Chiefs Safeties Play Well Against the Bengals

by Joel Thorman on Dec 28, 2009 2:49 PM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

Following Sunday's game, Cincinnati Bengals RB Cedric Benson said the Kansas City Chiefs were obviously prepared for their run game. It's no secret the Bengals like to run ball having done so more than all but two teams in the NFL.

The Chiefs, coming off three consecutive games of giving up at least 200 yards rushing, were determined to stop it.

The Chiefs held Benson in check for much of the game partly due to Mike Brown playing in the box to stop him. In Pendergast style, the Bengals said they were expecting a lot of looks from the Chiefs.

"We expected to get a lot more different things," Benson said. "They play strong up front. They had their safeties down at the line of scrimmage."

Brown ended the game with a team high 13 tackles, including eight of them solo.

The other Chiefs safety, Jon McGraw, hauled in an interception for the Chiefs. He has been battling a hand injury all week so he actually went up after the ball with just one hand, which was a nice effort that paid off. He added three tackles as well.

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mike brown on the tackle
repeat as neccessary

by seamhead17 on Dec 28, 2009 2:53 PM CST reply actions

what's amazing

the Chiefs put Brown in the box to stuff the run, and still held Palmer and the passing offense in check.

* "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 Dec 28, 2009 2:56 PM CST reply actions

I'm not sure if we had

him as SS or FS, but I was impressed by his performance playing close run support. Keep him in that role (SS) and then add a ball hawk at FS and we may be on to something as far as the secondary is concerned.

Sprinkle in a better NT and we will really be on the upswing.

by Hail2DaChiefs on Dec 28, 2009 3:03 PM CST up reply actions

Assuming we couldn't

upgrade both safety positions this offseason……

by Hail2DaChiefs on Dec 28, 2009 3:17 PM CST up reply actions

Reshard Langford

I really think this guy is gonna be a steal for us… I predict that he’ll step up and we’ll wonder how in the heck we got so lucky

by Hoochdawg on Dec 28, 2009 5:45 PM CST up reply actions

Oh my...

Just looked at his picture at the mothership and I think he has a neckbeard!

OK...the Koolaid buzz is gone now. I'm forced to admit that the state of the team had deteriorated far beyond what I had realized. The good news is I get to start mixing up a fresh batch of koolaid for next year. Oh Yeah!

by Zodeman on Dec 28, 2009 6:15 PM CST up reply actions

hope he does work out!

by stagdsp on Dec 28, 2009 6:19 PM CST up reply actions

I'm okay with Brown and all but,

I don’t think his future is in KC. Maybe next year but, he may be better suited on another team who isn’t counting on him to start every Sunday. His play has improved since the start of the season but, that’s not saying much. We need some real help in our safety group.

What does everyone think about Page? Do you guys think we will keep him? I think he still has potential.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Dec 28, 2009 3:12 PM CST reply actions

That's a tough one

I think he has some potential as well, but I think safety is a position that we need to fill with bonafide talent as soon as we practically can. If we keep Page he will be good depth, but I wouldn’t want him starting every week.

by Hail2DaChiefs on Dec 28, 2009 3:20 PM CST up reply actions

I think Page still has potential

He certainly has his ups and downs, which is frustrating…

but, I think he has a shot to come back and contribute.

I would love for KC to be deep enough at Safety next season to put Page, McGraw and Brown into backup roles.

by stagdsp on Dec 28, 2009 3:33 PM CST up reply actions

+1

McGraw is valuable in special teams — that alone should allow him to keep his roster spot.

Page will have a hard time making the team next year, but he certainly has talent. His decline has really puzzled me.

Just when you think a position is your biggest need, they step up and have a good game.

by Nick Britt on Dec 28, 2009 3:36 PM CST up reply actions

Page could still start

Page has the build and the talent. Heck, going into the year we thought safety would be a strong point on the team and Page was part of that. Put Page back in as a starter, keep Brown, Morgan, and McGraw as backups, and get one really good safety to take over the other spot and I think that stabilizes if not fixes the safety spot. I don’t think Page will ever be a superstar safety but I do think he can be a good starting safety in the league. We have so many holes that I would prefer to keep him in there and use what assets we have to get a good linebacker or nose tackle.

Isn’t Page a free agent after this year? Wonder if he would even want to come back to this team and staff?

by Fozzyboyd on Dec 28, 2009 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

His decline has really puzzled me.

I’m not sure he has “declined”… heck, he’s been on IR for a while now.
With the new defense, coaches, etc… I’m not sure we’ve even seen what Page can do.

by stagdsp on Dec 28, 2009 4:03 PM CST up reply actions

For whatever reason, he was in Haley's doghouse from the beginning

He just didn’t reach my expectations.

by Nick Britt on Dec 28, 2009 4:44 PM CST up reply actions

No shit.

This whole season has been like that. It’s funny that I would say this but, I definitely think McGraw is the most valuable guy to keep around. I can’t believe I just said that!

Page still has the build and athleticism to be a great player but, he has been a bit of a Yoyo guy. I’d like to see him here but, I would rather upgrade both Safety positions.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Dec 28, 2009 3:40 PM CST reply actions

Actually we need very good ILBs more than a safety

athletics, aggressive and sure tackler.

by 72chiefs on Dec 28, 2009 5:11 PM CST reply actions

disagree

Belcher is a sure tackler
Mays is aggressive
DJ is athletic

I’m not saying they are Pro Bowlers by any means, but they do have some of those attributes.

Get a dominant NT in front of them and a ball hawking safety behind them that strikes fear in defenses… and those guys will look solid.

I’d LOVE to upgrade the LBs, but it’s not as important as a NT and Safety, IMO

by stagdsp on Dec 28, 2009 6:30 PM CST up reply actions

I agree 72chiefs

Our pass coverage on the TE and the RB out of the backfield is absolutely horrible. We need a solid ILB or two to really shore up this defense. Either that or a SS that has a nose for the ball that can help out without over committing to the run.

Anyone know of any LBs in the draft this year that might be available for our second 2nd or 3rd round pick?

by mightykc on Dec 28, 2009 6:49 PM CST up reply actions