This will be the first edition of our “Know Your Enemy” series. I will ask the editior of the team that the Ravens are playing each week five questions about the matchup. This week, Patrick Allen of Arrowhead Addict answered my questions about the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens preseason game.
1. The Baltimore Ravens ended the Chiefs’ season last year. Do fans still feel any animosity and will they look for revenge during this preseason matchup?
While I think it would be cathartic to see the Chiefs return the favor, I think Chiefs fans just want to see signs that the team is gelling in camp and an outcome that doesn’t involve any major injuries.
Most Chiefs fans I talk to seem to have a great deal of respect for the Ravens. They are a model organization that plays tough football and is always in the mix int he tough AFC North.
In the playoff game last year, I was actually impressed with the way the Chiefs hung with the Ravens. It was a three point game until mid-way through the third quarter. The final was so lopsided I think that people tend to forget that. The Chiefs aren’t the first young team to eventually collapse under the pressure of that Ravens defense and I doubt they will be the last. I think most fans took that game as a bench mark of where the Chiefs were at and where they needed to go to take the next step.
2. Right tackle is the one make or break position for the Ravens which they hope to solve during preseason. Do the Chiefs have any similar scenarios where someone needs to step up?
Yeah. Right tackle. The Chiefs signed Jared Gaither and I think they are hoping he can turn over a new leaf and hold down the RT position for them.
There is also some concern with the NT position, which the Chiefs filled with ex-Raven Kelly Gregg.
Seeing a pattern here?
3. Preseason may be the only time some players see the field all year. Are there any Chiefs that you look forward to watching although they may not contribute as much during the regular season?
I really want to track the progress of guys like Jerrelle Powe (NT) and Ricky Stanzi (QB). Those guys aren’t likely to see the field because of the veterans ahead of them on the depth chart but they both could be very valuable to the organizations success in the future. I’d like to see them end the preseason playing well.
4. Who will you be paying the most attention to? Is there one player in particular that you want to keep your eyes on?
It has to be Stanzi. Having a young backup QB is always exciting and with the importance place don the position in the NFL, having one good QB isn’t enough. There could be a time when Matt Cassel gets injured and when that time comes, I’d like to feel confident that the Chiefs have a backup that can come in and get the job done. As we’ve seen with teams like the Cardinals, Dolphins and Vikings, you gotta have a good QB.
5. The Chiefs have added a bit of purple (Gaither, McClain, Gregg) to their team this offseason. How do you think they will fair against their former team?
I don’t think we’ll see Gaither on Friday. He hasn’t been in camp long and he has been in the rehab area most of that time working out an undisclosed injury.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see much, if any of Gregg either. He’s old and I know the Chiefs are going to try to limit his reps so that they can count on him for the full season. This is a guy who isn’t going to forget how to play football so we might not glimpse him on the field until the third preseason game.
As for McClain, he has been with the team long enough I think we’ll see them try him out Friday night. I could see him getting a carry or two and maybe a pass attempt. I imagine he, of all people, will want to look good against the Ravens, preseason or no preseason.
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