Chiefs Don't Convert a Third Down in Loss to the Eagles

by Joel Thorman on Sep 28, 2009 10:06 AM CDT in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

The Kansas City Chiefs offense did not convert a third down in a 34-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. We're not surprising anyone when we say it's nearly impossible to win a game with a 0.0% on third down.

0/11!

The Chiefs had 12 drives and faced a third down in 11 of those. They failed to convert every time but did convert a fourth down at one point.

Of the 11 third downs, eight of them had more than five yards to go. A Bowe-less Chiefs offense + 3rd and long = 0/11 on third down conversions.

Of those eight third downs with more than five to go, three were a completed pass for less than the necessary yards. The Mark Bradley syndrome?

Of those eight third downs with more than five to go, three were a rush. And they all came in the second half after the Chiefs had what Todd Haley called an "unacceptable" first half rushing the ball. So, the Chiefs didn't run it on third and long every time but that number increased as the game entered the second half (and the Chiefs facing a big deficit).

Josh Looney of KCChiefs.com investigated the third down issue a little further and came away with this:

"But to understand the true problem, you have to dig further into the pile," Looney begins. "It’s truly the third-down scenarios themselves that have haunted Kansas City. On 36 third down attempts in 2009, the Chiefs have only had seven tries at a third down of less than three yards to go.

"I’ll say it again, only seven attempts in a situations of third-and-three or shorter."

After the jump, I've broken down the Chiefs 0/11 third down performance by drive.

Drive No. 1

3rd and 25: Sack

Drive No. 2

3rd and 10: 6 yard pass

Drive No. 3

3rd and 13: 2 yard pass

Drive No. 4

No third downs: Touchdown

Drive No. 5

3rd and 6: Incomplete pass

Drive No. 6

3rd and 1: Cassel sacked

Drive No. 7

3rd and 20: 6 yard rush

Drive No. 8

3rd and 1: -1 yard rush

Drive No. 9

3rd and 13: 4 yard rush

Drive No. 10

3rd and 1: Incomplete pass

Drive No. 11

3rd and 10: 0 yard rush

Drive No. 12

3rd and 13: 6 yard pass

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Comments

That's on Haley

His third down play calles were terrible. 3rd and 1 and we set up with a shotgun pass? Jesus Christ….they were getting 1 yards all day long running the ball up the middle. Haley looked like shit out there. I don’t care if your the biggest Haley Homer, like many of you are, that stat falls directly on Haleys back.

Come back Chan, come back.

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 28, 2009 10:16 AM CDT reply actions

Really?

“Jesus Christ….they were getting 1 yards all day long running the ball up the middle.”

What game were you watching? LJ started with 9 carries for 3 yards… That isnt even close to 1 yard a carry!

by flyin_squirl on Sep 28, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions

so you think a shotgun pass on 3rd and 1 is a good call?

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Sep 28, 2009 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions

No but dont

make a statement like “We were getting 1 yard all day long”

When you cant get 1 yard on 1st and 10 what make you think you can get it on 3rd an 1 with them stacking the box?

Phi had two 3rd and 3 and passes the ball both times and they were getting plenty of big runs. Bad play calling? Then they had a 3rd and 1 and ran it and we stuffed it! Bad play calling? They had a 4th and 1 and threw the ball! Bad play calling?

They did convert on 2 other 3rd and 1 by running but you cant just run it all the time on 3rd and 1.

by flyin_squirl on Sep 28, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions

Dont get me wrong

I thought the call with the QB draw was horrible! When Charles motioned into the backfield I knew it was some kind of draw! If I know that sitting on my couch… What do you think the D knew? I was really surprised when Cassel took it himself. If you are going to do that get the ball into the hands of your playmaker in Charles.

Haley called a couple of great plays but he also called some “Herm” plays! That just gets my BLOOD BOILING!!! He is better than that!

by flyin_squirl on Sep 28, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions

relieved!

hey i’m as big a chiefs fan out here in san diego as u can get. But yesterday’s debacle of a chiefs game was switched to the jets and titans game.. Let’s just say i didn’t complain. I guess god felt sorry for me and answered a prayer.

by dirty kc on Sep 28, 2009 10:23 AM CDT reply actions

HEY, HEY, HEY,.....

any 53 guys of the street can come in here and win 4 games…..Lmao

by Sea of RED on Sep 28, 2009 10:31 AM CDT reply actions

Say it ain't so

With the Lyons winning, I hope we aren’t the next Lyons, We have to win a game. You would think one game we would get breaks and calls and luck out a win, We must of really pissed off the football gods.

by Digital on Sep 28, 2009 11:22 AM CDT reply actions

third and one

What about a little playaction, fake handoff to larry, rollout or post. Broncos do that all the time.

by Digital on Sep 28, 2009 11:26 AM CDT reply actions

Broncos

They have a mobile OL… We don’t! I look at our guys and they look like statues out there. When you keep 6 in to block and they sack your QB with 4 guys in under 3 sec… WOW!!!

by flyin_squirl on Sep 28, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Cassel is mobile

I agree they should let him roll out more often

* "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

by stagdsp on Sep 28, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Blind

I love how he is mobile but naked rollouts get a guy like Cassel killed… He did one this week and pushed getting rocked so he could get 1 yard on 1st and 10… That is asking for a HUGE hit from a LB… Late or not that is a hit that can take a guy out of the game…

by flyin_squirl on Sep 28, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions

Haley has said since he got here, to find a players strengths and us it.

But to me he doesn’t seem to be doing that, Haley seems to want a pure pocket passer and that is not Cassel and our O-line can’t keep a pocket open.
I am not saying I want to see a full spread offense but at least put some plays that cater to your QB’s strength.

Cassel has something to prove 3TD's against Eagles

by bringbacktheglory on Sep 28, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Good Plan!

so, what ARE Cassel’s strengths? it’s obviously not scrambling …

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisiton!

by upamtn on Sep 28, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions

OK, Everyone knows you don't like anything about the Chiefs this year.

If you hurry Herm is on ESPN, since you miss him so much.

Cassel has something to prove 3TD's against Eagles

by bringbacktheglory on Sep 28, 2009 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Have to be able to run to use play action.

I remember Dawson to Taylor, Kenney to Carson, and Blackledge catching the snap in his facemask. Seen it all...

by BinSC on Sep 28, 2009 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions

It was obvious...

Jamaal was having much more success than LJ yesterday. Heck, we shoulda just started each series at 2nd and 10 – we would of been in a better position.

Our front line is miserable…and the penalties – jeeez-o-pete – c’mon…

by KC Chiefs Fan in MN on Sep 28, 2009 11:33 AM CDT reply actions

better yet...

Just save the team, and take the knee, and punt.

by kc571 on Sep 28, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions

I get it now...

We pass on 3rd and very short, and we run on 3rd and very long. It makes perfect sense to me now. Oh, wait…

Is it just me or does this offense still look like a pre-season offense? Very vanilla other than the one receiver screen pass (which actually WORKED by the way). I thought that the idea of NFL offense was to confuse the defense, do things they haven’t seen in film study, move guys around, pass the ball on first down once in a while. We apparently tried to fool people on 3rd downs by running at all the wrong times and passing at all the wrong times, but otherwise we didn’t really try to fool anyone. The hype before this game was all about the Eagles Wildcat – our offense is more fat housecat.

We obviously lack any legitimate offensive weapons right now, but that may be all the more reason to throw in some misdirection and razzle-dazzle more often. Trying to force an identity by running on nearly every down (for 2 yards or less) is certainly going to establish an identity – as losers.

by BugmanPat on Sep 28, 2009 12:45 PM CDT reply actions