The Chiefs cleaned house after going 2-14 last season. Scott Pioli came over from the Patriots to be their general manager and is an astute team builder. He can't do it in one year. This is just the first year, that's all. Todd Haley comes to Kansas City after being the offensive coordinator of the high flying Arizona Cardinals. Haley used to work with Pioli during his time with the New York Jets. There's a distinct Bellichick or New England flavor here.

After some inspiring end of the season play by Tyler Thigpen, Matt Cassel was brought in to play quarterback. Haley will probably claim all offseason that this is an open competition, but I can't imagine Thigpen beating out the money they spent on Cassel. Cassel is relatively inexperienced. He struggled mightily as the season began(in a game against the Chiefs) and was flourishing by season's end. Brodie Croyle enters his fourth year in the NFL and still hasn't won a game. He'll be a backup that many will label as a bust. Ingle Martin is around and not likely to make the team. The once promising prospect has struggled to pick up NFL offenses and translate that onto the field. Once upon a time, some thought he would replace Brett Favre in Green Bay instead of Aaron Rodgers.

At wide receiver, the Chiefs have Dwayne Bowe and...not a whole lot else. Mark Bradley did fairly well late in the year and after four years of struggling, he may begin to hit his potential in the NFL. What Haley doesn't have is two or three of the best wide receivers in the NFL as he did in Arizona. Bobby Engram was signed from Seattle and is entering his 14th year in the NFL. He can hold down the slot position. Terrance Copper and Devard Darling round out the journeyman theme Kansas City has employed opposite Bowe. Rookie Quinten Lawrence from McNeese State is ultra fast and while he was only drafted in the sixth round, why can't he start? It's real difficult to start and do well as a rookie and it's also difficult for Cassel to have much success with only Bowe as his reliable target. Something will give here, many think it's Bradley that'll do well.

At tight end the Chiefs have their first year without arguably the best tight end ever as Tony Gonzalez signed to play for the Falcons. Brad Cottam was Gonzalez's backup last year and moves into the starting spot. Seventh round pick Jake O'Connell is expected to be more of a blocking type. The Chiefs plan was for Kris Wilson to replace Gonzalez. Wilson was a terrific athlete that wound up bouncing around the NFL even getting tries at fullback because of his athleticism. He's long gone now and the Chiefs desperately need to get a tight end off the waiver wire. Cottam is currently the one with all the opportunity so that must be noted.

At runningback the Chiefs have only had one season wherein the runningback started all 16 games in the last 20 years. Once! It is important to remember that as Larry Johnson starts for them yet again, after having missed four games last year. It is also possibly Johnson misses time due to suspension from some off the field incidents. Kolby Smith has looked good as LJ's backup. He suffered a serious knee injury last season and will take some time to recover. I wouldn't expect he'll be a factor in 2009. Jamaal Charles should be the beneficiary if LJ misses any time and should back him up well. The Chiefs took Javarris Williams in the seventh round out of Tennessee State. Many think he won't make the team, others think he has a real good chance to surprise. Dantrell Savage is a little bugger that does well returning kicks. If this is going to resemble New England's offense, I'm curious if he or Jackie Battle will fill Kevin Faulk's role. Mike Cox enters camp as the starting fullback. Maurice Carthon is the assistant head coach of the Chiefs and you can plan on some hard running and good blocking.

Bill Muir comes in to coach the Chiefs offensive line. Muir is highly regarded and has quite the project ahead of him. On the left side is talented Branden Albert entering his second year and pro bowler Brian Waters. At center the Chiefs will likely start Eric Ghiaciuc, a free agent from the Bengals. On the right side are Damion McIntosh and Mike Goff. Both are terrific run blockers and weak pass blockers. Muir will have to wave a magic wand here. The Chiefs depth is former starting center Rudy Niswanger and another center Wade Smith. They drafted Colin Brown, a tackle, in the fifth round and also have small Herb Taylor to play tackle but their depth is terrible now.

On defense is a menagerie of confusion until the Pats base 3-4 system can be employed. It is so confusing I would venture a guess that the Chiefs do not know where everyone will be lining up. I do think they could shock the NFL and be a dramatically improved defense. At outside lineback, the "throw in" in the Cassel deal, veteran Mike Vrabel should start. He's key as he knows exactly who needs to be where and what their responsibilities are. Over the hill Zach Thomas was signed to play inside linebacker. He's a step slow and you never want a middle or inside linebacker that gives up a step to the opposing runningback. He is a possible hall of famer and surely an asset to the team though. Derrick Johnson is an outside linebacker that has played inside. He is an outstanding athlete with as much athletic ability as any linebacker in the NFL. The question has always been if he can turn that ability into production on the field. The Chiefs must find the right spot for him and do whatever it takes for him to fit his immense potential. Corey Mays and Montey Beisel both played sparingly in New England and could contribute if called upon. Neither are the Chiefs best option. Free agent bust Demorrio Williams was a fine outside linebacker in Atlanta and must get it together. The switch to the 3-4, from a team built to play 4-3, adds the confusion. Tamba Hali is a former first round pick defensive end that might have to play outside linebacker. There's a slew of defensive ends that may play outside linebacker. Then what happens to those that were slotted to play outside linebacker? Move them inside? It starts a whole transition that must be settled as quickly as possible.

Former first pick of the draft, Glenn Dorsey is somewhat of an Albert Haynesworth clone and should be able to disrupt a defense regardless of where he plays. He is likely to play one defensive end spot while this year's first round pick, Tyson Jackson, will play the other. The nose tackle position is likely to be manned by longtime veteran Ron Edwards. The Chiefs have spent a large amount of picks on the defensive line and their is considerable unpolished depth. Defensive line coach Tim Krumrie has his work cut out for him.

The Patriots have switched to a 4-3 at times to make the most of some favorable matchups. Hopefully the Chiefs keep that in mind. This is a decent 4-3 set and that shouldn't be completely ignored.

Cornerback Brian Flowers was an impressive rookie but is 5 foot 9 inches tall. If the Chiefs ever go to the Super Bowl, he may be their nickel cornerback then. For now though, he is a good small cornerback and their best one. Brandon Carr, Maurice Leggett, Travis Daniels and Ricardo Coclough are not the greatest cornerbacks in the NFL. Rookie Donald Washington may have to start quicker than expected. Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard are fine safeties. Safety is becoming a star position in the NFL, but there is nothing wrong with having fine players.

The weak defensive backfield and inability to get to the quarterback made for a rough season last year. The Chiefs only sacked the opposing quarterback ten times. The defensive backs must play better and they may have to add one or two this summer. It's give and take between the defensive line and the defensive backfield limiting the time the opposing quarterback has to throw. No cornerback fares well if a quarterback has all day to throw and no defensive line fares well if the coverage is poor. If any stat is most important or most indicative of their improvement this year it will be an increase in sacks. Watch that closely early on. There are at least three players on this defense with star caliber talent.

Year one in a rebuilding plan doesn't often equal many wins. It's a start though Chiefs fans, it's a start.