Pre-Season "Regular Season"

by kc571 on Nov 10, 2009 12:44 PM CST Comment 19 comments

Is it just me, or does every game seem like a preseason game? It seems like our plays are vanilla. On offense, it doesn't seem like we even think about stretching the field. I don't see much imagination. I don't see Cassel even try to make any plays through the air. You could almost see him hold the ball too long. On Defense, where are the blitzes? I understand that we can't cover, but it just doesn't seem like we're doing anything outside of the norm. I still don't agree with the lack of playing time for DJ. once again, he made the play on Torry Holt. We sign Wade, then de-activate him.

It just seems like every week is an audition for the future. As each weeks goes on, I'm starting to not get as involved emotionally. If only my DirecTV bill would reciprocate.

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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The last four minutes last week we started going downfield

And we met with great success. I doubt that this will go unnoticed by our coaching staff. I expect to see us air it out a little more against the Raiders. Just stay away from Asomugha please!

The lack of blitzing is problematic. My thinking is, if we can’t cover anyone dropping 7 or 8 guys into coverage, why not blitz a ton and try to force mistakes that way? If the end result is often going to be a big play anyway, why not at least give yourself the chance for a sack or a hurried pass?

by Soria's Unibrow on Nov 10, 2009 1:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

yes, we've gone downfield late in games when the other teams are in a deep zone prevent

… so you should send a memo to all coaches to ask them to please play that way from the opening kickoff … it would be greatly appreciated

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisiton!

by upamtn on Nov 10, 2009 1:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You're right as always upamtn

We should just stick to the predictable, ineffective run-run-pass-punt offense that has gotten us a 1-7 record. You’re always saying how terrible Coach Haley is, but the second I propose that he change what he’s doing you jump in with your sarcasm. What’s the guy supposed to do? If he stays the same, you rip on him, if he changes it up, you rip on him.

by Soria's Unibrow on Nov 10, 2009 3:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree he needs to change things ... not arguing that at all, Soria

just saying that teams aren’t gonna bite on a play-action unless and until the run is established first … as for going downfield, sounds good IN THEORY but we don’t have a lot of speed at WR, and the OL is gonna cave before the guys we have get very far, then Cassel will either get sacked or, with luck, throw it away (he holds the ball WAY too long, he needs to make BING BANG BOOM fast reads and throws … timing throws, not deep, just 5-8 yds is all we need)

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisiton!

by upamtn on Nov 11, 2009 1:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that the PA pass has to be set up with the run

It only makes sense. However, when Coach Haley tries to establish the run by going to it early and often, he gets trashed for being too conservative. And I don’t blame anyone for that, because continuing to run 2.7 into the backs of his OL over and over was anything but effective. The running game should improve now that he’s gone, which should help us with both the run and the PA pass. It still won’t be that great, but if we can muster “decent” out of this OL group I’ll count it as a win. Fixing the line is going to be Pioli’s #1 priority this offseason.

I know we’re kind of slow at the WR position, but speed isn’t necessarily mandatory for a deep passing game. It certainly helps, but bigger and slower guys can definitely get down the field for big gains. Once again it falls on the OL stopping the pass rush. I know they can do it, there are several plays every week where Cassel has plenty of time. Getting them to do it consistently so that he can throw a jump ball for Bowe (a situation where he will most often suceed) would be key.

What I’m basically saying is that it’s really really hard to call plays for an offense that can’t run block or pass block and that I’m annoyed that you want to fire Haley because he has struggled with it. It can be done. I agree with you 100% about the fast reads and timing throws. The best way to make our OL look better is to throw a lot of screen passes to the RB (another area where Charles should be a big upgrade over 2.7) and quick slants. That will make the other team’s DC think twice about blitzing, which will help open things up for the run, which will in turn make playaction passes possible and start letting us see bigger gains downfield.

by Soria's Unibrow on Nov 11, 2009 1:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You CAN see Cassel hold the ball too long...

he’s the talk of NFL network…they compare him to Aaron Rodgers

we DO blitz…you just can’t tell cuz we don’t get to the QB any faster.

by krayfish on Nov 10, 2009 1:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

is he being safe?

Or just holding it too long…i’m hoping he’s just trying to limit the mistakes.

by kc571 on Nov 10, 2009 2:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

probably a combination

not wanting to cause a turnover
not finding a ton of open receivers
holding it a bit too long

* "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 Nov 10, 2009 2:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't get this complaint

I was watching MNF and pretty much every Big Ben play was replayed with a clock showing how long he held on to the ball. Five to six seconds on average. Sure he was sacked a few times but he got right back up and did the same thing again. He can do this because of his line and because he is a fat bastard who is hard to take down. How far can his WRs run in 5 seconds? How many pump fakes to fool the D can you fit in 5 seconds? How many looks downfield can you fit in 5 seconds? How many jinks left and right can you run to shake the D in 5 seconds?

Now try do that behind our line.

In the end I would say Cassel is trying to do the right thing but hasn’t got the time. When he does by some fluke get time, he is almost surprised by the fact.

Blame my wife!
Waiting until August 2010

by sir eccles on Nov 10, 2009 3:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

fluke time...

that’s actually funny…I would like to see them roll out the pocket more often though.

by kc571 on Nov 10, 2009 3:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

he has a pocket?

Blame my wife!
Waiting until August 2010

by sir eccles on Nov 10, 2009 3:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

5 seconds? Cassel could read War And Peace if he had THAT much time

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisiton!

by upamtn on Nov 11, 2009 1:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

seems like if we blitz it's picked up, and then there's no coverage and we get burned thru the air ...

… if we don’t blitz we get burned on the ground and the short passes … maybe telegraphing what we do? can this team be THAT bad talentwise? (if so, blame Pioli and Haley)

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisiton!

by upamtn on Nov 10, 2009 1:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

lack of creative blitzes

by our D coord…

by kc571 on Nov 10, 2009 2:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

they certainly are bad at disguising it!

It seems like it’s very much telegraphed.

they need to show blitz then drop off and send someone else, etc.
If they know it’s coming, it’s much easier to block

by stagdsp on Nov 10, 2009 2:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Watching the Steelers D last night was amazing

They just sort of nonchalantly strolled up to the line maybe only one took a stance, a couple backed off, ran back in, shuffled around. Very effective.

Blame my wife!
Waiting until August 2010

by sir eccles on Nov 10, 2009 3:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, they call it the Times Square defense

Because it just looks like everyone is walking around randomly on the street and you never know who is going to drop back and who is going to blitz. Keeping the offense off-balance like that is the key to getting sacks and turnovers. I don’t know if Pittsburgh’s success is due to coaching or if their players are just that smart that they can do that while keeping the play straight in their minds. It’s probably a lot of both.

by Soria's Unibrow on Nov 10, 2009 3:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you brutha

I’ve been watching each week thinking many of the same things myself.

Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur!

by Buck'O on Nov 10, 2009 8:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Play calling

When your team is not talentede enough to impose its will on the other team they have to take what the defense gives them. I don’t know how many comments I saw on th Jax game about getting away from the run. Haley explained it in his post game comments. He said Jax was stacking the box and run blitzing to stop the run. Everyone is entitled to their opinion here, but if some of you guys were as good at knowing what the coach and GM should be doing as you think you are submit your resumes to Hunt and our troubles will be over.

David Logue

by dklogue1 on Nov 11, 2009 1:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs