FanPost

Is the offensive playcalling a legitimate concern?

There hasn't been much to complain about as a Chiefs fan early in the season. In fact, the matchup vs. the 0-3 New York Giants has widely been billed by the media as the team that is doing everything right against the team that is doing everything wrong. However, there are couple points of worry including Alex Smith, "the game manager who supposedly can't make the big plays or win the big game" and the undulating performance of the offensive line. Another noticeable trend that give some fans pause is Andy Reid's pass-happy tendencies, which was his infamous M.O. in Philadelphia. Here are the pass-run breakdown for the Chiefs first three games; I classified the plays into what the offense intended to do. For example, Smith scrambling from a passing play would be a pass, while a designed QB rush would be a run. I also included plays that were nullified by penalties as long as the play was not whistled dead. Kneel downs at the end of games were also excluded from this data.

VS. Jags

1st Drive- Pass, Run Middle, Pass: Punt

2nd- Pass, Pass, Pass: TD

3rd- Run Middle, Run Right, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass: Punt

4th- Run Middle, Pass: TD

5th- Pass, Run Middle, Run Left, Pass, Pass QB Scramble, Pass: Punt

6th- Run Middle, Pass, Run Middle, Pass, Pass QB Scramble, Run Middle, Run Right, Run Left: TD

7th- Pass, Pass, Pass, Run Middle, Pass, Pass: Punt

Half

8th- Run Middle, Run Middle, Pass, Run Middle, Run Left: Punt

9th- Pass, Pass, Pass, Run Left, Pass: Punt

10th- Pass, Pass, Pass: Punt

11th- Pass, Pass, Run Middle, Pass, Run Middle, Run Middle, Pass Sack: Punt

12th- Run Left, Pass, Pass: Punt

13th- Pass, Run Right, Pass, Pass QB Scramble: Punt

14th- Victory Formation

Passes: 39

Runs: 22

Plays: 61

4th Quarter (Runs/Plays): 3/9

VS. Cowboys

1st Drive- Run Right, Run Left, Pass, Pass, Run Left, Pass, Pass, Run Middle, Run Right, Pass QB Scramble, Run Middle, Pass, Pass: TD

2nd- Run Left, Pass, Pass Penalty Declined: Punt

3rd- Pass, Pass, Run Right, Pass Sack: Punt

4th- Pass Sack, Pass, Pass: Punt

5th- Run Left, Run Right, Pass QB Scramble, Pass, Pass Sack Penalty Declined: Punt

6th- Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass: Missed FG (Drive started w/ 1:47 to go)

Half

7th- Pass, Run Right, Pass, Pass, Pass, Run Right, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass: TD

8th- Run Middle, Pass, Pass: FG

9th- Run Middle, Pass Scramble, Pass Sack: Punt

10th- Pass, Pass, Pass: Punt

11th- Run Middle, Run Left, Run Right, Run Middle, Run Right, Run Middle, Pass, Run Left, Run Middle, Run Middle: Punt

Passes: 41 (8 Passes from drive 1:47 before Halftime)

Runs: 23

Plays: 64

4th Quarter (Runs/Plays): 10/18

VS. Eagles

1st Drive- Pass, Pass QB Scramble, Pass: Punt

2nd- Run Left, Run Right, Pass Sack: FG

3rd- Pass, Run Right, Pass, Pass, Run Left: Punt

4th- Pass Penalty, Pass, Pass, Pass, Run Middle, Pass QB Scramble, Pass QB Scramble: Punt

5th- Pass, Pass QB Scramble, Pass, Pass, Pass QB Scramble: Missed FG

6th- Run Right, Run Right, Pass, Run Left, Run Right, Pass, Pass: FG

7th- Pass Penalty, Pass, Pass Sack, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass QB Scramble, Pass: FG

8th- Pass, Pass, Pass QB Scramble, Pass (Drive started with 0:56 to go)

Half

9th- Run Left, Pass, Pass, Run Left, Run Left: Punt

10th- Pass Sack, Pass Sack, Pass: Punt

11th- Pass, Pass, Pass Penalty, Run Penalty, Pass, Run Right, Pass, Run Right, Run Left, Run Right: TD

12th- Pass, Pass Sack, Pass, Pass, Run Left, Run Left, Pass, Run Left, Run Left, Pass, Run Left, Run Left, Run Right, Pass: FG

13th- Run Left, Run Left, Run Left, Run Right, Run Right: Punt

14th- Victory Formation

Passes: 50 (4 Passes from drive 0:56 before Halftime)

Runs: 30

Plays: 80

4th Quarter (Runs/Plays): 15/23

Total Passes: 130 (12 Passes from drives before Halftime)

Total Runs: 75

Total Plays: 205

4th Quarter (Total Runs/Total Plays): 28/50

We can see that even with those 12 necessary passes before halftime, there still is a leaning tendency to pass. The majority of Chiefs runs comes from the 4th Quarter when JC is called upon to ice the game. It isn't a coincidence that the offensive line has looked their best in the 4th Quarter when they can get up field and attack the defense. And when the Chiefs do run, there hasn't been a lot of stretch plays called for Charles, which was pretty effective vs the Eagles late in the game. Because the sample is so small and situational, it would be too early to criticize the pass to run ratio, but it could be something to keep an eye on for the rest of the season. Giving Charles a steady dose of carries and moving the defense side to side is never a bad plan, and could make Alex Smith's and the offensive line's job a tad bit easier.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.