemp has been on the practice squad for a couple of seasons but seems to finally be making strides as a receiver. Davis is higher up on the depth chart than many people expected, and has showcased nice speed during training camp.
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Chase Litton vs. Kyle Shurmur
Chad Henne is the likely backup behind Patrick Mahomes, but the Chiefs could carry a third quarterback. If not on the active roster, then they’ll at least have one on the practice squad.
Litton and Shurmur will be fighting for that final QB job. The Chiefs plan on giving each quarterback on the roster a quarter in the game on Saturday, with Shurmur getting the third quarter and Litton the fourth. This is fairly common for how Andy Reid does things with his quarterbacks during the preseason.
Litton has more experience than Shurmur, which is an advantage in a Reid offense. However, it appears that Shurmur has already leapfrogged Litton on the depth chart. If Litton shows growth from the 2018 preseason, I expect him to get the third quarterback spot.
Reid probably isn’t expecting Shurmur or Litton to make big plays, but the coaches will want to see what these young QBs are made of. Can they get the play out, read a defense and execute the play? If they can create on their own and make some magic happen, it will be an added bonus.
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Improvement at cornerback
It’s no secret that the Chiefs were one of the worst teams at defending the pass last year. To win the Super Bowl, they will have to show improvement at the cornerback position.
There are a couple things to watch at this position, with one being how Kendall Fuller does primarily playing the slot. Earlier this offseason Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said he views Fuller as a natural slot corner. He expects Fuller to master the position. Fuller was one of the best slot corners in the NFL before being traded to the Chiefs after the 2017 season, but saw a decline last year. So far at training camp, the reviews on Fuller haven’t been impressive, but he might also be dealing with an injury.
Another player to watch is Charvarius Ward, who became the starter near the end of the 2018 season. Fans saw a glimpse of what Ward could be for the team, but it’s also clear that he needs to show signs of improvement. The Chiefs recently brought in Morris Claiborne, who figures to be direct competition with a player like Ward. Spagnuolo recently explained what his message to Ward has been throughout the offseason.
The Chiefs also have a couple of rookies to keep an eye out for during the game, including Rashad Fenton and Mark Fields. Fenton and Fields both have a fighting chance to make the team.
Keep in mind that the defense won’t be running many exotic blitzes or coverages, so defenders will need to create on their own in order to impress.
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Punt- and kick-return duties
The Chiefs have recently prided themselves on having some great returners on their team. Tyreek Hill, who is dangerous returning punts, still figures to be an option, but special teams coordinator Dave Toub has also mentioned finding some others to carry the load and using Hill only in special circumstances. With it being preseason fans should expect several players to get a chance at punt and kick return duties.
There are a couple of players to watch such, as rookie WR Mecole Hardman and second-year WR Byron Pringle. Both players were known for their return abilities in college.
It will also be interesting to see if Tremon Smith is the primary kick returner as he fights for a roster spot after being moved from cornerback to running back. If Smith loses the kick return battle to a couple of the new guys, he may be out of the job as its unlikely that he beats out any of the current running backs on the roster.
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RB by committee?
The Chiefs have said Damien Williams is the starting running back, but Reid also recently said the Chiefs plan to use a committee approach. Reid loves using his running backs for a multitude of different ways, so this should be one of the top positions to watch Saturday.
It’ll be our first chance to look at Carlos Hyde and Darwin Thompson. Chiefs fans should especially keep an eye out for Thompson, who may be a late-round steal this year for the team. General manager Brett Veach compared Thompson to Titans running back Dion Lewis.
Another interesting aspect to watch at this position is Tremon Smith, who was recently converted from cornerback. He hasn’t played on the offensive side of the ball in a real game since high school. Last season he emulated Lamar Jackson on the Chiefs’ scout team in order to get the team prepared for the game against the Baltimore Ravens. Smith has great speed, as shown with his kick return skills, but will that translate to running back?
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