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.