Play by Play analysis uncovers the truth

Ok... so I just spent a little time and looked at the first 3 offensive series, first 3 defensive series, and first 3 kickoffs/punts from the game vs the Vikings.

Thank God for the guy who invented the DVR.

It's a relatively small sample size, but I do have a life, and can't sit here all day breaking down the tape for no better reason than to tell you what I saw.  :)

I thought the Chiefs looked solid and NOT overmatched with the first units in for both teams.

I was surprised by some things, not surprised by others.

Surprises:

*  The WORST pass blocker on most plays was.... Sean Ryan he whiffed repeately (at least 4 times) when trying to help on the right side, making us think the RT were terrible, when in fact, they were on their man, but someone came right by the TE outside of the RT.

*  a close 2nd worst, and not a good run blocker... Mike Goff missed 1 pass block, and 2 run blocks that I saw.

*  BOTH RT(McIntosh and Richardson) did better than I thought at pass blocking... they stayed in front of the defender or pushed them to the outside so Cassel could step up and throw.

*  RUN blocking may be more of a concern than PASS blocking:  There weren't many holes for LJ, Charles or Battle.  Maybe this will get better, and maybe it's because the Vikings have a very good overall team run defense.

Not a Surprise:

*  Cassel was sharp.  Good decisions, good accuracy, good mobility.

*  When the blocking is there, this IS a good offense that can move the ball and score

*  Mays continued to make play after play... he should be a LOCK for the 53 man roster

*  Vrabel was in on nearly every play... whether he made the hit or just set someone else up to make it... he's a good player

*  The 3-4 Defense seems to be working... good pressure up front, LB making the tackles. 

*  Just need a little better intermediate route coverage from the LB and S

*  Copper made some drops... he and Darling were unimpressive and need to be cut (Copper didn't factor in the first 3 drives, but I kept watching)... they didn't seem to be able to get open or catch the football very well.

Play by play after the jump

Opening kick bobbled by Battle, recovers and gets to the 17, 15 yd penalty on the Vikings

First offensive drive:

Cassel scrambles, Ryan missed his block badly.

LJ run for 2 yds... Niswanger and Ryan misses blocks that could have opened a hole

Catch by O'Connell, Goff missed block, forced a quick short throw

LJ Stufffed at the line, Goff missed a block, and the left side didn't open a hole at all

Punt

First Defensive Series:

Good stuff of a run

Incompletion: Vrabel and Hali get pressure, DJ and Mays good in coverage

completion:  Vrabel and flowers good coverage

4th down stop:  Page and Mays and DJ stuffed the run for a loss, Page made the big hit

Second Offensive Drive:

Charles is stuffed:  Ryan missed block, no hole was opened.

Darling makes a catch:  Ryan missed a block, forced a quick throw

LJ is stuffed:  Goff missed block

Cassel has time, misses Bowe

Complete to Bowe, Richardson nearly got beat, but pushed his man out wide

LJ runs left:  No hole

Ryan makes a catch:  The pocket collapsed behind Cassel, but he feels it and steps up to make the throw.

LJ stuffed:  Cottam missed block

Succop FG good, Belcher makes good hit on the kickoff coverage

Second Defensive Series:

Peterson runs for 6

Incompletion:  Vrabel gets pressure, Carr and Hali had good coverage

False Start:  Vikings WR

Incompletion: Mays applies pressure, smokes Favre, Legget, Carr and Flowers had good coverage

Punt:  Leggett fair catch

Third Offensive Drive:

Darling drops a pass, blocking was OK

Darling catches a pass, blocking was OK

LJ runs for 18, McINtosh and Cox had blocking

LJ run:  no hole on the Right side of the OL

Cassel has a nice play fake and roll out, complete to Bowe

Screen play wasn't there, Cassel scrambles for a gain

Quinten Lawrence runs a great reverse:  good blocks by McIntosh and Bowe

LJ runs Right, small gain

Bowe catches a TD, good blocking, quick pass

Belcher makes another tackle on the kickoff

Third Defensive series:

Run stuffed, offsides penalty... the ref said it was on Zach Thomas... so not sure who it really was

Good run by AP, tackle by Flowers

run stopped by Mays and Vrabel

Vrabel applies pressure, pass complete on Leggett

Run:  Vrabel misses tackle while being blocked, page makes the tackle

Run:  Leggett stuffs it in the backfield, Tank had good penetration as well

Run:  DJ and Hali make the stop 3 yd gain

Pass: Belcher makes the hit for a short gain

Pass:  Belcher and DJ bad coverage:  bit on playfake.  Jackson had good pressure late

Run:  DJ makes the stop, 4yd gain

Run:  DJ pushes him out, holding penalty on the guy trying to block Vrabel

Run:  stopped 4yd gain, Vrabel and Tank made the stop

Screen pass, Legget ran it down after a good gain

Run:  Tank makes the tackle 2yd gain

Run:  Hali and Boone stop it for a loss

Pass for a TD:  Jackson and Mays had good pressure, but DJ and Carr were late getting to the TE when the QB scrambled.  Great blitz pickup by the FB on Page, who would have gotten a sack