Happy days are here again?

After struggling quite a bit in OTAs, maybe to the point of quasi-alarming, QB Pat Mahomes settled down, settled in and turned things around during mini-camp and looked sharp as well as confident. Coach Reid and D-Coach Sutton laid a bundle of blitz landmines in Mahomes’ practice paths, and the first-year starter adjusted darn well, surpassing even the lofty expectations of Big Red. Mahomes’ mates have not been shy declaring their young field general is ready for the challenge.

One player Pat Mahomes is connecting with is WR Sammy Watkins. This is an exciting happening for Chiefs’ fans. Watkins is a true WR1 talent that can dominate his cover CBs. He is especially deft tracking deep throws, a trait the power-armed Mahomes owns.

Watkins is getting comfy with the KC offense as well as his new QB. Coach Reid has Watkins moving and relocating all over in formations, including the slot. All signs point to Watkins working hard prepping for a big first season as a Chief. He’s stated that this offense has a real chance to be special.

Speaking of a special offense in the making, many of the KC players seem darn excited about what this offense is set to unleash on the league this season. Could Coach Reid be conjuring up a Chiefs’ version of the 1999 Rams’ "Greatest Show on Turf"?

OK, the Chiefs offense is based on West Coast principles while that Kurt Warner-led Rams juggernaut ran on jet fuel from Air Coryell. But let’s not forget that back in his Philly days, Big Red never met a pass he didn’t like.

Overall, Coach Reid is happy with the attendance and participation of the ranks in the off-season programs.

A couple of players that missed close of the 2017 season made their way back to the field in various degrees. On offense, RB Spencer Ware and WR Chris Conley worked out. Defensively, S Eric Berry and OLB Dee Ford drilled.

Conley and Berry seem to be close to full-go, taking part in 11-on-11 drills.

Ware is just getting started with individual work, not team drills.

Ford has been ramping up expanded individual work and will be ready for camp.

One player held out of drills, RB Kareem Hunt, is managing a hamstring injury. According to team officials there is nothing to see here. YaBut... hamstring... RB... many touches last year and more on the way... keep the yellow flag of caution up, if you ask me.

Back to this potential high-flying offense... projecting a Ramsian scoring festival in 2018, the 3^rd WR is a VIP, one who is the wild-card for defenses to cover. Who becomes that VIP for KC this season?

Chris Conley? He’s got the tools to create Az-Zahir Hakim-like plays but... Demarcus Robinson? Not enough juice in his wheels. He’s more the Ricky Proehl type. Actually, Tyreek Hill fits the Hakim mold and there’s no reason Coach Reid doesn’t flip scrips in the KC version and plan the Hakim position as a go-to rather than a situational big-play option.

And that powerhouse St. Louis club never had a Travis Kelce... Yikes! Hill, Watkins, Kelce, Hunt... Pat Mahomes is clearly the KEY!

One thing for sure, there will be an emphasis on applying aggressive aerial waves of pressure on defenses. That kind of pressure-offense makes the defense better as teams are forced into predictable pass-to-catch-up plays. The Chiefs D can pin their ears back and get after opposing QBs.

This entire philosophy may also be why GM Veach deemed star CB Marcus Peters expendable. Under pressure and cornered into predictable play calls, opposing QBs have less time to throw and KC CBs are not asked to stick cover as long.

The word on defense is... EDGE! Coach Sutton wants his defensive players to be on the attack, with an "edge" in attitude, style of play, game plan and game-calls.

The team’s top pick this year (2^nd round), Breeland Speaks, played DT at Mississippi but is setting up as a DE in Coach Sutton’s scheme; Speaks can set the edge and get to the passer as well.

3^rd-round pick, OLB Dorian O’Daniel, also knows his way to the QB. O’Daniel is built light for a LB at 220-pounds. Speed and pursuit are the traits he brings; sounds like pressure to me.

Justin Houston and Dee Ford may be in for terrific IDP campaigns, based on sacks, IF the offense plays to plan.

If Dee Ford returns to full health and is ready to roll (he should), eye him up for IDP drafts. Houston is a given!

Some more fun 1999 Rams-Chiefs connections. Of course the head coach of the Rams in ’99 was Dick Vermeil, who moved on from St. Louis to run the Chiefs. Coach Vermeil’s DC in St. Louis was Peter Giunta, who later would coach in Kansas City as well. Trent Green was a terrific QB for the Chiefs during Coach Vermeil’s run here. Let’s not forget that Green had that ’99 Rams offense buzzing in the pre-season before going down to a horrid (missed blitz pickup by Marshall Faulk) from a Rodney Harrison knee shot. Kurt Warner took over. And speaking of Warner, Coach Reid was the QB coach in Green Bay when Warner was part of the pre-season roster for the Packers.

The fun is soon to begin. I see an exciting 2018 season just ahead.

Pat Mahomes... YOU KIN DOOO EEET!

John Cooney is a Senior Staff Writer for Fantasy Football Mastermind

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