An opinion is not something that is evident for every person on every subject. Generally, I have an opinion that I make publicly known about nearly everything. If something comes up that I do not have a perspective on, I research it so I feel I am properly equipped to have an opinion.
The Chiefs got pulverized by the Buffalo Bills today. The worst team we have played since Oakland in Week 2 just set a scoring record against the Chiefs by scoring 54 points. It was almost as ugly as Florida beating up on Citadel this weekend (which on a side note should let Gator fans know why they got jumped in the BCS this weekend by scheduling a cupcake this late in the season).
Florida is good by college standards however, and the Buffalo Bills are not. I find myself at a loss for words. I wrote a pregame post for the first time ever (which might have gynxed the outcome) and the people that I asked to show up did not.
I will say this, after the game Herm was right when asked about Tyler Thigpen. He put it in perspective that this was his sixth game, and these happen to everyone. Funny thing, if 55% completions, 462 total yards, 31 points, 3 touchdowns, 2 INT's, and an 85.9 QB Rating is a bad game then we should only be so lucky. Herm didn't go that far as to say that he had a good game, but he put it in perspective that mistakes do happen.
The culprits that I spoke of before the game were still in full force today. Five turnovers will kill you, but the Chiefs have done that before to better offenses and STILL never given up 54 points. Gunther Cunningham should be fired tomorrow morning and Herm should take over defensive playcalling the rest of the way. If Chan Gailey is our offensive mastermind independently and Herm is a defensive minded coach, then give him a few weeks to show that he can coach a strong defensive unit.
Also, Rocky Boiman was out leading tackler. That guy would not even be on most rosters, and he's leading the way for our defense. Bernard Pollard and Maurice Leggett combined for 16 tackles, which is shocking because one is a nickle back who is not an every-down player. On the season, three of our top five tacklers are in the secondary (Bernard Pollard, Jarrad Page, and Brandon Carr). On even rushing plays, the tackles are being made 6 yards down the field. This defense is playing worse football than the Greg Robinson defenses of the Vermeil years (on a side note, Syracuse beat Notre Dame this weekend in quite a shocker).
Change is the word. Barack Obama won a presidential election with a brand and given the need for that brand it didn't matter whether he offered credibility to the brand through substance. We all now hope that he is what he said he is. I hope this brand can be taken a step further to the football field and the Chiefs. We all hope there is change. Young teams make mistakes, but don't call the plays. You can't blame the players on the field for games like this, you can only blame the people who put them on the field.
This city loves sports as much as any. At game time there were close to 60,000 people there to watch a 1-9 team. Is someone trying to tell me that this team could not have had a more productive youth movement with someone like Alen Faneca and Damien Woody for 2 years on the offensive line? That these skill players on offense couldn't punch it in from inside the two with those guys on the line? That Javon Kearse, Justin Smith, or even retaining Jimmy Wilkerson would not have made this a better defensive line for two years until you can get more picks in here?
Last week, I said this team is good enough for a Christmas list, and none of that has changed. I said who needed to prove something against Buffalo, and none did anything and should be out of town immediately. Of those eight players that I said we need to field a strong team, I currently have no doubts that the team that is about $30 million under the salary cap could have turned this into a postive season really fast. The fans could have embraced players the work that Tyler Thigpen, Mark Bradley, Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr, Brandon Albert, and others are all doing. We could have also marveled at Tony Gonzalez some more.
Now all people have to complain about is Carl Peterson and Herm Edwards. They should, because the little things that management can do to build a culture of winning are not being done. It is unfortunately that things are going to go this way. Hopefully Clark Hunt sees things the way we all do.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Buffalo Bills
Finally, the schedule is starting to shape up nicely for the Chiefs. If the Miami Dolphins are the best team you still have to face over the course of six games, we can finally start to expect wins out of this Chiefs team yet. There are simply too many holes to fill to expect wins over really good teams, but this team can beat mediocre teams. The individuals with jobs on the line should be in full display this weekend. Here is what I expect to see against the Bills:
1) Derrick Johnson is coming back from injury. Johnson and Gonzalez are probably our best trade bait in the offseason, and at this point I would say that I want Johnson gone. We spent a first round pick on a guy with every tool imaginable to perform in the NFL except one: brains. For a guy as big, fast, and experienced as he is, I think it is reasonable to expect more than 100 tackles and at least 5 or 6 sacks per season. He does neither, and also does not force turnovers or lead our young defense. He needs to go somewhere where others can make him perform better, he's a strain here. I would rather pickup a slower linebacker in the middle rounds than to let Johnson play another season as long as he has the smarts to read what the offense is doing.
2) Coaches on the hot seat. Gunther Cunningham, Mike Priefer, and Tim Krumrie. The secondary has played well, so I only place defensive blame on Cunningham and Krumrie, but the play of the front seven on this team has been horrible. The front seven has DJ, Hali, Dorsey out of the first round, McBride from the second, and Tyler out of the third in the past few years. These players are strong prospects who are not performing. The Bills don't score a lot of points but they can run the ball, and that does not bode well for the front seven. The special teams in Buffalo are Grade A quality, if the Chiefs give up a return TD, then those are the guys who need to go.
3) Larry Johnson. Right now, I want him cut. I understand he had a few big runs last weekend at the game. However, watching the game and seeing our O-Line open holes for him, and seeing him run for 8-10 yards a few times, I expected to return home to see a stat line with 100 yards. I saw 64. Those big runs were thanks to the offensive line play, the no-gainers that led to him only netting 3.5 YPC after all of those big runs makes it obvious that he is not getting it done. We can draft a guy in the mid rounds and head into next season with Smith/Charles and be fine. LJ better show a lot or he should be out of here for a 5th rounder this offseason.
4) Right side of the offensive line. We already know that none of you will have jobs after the season. Just open a couple of holes on the goal line as an audition for your next job....please?
Everyone else: KEEP IT UP. The passing game has been great behind Thigpen, and the young guys on offense just keep showing up each week. The pass blocking has been good as well. Brandon Flowers will be back this week, and we should be able to keep the Bills running the whole game.
If Gailey and Thigpen put us out to a 10+ point lead in the first half again, watch out. The Bills will not come back in that game. But we can't let them back in it either. We have to hit the gas pedal, and not let off until the game is over. The Bills will not beat us with Trent Edwards throwing the ball.
Also, watch JP Losman. He will make a nice backup to Tyler Thigpen along with a mid-round draft pick next season. He'll also be a free agent. If he plays, picture him in Red and Gold next season. It is very possible.
1) Derrick Johnson is coming back from injury. Johnson and Gonzalez are probably our best trade bait in the offseason, and at this point I would say that I want Johnson gone. We spent a first round pick on a guy with every tool imaginable to perform in the NFL except one: brains. For a guy as big, fast, and experienced as he is, I think it is reasonable to expect more than 100 tackles and at least 5 or 6 sacks per season. He does neither, and also does not force turnovers or lead our young defense. He needs to go somewhere where others can make him perform better, he's a strain here. I would rather pickup a slower linebacker in the middle rounds than to let Johnson play another season as long as he has the smarts to read what the offense is doing.
2) Coaches on the hot seat. Gunther Cunningham, Mike Priefer, and Tim Krumrie. The secondary has played well, so I only place defensive blame on Cunningham and Krumrie, but the play of the front seven on this team has been horrible. The front seven has DJ, Hali, Dorsey out of the first round, McBride from the second, and Tyler out of the third in the past few years. These players are strong prospects who are not performing. The Bills don't score a lot of points but they can run the ball, and that does not bode well for the front seven. The special teams in Buffalo are Grade A quality, if the Chiefs give up a return TD, then those are the guys who need to go.
3) Larry Johnson. Right now, I want him cut. I understand he had a few big runs last weekend at the game. However, watching the game and seeing our O-Line open holes for him, and seeing him run for 8-10 yards a few times, I expected to return home to see a stat line with 100 yards. I saw 64. Those big runs were thanks to the offensive line play, the no-gainers that led to him only netting 3.5 YPC after all of those big runs makes it obvious that he is not getting it done. We can draft a guy in the mid rounds and head into next season with Smith/Charles and be fine. LJ better show a lot or he should be out of here for a 5th rounder this offseason.
4) Right side of the offensive line. We already know that none of you will have jobs after the season. Just open a couple of holes on the goal line as an audition for your next job....please?
Everyone else: KEEP IT UP. The passing game has been great behind Thigpen, and the young guys on offense just keep showing up each week. The pass blocking has been good as well. Brandon Flowers will be back this week, and we should be able to keep the Bills running the whole game.
If Gailey and Thigpen put us out to a 10+ point lead in the first half again, watch out. The Bills will not come back in that game. But we can't let them back in it either. We have to hit the gas pedal, and not let off until the game is over. The Bills will not beat us with Trent Edwards throwing the ball.
Also, watch JP Losman. He will make a nice backup to Tyler Thigpen along with a mid-round draft pick next season. He'll also be a free agent. If he plays, picture him in Red and Gold next season. It is very possible.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Good Enough for a Christmas List
This is the time of year where family and friends continuously come up to you and ask for your Christmas list. How many of us really have a clue what we want? There's the occasional doll for a young girl, a video game or a football for a boy, maybe even a new football player's jersey, if you're so inclined. Once you're an adult, I think it is more difficult because we look more to what we need rather than the junk that's going to feed our materialistic sense for a month or so and then becomes obsolete in our selfish world. Some of us choose to still ask for our wants, while others just request a gift card for a rainy day.
I think this analogy can describe several teams right now in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys, I would say, fit into the materialistic mode. They had Barber, Owens, Witten, Jones, Romo, and others on offense, yet they threw conventional wisdom to the wind and blew the bank on Roy Williams in the middle of the season. It is the materialistic sense that Jerry Jones has that he will spend money to put what he "wants" on the field at all times. They have much of what they need, but there's an occasional Gucci Bag or H3 that they feel they can't live without.
The Tennessee Titans fit well into the example of those who have what they need, and ask for a gift card for a rainy day. Each year, the pundits say they don't have enough receivers. Yet Justin Gage broke out for two huge touchdowns yesterday against the Jags. Around the country people know maybe three players on their defense, yet they are among the best every season. By contrast, there is no one on that team who has done less to pursue their success than their most recognizable player, Vince Young. They'll take the gift card because they use what they have, they're not glamorous, and they are frugal enough to make the most of what they have. The Cowboys will only drive an H3 for 50,000 miles and trade it in for something else, while the Titans will drive a Honda Civic for 300,000 miles and get 50 miles per gallon on top of it.
But where do the Chiefs fit into this example? I would say that the Chiefs are a young adult right now, and much closer to the Tennessee Titans at this point than the Dallas Cowboys. They don't have everything around the house that they need but they know what they're missing. They have the refrigerator they need to store the steaks, but no grill to cook them on. They have the player but no DVDs. A reading lamp without bulbs. You get the picture.
Right now, the 20-something Chiefs have an offensive team to build upon, but still has a few holes. They have strong leadership in Gonzalez and Waters, a solid young QB in Tyler Thigpen, and they go three deep at Wide Receiver in Bowe, Bradley, and Franklin. Cottam is even a promising replacement to Gonzalez in a couple of years. Brandon Albert is a very auspicious Tackle who, during the Buccaneers game, missed one block that got his QB destroyed. He walked over to his QB with his head down, and an ashamed demeanor about him. Since then, I haven't seen him miss a block in the next two games. I didn't even discuss our young Running Backs, but there is talent there even with the likely termination of Larry Johnson in the off-season.
On Defense, we also know what we have. Dorsey and Tyler have played increasingly better in the middle. Our young secondary is probably the most encouraging unit on the team, if that unit had a pass rush to help them out, they would be talked about right now on the national level. Even on special teams, we have a great punter that is obviously a fixture of this team's future.We know what we want for Christmas, and it's easy to write a list. We're not wandering around Walmart trying to make up a list of things we don't even know exist, we absolutely know where our deficiencies are.On Offense, we absolutely need a new Center, Right Guard, and Right Tackle. New starters on Week 1 at those three positions are necessities. Also at Kicker, Connor Barth might have beat out other players to be the kicker, but he has yet to impress me. He was missing 45 yarders in warm-ups on Sunday. He needs to go.
Defense is where we have the most holes. Tamba Hali and Turk McBride can play the Left End position, but this team needs a strong Rush End to pressure the opponent's QB and take pressure off of the endowed secondary. The linebackers can all go. Derrick Johnson could probably command a high draft pick, and Demorrio Williams and Rocky Boiman can stay on for depth. Other than that, we need three players there.
That makes 8 of 24 players (counting kickers) that we need to turnover in this off season. This last season, we turned over QB, FB, LT, C, RG, RE, DT, WLB, MLB, CB, CB, and K. That's 12 last season. This season, we need to make it 8. We have solutions at several of those (QB, FB, LT, DT, CB, and CB). Now we're down to 8. Even good teams in the NFL can name 5 guys they need to replace, and the great ones can even name 2.
We're getting closer to being the Titans, but let's not make the mistake of being the Cowboys. Which one is looking more likely to win the Super Bowl this year?
I think this analogy can describe several teams right now in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys, I would say, fit into the materialistic mode. They had Barber, Owens, Witten, Jones, Romo, and others on offense, yet they threw conventional wisdom to the wind and blew the bank on Roy Williams in the middle of the season. It is the materialistic sense that Jerry Jones has that he will spend money to put what he "wants" on the field at all times. They have much of what they need, but there's an occasional Gucci Bag or H3 that they feel they can't live without.
The Tennessee Titans fit well into the example of those who have what they need, and ask for a gift card for a rainy day. Each year, the pundits say they don't have enough receivers. Yet Justin Gage broke out for two huge touchdowns yesterday against the Jags. Around the country people know maybe three players on their defense, yet they are among the best every season. By contrast, there is no one on that team who has done less to pursue their success than their most recognizable player, Vince Young. They'll take the gift card because they use what they have, they're not glamorous, and they are frugal enough to make the most of what they have. The Cowboys will only drive an H3 for 50,000 miles and trade it in for something else, while the Titans will drive a Honda Civic for 300,000 miles and get 50 miles per gallon on top of it.
But where do the Chiefs fit into this example? I would say that the Chiefs are a young adult right now, and much closer to the Tennessee Titans at this point than the Dallas Cowboys. They don't have everything around the house that they need but they know what they're missing. They have the refrigerator they need to store the steaks, but no grill to cook them on. They have the player but no DVDs. A reading lamp without bulbs. You get the picture.
Right now, the 20-something Chiefs have an offensive team to build upon, but still has a few holes. They have strong leadership in Gonzalez and Waters, a solid young QB in Tyler Thigpen, and they go three deep at Wide Receiver in Bowe, Bradley, and Franklin. Cottam is even a promising replacement to Gonzalez in a couple of years. Brandon Albert is a very auspicious Tackle who, during the Buccaneers game, missed one block that got his QB destroyed. He walked over to his QB with his head down, and an ashamed demeanor about him. Since then, I haven't seen him miss a block in the next two games. I didn't even discuss our young Running Backs, but there is talent there even with the likely termination of Larry Johnson in the off-season.
On Defense, we also know what we have. Dorsey and Tyler have played increasingly better in the middle. Our young secondary is probably the most encouraging unit on the team, if that unit had a pass rush to help them out, they would be talked about right now on the national level. Even on special teams, we have a great punter that is obviously a fixture of this team's future.We know what we want for Christmas, and it's easy to write a list. We're not wandering around Walmart trying to make up a list of things we don't even know exist, we absolutely know where our deficiencies are.On Offense, we absolutely need a new Center, Right Guard, and Right Tackle. New starters on Week 1 at those three positions are necessities. Also at Kicker, Connor Barth might have beat out other players to be the kicker, but he has yet to impress me. He was missing 45 yarders in warm-ups on Sunday. He needs to go.
Defense is where we have the most holes. Tamba Hali and Turk McBride can play the Left End position, but this team needs a strong Rush End to pressure the opponent's QB and take pressure off of the endowed secondary. The linebackers can all go. Derrick Johnson could probably command a high draft pick, and Demorrio Williams and Rocky Boiman can stay on for depth. Other than that, we need three players there.
That makes 8 of 24 players (counting kickers) that we need to turnover in this off season. This last season, we turned over QB, FB, LT, C, RG, RE, DT, WLB, MLB, CB, CB, and K. That's 12 last season. This season, we need to make it 8. We have solutions at several of those (QB, FB, LT, DT, CB, and CB). Now we're down to 8. Even good teams in the NFL can name 5 guys they need to replace, and the great ones can even name 2.
We're getting closer to being the Titans, but let's not make the mistake of being the Cowboys. Which one is looking more likely to win the Super Bowl this year?
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Sunday that Wasn't
This Sunday, I was in attendance to watch the Chiefs take it to the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, but then they didn't. When considering how to approach a perspective on the game, it comes down to themes that were, but then weren't. This post will be random ideas:
1) The Wildcat was an excellent approach for a change of pace and gave the Chiefs a lot of matchup problems in the first half. But then they didn't use it again.
2) Jamaal Charles looked like a running back who was already to become a starting running back for this team next season, but then he coughed up the ball on the Chiefs own three yard line.
3) Turk McBride appears to have emerged as a legitimated NFL defensive end, but then he gets a late hit on the QB about once a game.
4) Bernard Pollard plays a solid game, tackles and covers well, but then whiffs on a tackle in OT that sent Mark Clayton for a HUGE gain and eventual game winning field goal.
5) Brad Cottam looked like Tony Gonzalez in the first quarter, catching a pass, refusing to go out of bounds, and hitting about three Bucs in the process. But then they didn't throw him the ball again.
6) The Chiefs pass defense looked respectable, but then Brandon Flowers left the game and Jeff Garcia threw the ball all over Leggett, Brackenridge, and other backup corners all day long. It makes you feel good that our two rookie corners mean that much to this team.
7) Tony Gonzalez appeared to have interfered on that last catch when observing in real time (as I was there), but then replays made it look different. If the NFL allowed interference penalties to be challenged by replay, the Chiefs would have won that game, but if I was the referee I would have made that call in real time. Sorry Chiefs fans.
7) We were taking it to a potential playoff contender in the NFC, but then we lost.
This theme was all over the place Sunday, which happens with young teams who are "getting there" but "aren't quite there yet." We are seeing promise, and there are a few guys who deserve game balls for not being the "did but then didn't" group. Tyler Thigpen was again a QB who made great decisions. Mark Bradley has emerged as a solid second option at WR behind Dwayne Bowe. Brandon Flower s and Brandon Carr still deserve A LOT of credit for being the most stable unit on our defense (and they're both rookies playing there). Jarrod Page made an amazing play knocking down that Galloway potential TD pass.
As for this team at this moment, here's what I think we have: One Solid QB for this season at least and next if he keeps playing this way, one solid RB for the future, an emerging o-line, two WR's, two TE's, two CB's, two Safety's, one DE (McBride surprisingly), and two DT's. I have said before that if Albert continues to play well, I would still draft Michael Oher in round 1. I have not changed my mind. I think if we had Albert at RG and Oher at LT, we would have a really solid o-line by the end of next season. If we can replace McIntosh, a potentially great one.
Now for two negatives from that game. Herm Edwards needs to bench ANY player who whiffs on a tackle like Pollard did in overtime, period. Something must be done to make players tackle better, and he needs to make examples of those who don't. The tackling on this team must get better. In addition, while Kolby Smith was on the ground after his season-ending knee injury, I watched Dwayne Bowe take off his helmet, walk over to the Buccanneers defense, and have a meet/greet/laugh session with the opponents. He should have either been with Smith, in the huddle waiting on the next play, or on the sideline with his position coach until the next play. In a game where he did that selfish act, Ike Hilliard stood on the sideline after the half and shook hands with each military individual who walked off the field after the halftime celebration. No other Buc or Chief did that, as a matter of fact Weatherford punted balls during the half over the group being welcomed into the US Army at the break.
Hilliard should be commended, and Dwayne Bowe should start taking his cues from class acts like Ike Hilliard and Warrick Dunns instead of coming up with the next way to show the world that despite his talent, he really doesn't care about being anything but an entertainer on the field.
1) The Wildcat was an excellent approach for a change of pace and gave the Chiefs a lot of matchup problems in the first half. But then they didn't use it again.
2) Jamaal Charles looked like a running back who was already to become a starting running back for this team next season, but then he coughed up the ball on the Chiefs own three yard line.
3) Turk McBride appears to have emerged as a legitimated NFL defensive end, but then he gets a late hit on the QB about once a game.
4) Bernard Pollard plays a solid game, tackles and covers well, but then whiffs on a tackle in OT that sent Mark Clayton for a HUGE gain and eventual game winning field goal.
5) Brad Cottam looked like Tony Gonzalez in the first quarter, catching a pass, refusing to go out of bounds, and hitting about three Bucs in the process. But then they didn't throw him the ball again.
6) The Chiefs pass defense looked respectable, but then Brandon Flowers left the game and Jeff Garcia threw the ball all over Leggett, Brackenridge, and other backup corners all day long. It makes you feel good that our two rookie corners mean that much to this team.
7) Tony Gonzalez appeared to have interfered on that last catch when observing in real time (as I was there), but then replays made it look different. If the NFL allowed interference penalties to be challenged by replay, the Chiefs would have won that game, but if I was the referee I would have made that call in real time. Sorry Chiefs fans.
7) We were taking it to a potential playoff contender in the NFC, but then we lost.
This theme was all over the place Sunday, which happens with young teams who are "getting there" but "aren't quite there yet." We are seeing promise, and there are a few guys who deserve game balls for not being the "did but then didn't" group. Tyler Thigpen was again a QB who made great decisions. Mark Bradley has emerged as a solid second option at WR behind Dwayne Bowe. Brandon Flower s and Brandon Carr still deserve A LOT of credit for being the most stable unit on our defense (and they're both rookies playing there). Jarrod Page made an amazing play knocking down that Galloway potential TD pass.
As for this team at this moment, here's what I think we have: One Solid QB for this season at least and next if he keeps playing this way, one solid RB for the future, an emerging o-line, two WR's, two TE's, two CB's, two Safety's, one DE (McBride surprisingly), and two DT's. I have said before that if Albert continues to play well, I would still draft Michael Oher in round 1. I have not changed my mind. I think if we had Albert at RG and Oher at LT, we would have a really solid o-line by the end of next season. If we can replace McIntosh, a potentially great one.
Now for two negatives from that game. Herm Edwards needs to bench ANY player who whiffs on a tackle like Pollard did in overtime, period. Something must be done to make players tackle better, and he needs to make examples of those who don't. The tackling on this team must get better. In addition, while Kolby Smith was on the ground after his season-ending knee injury, I watched Dwayne Bowe take off his helmet, walk over to the Buccanneers defense, and have a meet/greet/laugh session with the opponents. He should have either been with Smith, in the huddle waiting on the next play, or on the sideline with his position coach until the next play. In a game where he did that selfish act, Ike Hilliard stood on the sideline after the half and shook hands with each military individual who walked off the field after the halftime celebration. No other Buc or Chief did that, as a matter of fact Weatherford punted balls during the half over the group being welcomed into the US Army at the break.
Hilliard should be commended, and Dwayne Bowe should start taking his cues from class acts like Ike Hilliard and Warrick Dunns instead of coming up with the next way to show the world that despite his talent, he really doesn't care about being anything but an entertainer on the field.
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