Preseason Week #3

The Kansas City Chiefs took on their cross state rivals last night.  Many fans were disappointed with how the Kansas City offense started the game.  But in the end the coaches and fans took away one very important lesson.

The offensive line is the foundation of an offense.

When you don't have a good day blocking then nothing happens.  No first downs, no touchdowns, only bad things.  So Chiefs fans can take away from this game the fact that the offensive line needs to do better.  Sure, they had some bright spots.  But its the mistakes, the holding penalties, and the pass blocking of the tackles that needs work.

Lets look at those offensive line grades for the first half only...

	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100
Percent Scale

• Please refer to the Chiefs Preseason: Breaking Down The O-Line Tape - Primer at the bottom of this article for any inquiries into the method used to grade the lineman.

 Run Blocking Grades

	Percent	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100		Power	2/Level	Pull
	Grade												Blocking	Blocking	Blocks
Albert	62%												-1	0	0
Hudson	62%												-2	+2	0
Wiegmann	62%												-3	0	0
Asamoah	75%												-1	+2	0
Richardson	85%												0	0	0
Gaither	40%												0	0	+1

Run Blocking Notes:

• The first two passing plays of the game the Chiefs gave up pressure on the quarter back.
• The Chiefs gave the ball to LeRon McClain on a short yardage play to try and pick up a first down.  the play was designed to go left but the problem was that Albert, Hudson, and Wiegmann all were stuffed.  Luckily for the Chiefs Asamoah and Richardson had some great blocks that allowed McClain to cut back and get the first down.
• At 13:35 Albert trips on Hudson who is on the ground after missing a cut block.  Both Hudson and Albert (especially Albert) needs to work on the cut blocks.
• On the play that Jamaal Charles scores...Asamoah gets a great reach/drive block so Wiegmann could scrape and pick up a middle backer.  It will be fun watching that combination this year.  Unfortunately Richardson Hudson, on the backside of the play, gets a holding call.  Coaches really dislike, putting it mildly, when players gets penalties away from the play.
• Gaither has some trouble run blocking.  In particular the reach blocking the Chiefs do when plays are going away from him.

Pass Blocking Grades

	Percent	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100		Power	Pressures	Sacks	Combo
	Grade												Blocking	Allowed	Allowed	Help
Albert	78%												-1	2	0	0
Hudson	89%												-1	1	0	4
Wiegmann	84%												-2	0	0	9
Asamoah	94%												0	0	0	5
Richardson	68%												-7	3	0	2
Gaither	85%												+2	0	0	0

Pass Blocking Notes:

• The first two passing plays of the game the Chiefs gave up pressure on the quarter back.
• Hudson misses blitzing linebacker at 14:14.  Didn't turn to pick him up until he was 3 steps past him.
• Hudson and Albert pick up twist stunt at 11:11 in the second quarter.  Hudson may be raw but he is coming along nicely as a rookie guard (which is what he played in the first half).
• On a third and goal the Chiefs hike the ball and Albert doesn't even move out of his stance.  Needless to say his defender raced by him on his way to pressure the Matt Cassel.  Luckily Matt spun back and away from the rushing defender and avoided the sack.
• Two holding calls for Barry Richardson.
• Gaither pass blocks very well.  In fact, I'll put out an article about it on Pro Football Spotlight later this week.

You might like the article below also! (click it)

Click on "Read More" (above)