The Take Away to Build Upon

by Eastcoastransplant on Oct 19, 2009 11:23 AM CDT

Above and beyond everything else a win is what we needed. However there is still work to be done, something I am sure nobody will disagree on. And if it comes down to two things, that we could build on from yesterday's win, it would be giving up the big play and the run game.

Lets look at the last few games, hell lets just look at Wash and Dallas. The D played much better yesterday overall. We only really gave up 2 big plays; Portis' long run, and Todd Collins' (Todd Freaking Collins, Mr. Checkdown) throw to Santa Moss. Eliminate those and we really dominate the Skins. I know, they're not a Giants or an Eagles (which somehow lost to the Haders?!) and whom we were destroyed by. But just like us, they have the potential and unlike us, they have a lot of play makers. So if you remove those two plays, I propose that the Skins don't score at all.

If you remove just one of Austin's big plays last week, we win. Shoulda coulda woulda, I get it. But that is what we need to improve on, build on, for now. We're not going to mend our atrocious O line (we still gave up 5 sacks yesterday?!) this year I don't think. But we can work with the D to limit those demoralizing big plays. They are making strides. Yesterday was a big one. Hali's safety sack on Collins was the icing on the cake. There was no, big play out of the endzone, no shooting ourselves in the foot, no screwing the pooch. Instead, Dorsey pressures Collins right into Hali and blamo, end of game. That was a thing of beauty I'll tell you what.

The other thing to build on would be the run game. LJ actually hit some holes, and ran. He ran. More than a yard and stop,or less. Build on that. Keep running with that head up, and getting some positive yardage on first down. Keeping pushing him to run well, with a chip on the shoulder, with gas in the tank. And please, please, please, stop with the draw plays. It seems like every time we run one, the other team knows it and we are bottled up for a loss.

Ok, Nuff said.
We won. Now lets build on that.

Build on those two aspects and we're on our way to more W's IMHO.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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I was pissed about the Portis run, but you know at some point Moss will make a play deep.

He does every week, the important thing is not to allow him to score.

by saskwatch on Oct 19, 2009 11:37 AM CDT reply actions

I was pissed about that run too

But was glad that Brown made the stop. That woulda been a helluva game changer had Portis scored. Instead we hold them to 3. Brown stuck with Portis and even being defended ended up making the play. That kind of don’t give up attitude is what Haley preaches, and what allowed us to continue playing. The D rebounded from both big plays they gave up and that in and of itself is a huge deal. But we need to tackle. Missed tackles kill us, see Austin.

by Eastcoastransplant on Oct 19, 2009 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Missed tackles are still a problem.

by saskwatch on Oct 19, 2009 11:38 AM CDT reply actions

Lots to build on...

primarily… a WIN.

but, really, the defense played well overall… good pressure, better coverage than in weeks past…

sure, they broke a couple tackles… but the defense came together and got stops, kept them out of the endzone.

got a couple turnovers, a safety, a blocked punt…

Special teams is a clear strength of the team, which is nice! Great coverage and kicking games, adequate return games.

The offense still needs some work, of course… but overall… plenty to build on

* "I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
* the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009
* The OL is NOT as bad as you think it is... give it time, and you'll see improvement this season

by stagdsp on Oct 19, 2009 11:49 AM CDT reply actions

Thanks for mentioning special teams.

Coverage teams did a great job and our two kickers are very, very solid. If we had a Hester-like return man our special teams would be formidable.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Oct 19, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions

or a Josh Cribbs :)

even a Roscoe Parrish

by stagdsp on Oct 19, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions

NO MORE DRAW PLAYS!!!! AMEN!!!!

by augmental on Oct 19, 2009 12:36 PM CDT reply actions

No Amen here

Draw plays and screens are the best weapons for a team with a weak line. Draws are no substitute for a solid running game, but it’s unlikely we’re going to develop that. What would you suggest we do instead?

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx

by Big Chief on Oct 19, 2009 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions

which translates into ...we are a bunch of pu**y's

that was lack of toughness….you just don’t miss that many tackles…it was stupid losing to Dallas because we missed so many tackles…that’s how these Big plays happen…

we don’t TACKLE first time…..

by krayfish on Oct 19, 2009 1:21 PM CDT reply actions

Yep

I agree, though Corey Mays was getting held (put into a full nelson, more like) on that long running play.

The sad thing is, we aren’t the only ones who have this problem. Nobody knows how to tackle with good technique anymore. Nowadays everyone just puts their shoulder into a guy and hope he falls down. Nobody wraps up. I don’t know if it’s because of all the new safety rules about where and when you can hit a player, or if everyone is going for the big hit to get on Sportscenter and Youtube, or if coaches aren’t teaching tackling fundamentals anymore, or what. But crappy tackling is a big problem all over the league right now.

by Soria's Unibrow on Oct 19, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions