HARD TO FIND MANY POSITIVES IN TONIGHT'S CHIEFS' GAME, EXCEPT FOR CHARLES & 2 ROOKIES
This game was tough to watch, for a lot of reasons. Neither station I get here broadcast this snore-fest in high definition. The game looked like it was being played in a cave. The director's choice of cameras was terrible, too much from field level. Then we had the severe thunderstorm warning box sitting in the left corner of the picture for the entire game, it blocks out a lot of the action. Figures, we haven't had any rain here in weeks, put a Chiefs game on & viola'. The officiating was awful, there was a series where Atlanta returned an interception inside the Chiefs' 10-yardline. After a 3rd & goal completion to the 4, Atlanta center Joe Hawley was called for a late hit after the whistle. The penalty was enforced out to the 22-yardline & the Falcons were given a first down. Huh? After a heated exchange with Todd Haley, the penalty & first down stood. Luckily the Chiefs held & the Falcons kicked a field goal but I was looking for an explanation that justified this 1st down call, but it never came.
Let's start a Chiefs' post with some positive comments.........for a change. Then we'll get to the rest of it. Jamaal Charles looked exactly as he did at the end of last season, ultra quick, good vision & the speed to go the distance on any play. It's not like he had gaping holes to run thru either, if Charles sees a seam, he is thru it before that seam is closed. As long as he can stay healthy, he is a formidable weapon for Kansas City.
Both of the 2nd round rookies, WR/RB/KR Dexter McCluster & CB/KR Javier Arenas, made a very favorable impression tonight. McCluster doesn't have Jamaal Charles speed, but when he plants his foot in the ground & cuts, he appears to attain top speed by his second step. He is a dangerous addition to this offense, giving them a one-two punch of speed they haven't had in a very long time. Arenas broke a kickoff return for 40-yards in the first half & then busted one 99-yards in the 4th quarter only to have it called back on a holding penalty that was completely away from the action. While at Alabama, Arenas returned 7 punts for scores, he fair-caught 3 punts tonight. This pair erased any doubt about their potential to improve the scoring capability of this team.
Eric Berry started but didn't make to much of an impact, but one game does not make a career. He'll get his chance & I doubt he'll disappoint. Jon Asamoah, the first of two 3rd round picks, played extensively tonight at right guard. He looked like a rookie, didn't pick up a stunt, got a holding call, just a tough night. The other third round pick, tight end Tony Moeaki, didn't dress for the game, still out with an undisclosed leg injury.
Cam Sheffield, 5th round linebacker, played much of the second half & he looked mobile, active & aware. He batted down a pass & recorded 3 tackles. Last year's 5th round selection, offensive tackle Colin Brown, looked lost. Brown was slow-footed & was over matched for most of his playing time. The other backup tackle, Barry Richardson, showed some improvement from '09, but he sustained what appeared to be an ankle injury in the 4th quarter & didn't return.
Undrafted free agent wide receiver Jeremy Horne, got loose deep twice but was overthrown both times. He appears to have the kind of speed Todd Haley is looking for plus he has very good size. I can see this kid sticking around for a while. Kestahn Moore, another undrafted rookie, showed some potential too. He wiffed on a blitzer diving at his legs & dropped a pass but made another short reception & turned it up field for a big gain. Javarris Williams had a decent night as well. I'd say the battle for the 3rd running back spot is between Moore & Williams. That means Jackie Battle's days as a Chiefs are numbered, thankfully.
Matt Cassel showed me very little, but his line didn't provide him with a lot of time to throw from the pocket, he was sacked twice & lost a fumble. One of his sacks pushed Ryan Succop's field goal attempt to 53-yards, which he missed. Six completions for 25 yards isn't exactly a vertical passing game is it? Maybe Charlie Weis is playing it real conservative right now until he sees what he has to work with. Brody Croyle & Tyler Palko both threw for more yardage but both threw interceptions.
Now let's talk defensive front-7, my longtime gripe with our Chiefs. Scott Pioli decided to hire a new defensive coordinator in Romeo Crennel instead of drafting players with legitimate NFL talent. This was the same tactic of Pioli's predecessor Carl Peterson. Hire Greg Robinson, he doesn't work, have Dick Vermeil fire him & then hire Gunther Cunningham. Gunther was considered one of the league's best back in the 90's. Of course he had Derrick Thomas, Neil Smith, Dan Saleaumua, Dale Carter & James Hasty, all Pro Bowl players. Other than Eric Berry & Brandon Flowers, Crennel has no one with Pro Bowl potential. Glen Dorsey was credited with 3 tackles, I didn't see them, but I did see Tyson Jackson's solo stop. Ron Edwards, Shaun Smith & Derek Lokey, our nose tackles, were shut out. I saw no penetration, no double teams, no nothing out of this trio. Atlanta only ran for 100 yards, about 57 yards less than the Chiefs defensive average, but I didn't see anything that gave me a lot of hope. The linebackers that showed up tonight making at least 2 decent plays were Mike Vrabel, Andy Studebaker, Pierre Walters & the aforementioned Cam Sheffield. Derrick Johnson was invisible except being shrugged off a couple of times when he actually put his hands on the ball carrier. Tamba Hali did pressure the passer a couple of times but that was about the sum total of his evening. The inside guys, Demorrio Williams, Corey Mays & DJ were terrible, I never saw one of them step up into a hole & make a stop. Their tackles were of the "drag-down" variety as the back ran past them. Jovan Belcher recorded 6 stops, but once again, I can't recall any of the 6 where he stacked & shed a blocker & then filled a hole. This is my issue with this particular front-7, the lineman don't get any up field penetration, they don't force any double-team blocking & are no threat as pass rushers. The inside backers overrun plays, lose gap responsibility, can't get off their blocks & are ineffective as blitzers. Anyone see anything tonight that contradicts these points? Oh, did I forget to mention zero sacks.......again?
Backup safety DaJuan Morgan dropped an interception he might have taken back for a score. I was surprised he was anywhere close to the ball, that's unusual for Morgan. Corner Mike Richardson played well as did Maurice Leggett.
Yes, this is the first preseason game & yes, it was against a playoff grade team, but it was hard to get excited about anything other than Charles, McCluster & Arenas. Playing Tampa Bay next Saturday should be a better test against a team closer to Kansas City in talent.
Let's start a Chiefs' post with some positive comments.........for a change. Then we'll get to the rest of it. Jamaal Charles looked exactly as he did at the end of last season, ultra quick, good vision & the speed to go the distance on any play. It's not like he had gaping holes to run thru either, if Charles sees a seam, he is thru it before that seam is closed. As long as he can stay healthy, he is a formidable weapon for Kansas City.
Both of the 2nd round rookies, WR/RB/KR Dexter McCluster & CB/KR Javier Arenas, made a very favorable impression tonight. McCluster doesn't have Jamaal Charles speed, but when he plants his foot in the ground & cuts, he appears to attain top speed by his second step. He is a dangerous addition to this offense, giving them a one-two punch of speed they haven't had in a very long time. Arenas broke a kickoff return for 40-yards in the first half & then busted one 99-yards in the 4th quarter only to have it called back on a holding penalty that was completely away from the action. While at Alabama, Arenas returned 7 punts for scores, he fair-caught 3 punts tonight. This pair erased any doubt about their potential to improve the scoring capability of this team.
Eric Berry started but didn't make to much of an impact, but one game does not make a career. He'll get his chance & I doubt he'll disappoint. Jon Asamoah, the first of two 3rd round picks, played extensively tonight at right guard. He looked like a rookie, didn't pick up a stunt, got a holding call, just a tough night. The other third round pick, tight end Tony Moeaki, didn't dress for the game, still out with an undisclosed leg injury.
Cam Sheffield, 5th round linebacker, played much of the second half & he looked mobile, active & aware. He batted down a pass & recorded 3 tackles. Last year's 5th round selection, offensive tackle Colin Brown, looked lost. Brown was slow-footed & was over matched for most of his playing time. The other backup tackle, Barry Richardson, showed some improvement from '09, but he sustained what appeared to be an ankle injury in the 4th quarter & didn't return.
Undrafted free agent wide receiver Jeremy Horne, got loose deep twice but was overthrown both times. He appears to have the kind of speed Todd Haley is looking for plus he has very good size. I can see this kid sticking around for a while. Kestahn Moore, another undrafted rookie, showed some potential too. He wiffed on a blitzer diving at his legs & dropped a pass but made another short reception & turned it up field for a big gain. Javarris Williams had a decent night as well. I'd say the battle for the 3rd running back spot is between Moore & Williams. That means Jackie Battle's days as a Chiefs are numbered, thankfully.
Matt Cassel showed me very little, but his line didn't provide him with a lot of time to throw from the pocket, he was sacked twice & lost a fumble. One of his sacks pushed Ryan Succop's field goal attempt to 53-yards, which he missed. Six completions for 25 yards isn't exactly a vertical passing game is it? Maybe Charlie Weis is playing it real conservative right now until he sees what he has to work with. Brody Croyle & Tyler Palko both threw for more yardage but both threw interceptions.
Now let's talk defensive front-7, my longtime gripe with our Chiefs. Scott Pioli decided to hire a new defensive coordinator in Romeo Crennel instead of drafting players with legitimate NFL talent. This was the same tactic of Pioli's predecessor Carl Peterson. Hire Greg Robinson, he doesn't work, have Dick Vermeil fire him & then hire Gunther Cunningham. Gunther was considered one of the league's best back in the 90's. Of course he had Derrick Thomas, Neil Smith, Dan Saleaumua, Dale Carter & James Hasty, all Pro Bowl players. Other than Eric Berry & Brandon Flowers, Crennel has no one with Pro Bowl potential. Glen Dorsey was credited with 3 tackles, I didn't see them, but I did see Tyson Jackson's solo stop. Ron Edwards, Shaun Smith & Derek Lokey, our nose tackles, were shut out. I saw no penetration, no double teams, no nothing out of this trio. Atlanta only ran for 100 yards, about 57 yards less than the Chiefs defensive average, but I didn't see anything that gave me a lot of hope. The linebackers that showed up tonight making at least 2 decent plays were Mike Vrabel, Andy Studebaker, Pierre Walters & the aforementioned Cam Sheffield. Derrick Johnson was invisible except being shrugged off a couple of times when he actually put his hands on the ball carrier. Tamba Hali did pressure the passer a couple of times but that was about the sum total of his evening. The inside guys, Demorrio Williams, Corey Mays & DJ were terrible, I never saw one of them step up into a hole & make a stop. Their tackles were of the "drag-down" variety as the back ran past them. Jovan Belcher recorded 6 stops, but once again, I can't recall any of the 6 where he stacked & shed a blocker & then filled a hole. This is my issue with this particular front-7, the lineman don't get any up field penetration, they don't force any double-team blocking & are no threat as pass rushers. The inside backers overrun plays, lose gap responsibility, can't get off their blocks & are ineffective as blitzers. Anyone see anything tonight that contradicts these points? Oh, did I forget to mention zero sacks.......again?
Backup safety DaJuan Morgan dropped an interception he might have taken back for a score. I was surprised he was anywhere close to the ball, that's unusual for Morgan. Corner Mike Richardson played well as did Maurice Leggett.
Yes, this is the first preseason game & yes, it was against a playoff grade team, but it was hard to get excited about anything other than Charles, McCluster & Arenas. Playing Tampa Bay next Saturday should be a better test against a team closer to Kansas City in talent.
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