2-3 into the bye?

One thing is for sure. The contribution from rookies is simply undeniable. Shanahan’s game plan appeared to be “Cutler to Marshall - smoke the rookies!” Well first off, it turned out to be rookie – singular not plural. 34 Brandon Carr was man up on Marshall all day. Having been down on the field for warm-ups Sunday, I can tell you, Brandon Marshall is a little like Michael Irvin or Tony Gonzalez in size. He is not the stature of your typical wide receiver, so Carr had his work cut out for him. However, he made it look fairly effortless in my opinion. I can’t wait to see how these two corners develop.

Typically 446 net yards is more than 1 touchdown. One Touchdown! Major kudos to Gun and the defense for playing the donkeys so tough. And on the other side, the offense and special teams scored 43% more on Denver than the average of Denver’s first three games. Giveaway-Takeaway stills means something, and this game proved it.

I really like seeing the passion that Cox, Cottam, Carr, Flowers, Dorsey, Johnston, Charles, Patterson, Taylor, and even DJ played with on Sunday. Not that it will be easy…but it would be incredible to head into the bye 2-3.

Come November!!

After reviewing the film of the Raiders game, I felt the play of the game wasn't nearly as bad as it seemed Sunday afternoon. Unlike the Raiders game, the Atlanta had so much breakdown, it's hard to assess. There were fewer mistakes by single individuals, but far more individuals making them.

With that said...enough drama already! 3 games in what is supposed to be a two - three year rebuilding process seems hardly worth throwing Herm Edwards under the bus...NO WAIT! A train...a bus isn't big enough...we need a train!!!!

No, I don't like watching the team lose in this fashion. But football is different than other sports. It requires perfection in its teamwork. That comes through reps.

NOVEMBER 2008 will provide us a glimpse to the true potential of our future team. The seed planted by repitition, will begin to grow and take shape. Can't wait? Hop off the wagon. Hopefully you can hop back on. That what other cities fans do.

Ask yourself this one question. If the team goes 3-13 this year, 8-8 in 2009, 11-5 in 2010 making it back in to the playoffs, and 13-3 in 2011 winning the Super Bowl...is a two year sacrifice worth it? New England sacrificed 3 years. Tampa 4 years.

Of course, I reserve the right to jump off the wagon with you at some point. I just want give the youth planting time to grow, before I do.

DONKEY WEEK! Should be interesting...

Ohh... the Humanities!!

I’ll admit, Sunday was depressing. I left the stadium with a feeling of hopelessness. Monday morning was equally depressing, upon learning Sunday wasn’t just a bad dream. But by Monday afternoon, after forcing myself to relive 62 offensive plays and 64 defensive plays, I actually felt better.

And let me just say for the record…until you look at football in slow motion…you’re just guessing!

Here then, are MY observations:

There were a couple of bright spots. I thought the effort of Free Agent Fullback Mike Cox (42) was notable. He stuck with his assignments and was paying attention throughout the entire game. I also thought there were moments when Tyler Thigpen actually showed promise. And, I don’t think the score reflects the 3 ½ quarters of effort put out by the defense. This was a one score ballgame into the second half, against a team that only had to travel half the field to be within Janikowski range. So, let’s just blame the 5 plays of blown defense to inexperience and talk about offense. (Maybe 4 bad plays and 1 bad call…but still!)

I believe Damion McIntosh had a bad day, or a bad match-up. Either way, he was too slow to get any leverage or control on almost every play. The right side just seemed to cave all day. And many times it seemed as though Rudy Niswanger was caught in space with no one to block or progress to. This allows more defenders than could be accounted for in the backfield or gaps. Several times a Raider Linebacker was standing in a gap with no visual or physical impairment whatsoever, and able to pursue LJ from our side of the line of scrimmage.

And at the end of the game when the Chiefs were forced to pass, the linebacker was able to easily see Thigpen fake the handoff. Thus allowing him to pursue the QB full speed.

I also don’t think Larry Johnson is exploding the way he used to. I know others disagree, but that is what I feel. A plays timing or depth can be adjusted to account for this by analyzing what went wrong. But regardless, LJ has to make better reads. There were holes to run through Sunday. He just didn’t get to them in time, make the right read, or he bent the run and led the linebacker straight to the opening. It’s all in the hips!

In one play he starts to cut it back, then completely turns his back to the line preparing to get hit and push with his legs. In my opinion, he could have powered completely through it, had he made up his mind to do so. (Easy for me to say!)

That is the bad. Here is the good.

There were many plays that were just shy of working. Niswanger gets to his double with Jones one half second quicker; Johnson gets to the hole one half second quicker, or makes a better read, or cleaner cut; Thigpen hides the fake a little longer (also something Johnson needs to work on)…and bam! Three to five yards. Open receivers. First down here. Conversion there.

Honestly, people that know me…aren’t going to describe me with the word optimist. I’m just saying, I feel better after watching the film. And football is too complex to judge by the performance in any one game or one game’s statistics alone. Just as the Raiders defense is obviously not as bad as they looked on Monday Night Football.

Speed Kills!

College Hall of Fame Coach Jock Sutherland said, “Speed is not your fastest, but your slowest man.” This is the simple premise that Herm’s youth movement is founded on.

Well after the 2008 Chiefs debut in New England, there is no doubt this squad is fast-ER. And either the Pats have slowed, or these youngsters are quick enough to say - the 2008 Chiefs are fast! I know a “moral victory” can’t help you acquire a post season berth, but this L was on the road against statistically the number one team in the NFL.

Some believe a marquee quarterback can be directly responsible for up to 25% of a team’s success. Given this is true, the Chiefs defense still held the Patriots scoring average well below that of Brady absence alone, despite being denied a safety.

Speed Kills! Youth have it!

BRANDEN ALBERT
It was good to finally get a look at 76. It was even better to not worry about blinking and missing him. Branden Albert played the entire game. And I do mean played! I watched on film as Branden was picking up second and third blocking progressions down to the last offensive play. 6’ 5”, 316 pounds, blocking 6 seconds for 60 minutes. What more can you ask from a lineman.
I remember another great tackle that wore number 76. Okay, maybe one game does not a career make – but it was fine start. I’m looking forward to watching Albert develop.

FOXBORO, MA
This is my 19th season traveling with the team. You’d think I would have seen it all by now. You’d be wrong. On the way home our bus pulled over and I noticed the police escort had stopped and gotten off their motorcycles. Then about 5 minutes later, the bus doors opened and players started filing on to the bus with bags in hand. It seems the engine in bus 3 was a Pats fan…and just refused to haul us back to the airport. I guess it’s better the buses break down than the plane.

3 Mini Blogs (same great taste but less filling)

Let’s Play Already.
I hate preseason Games. Enough Said. Next blog!

Chiefs Lose 15-22.
Alright…I know…hate is a strong word. And there IS value in the lessons of pre-season. So let’s look at just a few statistical averages. (Always play the averages. Even if you hate…uh…don’t like it!)

First 4 interesting stats:

1. Despite the 2-2 record, the Chiefs lose the scoring average of 15-22.
2. Tied for 29th for Field Goals. Chiefs are averaging 269 yards a game and only 1 FG.
3. Chiefs are averaging 1.75 touchdowns per game.
4. Passing Defense is ranked 6th – while run defense is ranked 24th.

The lessons I take from these stats:

1. The 3 pointers need to double or even triple – if you’re playing averages! With 269 yards average and only 1.75 TD average per game. We must achieve more for our 269 yards - field goals. We need an average of 3-7 points more a game. We NEED a kicker.
2. The front 7…must stop the run – 24th won’t cut it. Even with two FG (6 points) more offense, we lose the average game 21-22. The defense has to prevent 3-7 points.
3. Chiefs also averaged 31:14 in time of possession (ranked 8th overall). Another minute would help all of this. 17-16 will work, but 17-14 would be better.

Some Individual stats:

The leading rusher for pre-season was Kolby Smith with 14 carries for 85 yards. That’s a 6.1 yard average. Battle is 5.6 for the preseason. Both almost double that of LJ. Brodie finshed with a QB rating of 65.6. Huard’s was 97.4. (I seriously hope Jack Harry doesn’t notice that. What am I saying?)

THE TURK COMETH! …AGAIN!
No real surprises in the cut downs other than both Sams and Savage made the 53. Off the waiver wire came guard Brian De La Puento (SF49) and LB Erik Walden (Dallas).

ESPN Sunday Madness
Congratulations to the Rockhurst Hawklets who were fairly convincing in their Network TV victory over the Blue Springs South Jaguars. My son is a Jag. I thought typing that out might be cathartic. It wasn’t.