Chiefs' Offseason Guide: Tight End/Punter/Halfback/Fullback

In the coming weeks, I plan to start talking about what the Chiefs will likely do this offseason to help themselves at each position. This first blog will reference the easiest positions for the Chiefs to resolve.

Punter:
No mystery here. Dustin Colquitt stays.

Tight End / Fullback:
The Chiefs already took care of business by signing Tony Gonzalez to a long-term deal. They will also return a healthy Ronnie Cruz to the roster, but there's no guarantee that he'll start. Ronnie Cruz turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. He was only an adequate blocker and very average on all other dimensions.

So what now? What the Chiefs do at the fullback position will ultimately determine what they will do at tight end. As of now, Kris Wilson is serving as the starting fullback. He is not a true blocker, but he proved to be a solid receiving option when he was switched into the role of H-back. The question is, are the Chiefs willing to continually sacrifice terrific blocking for a threat like Kris Wilson to serve as an H-back? I think they will. I think Wilson will only get better as a blocker, and he should figure better into a simplified gameplan. Then again, it would not surprised me if the Chiefs used a late round pick on a fullback prospect.

The Chiefs might also want to start looking for a run blocking tight end specialist. Jason Dunn is getting older and more beat up every year.The Chiefs often used Kyle Turley in double tight end sets, in which Turley served as an additional offensive lineman. With the new approach to the Chiefs' offense, I could easily see the Chiefs wanting to lean heavier on this strategy. In order to do that, they need effective and healthy tight ends. I don't trust either Dunn or Turley to stay healthy in his role. They will need to look outside the organization.

The Chiefs will likely....
keep the status quo. They may look to the late rounds of the draft to find a steal, but my guess is, with all the needs the Chiefs have this offseason, they won't want to waste a draft pick on one of these two positions.


Halfback:
This could be an interesting situation. The Chiefs are obviously sticking with LJ, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

• There is concern that LJ was overworked in 2006 and may not be as effective in 2007
• Michael Bennett is about as reliable as a used Yugo
• Dee Brown stays healthy, but he is as effective as a used Yugo

The Chiefs might surprise people by taking a running back early in the draft, or finding a free agency steal. They won't break the bank for a halfback, but don't be surprised if they get a bruising running back to replace Dee Brown.

The Chiefs might....
feel like the Penn State Running Back curse has been lifted and go after another PSU product--Tony Hunt--in the draft. If not Hunt, it will likely be another low pick replacement. If they do pick up a running back, it will be one that can actually step in and contribute so that he can spell Larry Johnson. Dee Brown provides nothing off the bench. He's too small to be a bruiser that will free up space for LJ to run.

More to come....