Three Things We Learned From The Kansas City Chiefs' Preseason

The Kansas City Chiefs 2010 preseason didn't look good on paper. They were 1-3 and couldn't score many points. In fact, they didn't look very good on tape at times either.

But they did learn a few key points about who the 2010 Kansas City Chiefs will be.

1. The defense will be the strong suit of the team

This is becoming more evident to me. This isn't going to be an offensive oriented team. The Chiefs defense -- particularly the first team defense -- seemed to get better and better each week. They were criticized for a bad opening drive against the Falcons but they allowed three points in the first half. The Bucs got just 10 in the first half. The Chiefs even sacked the quarterback -- granted, it was only one game but it was still five times.

However the Chiefs are doing it they're doing it right. Giving up 20, 20, 20 and 13 points doesn't make you a bad defense (even if half that was the backups and guys that will be cut on Saturday). That put them as the 14th best defense in the preseason.

Would you take the 14th rated defense? I would right now.

This is the group that made the biggest strides in the offseason and it's becoming clear that the defense will be stronger than the offense.

That said, it's still a bottom five defense the last time they were seen in a game so they're going to have to show it on the field.

2. The special teams unit will be solid

Yup...they're looking pretty legit at this point.

Dustin Colquitt is one of the better punters in the league. Ryan Succop can't hit 50+ yarders but he's been money inside of that.

And then there's Javier Arenas. He's been the return man this preseason and he's been lighting it up. Every game has featured a 40+ yard return. If Arenas can't get it done, surely Dexter Mccluster could, who has also returned kicks. The Chiefs now have options at returner.

Other than Succop's 50+ yard misses, there aren't a lot of negatives here.

3. The Chiefs will be a running team in 2010

Todd Haley has basically said this publicly. The Chiefs were the second leading rushing team entering the final week of preseason and it was generally the highlight of the offense.

I'm pretty sure that's because the Chiefs running backs are good. I think that's why Haley wants to run the ball. But there's part of me that wonders if they realize or predict that Matt Cassel simply can't move the ball downfield consistently. If we're to believe his 2009 season and 2010 preseason, he can't go deep, which limits one of the dangers of playing a running team.

Whatever the reason is, the Chiefs have shown during preseason that they are going to be a running team. That's where they're gaining yards right now and that seems to be where they have the most invested.