i figure this is the best time to post this.

I was too miserable to post much after that game. Had to wait 24 hours. Here’s what I’m wondering…

1. I haven’t seen people talk about the injuries — other than threats to jump off a cliff as they were announced over the past 2-3 weeks. But here was part of the picture Saturday night: Out for KC: T Branden Albert, WR Will Franklin, RB Jamaal Charles, TE Brad Cottam, LB Demorrio Williams, LB Donnie Edwards, CB Tyron Brackenridge, S Jon McGraw, DE Trevor Johnson, WR Kevin Robinson. D-Mac is banged up, and Dorsey is just back from injury. It’s not that they’re all starters, and like Herm says, we expect anyone to play well when it’s their time. I can’t help but think that the combination of Franklin, Cottam and Charles affected some of the play calling. And I don’t care how well Pat Thomas can play the mike — when the equivalent of the QB position on defense has that little experience, the communication and responsibility breakdowns are going to be greatly magnified. (And what we thought would be a relatively simple competition between rookie Robinson and safety net Sams has turned into a revolving audition that darkhorse Dantrell appears to be winning, imho — difficult sideline play excepted.)

2. Timing. When the timing on offense is off, the QB is the one who looks especially bad. Are throws going to the right place, but the receivers do something inconsistent? Do receivers not get their jobs done in the first place, forcing the QB to eat the ball or scramble? When we settle on the 5 WRs, and give Brodie the bulk of the snaps during the week and for an entire game, I’m counting on the timing getting enormously better. Experience is about the only way to work on the timing. And we have to do it against a multitude of teams/schemes, not just the same guys from the Chiefs’ D every day in practice. Although, I would have expected the Croyle-Bowe connection to be better right now.

3. New offense. I don’t care how simple the offense is, it takes time for a QB to create a mental image of where all the receivers will be on a particular play. I think that’s part of the reason we’re seeing QBs stare at one receiver. When the plays solidify in their heads, the QBs mental clock will automatically know where all the receivers are at 1001, 1002, 1003. (seconds ticking by…) Then they can actually read one or two key defenders and “know” where the high percentage play will be. And consider more than one receiver. The offensive playbook is still “new.”

4. Pass protection by the running backs was poor. Sometimes the o line takes the heat when LJ or Manderino miss their assignments, imo. I have faith that Cox will get the job done for the most part from what I’ve seen. I am also counting on Charles or someone whose initials aren’t LJ to be the back on third down. Kolby, Jamaal and Dantrell are going to get quite a few touches at RB this year, I believe. LJ will be watching more than he would prefer.

5. Carousels at LB, Oline and WR. In spite of what I thought was a greater emphasis having the first team practice together more during training camp, it didn’t work out that way. Injuries are the biggest reason for the O tackles. Surprising performances or an unwillingness to be coached were apparent reasons at LB. And at wide receiver, it seems like the guys starting lower on the depth chart (Franklin, Price) have outperformed the guys above them (Darling, Webb), creating an undesirable rotation of WRs. Although Darling has had enough reps with the first team that I’m seriously beginning to question his intellect. Or something. I don’t mean that as a slam. I just really wonder if he can remember what to do and how to apply the principles being taught once the lights come on. I’ve got high expectations for him, but they’re fading.

6. Coaching. I don’t know which ones. But when a team looks as bad as it did as a whole Saturday night, I have to start analyzing the coaching. Do they know how to teach? Do they spend time on the right things? Do they prepare the players in a way that the players know how to think for themselves without someone yelling in their ear after every move they make?

I’m afraid the solutions for most of these problems involve time. Time to heal; time to learn; time for things to become second nature; time to gain experiences of using the new systems against different opponents; time to know how your teammates are going to execute and how to complement one another’s strengths; time for the first and second year players to learn the tricks of the profession; time for one more draft — one where we will only need to fill a half dozen holes and not 20.

So I will bring my level of hope up for the next game. I will be looking for just the right amount that will allow me to think positive thoughts. Believe there is a chance. Yet not so high that performances like Saturday night send me into a tailspin and nuke all perspective. Go Chiefs! This Thursday, show us that the Saturday nightmare was just a stepping stone that took place in a preseason game.

Not to talk about this game, ever, ever, ever, ever, eve, ever, ever again? Ever?

This isn’t a true “Demotivator” from despair.com… but it has long been one of my favorites. Wholly impertinent to this discussion, but maybe it will brighten your day.

But we may have to put a moratorium on them because of page loading times.