Defensive Analysis of a Chiefs Play: The TE Post
by KaloPhoenix on Nov 30, 2009 11:26 AM CST
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From the FanPosts. Bumped up the time. -Joel
I started to make a post about the glaring weaknesses about the defense, and do my usual grading, but felt it would be overwhelmed with negativity (my own and in the comments), so I thought I'd try a little something new.
The defense this week gave up four touchdowns to the Chargers. Two were short runs from LT, one set up by a long, fairly well covered jump ball, and the other by a botched snap. While tough to swallow, those plays weren't entirely on the called coverage scheme. However, the glaring weakness we've seen all year is the inability for our defense to cover a tight end in the middle of the field. With Gates' two post routes for TD's, I thought I'd give a look at the scheme, how it broke down as the play went along, and where the coverage/call went wrong.
Touchdown #1
The lineup:
As you'll see, the defense is lined up in a 2 down lineman, 4 linebacker setup (that's Daniels up near the 'backers). Gates is highlighted in yellow, and the Chargers are in a 4 WR set. The two outside WR's are covered by Flowers and Carr, and Daniels has the second WR on the top. The two OLB's are going to rush the passer leaving Belcher and DJ with the responsibilities of covering the TE and the RB, respectively. San Diego wants to throw at Belcher, so Sproles is lined up on DJ's side, leaving Belcher with Gates. Brown and McGraw (off screen) are playing a deep zone.
The Break:
Alright, snapping forward, the outside receivers have started their deep routes, the slot receiver has cut to the outside, and Sproles has started his move into the flat. DJ passes responsibility of Gates to Belcher and moves to cover Sproles. They've got the matchup they want now.
The Throw:
Going forward once again, the routes have run everyone out of the short middle of the field, leaving Belcher and Gates 1-on-1. This is an all day easy matchup for Gates, as he's bigger and more athletic than Jovan in the passing game. He's officially shielded Belcher from where Rivers will put the ball and has turned up towards the endzone. Take note: Tamba's being blatantly held right in front of Rivers.
The Catch:
And the TD. Belcher is officially left in the dust, failing to make the tackle on the faster Gates. The DB's (not circling McGraw due to yet another blatant penalty, this time a block in the back) are VERY out of position. Carr (top circle) was responsible for Floyd at the start of the play, who is laying the block on McGraw, and was doubling Naane on the top route. Brown (lower circle) is doubling Vincent Jackson. This left McGraw (on deep, goal-line duties) to be the last resort for a pass in the middle of the field, instead of putting another DB on the Gates route. Belcher jumped the pass, missed, and Gates has 10+ yards of clear space with no Chief nearby. Thus, touchdown. Poor coverage call with 5 eligible receivers when we had been playing a 1-on-1 coverage on Floyd/Jackson most plays before this.
Touchdown #2
The Lineup:
Alright, on this play, the Chargers line up with 5 WR. We're in our base 3-4, and before the play, Tamba and Studebaker have switched sides so Tamba doesn't have to drop into coverage. Floyd and Jackson are on the lower side of your screen, with Naane and LT to the top. Gates, as usual, is circled. Studebaker is matched up on Floyd, Williams is on Naane, Flowers is on LT, and Carr (off screen, what a cushion!) is on Jackson. That leaves Corey Mays on Gates, yet another matchup that they like. Once again, Brown and McGraw are playing a goalline zone.
The Break:
The play starts, and the linebackers shift. Williams sticks with Naane and gets run outside of the short zone. Mays starts to cover Gates through the middle zone, while Studebaker sticks with Floyd on the slant. As Floyd continues his slant, Studebaker drops further into coverage and passes him to Mays. Mays steps up to cover Floyd and passes Gates to McGraw at the same time that Williams passes Naane to Brown. The problem? McGraw's shading towards Jackson on a double team.
The Catch:
McGraw can't get over in time to make up for Mays' "let go" of Gates (see how far he moved forward on Naane?), and Studebaker can't get back quickly enough for the switch. I've highlighted Studebaker and Williams to show how Pendergast tried to solve this TE Post problem. By running the LB's nearly straight backwards, he's trying to cover up the gap in the center of the field. The problem is still there and unfixed, though. McGraw is buried in the endzone, and Brown is up on the endzone fade route. Flowers is stuck on LT, still standing near the line of scrimmage, leaving Brown with that responsibility, instead of shifting Williams to the outside. In this situation, the best pass defenders on the team are "frozen out" of the play, and a short cut across the middle leaves a monster-truck sized hole in the secondary for the second time in the game.
***
I'm harping on the matchups and the switching so much in this post because we've been burned so many times by it. We don't have a stud pass-defending LB on this team, and when Vrabel's out, we don't really have a mediocre one. Pendergast HAS to recognize this by now. Yet, too often, he doubles the outside receiver or lets the safety get run out by a passed receiver, leaving a hole in the defense. He's got to either get those safeties to stay home or get his linebackers to drop further.
Take note, these aren't blitzing plays. We're dropping 7 into coverage on 5 eligible receivers, and that leaves little excuse for the size of the gaps we're seeing in the middle of the field. Flowers and Carr played well on Floyd and Jackson yesterday when they were heads-up with them.
If you're shutting down receivers as the game goes along, and you're consistently getting burnt by the TE, the logical solution is to stick Brown or McGraw on a double team with a LB and limit the catches/yardage. It didn't happen yesterday, and has happened rarely this year. Does the problem lie in Pendergast's ability to call coverage schemes? Is it lack of talent on our LB/DB corps? Or is it both? Whatever the solution, something needs to happen to make it stop.
We've given up too many easy first downs and touchdowns to the same play that could've been prevented by a coverage call/audible that didn't happen. Someone needs to get something to fix it in the playbook in a hurry.
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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Great write up Kalo.....rec'd
I think Pendergast has tried a few different schemes with the LBs to solve this problem, but we are definitely gettin chewed up by opposing TE’s. I don’t think the playbook is gonna solve the problem unless we dropped all LBs into coverage, and our DL isn’t good enough at rushing the passer for us to have that luxury. This all boils down to talent at LB. I think we are gonna have to find a couple of LBs in this draft that can actually coverage as well as provide a pass rush. There’s no substitute for talent my friend, but I do think we are getting the most we can out of this group as far as coverage goes.
I would agree H2 Chiefs
Mays and Belcher are NOT seasoned vets. Or for that matter Starting LB’s in the NFL.
Great backups/depth. McGraw and Brown are NOT starters for 20+ teams at safety again
Great backups/depth. The scheme has flaws because the players have flaws.
Most NFL teams are going to get one of those plays and a 3-7 team on the road is going to get another cause the refs aren’t worried about it. The D played well for what thas was worth the O gave so many points away that we were lucky the D didn’t go on strike and tell the O to go back out there and clean up their own mess.
The D stuffed and stripped LT and gave the O back the ball. What did the O do? Gave up a safety and punted/free kick back for another short field.
The D is short at LB and Safety. Duh. Clancy has a tuff job. Yeah and will probably “unfairly” get canned for it. More Talent, More experience (that isn’t over the Hill already) and let’s see what we can do on those Middle TE passes. Sorry ranting a little :) to Kalo not you H2Chiefs
We Will kick at least 4 Teams Asses in 09. Almost there :)
And Succop will be the Key in two of them. Skins & Raiders! Pittsburgh Sweet!
" Think and talk positive football off the field." Hank Stram
by Steve_Chiefs on Nov 30, 2009 6:41 PM CST up reply actions
Oh rec Kalo
We Will kick at least 4 Teams Asses in 09. Almost there :)
And Succop will be the Key in two of them. Skins & Raiders! Pittsburgh Sweet!
" Think and talk positive football off the field." Hank Stram
by Steve_Chiefs on Nov 30, 2009 6:42 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, Clancy may take the fall for this D.
Unfortunately, we don’t get to hear what’s happening on the field from our guys in this situation. All we see is the inability to react to these situations. I can’t say that Clancy doesn’t have something in the playbook to audible to, and the “field general” just isn’t doing it.
All I know is the called coverage is getting exposed, and yes (like you’ve said) we don’t have the talent or experience to make up for it.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
At this point, I hope Clancy isn't scapegoated.
Get this team one (or two is always better) more widebody(ies) in the middle and add some serious playmakers to the secondary. Let the current LB and D-line corps work together some more to where they can mix it up better. In the PIT game, they had some things cooked up with Magee that they either didn’t try or SD figured out from game film. The coordination between D-Line and LBs needs to mature, which makes this month an interesting one for Chiefs watchers, imo. Look for Jackson, Dorsey, Magee on the field at the same time. Throw Gilberry or Edwards in that mix in some way, shape or form, and protections become problematical for offenses, imo.
Frankly, I’d be likely to run with another widebody, 5 DBs, 2 LBs and have Brown be the field general up near the line. Let one of the corners play deep safety when they show (ugh) cover-2. Use Brown to direct traffic and play like a fast, light LB. He makes everyone around him better wherever he is, and I think he does the defense more good helping on the supply side (QB end of the play).
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
not a scapegoat...
he is the goat !!!
from all i have read about him….
looks like cool defenses and then drops into weak zone!
i much rather have gun or cornell
by kcstevesportsfan on Dec 2, 2009 10:07 PM CST up reply actions
Certainly weak zone against San Diego.
And didn’t seem to adjust out of it.
Really liked what he did last season with a team-in-transition.
Gun or Crennel? No thanks.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
Part of that is just competition.
No LB or S in the NFL can cover Gates. That’s all there is to it. You have to either erase him with scheme, and let VJ and Floyd eat you alive, or accept that the SD TE will have a big day and find a way to win anyway.
by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Dec 3, 2009 6:01 PM CST up reply actions
Big(gest) part of it, Neo.
But you should never give the SOB a free release, and that happened all day (imo).
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
new d coord
dj can cover gates
i want lots of blitzes!
by kcstevesportsfan on Dec 3, 2009 6:47 PM CST up reply actions
Do you think its more a lack of talent or experience?
Perhaps even a bad matchup that should be recognized by the coaching staff?
by chiefsandcigars on Nov 30, 2009 10:08 AM CST reply actions
As Far as it goes.
We need a 3rd quality corner. It is talent at that spot.
Williams, Mays and DJ are not going to get much better. Talent must be brought in to upgrade those positions.
Belcher will improve but I do not see him as a great cover LB as he is a downhill player. ala Gary Stills will be a very good Special Teams player for years.
Also Studebaker is not really a good blitzer and that makes a weakness on the field. We have to bring in another Rush LB we are deff not talented enough at the LB position.
Brown and McGraw have been average on their good days and picked apart on their bad ones are most glaring hole is at S.
Looking at all that the schemes Clancy has been running do not seem to cover or mask our problems so I have to say it is a combination of both scheme and talent.
but the quality corner would not have been given the TE assignment
in that defensive alignment. At least according to my understanding. We could have had the 2 best corners in the league, but still would have been burned by Gates on those two plays. I am not saying you are wrong however, but my comment about the lack of talent and experience was more in reference to the LB corps, not the DB.
by chiefsandcigars on Nov 30, 2009 1:58 PM CST up reply actions
How can you say Mays isn't going to get better?
This is his first year as a starter. I know he has been around the league a few years, but still. I don’t see how you can say that about any of the players. They haven’t had good coaching with the Chiefs — until now. I may not like Pendergast’s playcalls and decision making, but he is still a good coach and this defense has looked much improved.
How long did it take James Harrison to develop and get put in the right position? He didn’t flourish until he was about 29.
As for the DC situation — I am hoping we can move Pendergast to LBs coach and bring in Romeo Crennel. Crennel worked with Pioli, Weis, and Haley for the New York Jets before they parted ways. I honestly see this as a strong possibility.
te cover lb
that has always been dj
by kcstevesportsfan on Dec 2, 2009 10:10 PM CST up reply actions
and hes never been very good at it.
The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynacism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw
matchups is talent
I think we can all agree, this group is NOT very talented…..aside from Flowers & Tamba, there is not a playmaker on this defense. They’re all cast-offs and roster bottom-feeders. Talent can’t be coached, and when a QB as good as Rivers has all day to throw to 6’4 & 6’5 recievers who have no problem getting open, there is no amount of coaching that can stop that, only players w’ talent & good instincts. The NFL is all about 1on 1 matchups & usually the guy with more talent & better instincts wins. THe Chiefs don’t have nearly enough of those. Hali & Flowers aren’t enough to compete w’ the top-tier teams in this league…..this team needs more playmakers to CREATE more favorable matchups.
Talent is all fine and well
And I agree that there’s not enough of it there.
However, a gap that big in the coverage time and time again needs to have a band-aid (however weak it may be) put on it. Good coaches recognize problems and fix them. This has been a thorn in the side of our defense all year and will continue to be until major adjustments are made. It’s obvious that the in-game adjustments aren’t enough.
And yes, I agree that the lack of pass rush makes it difficult for our coverage unit, but most of these plays are quick hits in the middle of the field that are commonplace in the NFL.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
by KaloPhoenix on Nov 30, 2009 10:20 AM CST up reply actions
right,
the coverage is GOD-AWFUL, and the TE problem(covering the middle of the field)has killed us all year…….they need a spy on a TE that good……but there’s pro-bowlers ALL OVER that roster……if Gates isn’t getting open, Floyd or Jackson’s getting it over the top.
Agreed about the quality on SD's offense
But when they’re overloading our LB’s (especially on TD #2), a coverage audible’s got to be called to have a safety spy on the TE (as you said). As important as covering deep WR routes is to the defense, leaving the TE open time and time again has been absolutely fatal.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
by KaloPhoenix on Nov 30, 2009 10:37 AM CST up reply actions
yes it has
that’s where a top-tier safety w’ sharp football instincts will make sure the TE is accounted for…..throw in another taller corner that can cover those big wr’s 1 on 1, that frees up the double team on a nickel package to roll the coverage to the middle
In the past Denver has kicked our ass with TE's.
It’s going to make it a long day in KC if we don’t try to fix this.
If you don't mind
I think that you’re right on that. Denver still has Scheffler as more of a receiving TE and Daniel Graham who can handle either responsibility, blocking or receiving. Actually, Scheff’s blocking has come light years and he deserves some credit for that, but in this case, I think that you’ll be more concerned with his receiving.
The Broncos are also running some runs and even a few passes out of the 3 TE set, and did so against NYG. they most often use it on the goal line, but they have run it in the midfield area at times, so you’ll probably get to see it once or twice. Denver picked up a young guy named Quinn in the draft – rated highly as a blocking TE, but he’s got pretty good hands as well. He’s still learning, but he fills out the roster when they want to run the 3 TE and has blocked well on STs.
Moreno/Buckhalter in '09
nice job breaking it down...rec'd
The only players I hurt with my words are the ones who have an inflated opinion of their ability. I can't worry about that.
Bill Parcells
Knowledge is confidence. And confidence lets you play fast.
Bill Parcells
rec'd for sure....tks for the time that took to put together. Great job kalo..
Again, I have to say that yes we could use some more talent for sure. There’s no question about that. If we had a stern pass rush it would change everything right there. But there’s a coaching problem here too.
If you can see that and your a regular Joe, why can’t Pendergast see that? Why can’t we fix it? Is it the lesser of two evils? If we were to play a different D to stop that particular thing from happening, would that open up another glaring weakness and give up the long pass play like we do all year too?
Someone with more coaching skills could adapt our defense to that type of pass play and find a way to slow it down at a minimum. I do not like pendergast, I never did and I never will. He and Gibbs were throw aways from teams whose defenses are doing better without them. Much better in the case of the Saints I might add.
Would it open up a long pass play?
Only did once yesterday, and that was a jump ball that our shorter corners weren’t going to get to. Yeah, the safety help over the top is nice for those occasions, but Flowers and Carr seemed to hold their own well enough yesterday. When Gates was covered better by the safeties, his yardage/coverage was handled better. However, their 4 and 5 WR sets seem to be where the confusion lies. It seems in those scenarios that we focus so much on not letting the outside receivers beat us, when in truth, Rivers didn’t even check the outside receivers. It’s obvious the Chargers were going to go to Gates all along in those plays, so why didn’t we adapt?
I guess what I’m saying is: Why do we focus so hard on not giving up the big play, but give up the 10-15 yard pass like candy? Mix it up, at the very least.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
by KaloPhoenix on Nov 30, 2009 11:56 AM CST up reply actions
Great research Kalo, Rec'd!
I’m really getting frustrated with the coverage schemes we’ve been running. I think I’m going to start referring to Pendergast as Greg Robinson 2.0!
Feeling "The Love" and "Drinking the Kool AId"
Nice!
Where’s the damn ‘Rec-and-a-half’ button?
The biggest problem right now is the type of LBs we have
DJ, Mays, Belcher, Hali and Studebaker are all good run-stopping LBs but don’t seem to play the pass very well. We need to find a guy that can cover the middle.
Although
DJ and Williams are “supposed” to be good in coverage. Teams throw away from the two of them and set up routes to take them out of the play often. It just so happens that the two of them are rarely on the field together.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
by KaloPhoenix on Nov 30, 2009 12:03 PM CST up reply actions
heck of a breackdown
We need Lb’s, we have some ILB’s that are strong spot starters, but not…full time starters…should be an interesting offseason with scott pioli…and with POSSIBLY and dont hate me for saying it again, Bowe/Dorsey/DJ potentially on the block….
Few points..
On the first play, we show bracket coverage on both Vincent Jackson and Naane. Vincent Jackson is guarunteed a double-team, but Naane? And with Antonio Gates on the field? If you’re going to choose two guys to double on the Chargers it needs to be Jackson and Gates. Period.
Then there is Belcher’s horrible decision to make a jump for the ball when he was clearly out of position (not even the most athletic of DBs make that play — Gates is too wide of a body). You’ve GOT to ensure the tackle. You make that tackle and its a 3-5 yard gain.
Finally, why the hell are we coming out in a 2-4-5 on a 3-WR set, and then come back to a base 3-4 vs a 5-WR set? Seems to me like the more WRs on the field, more DBs in coverage would be necessary. I honestly don’t understand the logic behind that one… Somebody? Anybody?
"The first step to penetration... must not be lateral"
-Confucius, in contrary to Glenn Dorsey lining up in the 2-tech
Agreed on the double.
Has to be Gates. He and Jackson are the primary weapons.
2-4-5 on a 4-WR set (Gates is standing, and off the line towards the bottom of the screen) was called because it was a 3rd and 7. The 3-4 on the 5-WR set was partially due to a motion (LT out wide) and because they were up by 7 in the red zone on a second down. We were playing WR short pass or run before they broke the huddle. It doesn’t really matter, though. When they came out in a 4 WR spread, we needed a coverage audible. It didn’t happen, Gates was open, touchdown.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Screwed that all up
But yea, agree on the coverage audible. Not only does Rivers come out in the Shotgun, but in the time it takes LT to motion out wide we can’t get a coverage audible in?
wtf is Clancy doing?
"The first step to penetration... must not be lateral"
-Confucius, in contrary to Glenn Dorsey lining up in the 2-tech
Why the Chiefs are in base when the Chargers go 4wide is beyond me
As soon as Naane goes onto the field and the FB comes out they should be sending their nickel personal onto the field
by AirNorval on Dec 1, 2009 6:47 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Yup. Not sure what the thinking was.
I’d go bigger up front, and nickel behind. Chiefs DBs are ALL good tacklers, imo. They should be able to field a nickel that nobody wants to run against.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
Heh. And the way they cover,
nobody would NEED to run against the nickel, either.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
That's what I stated earlier.
Teams intentionally throw away from him and Williams because of their perceived coverage abilities, as they did on TD #1.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
No jam at the line to at least slow up the TE.
Much rather see the LB blitz the QB after smackin’ the TE and have a safety pick up the TE a few yards down the field.
I’ve been generally more impressed of late with Flowers’ ability to hang with WRs up and down the field. In the first SD game, he just looked SLOW. In this last game, he seemed to have plenty of closing speed.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
Hence my frustration.
Flowers didn’t seem to need the help yesterday, yet we were focused on Jackson to such a degree/fault that Gates ran open.
And even if we were starting the game with that mindset, a monster first quarter out of Gates should’ve changed the approach.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Agreed
Flowers is a #1 corner that can hold his own. Yet, we don’t adapt and utilize that enough. Not that that solves all of our problems, but…….
Flowers was dominated by Jackson in the first game, and even when he had good position this past Sunday,
Jackson simply went higher than Flowers could. Flowers had (ineffective) deep help against Jackson. Basically Jackson’s better than anything the Chiefs can throw at him. At best they can harry him and hope to trade big play for big play with the offense, when Rivers went his way.
You can only take so many weapons away and Jackson was a man among boys in the first meeting. Clancy’s vanilla 4-man rush gave the secondary some opportunities to shut down Jackson. What pissed me off was wasting the opportunities to at least disrupt Gates at the line of scrimmage. You see it ALL the time in the NFL and it ALWAYS leads to disaster for the soft defenses that give those free releases. And the defenses that DO jam are more successful.
You don’t want your LB running with either a TE or a RB down the field. Deliver the hit, knock him on his ass on your way to the QB and snuff the play before the RB/TE is in position to MAKE the play.
That’s the one thing I’d criticize about Clancy’s D in general and the D-backs coaching in particular. Chiefs have the beginnings of a 3-4 LB corps. If anything, I expect them to get bigger YET at LB. The
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
Sounds to me like Haley needs YOUR phone number Kalo
rather than Pendergast’s number.
by BCRavenJHawkfan on Nov 30, 2009 2:52 PM CST reply actions
Thank you.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It’s much easier to pick it apart from this angle a day later than it would ever be on the field. There’s a reason why he’s an NFL D-Coordinator, regardless of what some may think.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Wow, what a write-up
ESPN used to have a show called “Edge NFL Matchup” where Jaws would analyze actual game tape for an hour every Sunday morning, similar to what you did here. It was an excellent show and allowed the casual fan (i.e. me) to see why plays and schemes were effective. I feel like an old timer, but that was before the days of ESPN’s focus on the same 10 top headlines show after show after show (cough cough first and ten, around the horn, pti [my guilty pleasure], Sportscenter). I wish you could get paid doing this on the tube, Kalo-I’d watch!
Me toooo
We Will kick at least 4 Teams Asses in 09. Almost there :)
And Succop will be the Key in two of them. Skins & Raiders! Pittsburgh Sweet!
" Think and talk positive football off the field." Hank Stram
by Steve_Chiefs on Nov 30, 2009 6:53 PM CST up reply actions
Matchup is still on.
Sunday’s at 6:30 am for you Central Time Zone folks. A slightly less evil 7:30 out here.
by NJ Chiefs Fan on Dec 1, 2009 6:36 AM CST up reply actions
On an only somewhat-related note,
(since you mentioned it in the analysis of the first TD), I’m really getting pissed off at all of the blatant holding of Tamba that isn’t getting called. I quit watching the game at halftime yesterday, and by that time I still had seen probably three obvious holding penalties that weren’t called.
Haley talked about this today
And mainly they are concerned about stopping the big play. We absolutely cannot give up 50 and 60 yarders. The 10-15 yard plays we can live with, like we did against Pittsburg. Big Ben threw for a ton of yards, but we were able to stiffen and control the bleeding. He said from watching the tape, that it is more of a technique issue than anything. That’s not surprising since it is a rookie LB who is the one getting burned most on these.
Chiefs go 9-7. LJ makes 1400 yards. DBowe makes 1200 yards. Defense #18.
10/28--The Koolaid buzz is beginning to wear off. Maybe drop this back to my original thoughts on the year. Chiefs go 6-10 (and that my be optimistic!). LJ gets a restraining order to stay 1400 yards away from the Chiefs. I'll let the rest stand for now. 11/18 Oh My! Dbowe gets a restraining order to stay 1200 yards away from the Chiefs. Argh! Can we go 5-11? Can the defense make #20?
Belcher was the first one
But on 1st and 2nd downs it was Mays. I’d like to say that Jovan will progress into that role, but Mays is just as responsible.
And we complain about Herm’s “bend-but-don’t-break” coverage…if we’re trying to stop the huge play and allowing the 10-15 yard first down gain, then we’re no better than last year’s team. Have to stop the offense, not give them a multiple choice option.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
It is frustrating
To watch teams drive down the field is painful. But at least you have a chance to break up a play, cause a turnover, stuff a run, let them make a mistake. When they snatch up 60 yards in one play, you are done. At this point in time, since we CANNOT stop everything, it is best to stop the biggest thing. If two weevils are chewing on your leg you will slap the biggest first and thereby choose the lesser of the two weevils.
I would much rather give them a multiple choice option and hope they choose the wrong answer once in 10 questions than give them the double bonus point million dollar question every play.
Chiefs go 9-7. LJ makes 1400 yards. DBowe makes 1200 yards. Defense #18.
10/28--The Koolaid buzz is beginning to wear off. Maybe drop this back to my original thoughts on the year. Chiefs go 6-10 (and that my be optimistic!). LJ gets a restraining order to stay 1400 yards away from the Chiefs. I'll let the rest stand for now. 11/18 Oh My! Dbowe gets a restraining order to stay 1200 yards away from the Chiefs. Argh! Can we go 5-11? Can the defense make #20?
"lesser of the two weevils"...nice. =)
7 receptions for 118 and 2 TD’s is awful close to a double bonus point million dollar question in my book, and it’s something that we let almost all TE’s do to us.
I’m of the opinion that Flowers and Carr can hold their own (and should, in those rare 4-5 WR sets) against their given man 1-v-1. Rarely are teams going for the long bomb in those situations. Most of the time (especially against us) they’re clearing the lanes for a TE or slot receiver underneath. To me, it seems like you’d want to press at least ONE safety into the box to cover this route. Not only do you have a safety still back as your “home-run” coverage, you’ve also got one able to stop a dangerous, all-pro TE.
We shouldn’t have to wait for other teams to make a mistake. We’re not amazingly talented, but we’re still a pro team with pro players and a pro DC. We should be able to close down routes well enough and make it harder than Gates’ two strolls into the endzone were.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
They're going extra wides because KC will ALWAYS go into a shell against it.
It’s this way for MANY teams. Back when the Run ‘n’ Shoot was being born in Detroit, the fundamentally sound defenses SWARMED THE POORLY DEFENDED BACKFIELD. The spread formation WANTS you to back off and then just throw to the guy who gets the free release or has the obvious mismatch. You don’t hide the mismatch by giving cushion out of fear.
If they beat you with a 60 yarder, so be it. But you’ll get your 3-and-outs, too. Play aggressive. Hope for the 3-and-out, and play great red-zone defense, when the short field mitigates against your outmatched secondary. Better to let ‘em rip off a big play than kill you with 1,000 smaller cuts. Over the course of a game, if you have any friggin’ offense at all, you’ll start winning the time of possession battle.
I personally don’t like Haley expressing these sorts of thoughts. On that path lies damnation. It’s the kind of defense that you play when you suck, and you just hope the opposing offense sucks, too.
It takes more courage to call ‘em “my” way, but I’m pretty sure it’s the only way to effectively mask the weaknesses down the field. Giving help down the field (and bitching about LB coverage skills) is defeatist. Instead, show the opposition no respect and attack attack attack.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
Another point I saw made
On the Chiefs Team Report on Yahoo Sports they talk some about our pass defense and offer up an interesting item:
Completion percentage: If a quarterback is getting rid of the ball early and in awkward positions, he’s prone to missing his receivers. Last Sunday, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers was 21 of 28, a completion percentage of 75 percent. That’s pretty darn good and an indication that Rivers wasn’t bothered by the Chiefs’ rush. On the season, opposing quarterbacks are completing 59.2 percent of their passes. That’s tied for 10th in the league for the lowest opponent completion percentage.While we are not always getting sacks, we have frequently made the QB nervous. Of course, this is skewed a little by playing against JRuss and the Raiders, but still…we are tied for 10th. That means the giving up shorter passes has a better chance of the opponent self destructing. And there have been lots of teams over the years that just kept things in front of them and let the other team kill themselves. Personally, I would prefer to see a dominating defense that kills the other team, but it ain’t happening this year!
Chiefs go 9-7. LJ makes 1400 yards. DBowe makes 1200 yards. Defense #18.
10/28--The Koolaid buzz is beginning to wear off. Maybe drop this back to my original thoughts on the year. Chiefs go 6-10 (and that my be optimistic!). LJ gets a restraining order to stay 1400 yards away from the Chiefs. I'll let the rest stand for now. 11/18 Oh My! Dbowe gets a restraining order to stay 1200 yards away from the Chiefs. Argh! Can we go 5-11? Can the defense make #20?
Holy crap, Kalo!
Awesome job. REC’D
-Erykah Badu, I have accepted your proposal. So, Mrs. DTR, let's get to consummating...you are on notice.
-"All praise Chiefus."
Impressive post
and far beyond my meager talents!
Good Write up
who is the best pass covering ILB available in the draft? I think it’s likely we see that guy head our way in the beginning of round 2. Demorrio isn’t cutting it. (is Brandon Spikes projected to be around early in round 2?)
Ryan Succop will be the kicker for the AFC in the 2011 Pro Bowl
Ugh. Upgrade @ NT, and upgrade at DB.
Let the current D-Line and LBs keep building chemistry this season. Add good LBs in FA and draft, but don’t burn high picks on LB just yet, imo. Treating symptom rather than cause. Your front 7 needs to consistently disrupt the O-Backfield before you even START worrying about how well your LBs can play defensive back. In the 3-4, KC lacks experience at DE (getting fixed as we speak) and a true, dominant, starting NT.
Edwards has done a FINE job this season, but he’s still (imo) more of a 4-3 DT than 3-4 NT. He’s really come a long way, and would be fantastic depth, but KC needs a true NT to anchor the middle.
In the meantime, Chiefs don’t have as many decent DBs as most NFL offenses can field WRs. CRITICAL need, right there.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
And that might be part of it, Mills.
Maybe we don’t shift with our safeties because we either struggle to cover with them or they don’t recognize it when it’s on the field. That falls under the talent question.
And Ron’s a backup, like you’ve said. A solid NT makes your DE’s and LB’s better. We need one.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
MIGHT be!? PART of it!?
Dude, I hit EVERYthing squarely on the head!!!
I think Haley is talking now like he fears the big yardages against his D more than he realizes that’s the style they need to play to have a chance of winning. For good or ill, they need to get pressure.
The defense played last week against San Diego definitely pulled its horns in, afraid of being humiliated by the Bolts’ WRs is my guess. I would rather live and die by the sword than leave it in its scabbard, and that’s what last week (and the last 4 ot 5 years of GuntherBall) looked like to me.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
EVERYthing?!?!?
Heh, yeah, absolutely agree with your comments on this game. We went fetal and prevented the big play while letting them gain the easy first downs and run time off the clock.
I’m with you on a “live by the sword, die by the sword” defense. I just wish we had more talent so that defense didn’t become an almost automatic death.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
But yeah, it's been 10+ years since the Chiefs had the talent/balls to man-up a safety in coverage.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
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