As the Seattle Seahawks prepare for their preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs, we at Seahawks Wire wanted to resume a tradition of ours. It's high time we took another trip... Behind Enemy Lines.
Every week, I reach out to my colleagues in the NFL Wires Network to get a better idea of the opponent Seattle will be facing. Up first will be John Dillon, who is the lead writer over at our sister site Chiefs Wire. We'll be reaching out to Dillon later in the year because the Seahawks will host the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. But for the time being, we're still in the preseason. I asked Dillon four questions about Kansas City at this stage, and his answers are below.
No. 1 - How has Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III adjusted to his new home?
"Walker missed practice on August 25 due to injury, and I fear that
his time in Kansas City may end up being defined by his availability rather than his ability to produce — it is my understanding that this was the case in Seattle before the Super Bowl run. Either way, Walker figures to be a key contributor to the Chiefs' offense this season and is still on track to be Kansas City's starting running back in Week 1. If he stays healthy, I expect the Chiefs to commit to giving him ample touches in the running game, which could make him a top performer in fantasy football."
No. 2 - How do you envision the Chiefs will utilize K9 this season?
"Andy Reid has always seemed to struggle with his running backs, but I think he has a chance to finally break that trend with Walker. Given that Patrick Mahomes is returning from a serious knee injury on a seemingly rushed timeline, it seems likely that Reid will commit to a more straightforward North-South running game with Walker in the backfield. Plays that don't require any complex footwork or extra movement from the quarterback. It also seems probable that Reid will turn away from some of the run-pass option action that has characterized Chiefs football for so long now. Ultimately, the acquisition of Walker is a hedge against Mahomes' injury and Kansas City's ability (or inability, as it were) to establish a viable air attack in the two-time MVP's absence."
No. 3 - Who is a rookie/player the 12th Man should be aware of?
"Rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen has generated a ton of hype in training camp and has looked like a capable prospect during the Chiefs' two preseason losses. In terms of a lesser-known standout, though, I think third-year defensive back Jaden Hicks is the player to watch. All of the departures in Kansas City's secondary during the offseason have given Hicks a huge opportunity to earn a starting role, and he seems to have made the most of the chance he's been given."
No. 4 - What do you think will be a strength of this team? (aside from Patrick Mahomes, of course?)
"To be honest I don't know that this Chiefs team is particularly nasty on paper. Travis Kelce and Chris Jones are both solid, but getting older, and while Kansas City has added some decent talent in free agency and the draft, the Chiefs have lacked true "star power" production since the departure of Tyreek Hill. Kenneth Walker III might be the answer to that deficiency. In the end I think this team's best quality is its experience, both on the field and in the locker room and front office."
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Behind Enemy Lines with Chiefs Wire ahead of preseason Week 3 finale
