Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 2/23

by NJ Chiefs Fan on Feb 23, 2011 7:21 AM CST

Good morning Chiefs fans. Not a lot of Kansas City Chiefs news this morning, but we've also included a little more on the CBA and upcoming combine. Enjoy.

As we flip the numbers over and look at down side of the Chiefs statistics for the 2010 season two things clearly jump out - the Chiefs need to improve their short-yardage offense and the red-zone defense.

When it comes to those sub-offense and defense, they lagged behind in what their production was overall. They led the NFL in rushing, but were terrible on 3rd-and-1. In the red zone, they finished No. 31 overall, giving up a score 97.3 percent of the time when the opponent got inside the 20-yard line.

Here are the areas where their statistics hit rock bottom in the league.

Numbers that Crunch... Wednesday Cup O' Chiefs from Bob Gretz

As former Miami Dolphin Travis Daniels spoke in South Broward High's auditorium where his path to a NFL football career began, it jogged his memory...

...Daniels, 28, was at his high school alma mater Tuesday morning to see his No. 21 jersey retired. The current Kansas City Chiefs defensive back used the forum to discuss the importance of education, giving your best efforts, not succumbing to peer pressure, staying humble and being respectful to others.

Daniels' Jersey No. 21 Retired at South Broward High from The South Florida Sun Sentinel

Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium won't host Super Bowl XLVI for another 11 months, but the Super Bowl of Scouting begins Thursday in downtown Indy. A total of 330 draft-eligible prospects will run, lift, jump and interview for personnel representatives from all 32 NFL teams February 24^th - March 1^st.

Of those 330, around 250 are expected to be drafted.

The week's results will directly affect April's draft board, which in turn will affect who returns to Indianapolis on February 5, 2012.

Once KCChiefs.com lands in Indy, we'll keep you updated on all of the Combine happenings. Until then, let's take a look at who might become a Chief this April.

Path to Primetime: Lindbackers

Path to Primtime: Defensive Li ne from The Mothership

Yet, at the same time, the NFL is overlooking such behavior by welcoming players whose eligibility was stripped, like Quinn, Austin and Little, for workouts in Indianapolis. The league did the same previously for top prospects like Dez Bryant and Andre Smith after they washed out of the college ranks.

This must stop.

Players who knowingly stray from the straight and narrow shouldn't be given the same professional courtesy as those who follow the rules (or at least weren't caught doing otherwise - let's not be naive here). The same argument can be made against those prospects who committed off-field transgressions that would result in discipline under the NFL's personal-conduct policy.

NFL Combine Could Help Clean Up College Football from FOX Sports

The next phase of scouting for the 2011 NFL Draft begins in earnest this week as franchises send scouting departments, coaching staffs and medical personnel to Indianapolis to inspect the 325 prospects on hand for the combine.

It will be a full week of medical exams, psychological testing and workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium by players hoping to impress future employers. Before the event starts with players arriving Thursday, here are a half-dozen intriguing storylines to keep an eye on.

NFL Scouting Combine Storylines from Sports Illustrated

The best news out of the talks between the NFL Players Association, the league and a Washington mediator is that there hasn't been a leak of any kind.

Ask any labor negotiator, and he/she will tell you one of the most important things in negotiating a deal between contentious parties is the ability to talk frankly, without fear of words being twisted and taken out of context...

...The longer the two sides are together with the mediator, the better the chances are for a rational solution to a deep and complicated problem. But I'm not changing my opinion yet. I still think it's highly unlikely a deal will be struck by early March, in time to avoid a lockout by the owners.

Monday Morning QB - Tuesday from Sports Illustrated

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Comments

Fox Sports article

I have to agree with this article. The NFL needs to address the problems with the agents giving advances and other inducements to college players. I’m sure we only hear about, at most, 10% of those that happen but something needs to be done now. It won’t stop it by not inviting the players caught but it might help to slow it down. And then give the agent involved a 2 year, or more, ban instead of a slap on the wrist.

by cowboyChief on Feb 23, 2011 8:00 AM CST reply actions

Yep. I'm sure the agents know how much they'll get fined and do a quick risk based analysis to realize that it's still worth (by a lot) it to break the rules.

God typed "iddqd" before creating Jason Heyward.

by EyePod on Feb 23, 2011 8:13 AM CST up reply actions

I'd ban the agent for life.

It’s a deliberate ethical violation, under the current rules. But the rules are SCREWED UP in the first place. It’s only natural that a smart businessman would make an investment in a talented young player coming up. I think we need to quit kidding ourselves about what the NCAA is all about. With the money the major sports bring in, the players ought to be the 1st people paid, and if they don’t make the majors, the university ought to provide them a 4-year free ride.

I’d pay college players a salary, rather than this stupid scholarship thing. Pay ‘em like the 2nd-tier professionals they are. And I’d just pitch the rules about agents. The schools could still profit, and they could REALLY put some meaning into the free education they supposedly provide athletes. 4 years of extended high school, where learning is the LAST thing on the young players’ minds, while they practice and train 20+ hours a week, right when maybe you could do ‘em some good with their educations. Most of these guys are NOT great scholars, and especially the ones with great PHYSICAL talent, but poor academics, could take remedial classes part-time, while they played out a 3- or 4-year eligibility, and went to school full-time if they don’t make the pros.

"What's wrong with my wife, Doc?"
"We're not sure. We've narrowed it down to either Alzheimers or AIDS."
"What's THAT supposed to mean?"
"Well, if she finds her way home, don't uhhhh.... YOU know."

by hmills110 on Feb 23, 2011 6:01 PM CST up reply actions

Us young men's brains OFTEN lag behind our bodies at that age.

After facing the reality that the NFL will NOT be hiring him, let him sign up for classes for free, when his mind is more prepared for the challenges, and he really has time to devote to his studies.

"What's wrong with my wife, Doc?"
"We're not sure. We've narrowed it down to either Alzheimers or AIDS."
"What's THAT supposed to mean?"
"Well, if she finds her way home, don't uhhhh.... YOU know."

by hmills110 on Feb 23, 2011 6:03 PM CST up reply actions

Gretz

I really liked his breakdown of the numbers that hurt the Chiefs this season. This speaks to toughness and the inability to get things done when we needed to. This was very evident in the ~~losses~~ blowouts that we saw in the second half of the season. Not enough toughness or execution in the trenches when it came to brass tacks…on BOTH sides of the ball.

by SCKSChief on Feb 23, 2011 8:39 AM CST reply actions

The question is how to fix it. And it may be secondary-related, and that young secondary will likely be much better.

There was better coverage and more of it, with the young guys in a pretty simple, team-oriented scheme, that didn’t really count on anybody, except maybe Flowers and Carr, to accomplish anything 1-on-1.

I’m not sure that it’s just toughness in the trenches. If anything, it seemed to me that the inside-the-20 runs were often against the KC nickel, by teams that went the extra wide, to get the D to go light and back the hell off.

I haven’t read Gretz’s article. Maybe it included the o- and d- subpackages involved. I can see where our take might be very skewed if we don’t.

"What's wrong with my wife, Doc?"
"We're not sure. We've narrowed it down to either Alzheimers or AIDS."
"What's THAT supposed to mean?"
"Well, if she finds her way home, don't uhhhh.... YOU know."

by hmills110 on Feb 23, 2011 6:11 PM CST up reply actions

To me

the most disconcerting aspect was our, for lack of a better term, piss poor offensive execution on 3rd and 1…from ANY point on the field. 3rd and 1 is toughness and execution. That’s where we saw our o-line man-handled by the opposition. I don’t care what anyone says (excuses be damned!) in those situations you have to get things done. Offenses are told all the time, “You can tell the defense where we are running. All we need is one yard. We know the snap count and we know the exact play. They can’t stop us.” This is the mantra, period. We don’t have that yet, and it is solely a personnel issue. I think we have the Xs and Os; just not the Jimmies and Joes.

He also spoke to our inability defensively to make stops on 3rd down…in the red zone. I’m more concerned about the lack of stops BEFORE the red zone.

by SCKSChief on Feb 24, 2011 7:13 AM CST up reply actions

Red Zone defense

Those stats are worrisome. Romeo improved our defense overall this year, so I expect he’s working on something to improve those stats for next year (like begging for an NT and a couple of linebackers).

Also, the Browns used the franchise tag on a kicker… Really?

by Chiefs4Life on Feb 23, 2011 8:49 AM CST reply actions

Just stated above

As worrisome as the numbers are in the red zone, I’m more concerned about the inability to get off the field between the 30s.

by SCKSChief on Feb 24, 2011 7:14 AM CST up reply actions

Does anyone feel like this .....this morning?

Providing COLOR commentary for Arrowhead Pride!

by LadyChief on Feb 23, 2011 8:54 AM CST reply actions

Enough to indicate Pioli Draft and FA Strategy.

They led the NFL in rushing, but were terrible on 3rd-and-1. In the red zone, they finished No. 31 overall, giving up a score 97.3 percent of the time when the opponent got inside the 20-yard line.

Need NT: Beef to anchor Defense in short yard situations and to cave pocket.
Need SOLB: Beefy LB to add variety /alternative pass rush and quickness to LB Corps.
Need C: Beefier C to replace Casey and beef up Interior line.
Need WR: Beefy WR to compliment Bowe and create separation in red zone. body/hands.
Need RB: Beefier , younger version of TJ to compliment JC in Red Zone and short yard situations.
Need OT: Beef to add depth or replace B. Rich and allow Richardson to be swingman.
Need FS/SS: We saw what happens when backup Safeties don’t perform.

"You talkin' to me? You TALKIN' to me ?" - Travis Bickle

by CatChief on Feb 23, 2011 11:14 AM CST reply actions