Pro Football Focus is a website that can analytically measure an NFL player and provide a grade of their season. PFF measures the player by their performance each individual game then from that compiles a season-grade after the 16 (or more) games conclude. The website is found by most to be one of the most accurate ways to measure each individual player on a scale from 0 to 100. Since the season-grade is the end result that obviously means the individual wants to perform good-to-great over a long period of games instead of having four life-changing games and the rest be hot garbage. PFF measures every active player in the NFL for all 32 teams each season.
For the defending Super-Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs, their off-season they have been clear that they have every intention to “run it back,” resigning Anthony Sherman (fullback), Demarcus Robinson & Sammy Watkins (wide receivers), Ricky Seals-Jones (tight-end) Mike Pennell (defensive lineman), Antonio Brown (cornerback), Chad Henne (quarterback) and Mike Remmers (offensive lineman).
With their signings, the Chiefs return 10 of their 11 offensive starters from their Super Bowl roster as well as keeping their foundation on defense, resigning Chris Jones (defensive tackle) for a year under the franchise tag and acquiring Frank Clark (edge rusher) and Tyrann Mathieu (safety) last season. So how realistic are Kansas City’s chances to win back-to-back Super Bowls? Well let's look at the history.
Seven teams (of the 32 active ones) have won back-to-back Super Bowls with the latest being Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in 2004 and then 2005. The other six were the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos. The Seattle Seahawks were a play away (should’ve ran the ball) from doing in 2013 and 2014 as well.
While I was incredulously amazed by the Chiefs historically unprecedented three consecutive comebacks overcoming 24-point, 17-point and 10-point leads against the Texans, Titans and 49ers respectively, this is something that has not and probably will never happen again. So, factually, analytically and historically since we understand this, what does Kansas City have to do to overcome the: Bills, Patriots, Steelers, Ravens, Chargers, Colts, Titans, Texans, Broncos, and Browns?
Improve defensively: Yes, I understand the Chiefs improved their defense overall going from 31st to 17th and improved significantly against the pass (eighth overall) and in points allowed (seventh overall) but there are still glaring holes for improvement. Kansas City was an awful 26th against the rush allowing eight teams to rush for 100+ yards and two teams to rush for over 200.
From PFF (out of 100), the biggest area of concern on the Chiefs defense is particularly at linebacker. Ben Niemann (59.7), Daniel Sorensen (61), Damien Wilson (55.2) and Anthony Hitchens (48.9) all struggled immensely to both stop the run and defend the pass. You have to believe that Kansas City will look to address this issue in the draft since they have no free-agent money. The second biggest area of concern is on the defensive line. Aside from the playoffs, three of the four starting lineman (Tanoh Kpassagnon, 55.3) (Derrick Nnadi, 65.4) (Frank Clark 63) struggled to defend the run or create any consistent pressure. Now I understand Clark and Chris Jones struggled with injuries throughout the season so this could possibly change things but Kansas City should look towards adding another defensive lineman or edge rusher outside of Mike Pennell during the draft.
The Chiefs lost starting cornerbacks Bashaud Breeland and Kendall Fuller in free agency leaving Rashad Fenton and Charvarious Ward as the starters for next season. Now PFF has Fenton graded out at 74 and Ward at 69.5 which in essence seems perfectly fine but the depth this year's draft has at cornerback should make the Chiefs first picks be selecting corners.
No need for discussion at safeties as Kansas City has two of the best in the “Honey Badger,” and Juan Thornhill.
Moving over to the offense, the Chiefs are obviously set at quarterback, receiver, tight end and full back. Kansas City’s biggest concerns are at running back and interior lineman. The Chiefs running game ranked just 23rd last season and Kansas City particularly struggled to contain interior pressure at long waves during the season. Starting running back Damien Williams (despite playing well in the playoffs) only rushed for 498 yards last season and graded out at just 65.7 last season. There are tons of solid running backs in this year’s draft from Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin) to Malcolm Perry (Navy) to Zach Moss (Utah) to Joshua Kelley (UCLA), so ideally the Chiefs can nab one at pick two three or four.
On the line, left tackle Eric Fisher and center Austin Reiter graded out at (64.3) and (63) respectively, so if there is a capability to draft a versatile lineman who can lineup at guard or center, so that would immensely to help protect the soon-to-be $200+ million dollar man, Patrick Mahomes.
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