Kansas City Chiefs: Making A Change At Wide Receiver
By Ben Almquist
Is This On Alex Smith?
There is a familiar tune when it comes to blaming someone for the Kansas City Chiefs lack of a passing game. Alex Smith is often an easy target for those looking to cast blame. That was certainly the case in 2014 when the Chiefs didn’t post a single touchdown by a wide receiver. So we know there will be many who go that route again this year.
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Well, I hate to disappoint those “Alex haters”, but the criticism can’t really fall on him for this. I did a comparison of the past five games the Chiefs have played. I put Chris Conley side by side with Tyreek Hill and Albert Wilson…Conley was the least impressive:
Conley: 11 catches (21 targets) for 94 yards and 0 touchdowns.
Hill: 31 catches (39 targets) for 258 yards and 1 touchdown.
Wilson: 17 catches (29 targets) for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns.
With Conley being outperformed by two players behind him on the depth chart, the issue is clear. Chris Conley simply is not getting the job done for the Chiefs. I know some will argue that Conley is drawing the top corner from the other team with Jeremy Maclin out…that really isn’t true. He isn’t a big enough threat for opposing teams to be gearing their coverage towards him. Plus, Conley’s numbers aren’t much better when Maclin is on the field.
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The Kansas City Chiefs have been very methodical in building a team that has very few weaknesses. Unfortunately, the wide receiver position still needs to be addressed. The good news for the Chiefs is that they may have the answer already on the roster. It’s just a matter of whether or not they pull the trigger on moving Tyreek Hill up the depth chart next season.