Arguing with Idiots (A retrospective edition)

Well, many of you know what these are all about by now.  But this edition of "Arguing with Idiots" is going to be just a little bit different.  I'll lay out a new scenario for you, and one that I think you'll enjoy.

You've woken up on a BEAUTIFUL Monday morning.  Your Kansas City Chiefs just demolished a San Francisco team that was supposed to be our first real test (you know, without the rain or the fact that the Browns are a bad team coming into the equation).  I mean seriously dominated every phase of the game.  It wasn't even as close as the 31-10 score indicated.  You are, naturally, in a fantastic mood.

You're walking down the street towards your favorite breakfast location, thinking that a few eggs, some bacon, and maybe a couple of slices of french toast are in order for a little "victory breakfast".  Life.  Is.  Good.

And then you see something that makes life get even better.  One of your buddies is walking into the restaurant that you're about to enter, all alone.  And not just any buddy either, but "that guy".

Who is "that guy"?  Well, as you can probably guess from the title of my post, he's our Idiot.  Sure, he's a nice enough guy, and he's a DEVOTED fan of (insert random football team not from KC here).  But he doesn't really know squat about the Chiefs.  That's no problem, in and of itself.  The problem is that he's always thought that he knows everything about every team, including our own.

You argued with him for hours on more than one occasion before the season began, and he hit you with all the classics: Glenn Dorsey's a bust, our new coordinators won't make a difference, Albert's a guard, T-Jax is awful, Weigmann's too old to help our line, Lilja's a terrible player.... And those aren't even the fights you got into with him while you watched our LAUGHABLE (according to him) draft.

Well, now, here's your chance to make him (as upamtn so eloquently put it) eat some crow.  You walk up to him and invite him to sit with you while you eat.  What he doesn't know is that you're going to take this chance to rub some of his more idiotic arguments right in his face.  Arguments like...

Idiot Argument #1:  "That was honest-to-God the most pathetic draft I've ever seen!  Seriously,  Dexter McCluster?  Javier Arenas?  Tony Moeaki?  Wow, Pioli's in over his head"

Now's your chance to remind him of that statement he made while watching the draft with you.  Really make sure you emphasize a few things here. 

First, Dex has basically won one game for us with a punt return and set off the fireworks of momentum in another.  Yeah, pretty sure if we could have that pick back, we'd do the exact same thing.  The argument could be made that without him we'd have at least one loss.

Second, Arenas has been great in the return game, but even more important has played some great nickel CB.  A position we were desperately lacking production at.  A reach?  Maybe.  Ask him what his 2nd rounder is doing.  Because all ours is doing is making big contributions to the #2 defense in the NFL and providing at least one great return a game.  I think we'll take it.

And Moeaki?  Well, I think this ought to shut him up.  What's that, one play doesn't make a player?  Good point!  How about being our team leader in receptions, yards, and receiving TD's?  That work for you?  In an offense where passing has been scarce, he's looked very good.  I think MAYBE he was worth a 3rd rounder.

When you throw in Lewis earning a starting job and playing WAY above expectations, an argument could be made that our most "rookie" rookie has been Eric Berry, who made a few crucial mistakes in our first two games.  And let's be clear; Berry is a monster against the run.  We all thought he'd be a Polamalu/Reed type, but so far he's looked a lot more like a faster Bob Sanders.  And he looked more consistent against the pass against SF.  Watch out, he may have already learned to harness that aggression and not bite on fakes.  Which would make him that much better.

So thank your friend for his input on our draft, and kindly ask him if he'd switch with us if the option was there.  If he says no, the man is either lying to you or an idiot (or maybe a Rams fan, since Bradford looks legit).

Idiot Argument #2:  "Seriously, stop talking about your new coordinators!  How many times do I have to tell you this; players play and coaches coach!  Crennel and Weis aren't going to be able to polish the turd that is Kansas City!"

Remind him of this in a subtle, mature way.  Like grabbing him by the face and screaming, "Our defense is allowing 14 fewer points per game so far!  Admit you're a moron and I'll let go!"

OK, maybe that's not the answer.  But this should be a particularly fun argument to look back on and destroy.  Let's look at the stats.

Our defense is 2nd in the league in points allowed.  We're 6th in the league in sacks.  we're ranked 6th at stopping the run.  These are all areas of vast improvement with largely the exact same "horrible" front 7.  Yeah it's only three games.  But three games in which our defense has been borderline dominant.

Our offense?  Well, there's work to be done, sure.  But an easy argument could be made that we didn't see much of the playbook until Sunday.  And the results... well, 457 total yards of offense, with an INCREDIBLE balance of 207 yards rushing and 250 yards passing.  And this against a 49ers defense that up until Sunday was considered one of the absolute best defenses in the NFL, especially against the run.  Work to be done?  Yes.  But can we see a difference?  Uh, yeah, seeing as how we're the best rushing team in the NFL.

Idiot Argument #3:  "I wish you'd just realize that Casey Weigmann and Ryan Lilja will make ZERO impact on your offensive line!  Weigmann's too old, and Lilja's a pansy!  That's why they both got cut!"

Again, this is a very, very fun argument to throw in someone's face after 3 games.

 First of all, it was a stupid argument to begin with.  Weigmann and Lilja both got cut because their respective teams (who are currently ranked 30th and 25th in rushing, thanks for asking) decided that they'd be better off switching to a power blocking scheme.  That doesn't fit these guys, so they got cut.

Weigmann's been a big upgrade over Rudy (no disrespect Rudy).  He hasn't been an All Pro, but he's been holding his own.  And do you think it's a coincidence that Waters looks more like his old self playing next to Weigmann?  

As far as Lilja goes, he's been very solid.  Good pass blocker, more than adequate run blocker.  A big upgrade over what we had last year.  

Give your buddy a big smile as you tell him that our "terrible, washed up, pansy signings" are starting on an O-line that is leading the way for the #1 rushing attack in the NFL, and has given up TWO sacks this year.  Two.  I'll say that one more time for you in case you weren't listening.  Two sacks.  Which has us tied for 2nd fewest in the league.

But yeah, good talk about FA O-linemen :)

Listen folks, three games are just that; three games.  We don't know how things will turn out from here, and maybe one day I'll look at this post and think, "yikes, a little premature".  I KNOW things may get worse from here on out, and that we have a long ways to go.  Three games are just a start, we need to keep it up if we want to be considered any kind of playoff contender (starting with at least hanging with the Colts)

But I can tell you this; I've been desperate for the season to start so I could remind my football (but not Chiefs) loving buddies of all the things they said before the season about our draft, our coordinators, and some of our FA's (of course, I was afraid that they were right, but that's neither here nor there at this point, right?).  And this season has given me everything I've wanted to argue with those guys.  Because three weeks in, they all look like... well, idiots.

Now find that buddy/idiot and give him a serving of that crow.  Let him put some sauce on it, though.  After all, you're friends, right?

*****disclaimer***** 

Do not make your friend actually eat a crow.  Seriously, birds are filthy, man.  What's wrong with you?