Don Pierson

After getting to the playoffs in his first year as coach, Herm Edwards must convince Chiefs' fans they aren't rooting for a team on the wane. They are the only playoff team that got rid of its starting quarterback and is starting over with an unproven youngster.

Dumping 37-year-old Trent Green and hoping for the rapid development of second-year prospect Brodie Croyle is a logical progression, and the Chiefs have the advantage of pointing to last year's Chargers and Broncos in their own division as examples of winning teams who made similar switches.

If Croyle can give the Chiefs what Philip Rivers gave the Chargers and Jay Cutler gave the Broncos, the move will be quickly justified. More likely, Croyle will be giving the ball mainly to running back Larry Johnson, who became the league's all-time one-season workhorse last year with 416 carries. Assuming Johnson's bruises have healed, and assuming he is happy with his contract, the Chiefs expect to ride him again as long as he holds up, unless Edwards can concoct a way to get Michael Bennett more than 36 carries. If healthy, Bennett is a speedy veteran and former 1,200-yard back himself who could provide a nice change of pace if Johnson can be convinced to rest once in a while.

The other option on this team remains tight end Tony Gonzalez unless No. 1 rookie Dwayne Bowe or second-year free agent Chris Hannon prove ready to challenge ordinary receivers Samie Parker and Eddie Kennison. Gonzalez probably will remain the team's top target and best friend to Croyle if the young quarterback indeed stays ahead of last year's surprise performer Damon Huard. As soon as Croyle falters, fans will be calling for Huard, who kept the Chiefs in the playoff chase but hasn't been able to shed his career backup label.

The offensive line, once the picture of stability in Kansas City, is a work in progress as the Chiefs try to adapt to the retirement of guard Will Shields one year after the exit of tackle Willie Roaf. It's not easy replacing All-Pros. The Chiefs also lost Roaf's replacement, free agent Jordan Black, so they signed Miami's Damion McIntosh to protect the quarterback's backside. They hope Chris Terry can take over at right tackle and enable John Welbourn to slide to Shields' spot at right guard.

Although Edwards and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham improved the defense to a respectable 16th, matching the offensive production, more overhauling is in order. The Chiefs hope second and third-round draft picks Turk McBride and Tank Tyler can develop as quickly as last year's No. 1 pick, Tamba Hali, who led the team with eight sacks. The Chiefs also signed Chicago veteran Alfonso Boone to join a rotation that includes Ron Edwards and James Reed inside. The Chiefs will have to make due for two games without suspended pass rusher Jared Allen.

Minnesota's Napoleon Harris and San Diego's Donnie Edwards joined the linebacking crew that lost inside starter Kawika Mitchell. Edwards is in his second stint in Kansas City. Second-year safeties Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page are going to get plenty of opportunity in camp to win starting jobs for Sammy Knight, now gone, and Greg Wesley.

Hotseat
Cornerbacks Ty Law and Patrick Surtain benefit from Edwards' cover-2 defense, which doesn't force its corners into a lot of man coverage. But Law is 34 and Surtain 31, and the pickings behind them are slim. The defense relies on penetration and quick pressure up front, which is why Edwards keeps drafting defensive linemen. But until they develop, it puts added pressure on the cornerbacks to cover for longer times than they may be capable of doing. That, in turn, puts pressure on the safeties in coverage and the Chiefs want two inexperienced safeties to start.

Overheard
The Chiefs ranked in the middle of the pack on special teams and traded fading return specialist Dante Hall to St. Louis, leaving two jobs open. The hope is for second-year receiver Jeff Webb to return kicks and if nobody else steps forward to return punts, the job may fall to 34-year-old Eddie Kennison. The Chiefs also traded place-kicker Lawrence Tynes to the Giants, leaving the job to fifth-round rookie Justin Medlock.

Outlook
Very shaky. Just when Edwards arrives to help stabilize the perennially challenged defense, the offense begins to crumble before his eyes. The line, the quarterback, and the leading wide receiver all got old at once and the team's best receiver, tight end Gonzalez, is 31. The Chiefs missed their window of opportunity with Trent Green, never recovering from the disappointment of a first-round playoff loss in 2003 following a 13-3 season.

Prediction
Third.

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