Are the Chiefs going to be a good team to back with your NFL picks in 2012/13? Matt Cassel’s play will be a big part.

Last season was one Cassel is wishing he could erase from his memory permanently.

He played only nine games because of an injured hand, finishing with 1,713 passing yards and 10 touchdowns against nine interceptions. It was a huge downfall from the awesome season he had In 2010, when he tossed 27 TDs as opposed to only seven picks.

Cassel appears to be healthy again and has been linking up well with second-year pro Jonathan Baldwin.

You may remember Baldwin from his run-in with teammate Thomas Jones at a practice last season. He injured his wrist in the brawl and therefore missed the last two games of the postseason. That set him back and he wasn’t able to settle into life in a Chiefs uniform until later on in the regular season.

Now, with a full offseason program, Baldwin is hoping to make a much bigger impact in Kansas City.

Baldwin, of course, isn’t the only weapon at Cassel’s disposal. Not only do the Chiefs have Jamaal Charles (if he returns at full strength) coming back alongside Peyton Hillis and Dexter McCluster at the running back spots, but they also have Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston at the wideout positions.

Breaston signed a five-year deal with the Chiefs during the offseason last year and went on to catch 61 balls for 785 yards and two touchdowns in his first season for the team.

We know what Bowe brings to the table, while Charles is one of the best running backs around when healthy. Hillis should provide some tough running to supplement Charles’ slash and run style.

The Chiefs finished 7-9 last season, but as long as injuries don’t get in the way, they have an excellent chance at finishing .500 or above in 2012. They certainly have the pieces in place.