Week #12

The Kansas City Chiefs lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 9-13.  The Chiefs drop to 4-7 on the season and the Steelers improve to 8-3.

With the absence of Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassel, it might be easier to pinpoint the areas along the offensive line that might need to be addressed.  Currently, the Chiefs have some issues in pass protection and a need for some added power along the offensive line.  Power blocks don't always have to come from a single block.  Some of that power can be produced by double team blocks that drive defenders out of the hole...something the Chiefs don't do very well, either. 

This week, Jon Asamoah has the most consistent game of all the lineman.  He ends the game with a 82% run assignment grade with a -1 dominance score and a 98% passing assignment grade with a +0 dominance score.

Let's take a look at the rest of those grades...

Run Blocking Grades

	Percent	Grade Bar											Power	Pull	2/Level
	Grade												Blocking	Blocks	Blocks
Albert	65%												0	0	-2
Hudson	73%												-1	+2	+3
Wiegmann	69%												0	0	+1
Asamoah	82%												-1	0	-2
Richardson	78%												-1	0	+1
Maneri	98%												+2	0	0

Run Blocking Notes:

• Steve Maneri does not get very many reps.  So the grade may be deceiving.
• One of the issues that the Chiefs are having is they don't have the speed...or the types of backs that will/can bounce the ball outside.  In the pic, below, you can see Hudson pulling and the line setting the edge.  Charles would have probably bounced that outside but Jones takes the ball into the pile.
  

**Pic from NBC Sunday Night Game

• Branden Albert has an off day run blocking.  In fact, he has been off for some time now.  I have not seen the energy he has had in past years at the second level, defenders are getting off his blocks, he has, from time to time, only blocked for a couple of seconds then let his defender go.  I am not sure the cause of the sluggish play...possibly the absence of Brian Waters to lead the way has affected him.  What ever the cause, we need to see Albert with a new sense of vigor.
  
• One of those missed blocks, for Albert, is at 9:42 in the 4th quarter.  Branden Blocks down for about 2 seconds as the running back tries to catch the left edge.  Then Albert just seems to stand up and the defender scrapes to tackle the back.
• Jared Gaither gets in for a play as Albert leaves the game hurt.  He has a false start...and Albert comes back in to the game.
• If you would like to see how often the Chiefs ran at every line position how how well they did during the Steelers game, then go here.
• If you would like to see how the Chiefs linemen have done over the past games, then look here.

Pass Blocking Grades

	Percent	Grade Bar											Power	Pressures	Sacks	Combo
	Grade												Blocking	Allowed	Allowed	Help
Albert	92%												+1	1	0	6
Hudson	92%												0	1	0	10
Wiegmann	92%												-1	1	0	10
Asamoah	98%												0	0	0	8
Richardson	62%												-6	7	0	4
Maneri	98%												0	0	0	1

Pass Blocking Notes:

• Every offensive lineman has a decent day pass blocking, except Barry Richardson.  Barry is beat 6 times during the game and ends the day with a 62% assignment grade in pass protection.
• At 1:08 in the 3rd quarter, Branden Albert does a great job of blocking two blitzing defenders on the same play to give Palko the time to throw the ball.  He first locks onto #92, blocks him for a second or two, and then moves to #29 to slow him down.  Nice blocking! (pic below)
  

**Pic from NBC Sunday Night Game

• At 4:07 in the 3rd quarter, Barry Richardson gets beat and the Steelers only rush 3 defenders.  (pic below)

**Pic from NBC Sunday Night Game

• As always, the tight ends and backs grades are at Pro Football Spotlight.  Click the button, below.

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