Chiefs Without Charles
Another unfortunate ACL injury has sidelined one of the league's best for the remainder of the season. Jamaal Charles, running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, suffered a devastating knee injury while attempting to cut and take advantage of a running lane in Sunday's game against Chicago. This is Charles' second ACL tear of his career, and while he returned to his agile self following the first injury; he is now approaching the age of 30 and may lose a step if he is able make a comeback for next season. As for the Chief's season moving forward, expect a struggling offense and non-contender as the season plays out.
When you are talking about a most valuable player to their respective teams, names like Brady, Rodgers, and Peterson come to mind. But you could make a clear argument that Jamaal Charles was just as valuable to this Chiefs team as any other player in the league. Charles racked up over 100 yards from scrimmage in 3 of his first four games, and accounted for 3 rushing touchdowns in the only game in which he did not reach that century mark. Without their star running back the pressure will be put on quarter back Alex Smith to carry this offense. Smith is a mediocre QB at best; and while he does take care of the ball; he has not shown he can sling the ball sideline to sideline and drive this team down the field. Charles' impact is hardly shown on paper. He attracts so much attention and can break for a big gain any moment. The Chiefs have lost their offensive catalyst and their "x-factor".
Coming into Week 5 Charles had averaged over 5 yards per carry, but his rushing game was just the scratching the surface of his utility. Throughout his career he has proven to have some of the best hands for a running back the league has ever seen. But most importantly, Charles' athleticism, shiftiness, and top-end speed set him apart from many of the leagues other backs. These attributes have led to the anticipation for a break out play from Charles any time he touches the ball. The Chiefs running back was already on pace for another 1,200 yard rushing and a 16 touchdown season. He accounted for 30% of their offensive yardage totals in the first 4 games of the year as well.
What this ultimately means for the Kansas City Chiefs, is they will have to look forward to next year as their soonest opportunity to make a playoff run. Their number one priority will be getting Charles healthy during the offseason, followed by acquiring a little more depth in their receiving core. Alex Smith is not an elite quarterback who can win games without an abundance of talent around him in the skill positions. Even when Charles was healthy and Maclin over from Philadelphia, the quarterback has struggled. The odds are against him to win this year creating a harsh image for Smith and the offense as a whole. Look for the Cheifs to go after a young quarterback in the 2016 draft and nurture him under Smith for a year or two before doing away with their starter.
