Chiefs Passing Offense Not Going Deep But Opponents Are
by Joel Thorman on Sep 22, 2009 8:00 AM CDT
in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign
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PrintThe Kansas City passing offense under Matt Cassel gained 74 more yards than the Brodie Croyle led Chiefs. Yet, the Chiefs still have not taken many shots downfield. Take a look at the chart below, specifically the right side where the Chiefs rank in the bottom third of the NFL in all deep categories.
| Short Left | Short Middle | Short Right | Deep Left | Deep Middle | Deep Right | |||||
| Plays: 21 | Plays: 19 | Plays: 18 | Plays: 2 | Plays: 1 | Plays: 2 | |||||
| Rank: 11 | Rank: 6 | Rank: 24 | Rank: 27 | Rank: 29 | Rank: 25 | |||||
| Avg: 4.52 yds |
Avg: 8.21 yds |
Avg: 5.17 yds |
Avg: 14.5 yds |
Avg: 0 yds |
Avg: 25 yds |
|||||
| Rank: 24 | Rank: 9 | Rank: 19 | Rank: 13 | Rank: 26 | Rank: 2 |
The Chiefs passers have favored shorter passes to the middle of the field. The flats have been getting a workout too as the running backs have caught 15 of the 40 completions in the first two games. It's only two games, so this isn't necessarily indicative of how the rest of the season will fare, but it's more evidence that the Chiefs have some work to do at quarterback (starting two consecutive games is a start) and wide receiver.
Here's a chart of how the Chiefs opponents have fared against them passing the ball:
| Short Left | Short Middle | Short Right | Deep Left | Deep Middle | Deep Right | |||||
| Plays: 16 | Plays: 12 | Plays: 18 | Plays: 5 | Plays: 8 | Plays: 8 | |||||
| Rank: 22 | Rank: 12 | Rank: 25 | Rank: 9 | Rank: 2 | Rank: 3 | |||||
| Avg: 2.5 yds |
Avg: 7.33 yds |
Avg: 5.61 yds |
Avg: 9.2 yds |
Avg: 9.63 yds |
Avg: 6.75 yds |
|||||
| Rank: 3 | Rank: 20 | Rank: 20 | Rank: 12 | Rank: 15 | Rank: 17 |
Different, isn't it?
Take a look at the short passes across the middle. After being burned by Todd Heap in week one, the Chiefs held Raiders TE Zach Miller to zero catches. I know he's not a household name (yet) but he's becoming one of the better young tight ends in the NFL so that's a good stat for the Chiefs.
Overall, though, Chiefs opponents are going deep on them more than the league average.
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3 reasons
1. Matt Cassel’s first game back.
2. Offensive line still does not hold the defense out long enough to take more than a quick look deep.
3. The #2 receiver, not the slot (which would be #80) but the #2, is not good enough to take the man coverage deep consistently.
Bewsaf
Reason # 2 is the biggest factor on both sides of the ball.
No protection does not allow any time to get down field (these guys can’t teleport themselves).
No pass rush allows time to get down field.
by BCRavenJHawkfan on Sep 22, 2009 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions
#2 WR
Until Bradley does what the coaching staff wants him to do all week prior to the game we wont be going deep too much.
If Bradley does turn it around that would make a pretty “ok” wr core. Bowe/Bradley on the outside with Wade in the slot… That would be the best looking WR in the last 10 years in KC… Ok that isnt saying much!!! :)
by flyin_squirl on Sep 22, 2009 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Deep Ball should be high
I’ve only seen three deep balls ….One A TD. One a 50 Yrder. One inc. These bomb type passes play to our WR advantage Bowe and Bradley are tall and strong .. I believe they can come up with the ball 90% of the time or no one….Make it happen it’s Pro – Ball…Wade should be our slot……RE pass rush you put air under it and they run under neath it and catch it hello …. have you not seen this before it’s called the BOMB..
Yep. We need Bradley if we are going to be effective throwing deep.
He needs to get his head out of his ass and get out of the coach’s doghouse so we can use him.
BTW: These TEs are pathetic! We have to get some help in the Tight end dept.
by Chiefsfan1970 on Sep 22, 2009 8:58 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
The deep ball is good for keeping defenses honest,
but it killed the Patriots in 2007. Playing 4 or 5 downs on offense before scoring doesn’t give your defense much rest. By the end of the season, those guys were worn down.
Then when the deep threat wasn’t available and the offense didn’t score as much, the defense didn’t have what it takes to get the stops. Of course, it didn’t help that they were older.
A clock control offense, taking the deep ball as the defense offers it, is the best. It keeps your defense fresh to get stops, and wears your opponent down – physically and mentally.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 22, 2009 9:21 AM CDT reply actions
The clock control offense didn't help us or Miami this week
Both teams dominated the time of possession and still lost the games.
Herm is gone things are better with that one move!!
by bringbacktheglory on Sep 22, 2009 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Miami left too damn much time on the clock for Manning
60 seconds is alot for that guy. They also made more mistakes. Didn’t get to see your game, but who had more penalties? That stuff will kill you.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 22, 2009 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions
I knew that argument was coming.
When you’re playing against a team that can score quickly, TOP is a meaningless stat. Manning showed that last night.
by Chiefsfan1970 on Sep 22, 2009 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Besides time of possession means nothing
unless you can punch it in when you get there.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 23, 2009 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions
Has Cassel ever been able to throw a deep ball?
Between yesterday’s game & the Pats highlights I’ve watched from last year, it seems that Cassel is extremely accurate on short-to-intermediate passes (I’d say less than 20 yards), but he tends to be off-target on the longer throws. Really, the only evidence I have of this is from Sunday’s game, but then again I didn’t really see any deep-pass highlights from his ‘08 season. Hopefully the issue is simply a matter of being in sync with his receivers (due to time lost to the injury & the change in OC three weeks ago), but I’m not confident of that yet. I don’t see it as a huge problem if he’s not a great deep passer, though it would certainly be nice. I just wonder if he would be most effective in a West-Coast offense type of system, since my (rudimentary) understanding is that system places emphasis of short/quick/accurate passing.
Has Cassel ever been able to throw a deep ball?
Between yesterday’s game & the Pats highlights I’ve watched from last year, it seems that Cassel is extremely accurate on short-to-intermediate passes (I’d say less than 20 yards), but he tends to be off-target on the longer throws. Really, the only evidence I have of this is from Sunday’s game, but then again I didn’t really see any deep-pass highlights from his ‘08 season. Hopefully the issue is simply a matter of being in sync with his receivers (due to time lost to the injury & the change in OC three weeks ago), but I’m not confident of that yet. I don’t see it as a huge problem if he’s not a great deep passer, though it would certainly be nice. I just wonder if he would be most effective in a West-Coast offense type of system, since my (rudimentary) understanding is that system places emphasis of short/quick/accurate passing.
He's made a few
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 22, 2009 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Definitely a West Coast flavor to last week's game.
I had that thought after the 4th or 5th pass to the RB. And it’s likely to continue, because, right now, it’s where the mismatch is AND it’s something short that Cassel doesn’t have to force. And it’s something he’s better at than Croyle. Cassel’s very good at getting his RBs the ball in position to make something happen, and is maybe better than Trent Green at hitting them on the move.
But I don’t think he’s as consistent at getting the ball down the field deep. Of course, no QB is, but Croyle (and Brady back in NE) are both better long-ball passers. What needs to be factored-in, here, is an improved, but still inconsistent O-Line that isn’t giving Cassel 4 or 5 seconds to stand and survey the field. I think it’ll come. I think that those pesky dump-offs to LJ and Savage last week are something that teams will want to stop, and that’s going to take a little heat off Cassel.
I harp as much (or more) about HB protections on passing plays, but one thing about the West Coast is your HB takes 1 or 2 guys out of the pass rush, because at LEAST one guy has to shadow him, in case of the dump-off. Backs that can catch and run totally change the landscape. I get a kick out of seeing things like 2 or 3 backs and then lining 1 or 2 of ’em up wide as receivers. Not sure LJ has enough quickness and speed to be a huge threat in that formation, but Savage, Battle, and Charles are all uncoverable by a LB.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
Let's not forget, Mills, about that 2nd quarter miscue to Savage that cost 3+ points, and possibly the game...
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
A pattern emerging in Haley's gameplanning.
Miller was Russell’s security blanket in Game 1.
the Chiefs held Raiders TE Zach Miller to zero catches. I know he’s not a household name (yet) but he’s becoming one of the better young tight ends in the NFL
Haley took Ed Reed outta the Baltimore game.
Definitely seems to be a pattern. Take your best guy outta the game, make you prove yourself with the other 10 guys.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
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