European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 29, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 18 the stars and Stripe thursday August 29,1991 nil 91fans waiting for super chiefs by Dave Goldberg a football writer when the Kansas City chiefs showed up in River Falls wis., for their first training Camp there they were paraded through the pastoral Little town by 13 fire trucks. There a Confidence in Kansas City that the Parade could be a precursor of things to come a a Post super bowl Parade Back Home. More than 50,000 season tickets already have been sold 30,000 More than when Marty sch Ottenheimer took Over in 1989 and the chiefs Are at least co favourites with the raiders to win the division. A a in be never looked Forward to a season More a says free safety Deron Cherry a six time pro Bowler who is part of an aging but still effective secondary. A Kansas City chiefs acc West preview san Diego chargers last year finished 11-5, making the playoffs for just tie second time since 1973. Lost 17-16 to Miami in playoff game when Nick Lowery s 52-Yard Field goal attempt fell Short. Strengths defense led by Derrick Thomas emerging As the nil s Best linebacker running game featuring Christian Okoye Barry word and Rookie Harvey Williams. Wide receiver Stephone Paige nose tackle Dan Saleaumua. Lowery. Weaknesses questions at quarterback where 37-year-old Steve Deberg had a career year last season but needs to repeat Lack of a deep threat other than Paige. Age in what has been an outstanding secondary four members of which have been to the pro bowl at various times. Inability to score inside 20. Newcomers re stump Mitchell a standout with cardinals Back at 32 after a knee injury and looking Good Williams. The chiefs were 11-5 last season and barely lost a wild card playoff game in Miami. Moreover they twice beat the raiders who won the division. But nothing comes easy in the acc West where parity is the byword this season. The raiders remain Strong Seattle is troublesome san Diego improving and Denver seemingly ready to rebound after a 5-11 season due in part to key injuries. The raiders and chiefs the co favourites both have the same question Marks a quarterback. The chiefs got a career year from Steve Deberg now 37, and Deberg was an Early Camp holdout. But he a less important than most quarterbacks in a scheme that features bullish running backs Christian Okoye and Barry word and outside Speed in Rookie Harvey Williams. Outside of Stephone Paige there a no real deep threat but this Isnit a team that needs one. The key is to score inside the 20. The real strength is on defense where Derrick Thomas the latest of a the next Lawrence Taylors a May actually approximate Ltd he led the nil with 20 sacks last season. That made Neil Smith a late Blooming first Rounder into one of the a Fly a better defensive ends. He a paired with Bill Maas a one time Rookie of the year at nose tackle who was Able to move outside because of the Success of nose tackle Dan Saleaumua probably the Best Ever plan b pickup. Los Angeles raiders last year rebounded from four years out of playoffs to go 12-4 and win acc West despite two losses to second place Kansas City. Beat Cincinnati 20-to. Then were embarrassed by Buffalo 51-3 in acc title game. Strengths defensive line featuring Howie Long Scott Davis a training Camp holdout and Greg Townsend. Aging but effective running backs Marcus Allen and Roger Craig plus to Jackson if he shows up and is healthy. Offensive linemen Don Mosebar and Steve Wisniewski and speedy receiving corps featuring Willie Gault and Mervyn Fernandez. Underrated fullback Sieve Smith. Weaknesses aging line backing corps and so so secondary. Plus questions about quarterback Jay Schroeder. Newcomers Craig and is Ronnie Lott plan b pickups irom san Francisco no. 1 Todd Marinovich the quarterback of the future re Nick Bell the no. 2 pick currently injured a file big Back Barry word 23 can carry Kansas City a Load for 17 games last season the raiders were recommitted to excellence after four years out of the playoffs the longest such Streak during Al Davis tenure. Then they lost to Buffalo 51-3 in the acc title game and the talk about the decline of the raiders started again. A one game Quot emphasizes coach Art Shell. A we lost. The score does no to  Shell the first Black coach in the a Fly a modern Era proved last year that he a More a coach than a curiosity. He brought together the typical Raider collection of misfits and outcasts combined them with some Good Young and old Talent and won the acc West at 12-4, overcoming two losses to second place Kansas City. But the raiders remain one of the leagues curiosities. Quarterback Jay Schroeder can throw deep but not Short and Al Davis likes the deep game. No. 1 draft Choice Todd Marinovich is therb of the future. How  finish 1. Kansas City 4. Seattle 2. . Raiders 5. Denver 3. San Diego having signed Roger Craig along with safety Ronnie Lott from san Francisco they enter the., season with four running backs who have gained 1,000-Yards and made the pro bowl. Those same four running backs All present questions. Craig and Allen Are 31 and 32, respectively and Craig is coming off knee and hip injures. To Jackson ship is a major question Mark a even if he decides to eschew baseball and join the raiders Early. The defense could use some help at linebacker although Howie Long seems rejuvenated up front and Scott Davis came on last year at defensive end. Lott is at Strong safety and adds stability to an otherwise Young secondary. San Diego is beginning to Benefit from the arrival last year of general manager Bobby Beathard. The chargers added two offensive line starters last season in Leo Goeas and Frank Cornish helping Marion Butts to 1,225 Rushing Yards second in the acc. Rookie Eric Bienemy May provide a speedy alternative to the Bull like Butts. Anthony Miller is one of the games most dangerous receivers and the defense led by cornerback Gill Byrd linebacker Billy Ray Smith and tackle Burt Grossman is solid. The problem quarterback. Billy Joe Tolliver entering his third season is the nominal incumbent. But he could be pushed by second year Man John Friesz who started the final game last year or even by the much travelled Bob gag Liano. A Seattle sea Hawks last year finished 6-10, lust about the Standard for a team that s been Over .500 once since 1982 a in the 1987 strike season. Strengths general manager Bobby Beathard. Running game featuring Marion Butts Rod Bernstine and Rookie Eric Bienemy cornerback Gill Byrd wide receiver Anthony Miller Young improving offensive line and pass Rush featuring Leslie o Neal and Burt Grossman. Weaknesses quarterback where neither Billy Joe Tolliver nor John Friesz has shown enough to Lay claim to the Job although Tolliver has shown flashes during his two seasons secondary other than Byrd wide receiver other than Miller. Newcomers Bienemy the no. 2 Choice who has looked in Camp like a steal while Butts holds out. S Stanley Richard the no. I Choice. Seattle 9-7 but out of the playoffs last season has a quarterback question every year. And every year its answered by Dave Krieg. Krieg will probably Start again but now no. 1 draft Choice Dan Mcgwire is around As his Likely successor although a former heir apparent Kelly Stouffer has looked better this year after never suiting up for a game last season. Supi singly the conservative Chuck Knox is thinking of using More run and shoot this year to utilize the receiving talents of Bennie Blades and Tommy Kane. The running Back tandem of Derrick Fenner and John l. Williams is solid but the offensive line Isnit All it could be. Last years Rookie crop was Good a it defensive linemen Cortez Kennedy and Eric Hayes both should break in soon to the group of Jacob Green Joe Nash and Jeff Bryant that has started for eight years. A Denver Broncos last year picked for last by most prognosticators started 0-3, then finished 9-7, missing playoffs in tiebreakers. Helped by a Good Rookie crop. Strengths running backs Derrick Fenner and Johnl. Williams particularly Williams perhaps the nil s Best All around fullback Good Young defensive players in Dos Eric Hayes and Cortez Kennedy now in their second years s Robert Blackmon. Weaknesses inconsistency at quarterback from Dave Krieg who has stretches where he plays like Joe Montana others where he can to hit receivers from five Yards away. Aging defensive front where Hayes and Kennedy should be moving in. Pass Rush other than specialist Rufus Porter. Newcomers Abdan Mcgwire the no. 1 pick and the eventual successor to Krieg. K John Kasay fourth round pick. A file age matches Marcus Allens number. A we weren tas bad As our record a coach Dan Reeves says of Denver a 511 season following three super bowl trips in four years. The season started on a Downer when Reeves underwent heart surgery during training Camp and continued to disintegrate As both cornerback and a Host of other players went Down. This year looks More promising although holdouts by running Back Bobby Humphrey safety Steve Atwater and linebacker Mike Croel the no. 1 draft pick set Back Progress in training Camp. The offensive line also needs a replacement at left tackle for Gerald Perry whose troubles off the Field led to a Trade to the los Angeles rams. But the Rookie crop looks Good and Kenny Walker an oth round pick from Nebraska who is limited Only by his deafness could Start at end. And John Elway of course can win games by himself it quarterback. Tomorrow pfc East last year fell to 5-11 after three super bowl appearances albeit Blowout losses in four years. One reason was injuries on defensive line and secondary another was mediocre performances by wide receivers. Strengths Abjohn Elway who despite super bowl setbacks remains one of the leagues most dangerous players. Running Back Bobby Humphrey who has been a holdout upgraded defense that still features la Karl Mecklenburg and s Steve Atwater another holdout. Weaknesses offensive line particularly left tackle where Broncos Are desperate for a replacement for the traded Gerald Perry cornerback where injured Tyrone Braxton is Back but still needs upgrading. Receiver where onetime plan b pickup Michael Young has become steadier than the old three Amigos a Only Mark Jackson retains Luster. Newcomers re Gaston Green obtained from rams for Perry. La Mike Croel no. 1 pick who was a late signee. The Reggie Johnson no. 2 pick