(Sports Network) - When the Kansas City Chiefs got out to a surprise 4-3 start last season, there was suspicion that the team's overachievement wouldn't last long.

Then again, Herm Edwards' squad had already won a two-touchdown stunner over the heavily-favored Chargers on the road, had disposed of the Bengals at home, and had also scratched and clawed its way to narrow wins over the Raiders (12-10) and Vikings (13-10).

Maybe just maybe, if this team got some luck in the second half...

Well, so much for that brand of optimism.

The 4-3 start turned out to be a springboard into an empty pool, and a team that had backed into the playoffs just one year prior finished up with nine consecutive losses, tying the longest streak in team history.

The 4-12 record, which was aided by the absence of star running back Larry Johnson (foot) for the team's final eight games, was the franchise's worst since 1978.

The dismantling of an aging roster that had begun prior to the 2007 campaign pretty much morphed into a full-scale leveling, as former staples like Eddie Kennison, Ty Law, John Welbourn, and Kendrell Bell were among those set free. The team's best defensive player, Jared Allen, was shipped to Minnesota in order to help finance the Chiefs' aggressive youth movement, which will begin in earnest this year.

Few are expecting Kansas City, which is showing no fewer than 13 rookies on the two-deep roster, to compete for a postseason berth this year, but making strides and looking better in the second half of the season should be enough to help Edwards and team president Carl Peterson see the rebuilding project through.

On the other hand, if things get as ugly as they did over last year's final nine-game stretch, the Arrowhead Stadium faithful might be out of optimism for the current regime.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2008 edition of the Kansas City Chiefs, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2007 RECORD: 4-12 (t3rd, AFC West)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2006, lost to Indianapolis, 23-8, in AFC Wild Card

COACH (RECORD): Herm Edwards (13-19 in two seasons with Chiefs, 52-60 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Chan Gailey

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Gunther Cunningham

OFFENSIVE STAR: Larry Johnson, RB (559 rushing yards, 30 receptions, 4 TD)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Glenn Dorsey, DT (1st Round, LSU)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 32nd rushing, 20th passing, 31st scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 5th rushing, 28th passing, 14th scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: RB Jamaal Charles (3rd Round, Texas), FB Oliver Hoyte (from Cowboys), WR Devard Darling (from Ravens), TE Brad Cottam (3rd Round, Tennessee), OL Branden Albert (1st Round, Virginia), T Anthony Alabi (from Dolphins), C Wade Smith (from Jets), DT Glenn Dorsey (1st Round, LSU), LB Demorrio Williams (from Falcons), CB Brandon Flowers (2nd Round, Virginia Tech), CB Jason Horton (from Texans), S DaJuan Morgan (3rd Round, North Carolina State), RS B.J. Sams (from Ravens)

KEY DEPARTURES: RB Priest Holmes (retired), RB Gilbert Harris (released), FB Boomer Grigsby (to Dolphins), WR Samie Parker (to Broncos), WR Eddie Kennison (released), TE/FB Kris Wilson (to Eagles), TE Jason Dunn (released), C Casey Wiegmann (to Broncos), G John Welbourn (released), T Kyle Turley (retired), T Chris Terry (released), DE Jared Allen (to Vikings), DE Jimmy Wilkerson (to Buccaneers), LB Kendrell Bell (released), CB Ty Law (released), S Greg Wesley (released), CB Benny Sapp (to Vikings), RS Eddie Drummond (to Steelers)

QB: There is no quarterback controversy in Kansas City this year, as third- year pro Brodie Croyle (1227 passing yards, 6 TD, 6 INT) has been handed full control of signal-calling duties by new coordinator Chan Gailey. Croyle was not great in six starts last year, losing all six contests and posting a 69.9 passer rating, but the team wants to see what he can do when not looking over his shoulder. Last year's opening day starter, Damon Huard (2257 passing yards, 11 TD, 13 INT), is 35 and not a lock to make the team. The Chiefs are reportedly enamored of second-year player Tyler Thigpen (Coastal Carolina), who got into one game as a rookie last year after being snatched off the Vikings roster.

RB: Even before suffering a broken foot in a Week 9 loss to the Packers, Larry Johnson was not coming close to matching his success during his record- breaking season of 2006. The thinning of the team's once-feared offensive line, as well as the general absence of a passing game, had a major impact on Johnson, who averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and found the end zone only four times in eight games. The Chiefs need Johnson to have a bounce-back year in 2008, and also need to find a reliable back to spell him. Kolby Smith (407 rushing yards, 2 TD, 22 receptions) did a decent job in Johnson's place last year, but will have to hold off third-round pick Jamaal Charles (Texas) in order to secure the backup job. If the team keeps a pure fullback, rookie free agent Mike Cox (Georgia Tech) or first-year player Chris Manderino (California) will be the guy.

WR/TE: Though a lot went wrong for the Chiefs in 2007, one encouraging development centered around the development of rookie wideout Dwayne Bowe (70 receptions, 5 TD). Bowe came up just shy of 1,000 yards for a team that lacked a consistent quarterback, and should be a major part of the team's offensive game plan this season. Behind Bowe and the marginal Jeff Webb (28 receptions, 1 TD), there's not a single wideout on the roster who caught a pass for the Chiefs last year. Ravens castoff Devard Darling (18 receptions, 3 TD with Baltimore), former Arena League star Bobby Sippio, and rookies Will Franklin (4th Round, Missouri) and Kevin Robinson (6th Round, Utah State) will all have a chance to win jobs. At tight end, Tony Gonzalez (99 receptions, 5 TD) is still reliable, but there is little depth behind him. Third-round pick Brad Cottam (Tennessee) is more of a blocker than pass-catcher, and neither free agent John Paul Foschi (ex-Raiders) nor former seventh-round pick Michael Allan projects as an NFL starter.

OL: The Chiefs line was one of the worst in the NFL last year, as the team clearly missed retired ex-staples like Will Shields and Willie Roaf. Mercifully, only two starters - left guard Brian Waters and right tackle Damion McIntosh - are back from last year's unit. Otherwise, the team is banking heavily on the development of first-round left tackle Branden Albert (Virginia), needs former backup Rudy Niswanger to establish himself at center, and is looking for Jets castoffs Adrian Jones and Wade Smith to make a positive impact as well. Holdovers Will Svitek, Herb Taylor, and Tre Stallings are all vying for backup jobs along the line, as are rookie Barry Richardson (6th Round, Clemson) and ex-Dolphin Anthony Alabi.

DL: After dealing their most identifiable defensive player in Allen, the Chiefs added a new major face by selecting tackle Glenn Dorsey (LSU) with the fifth overall pick in the Draft. Dorsey's Draft stock dropped slightly due to concerns over an injured knee, but Kansas City is expecting him to be an immediate disruptive force in the middle of the line. Veteran Ron Edwards (26 tackles, 3 sacks) and second-year-players Tank Tyler (11 tackles) and Turk McBride (14 tackles, 1 sack) should be part of the tackle rotation as well. The loss of Allen saps the team of reliable pass rushers, though there is hope that Alfonso Boone (25 tackles, 1 sack) can apply some pressure after moving from tackle to left end. Former first-round pick Tamba Hali (58 tackles, 7.5 sacks) will occupy the other side, but is a better run-stuffer than pass rusher. The Chiefs are thin enough at defensive end that seventh-round pick Brian Johnston (Gardner-Webb) could be thrown into the fire immediately.

LB: The strength of the Kansas City defense probably lies with the linebacking corps, which was a major component in the Chiefs' top-five finish against the run a year ago. Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham appears comfortable with Donnie Edwards (104 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) and Derrick Johnson (94 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 INT) at the outside positions, though the 35-year-old Edwards could slide to the middle to make way for free agent pickup Demorrio Williams (78 tackles, 2 INT with Atlanta). If Edwards stays outside, ex-Jaguar Pat Thomas (8 tackles with Jaguars and Chiefs) is a candidate to play the middle. Veteran Napoleon Harris (116 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT) started 13 games last year and could be kept on due to his experience, though if the team is serious about getting younger, a youngster like rookie LeRue Rumph (North Carolina State) could stick in his place.

DB: Gone are the days when veteran players like Ty Law, Greg Wesley, and Eric Warfield patrolled the Chiefs secondary. The only cagy veteran left in the Kansas City defensive backfield is 32-year-old cornerback Patrick Surtain (58 tackles, 2 INT), and you get the feeling that the team wouldn't mind sliding him out of the picture at some point too. Rookie Brandon Flowers (Virginia Tech) will have a steep learning curve but is penciled in as the starter opposite Surtain. If Flowers falters, holdovers Dimitri Patterson (12 tackles) and Tyron Brackenridge (25 tackles) or rookie Brandon Carr (5th Round, Grand Valley State) could take advantage. The safety jobs look secure with Bernard Pollard (90 tackles, 2 INT, 1 sack) on the strong side and Jarrad Page (59 tackles, 3 INT) at free safety, but the team also has high hopes for rookie DaJuan Morgan (3rd Round, North Carolina State).

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Chiefs went through a revolving door at kicker last year, blowing through Justin Medlock, Dave Rayner, and even veteran John Carney with minimal success. This season, the competition looks to be between journeyman Nick Novak and rookie free agent Connor Barth (North Carolina). Kansas City is set at punter, with Dustin Colquitt (45.5 avg.), and at long snapper, where J- P Darche resides. In the return game, B.J. Sams (28.0 kickoff return avg., 9.3 punt return avg. with Baltimore) had his electrifying moments while with the Ravens, but must prove that he can remain healthy and hold onto the football. If he can't, sixth-round wideout Kevin Robinson could get a shot there.

PROGNOSIS: This is not going to be a good team, primarily early in the season, when there will be a lot of uncertain young talent on the field. Luckily for the Chiefs, they play in the AFC West, where the Chargers are the cream of the crop but everyone else looks beatable. Even in light of Kansas City's deficiencies, it will be surprising if they go 0-4 against the Raiders and Broncos. It will also be surprising if the Chiefs don't at least look a little bit better during November and December, when some of the green players will have matured a bit and the environment at Arrowhead Stadium will be at its most hostile for opponents. Set the over-under for this team at five wins, and look for some real development for the organization in time for 2009.