BYE WEEK IMPROVEMENT? I DIDN'T SEE ANY
Despite all of Todd Haley's talk the last 2 weeks about the improvement his Chiefs would make in their bye week, it certainly wasn't apparent watching the game yesterday. O.K. there was one thing that was better, the Chiefs committed only one penalty for 10 yards. Other than that, it was the same old stuff, can't protect Cassel, can't run the ball, too many dropped passes, too many 3rd & long situations & very questionable play calling. Sadly, that's just on the offensive side of the slate. On defense, horrendous safety play by Mike Brown & invisible safety play by DeJuan Morgan. Missed assignments, horrible tackling, little pass rush, gashed for big runs & not being able to get off the field on 3rd down.
The Jaguars were dead last in the league with only 5 sacks, yesterday they got 3, plus they hit Matt Cassel 8 more times. Admittedly, he did hold the ball too long a few times, some of that may be blamed on his receiving corp, which changes from week to week. Bowe, Pope, Cox, Ryan & Bradley all dropped very catchable balls. Brandon Albert may not be a left tackle, drafting one will be essential. The Chiefs rushed for 60 yards, so those of you who blamed their lousy running game on Larry Johnson, please pay attention. Their line isn't physical enough to run the ball. Running the ball successfully in the NFL is more about attitude & aggressiveness than it is about the scheme or the back. Secondly, Todd Haley isn't committed to running the ball & his play calling shows it. They didn't convert a 3rd down until late in the 3rd quarter & went 4 of 13 for the game, see why they're the worst in the league on 3rd down? Because they are unable/unwilling to run the ball coupled with their inability to stop the run, they are consistently way behind in time of possession. In yesterday's game, the Chiefs trailed by almost 13 minutes in T.O.P. An already undermanned defense is left on the field way too long, partly because they stink & also because the offense can't run the ball, keeping the clock moving, thereby shortening the game.
I can't wait to hear Haley's explanation of his decision to go for a 56-yard field goal attempt into a pretty strong wind on the last play of the 1st half. They were damn lucky the kick wasn't run back for a touchdown. Immediately after Mike Sims-Walker made fools of the K.C. secondary for a 61-yard touchdown with 1:02 left, Haley showed his skills as a graduate of the "Herm Edwards School of NFL Clock Management". They used up exactly half the remaining clock getting one play called & snapped. Totally inexcusable.
How many times did it appear Tamba Hali was playing by himself? He goes like hell on every snap, but it just seems like he's the only one putting forth that kind of effort on this defense. Sloppy, sloppy tackling is killing this defense. I understand Maurice Jones-Drew is tough to bring down, other teams have the same problems, but David Garard shook off tacklers no less than 5 times & the secondary tackling is embarrassing. I watched Bernard Pollard make 12 tackles yesterday & 2 interceptions of Peyton Manning. You're going to tell me his locker room whining was more detrimental to this team than the Chinese fire drill that safeties Mike Brown, Jon McGraw & DeJuan Morgan are every week? One weekly target of mine actually showed up yesterday, DE Tyson Jackson made 7 unassisted tackles, wow.
I think it's clear Todd Haley fired the wrong coordinator, he should have kept Chan Gailey's steady hand running the offense. Clancy Pendergast & Tim Krumrie should have been fired long ago. Arizona fired Pendergast & their defense is way better this season than last. Same personnel basically, different coordinator. Does anyone see any Chiefs player who's level of play is better than last year? O.K., maybe Glenn Dorsey, I'll give him that. But who else has been coached up by this staff? Chiefs had Krumrie last year & set the NFL record for the fewest sacks ever. Anyone see a major improvement in the pass rush? Yes, they equaled last year's sack total at mid-season, but it's still next to last in the league, which is unacceptable. In my opinion, just about everything about this team is unacceptable.
The Jaguars were dead last in the league with only 5 sacks, yesterday they got 3, plus they hit Matt Cassel 8 more times. Admittedly, he did hold the ball too long a few times, some of that may be blamed on his receiving corp, which changes from week to week. Bowe, Pope, Cox, Ryan & Bradley all dropped very catchable balls. Brandon Albert may not be a left tackle, drafting one will be essential. The Chiefs rushed for 60 yards, so those of you who blamed their lousy running game on Larry Johnson, please pay attention. Their line isn't physical enough to run the ball. Running the ball successfully in the NFL is more about attitude & aggressiveness than it is about the scheme or the back. Secondly, Todd Haley isn't committed to running the ball & his play calling shows it. They didn't convert a 3rd down until late in the 3rd quarter & went 4 of 13 for the game, see why they're the worst in the league on 3rd down? Because they are unable/unwilling to run the ball coupled with their inability to stop the run, they are consistently way behind in time of possession. In yesterday's game, the Chiefs trailed by almost 13 minutes in T.O.P. An already undermanned defense is left on the field way too long, partly because they stink & also because the offense can't run the ball, keeping the clock moving, thereby shortening the game.
I can't wait to hear Haley's explanation of his decision to go for a 56-yard field goal attempt into a pretty strong wind on the last play of the 1st half. They were damn lucky the kick wasn't run back for a touchdown. Immediately after Mike Sims-Walker made fools of the K.C. secondary for a 61-yard touchdown with 1:02 left, Haley showed his skills as a graduate of the "Herm Edwards School of NFL Clock Management". They used up exactly half the remaining clock getting one play called & snapped. Totally inexcusable.
How many times did it appear Tamba Hali was playing by himself? He goes like hell on every snap, but it just seems like he's the only one putting forth that kind of effort on this defense. Sloppy, sloppy tackling is killing this defense. I understand Maurice Jones-Drew is tough to bring down, other teams have the same problems, but David Garard shook off tacklers no less than 5 times & the secondary tackling is embarrassing. I watched Bernard Pollard make 12 tackles yesterday & 2 interceptions of Peyton Manning. You're going to tell me his locker room whining was more detrimental to this team than the Chinese fire drill that safeties Mike Brown, Jon McGraw & DeJuan Morgan are every week? One weekly target of mine actually showed up yesterday, DE Tyson Jackson made 7 unassisted tackles, wow.
I think it's clear Todd Haley fired the wrong coordinator, he should have kept Chan Gailey's steady hand running the offense. Clancy Pendergast & Tim Krumrie should have been fired long ago. Arizona fired Pendergast & their defense is way better this season than last. Same personnel basically, different coordinator. Does anyone see any Chiefs player who's level of play is better than last year? O.K., maybe Glenn Dorsey, I'll give him that. But who else has been coached up by this staff? Chiefs had Krumrie last year & set the NFL record for the fewest sacks ever. Anyone see a major improvement in the pass rush? Yes, they equaled last year's sack total at mid-season, but it's still next to last in the league, which is unacceptable. In my opinion, just about everything about this team is unacceptable.
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