Chiefs Coach Haley Has No Answer For Fumbled Snaps

by Joel Thorman on Nov 30, 2009 9:00 AM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign Comment 10 comments

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley said going into the game that his team had a few focal points. One of those was minimizing turnovers. Haley said that's always an emphasis with his team but especially yesterday against a good offensive team like the San Diego Chargers.

Problem is, the Chiefs didn't execute that point of focus. Four turnovers were the result of the Chiefs extra emphasis on protecting the football. Two of those lack-of-focus plays were errant snaps from center Rudy Niswanger.

The center-to-quarterback exchange isn't something the Chiefs have had a problem with during the regular season.

"I've not seen a problem with Rudy until today," Haley said. "Clearly, there were a couple of those that really hurt us. To this point, that's something that I've never seen as an issue with Rudy. It kinda came out of nowhere, I don't know. We'll have to study it.

"We've talked to him a little bit and he's a stand up guy. He's willing to take anything.

"But we're going to look at it and see if we put him in a compromising spot or what the deal was. So, that's that on the snaps."

Center's kind of a unique position in that teams generally don't shuffle them in and out during the season. Part of the reason behind a successful center-to-quarterback exchange is repetition, which you get throughout the course of a season.

I don't suspect Niswanger goes the way of other Chiefs that have screwed up and been deemed replaceable. The only other center option on the team is Wade Smith, who's also a backup for virtually every other line position, so that's not a likely scenario.

For now, I would imagine the Chiefs stick with Niswanger as the snap problem is hopefully correctable.

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Rudy better become really good, really quickly

if he expects to keep his starting job next season. He’s a hard worker, but needs to stop getting pushed around all the time.

Predictions:

Kansas City will not win more than four games in 2009
Kansas City will have a new OC and DC in 2010
Kansas City will win at least seven games in 2010

by jmcgoblue on Nov 30, 2009 9:10 AM CST reply actions

I Have An Explanation

Our center is not good.

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by UCrawford on Nov 30, 2009 9:29 AM CST reply actions

I wanted him gone in the offseason... Max Unger or a multitude of other Centers in the draft were better than Rudy

by ravenhawk on Nov 30, 2009 9:34 AM CST up reply actions

Jason Brown Was My Preferred Choice

He was a UFA, he’s younger than Rudy and he’s better than Rudy. Not signing Brown and retaining Larry Johnson were Pioli’s two biggest screwups this offseason.

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by UCrawford on Nov 30, 2009 10:05 AM CST up reply actions

You can't consider not landing certain FA's screwup's

you only can have so much control or leverage in those situations. Obviously he wanted to get paid and yes we had the money to spend and if he went to STL why wouldn’t he come to KC? I don’t know. We don’t know what connections him or his agent had to the team. It’s just hard to fault any GM for not acquiring said FA when it takes two to tango. I think the problem more accurately is Pioli’s neglect of the offensive line not just signing any one key player. The fact we to had find upgrades mid-season (O’Callaghan & Nduwke) is no better than Peterson

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Chiefs will be lucky to go 4-12 in 2010

by KansasCityShuffle on Nov 30, 2009 10:34 AM CST up reply actions

And That's Really The Thing

A large part of the hype of Pioli coming here was that he could sell players on coming here because of his “winning legacy”. If players we’ve got the money to sign who’ve got a guaranteed starting job would rather sign with the Rams (who are a pathetically run organization) than the Chiefs, then Pioli’s no upgrade from Peterson. Brown is a guy who’s a centerpiece player for the Chiefs if he comes here. Now he’s a centerpiece player on the other side of Missouri.

So while there are certainly factors beyond a GM’s control in regards to free agents, the team and contract that Brown eventually signed with tells me that Pioli had a definite shot to land the guy and simply didn’t get it accomplished. Not a fireable offense, IMO, but something to keep in mind as we evaluate Pioli’s performance. After all, one of the big knocks about Peterson was that he couldn’t land the free agents the team needed or wanted…that’s something I expect Pioli to be better at.

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by UCrawford on Nov 30, 2009 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

Niswanger really sealed his fate this offseason

He’s been getting pushed around all season and making TWO terrible snaps in the same game is not acceptable.

Any good centers in this draft that are expected to be around in the early second round?

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by Scaryclouds on Nov 30, 2009 9:40 AM CST via mobile reply actions

There aren't as good of Centers as last year...

but at this point… Matt Tennant looks pretty good and is 3rd round talent.

Josh McNeil is a projected 2nd round talent(but will probably drop to the 3rd round too.

Everyone else is a 4th rounder and beyond(unless I am obviously overlooking someone). This year doesn’t have a huge amount of talent at the Center position, but I usually don’t make a judgement about OL until the combine. I’m big on the bench press(but that’s just me)

by ravenhawk on Nov 30, 2009 9:54 AM CST up reply actions

Kris O'Dowd, is a JR, but could be the best center in the draft

Eric Olsen is another good one

There are 4 or 5 Centers that I think could start for KC, that will be available in the 2nd or even the 3rd or 4th. I really expect it to be addressed.

* "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
* Stats are for losers

by stagdsp on Nov 30, 2009 9:58 AM CST up reply actions