I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.......ENOUGH WITH THE 4TH DOWN GAMBLES!!!!
First off, I need to acknowledge Darryll P. for being right on this game, I called him a "doom & gloomer" & he was right. I had long distance phone calls coming in calling Todd Haley some unflattering names right after he passed on the second possible field goal attempt of the first half. We watched the game here in the TV bunker with noted newspaper writer, Rance Burger & he was completely baffled by Haley's decisions. I received 11 semi to completely negative emails from Chiefs' fans both during & after the game. It's not just me.
Last week my Chiefs recap post was entitled "Chiefs win big but enough already with the 4th down gambles." I just don't quite get why Todd Haley continues to tempt fate, one of these weeks, I thought it was going to be today, passing up 3 points to try to convert a 4th down, is going to cost the Chiefs a game. Haley did it twice today. I know, I know, there was a swirling wind today, but the wind wasn't as bad at the West end of Arrowhead & that's where he passed on a 50-yard attempt & later in the 2nd quarter, a 37-yarder.
It's wonderful that he has all this confidence in his offense to keep passing up points & going for touchdowns. I wonder just how hard his sphincter was clenched when Rian Lindell took a 2nd shot at a 50-yard field goal to win in overtime. Yeah, he missed, but it never should have gotten there in the first place. Never.
Haley had an awesome running game again today, 274-yards worth with a 6.1 yard average. The Bills are the NFL's worst run defense team. Why not combine the two & break the opposition's back? They did to an extent, but then he finds himself playing for their lives in overtime with an inferior opponent.
Jamaal Charles was exactly the weapon everyone imagined, he carried 22 times for a whopping 177-yards & added 61 more on 4 receptions. Thomas Jones also contributed mightily with 77-yards rushing. Matt Cassel was just O.K. with a 14 of 26 passing day for 152-yards. But all could have gone for naught without some luck.
Derrick Johnson was in Ryan Fitzpatrick's passing lanes three times but couldn't secure an interception. Tamba Hali was a force rushing Fitzpatrick all afternoon along with Andy Studebaker & Wallace Gilberry. The defense's problem was they couldn't get off the field twice in the 2nd half & it nearly cost them. The Bills held the ball for nine-minutes in the third quarter. They're going to have to tighten this up before they reach Oakland next Sunday as the Raiders are the league's 2nd best running team.
I hope Todd Haley shows more confidence in Ryan Succop & less in 4th down wackiness. He said after the game he doesn't want to be predictable, which is fine, but don't turn your back on points, your team isn't so unbeatable you can pass on field goals week after week. How about improving the 3rd down conversion percentage? Today's 4 of 15 is abysmal & the season average of 37.7% ranks 27th in the league.
I know Kansas City has a far better start than most of us would have imagined, but if they are to continue competing for a division title & the playoffs, I believe this 4th down obsession needs to be addressed.
Last week my Chiefs recap post was entitled "Chiefs win big but enough already with the 4th down gambles." I just don't quite get why Todd Haley continues to tempt fate, one of these weeks, I thought it was going to be today, passing up 3 points to try to convert a 4th down, is going to cost the Chiefs a game. Haley did it twice today. I know, I know, there was a swirling wind today, but the wind wasn't as bad at the West end of Arrowhead & that's where he passed on a 50-yard attempt & later in the 2nd quarter, a 37-yarder.
It's wonderful that he has all this confidence in his offense to keep passing up points & going for touchdowns. I wonder just how hard his sphincter was clenched when Rian Lindell took a 2nd shot at a 50-yard field goal to win in overtime. Yeah, he missed, but it never should have gotten there in the first place. Never.
Haley had an awesome running game again today, 274-yards worth with a 6.1 yard average. The Bills are the NFL's worst run defense team. Why not combine the two & break the opposition's back? They did to an extent, but then he finds himself playing for their lives in overtime with an inferior opponent.
Jamaal Charles was exactly the weapon everyone imagined, he carried 22 times for a whopping 177-yards & added 61 more on 4 receptions. Thomas Jones also contributed mightily with 77-yards rushing. Matt Cassel was just O.K. with a 14 of 26 passing day for 152-yards. But all could have gone for naught without some luck.
Derrick Johnson was in Ryan Fitzpatrick's passing lanes three times but couldn't secure an interception. Tamba Hali was a force rushing Fitzpatrick all afternoon along with Andy Studebaker & Wallace Gilberry. The defense's problem was they couldn't get off the field twice in the 2nd half & it nearly cost them. The Bills held the ball for nine-minutes in the third quarter. They're going to have to tighten this up before they reach Oakland next Sunday as the Raiders are the league's 2nd best running team.
I hope Todd Haley shows more confidence in Ryan Succop & less in 4th down wackiness. He said after the game he doesn't want to be predictable, which is fine, but don't turn your back on points, your team isn't so unbeatable you can pass on field goals week after week. How about improving the 3rd down conversion percentage? Today's 4 of 15 is abysmal & the season average of 37.7% ranks 27th in the league.
I know Kansas City has a far better start than most of us would have imagined, but if they are to continue competing for a division title & the playoffs, I believe this 4th down obsession needs to be addressed.
Comments