Early Chiefs Defensive Stat Analysis
by KaloPhoenix on Sep 23, 2009 12:28 AM CDT
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From the FanPosts -Joel
So.
Two weeks in. 0-2. Most of the "doom-and-gloomers" are out and about. I have made some comments after week 1 about the defensive stat lines, but now that Week 2 is in the books, I thought I'd do an overlook of what our "terrible, crappy" defense had done so far. I'm well aware that you're all able to go on NFL.com and read through the stats, the same as I am, but for those who'd like a comprehensive stat analysis without doing the work yourself, this post is the one for you.
To the JUMP!
Alright, first and foremost, all you "Ravens and Raiders don't have an offense" naysayers, can it. It's two weeks, it's what it is, and I'll get to an equal qualifier as the post goes along. Now, for some relevant stats.
Rushing:
The Ravens and the Raiders have two of the better rushing attacks in the league. Last year, both teams were in the top 10 in the league in rushing yardage per game. Rushing yards should be a decent barometer against these teams. The stats (and last year's):
Yards per game: 132.5 (21st) -- 158.9 (30th)
Attempts per game: 33 (6th) -- 31.8 (4th)
Yards per attempt: 4.0 (14th) -- 5.0 (30th)
So, against two of the top 10 teams in the league in rushing, we've put together 25 less yards per game, with more attempts, making a full yard less gained by the opposition. Obviously, the Ravens ran better on us than the Raiders, but two games is two games...and with two run heavy teams. 14th in the league in yards per attempt isn't fantastic, but those making us out to have been run over should look at that stat closely. People still run on us often, as the attempts per game shows, but a yard per game difference makes a big...well, difference in the end game.
Passing:
Last year the Ravens and Raiders ranked 28th and 32nd in passing yardage per game. This year, they're 13th (Ravens) and 29th (Raiders). So, we're talking about an upgrade for the Ravens, partially due to our first game, and about the same for the Raiders. The stats:
Yards per game: 201.0 (14th) -- 234.2 (28th)
Attempts per game: 33.5 (15th) -- 32.6 (15th)
Yards per attempt: 6.2 (8th) -- 7.3 (24th)
Against two typically bad passing teams, we've held much better number than last year's average. That's to be expected. Still, our yards per attempt ranks in the top 10 of the league, while in the top half of attempts taken. From a strictly YPA figure, we rank much better in passing than we do rushing. Again, with two strong rushing teams, these figures should be holding these parallels.
Sacks and INTs:
Our sack total last year showed our defenses' complete ineptitude. It's the figure that most have concentrated on this offseason, and rightfully so. Stats:
Sacks: 3 (16th) -- 10 (32nd)
Opposing Passer Rating: 77.7 (13th) -- 91.1 (25th)
Interceptions: 1 (18th) -- 13 (17th)
Sacks are better from a league average. Same with passer rating. INT's should be one more (Flowers pick six) at least, if not another dropped from Flacco's arm. More turnovers changes a couple of those games. It shows.
Total Yardage:
Stark contrast in the two games so far. 500+ to under 200 in the two respectively. Up and down at best. How it ranks in the NFL:
Total Yards per game: 333.5 (18th) -- 393.2 (31st)
Total Attempts per game: 68 (8th) -- 65.1 (4th)
Total Yards per attempt: 4.9 (9th) -- 6.0 (29th)
That's right, we're 0-2 with a top 10 YPA. Meanwhile, we're giving up the 8th most plays in the NFL. That tells me that we're making our defense feel the brunt of the game. It also tells me that our defense can stop the opposing offense, but will eventually break due to the pressure being put on them.
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Thus far, the only team to play both the Raiders and the Ravens is the Chargers...how do they stack up?
Rushing YPG: KC 132.5 -- SD 139.0
Passing YPG: KC 201.0 -- SD 199.5
Sacks: KC 3 -- SD 2
INT: KC 1 -- SD 3
Rushing YPA: KC 4.0 -- SD 4.3
Passing YPA: KC 6.2 -- SD 7.0
Total YPG: KC 333.5 -- SD 338.5
Total YPA: KC 4.9 -- SD 5.4
So comparing the two teams, ours is clearly better on the defensive side of the ball. The glaring error is INT's, and as stated before, a Flowers pick-6 makes that less glaring, as also puts us at 1-1...the same as SD. This is the same defense touted as being one of the best in the league (San Diego) getting beat statistically by one of the worst touted in the league.
What's it come down to on this side of the ball? Getting off the field. We've got the defense to stay in these games, but whether it be giving up 3rd downs, or our offense putting them back on the field...the sheer number of plays these guys are seeing is enough to doom them.
This defense is 9th in the league at yards given up per play, yet we're 0-2. That's good enough to win against most teams, certainly better than last year. Some turnovers and some offense can turn this around. Another good showing against the Eagles could prove to the rest of the public the improvements we're seeing on defense.
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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rec'd
Very good read. It was nice seeing the Chiefs being compared to the Bolts. It just goes to show how bad turnovers and penalties effect a team.
Rec'd
Our defense is obviously better than last year, but that’s not really saying much — we stank up the field last year on defense with Herm’s Tampon 2 defense.
I have to admit that after giving up 500 yds in the first game, I was a bit concerned with our defense. I understand the explanations, but it was still an underwhelming performance by our defense. This help alleviate some of my concerns.
Comparisons to San Diego over their first two games are much more relevant. I like what I’m seeing so far from the defense. They should continue to get better as they gel…
Thanks for gathering this info. Great work and great post!
"Every day is an evaluation and if you’re not out there how can we depend on you? If you’re out there and you don’t know what to do, how can we depend on you?" Accountability -- Haley-style...
+1
The defense will really show improvement once the offense is able to stay on the field with sustained drives. They will also be able to risk more if we are in the lead (blitz’, going for int’s)
I thought that showed pretty well in the Raider game.
When the Chiefs moved the ball, keeping the defense on the sideline, they were much fresher when it came time to get on the field…Until that last drive that is.
by Chiefsfan1970 on Sep 23, 2009 8:35 AM CDT up reply actions
yes until when it counted....exactly
Don't Fuccop Succop
by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 23, 2009 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions
Great stuff kalo
Thanks for sharing. made my trip through nowhere oklahoma easier :)
by Joel Thorman on Sep 23, 2009 7:12 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
nice post
Now we just need to take that top 10 defense and equate that to wins…somehow
by Ren on Sep 23, 2009 7:24 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
I'd still like to see more pressure on the QB.
That will bring up the int with some pressure on the QB. Make them rush their throws instead of set back there and have all day to lets the routes clear.
But yes the defense is better, but there is still room to improve.
Plenty of room
Sacks and Turnovers will bring down the total yardage, and if we turn up the heat there, it’ll show in the numbers.
We faced 51 plays against the Raiders. It showed.
"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
I don't care if I NEVER see another 10+ plays in a row with 4-man rush.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
I think Clancy had a bad taste after the all out blitz at the end of the game at Baltimore
He needs to forget that shit and keep the pressure on at the end of these games.
What really bothers me about that last drive was the amount of second stringers who were on the field. There is NO EXCUSE for that. Our defense had NOT been on the field long enough to be tired. I mean. WTF was Gilberry doing out there when the game was on the line? He was not the only one either, I noticed several 2nd string guys out there while the Raiders were stealing that game from us. That shit pisses me off. In a situation like that we need ALL of our best players on the field.
by Chiefsfan1970 on Sep 24, 2009 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Jackson kinda disappeared from the field, didn't he?
Gilberry played most of the game, it seemed like. I dunno what that was about.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
Don't worry...
We’ll have more picks when we draft Eric Berry!
at this rate...
We will definitly be drafing high enough to get mays. I hate to say this but I see us winning maybe 1 game til november, but I see us going 4-1 to finish the season
by BiiG_C on Sep 23, 2009 10:25 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Nice analysis
I hope Reid really does play Kolb against us and not Garcia so the defense looks even better. With a little injury help from Westbrook and McNabb already hurt we have a real shot at this next game. Hopefully they’re thinking 0-2 Chiefs and looking past the game.
I don’t mean to knock our team but to be realistic – this is a rebuilding year and despite all the good signs I see there are still plenty of challenges.
On the contrary.
I would rather McNabb and Westbrook be healthy against us. I want the best Eagles team they can field right now.
The realist in me is very similar to you…it’s a long road ahead. Playing against weaker teams so we can get easier wins helps us less in the long run. I want these guys to stand in the line of their offensive firepower and live to tell the tale. It’s trial by fire right now, and I’m a little disappointed that our defense won’t get quite the test it should’ve this weekend.
If we win with Kolb in and Westbrook/McNabb out, there’s excuses. We hang with or beat a full strength Eagles team and we get a little better idea of the guts this defense has.
"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
I truly don't care about that at this point.
We need a win to stay in the divisional race. We will have plenty of opportunity to gain respect next week when we face the Giants. Damn, I am NOT looking forward to that.
by Chiefsfan1970 on Sep 23, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Don't get me wrong.
I still want to win.
I just want to beat the Eagles full-strength for our own little psychological boost. =)
"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
I know what your saying
but the Ravens win isn’t any better or worse because Cassel and Flowers were not playing. It is simply a win.
Winning begins with Attitude - 2009 Chiefs 12-4
Right.
And in the end, the “what if’s” are simply that. At the end of the year we won’t sit around saying “well, technically we should’ve won those first two”. A win is a win is a win.
I just like beating teams at their best, that’s all.
"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
I'd prefer that but
the realist in me recognizes that the Eagles at full health are one of the top 4 or 5 teams in the league and I don’t think we’d beat them. I hope so but it would require perfect play on our part and sloppy play on their part.
I'm usually the same way, KP, but KC NEEDS an icebreaker.
A slump-buster.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
I had no idea
This couldnt have anything to do with Haley being our Head Coach could it? I mean I read on here in a few places that he isnt a good coach and nothing will change because he says a few cuss words.
Excellent Post, the reason why I return to AP everyday!
Winning begins with Attitude - 2009 Chiefs 12-4
you're right...
because I guess he’s taken on the role of DC too…I keep hearing people say that two games isn’t enough time to evaluate anything… yet it’s enough time to evaluate a suppossedly improved D???? hmmmm
Hence the title
“Early Chiefs Defensive Stat Analysis”
And as far as the DC goes, Haley did hire him.
"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
I have no reason to believe that our defense will get any worse as the year progresses
Other than the fact that we are playing against some VERY tough opponents. This defense is showing great improvement, especially against the run. That strong run defense is going to pay big dividends this week and especially next week against the Giants.
by Chiefsfan1970 on Sep 23, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions
NICE POST!
Looks like our offense (specifically the O-Line) needs improvement. When that happens, I think things really turn around for us!
Great post
I think the defense is starting to gel, and the d-line is starting to look pretty solid. I think we will start to see more consistent play from the backers as well. Mays will start to look like the play-maker we saw in preseason and Hali will just get better all around as he gets more acclimated to his new position. He will start getting more sacks, and I predict he will get at least one interception this year while in coverage. The kid has a motor. I think this will be a top 10 defense all around by 2010.
As usual, Kalo posts some great stuff!
Hey, at least our punter is pretty good, so we got that goin for us, right?
Top 10 in 2010?
I’m not quite going out on that limb yet. Top 20 — yes…Top 15 — maybe.
Top 10 is going to require some serious QB pressure, which we’ve seen little to no evidence of thus far. We start pulling 3+ sacks a game regularly, and I might shift my stance.
I think we’re laying the groundwork, but this is still an offensive-centric team. A top 15 defense will win us a lot of games when the offense gets on track.
"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
I'm not so stuck on sack totals.
The Jets played dominating Rex Ryan D against the Patsies, and didn’t record a single sack. More than ever in this league, QBs are getting the ball out, rather than taking the sack. Pressures are very good. Passes defensed are very good. Incomplete passes are also very good. 3-and-outs matter. Points allowed matter.
I’m SORT of a turnovers believer, but I also believe there are games in which your offense HAS to play high-risk in order to score at ALL, and turnovers might not be so important. Same as with sacks. If Roethlisberger isn’t getting sacked, then he’s not playing the style that’s his team’s best chance of winning.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
The Jets will get 'em, though.
Pressures against Tom Brady are pretty much sacks against most QB’s. =)
That said, I’m not necessarily stuck on sack totals either. However, Top 10 defenses pressure and sack QB’s often. You’ve got to be in the backfield and make the QB rush his motion often enough to where it’s constantly in the back of his mind. That, in my opinion, is what we’re missing right now. To be a Top 10 defense, we have to have that.
"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 Sep 23, 2009 10:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Rec'd
So our inability to run the ball and help control the clock is hurting our D. It is so true what they say about running the football and stopping the run.
Who has said that San Diego’s defense is one of the best in the league?
And what stat is there to measure clutch defense? I think KC would be 32nd in that…..
San Diego:
All the pundits who picked SD to go to the Super Bowl and win it based on their good offense and great defense.
I’m not saying they’re right, as Oakland and Baltimore have proven, but they were certainly “supposed” to be better than us.
4th Quarter Stats:
Scoring Allowed per Game: 14 points
Yards Allowed per Game: 118.5
Certainly not good.
"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
San Diego played the Ravens a lot tougher than KC did, but...
… they also had the KC-BAL game to see JUST how to exploit them with the pass. Croyle did some good things in that second half, and those were the kinds of things Rivers did to keep SD in the game. Level of execution by skill players is higher on offense by SD than KC, at this (or at least last week) point. But I’d say that KC’s line play was about as good as SD’s against Baltimore, and better against Oakland.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
True.
And SD’s defense played better than KC’s in that game. Again, the same argument can be made (got to see what BAL had when they played us), so that’s kind of a wash, too.
I’m anxious to see how we shake out with some of this year’s game film to look at. In the (most likely) too short NFL season thus far, we’ve learned how to shut down a team after watching their game plan from the week before. Then again…it’s the Raiders, so that might be a wash.
"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 Sep 23, 2009 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions
The best way to obtain a clutch defense
is to first obtain a clutch offense. We got’s a way to goes.
Winning begins with Attitude - 2009 Chiefs 12-4
That makes zero sense
And the idea of players being “clutch” has been disproven time and time again in pro sports
Drew Pearson.
Jerry Rice.
Emmitt Smith.
Len Dawson.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
Small Sample Size...
Its kinda pointless to project an entire season over 2 games, the shear difference in the week 1 and 2 numbers are a result of that. Ravens have had a dominant offense thus far, the Raiders have not. Im not sure you can show comparable numbers until further in the season when you can really compare the Chiefs numbers to league averages.
With such small sample sizes one game greatly affects a seasons average…
Of course having said that the Defense is obviously much better than it was last year.
Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures
Not necessarily projecting
It was more for comparisons amongst the NFL, and most specifically the Chargers, since they’ve played the same teams.
"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
Fair enough...
I firmly believe the Chargers will be a trainwreck of an organization this year, Norv Turner is going to kill this team, biggest mistake they ever made was getting rid of Marty.
Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures
by averagegatsby on Sep 23, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions
I just judge by what I see on the field.
I don’t like the 4-man rush, frankly, but I REALLY like the size, power and discipline of the d-line Pendergast and Krumrie have. That should just keep getting better, and the coaches and players can pretty much tinker with the other 8 (or 7, if you lump Hali with the line, and you prob’ly wouldn’t be wrong) to make the D better. They’ll keep adding wrinkles to the D-Line, but I believe they’re fundamentally sound. On offense, they’re still trying to get the skill players to click AND figure out the O-Line. Short-term, they look much better than they have any right to be.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
Especially against the run.
Last year’s team very likely would’ve given up 250+ yards rushing to both teams. At least somewhat of an improvement, even early on.
"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 Sep 23, 2009 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Wish the Star offered analysis like this.
Good job. Great post. I think we are doing it off scheme and our opponents lack of belief in our offense. However, we are much better than years past. We will improve as the talent level rises and I think it will. Thanks for the post. Wish the Star put out comments like yours.
Wow
Bravo
Thats EXACTLY what I THOUGHT we had seen the first 2 weeks…nice to see the stats show an improving D that needs the O to take a bit of the load.
and offensively, Ill stick with Cassel needs more time, to get that timing down, he looked great.
I see things with this team that excite me…as much as things I saw in 2003…
Everyone needs to remember how poorly Trent was treated year one, calling him “TrINT” etc…he didnt deserve it, he had tony g and then…larry parker/snoop minnis…Cassel has Bowe and a few other decent recievers but its by no means ideal. People point to sanchez and ryan however both have a run game,(jets isnt THAT strong but they have a nice OL) both have nice WR’s/TE’s/HB’s….its just a huge difference.
not saying cassel is like green, a guy that needed players around him to be good, I think Cassel can still be VERY GOOD, but to be great he needs timing, and options
One thing though..
This is based on a whole year from last..
What were the stats for last year’s team through week 2?
Then you have apples and oranges IMHO..
Rowdy
Defense did much better in the trenches last week
against a team that came in with a pretty good rep in the trenches.
But you have to discount for the (lack of) pressure on JaMarcus at key moments, and the fact that the D came up short in the end. That soft pass rush was enough for JaMarcus thru 3 quarters, but it’s not nearly enough for a tough, mobile QB. A guy as good as Flacco, and that scheme they ran against JaMarcus not only loses in waning minutes, but is humiliated through the air all day long.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
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