Dick Vermeil signed a three-year contract with the Chiefs, so Year 2 is important. Vermeil didn't come out of retirement to coach 10-loss teams. He's used to building teams slowly toward Super Bowls. But he's 65. The Chiefs better improve. Fortunately, they should.

Improvement should be visible on offense and defense. On offense, quarterback Trent Green won't be as frustrated as he was last season. Green seemed to start games accurately, but dropped passes and botched routes made him force mistakes. It killed him to finish the season with 17 touchdown passes and 24 interceptions. Vermeil found Green a go-to receiver in Johnnie Morton, who should catch 80 passes in this offense. Eddie Kennison, after failures in four other stops, could be the deep answer at split end. Kennison finished the season impressively after quitting after getting a starting job with the Broncos.

	CAMP AT A GLANCE
	Trent Green is entering his second season with the Chiefs.
	Location: Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, Wis. Rookies report: July 25 Veterans report: July 25 Preseason schedule:    Aug. 10: at San Francisco    Aug. 17: Houston    Aug. 24: at Seattle    Aug. 30: St. Louis

To their credit, the Chiefs didn't quit last season. They finished the season with three wins in their final four games. Green has thrown well in offseason workouts. Priest Holmes, who rushed for a league high 1,555 yards, has emerged as a leader on offense. Vermeil hoped to solidify the offensive line by trading for left tackle Willie Roaf. What Vermeil couldn't stand is a repeat of a defense that was the fifth worst against the run, allowing 134 yards a game. He used his first two draft choices on Ryan Sims and Eddie Freeman. It's not out of the question for the Chiefs to be one of the AFC's surprise teams. Remember, the clock is ticking.

Man in the spotlight
In St. Louis, Vermeil believed Green was the quarterback who could take him back to the Super Bowl. Little did he figure that Green would suffer a season-ending knee injury and Kurt Warner would come out of nowhere to accomplish that task. This is Green's big season. He's 32. It's his ninth season. For the first time in three seasons, he is healthy instead of being prohibited from throwing because he's coming off a surgery. Green knows if he can't play to his expectations, the Chiefs may be looking for a quarterback replacement next season. Vermeil knows that Green has the arm and the smarts to run his fast break offense. The Green Light is one. Green has to drive through it.

Key position battle
Too bad Vermeil couldn't lure Keenan McCardell to Arrowhead. He was the veteran receiver who fit perfectly on the other side of Morton. But Jon Gruden's persuasion robbed Vermeil of McCardell's savvy so he has to find the right split end. Kennison has the edge, but Vermeil also likes the potential of Snoop Minnis, who was up and down as a rookie. If Vermeil doesn't see enough from his current group of pass-catchers, he will looking for options in trades or free agency.

Injury update
The Chiefs have several concerns. Left tackle Willie Roaf is coming off knee problems that may not clear up until the first month of the regular season. The team isn't sure he will be 100 percent for the opener. Wide receiver Sylvester Morris still doesn't look completely ready to help at wide receiver coming off his knee injury. Defensive end Duane Clemons if coming off a surgically repaired knee as is John Browning, who will be a backup at best this season. Fullback Tony Richardson missed most of the offseason following shoulder surgery.

Rookie report
If Vermeil bats .400 in the first year of his draft, he may parlay that into a playoff trip. The Chiefs made only five selections in the draft, but he needs impact from his first two picks -- defensive tackles Ryan Sims and Eddie Freeman. Fourth-rounder Omar Easy won't see much action at halfback. Linebackers Scott Fujita and Maurice Rodriguez will only have special teams options.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.