FanPost

How Chiefs can Instantly Become Great (Part 2) and venting...t

For the Offense: Play vertical football.

Take a good look at the best player on our team, Jamal Charles. Take a look at our overnight star, Travis Kelce. Take a look at our amazing kick returner, Knile Davis, and punt returner, DAT. What do these players all have in common? They are all vertical players; they have a relentless focus on moving up the field. Sure it is the goal of every player to get yards and move up the field but these guys are serious about this concept. Maclin is to but when does he really get the chance?

To make a long story short it has become glaringly obvious that Andy Reid and Alex Smith do not share this view. This is the biggest hindrance to our offense. I understand that we have a great defense, we have probably the best punter in the NFL, and I understand controlling the clock to keep the other teams' offense from getting on the field (especially in the last two games). Let's be real; points win games. What I don't understand is all the horizontal (left/right) play calls. I hear soo much hype about how fast Wilson is, I know Maclin can stretch the field, and I can clearly see that Kelce is plenty capable of stretching the field and accumulating spectacular YAC, yet play after play it's screen pass, dump off to the running back, Smith scrambling for petty yards risking his health and turnovers. It's all horizontal football. This formula works against a lot of teams to run the clock out, but not the teams that are elite. The chains have to move and points must be scored.

We need vertical football. Up the field plays. That's when we are best (we are loaded with play-makers). Get them the ball downfield in open space. That's when teams have to sit back and say we can't keep blitzing, we need to cover. Then Charles can make them suffer and play-action pass can work again. I simply can not fathom how Reid doesn't see that every team knows exactly what is coming. It's a check down or a screen. The same formula over and over and over again. Is not the definition of insanity doing the same thing and expecting a different result? I have reached the point to where I look at the offense as an opportunity to get a snack or make a phone call (and it's always short because there will only be three plays and two holding calls). Our receivers may not be the best, but for goodness sake at least make it look like we try to get them the ball. This lack of throwing receivers the ball is so profound that the receivers are confused when they see the ball coming toward them.

For the defense: You're good, but not as good as you think you are. Where is the passion?

I truly believe that we have the potential to be the best D in the NFL. I also see that there are some BIG problems with this D. The problems include the following:
1) Out of shape and flexibility. Most injuries are the result of tight overworked muscles causing extra strain on tendons and ligaments. It is unbelievable how many times we lose our best players to injury. I think that this team needs more time spent on stretching which prevents many injuries. Ask Tony Gonzalez. He knows about being flexible and how you can increase your range of motion. Jamal Charles also. Stiffness and injury go hand in hand, so please start stretching Chiefs (and that includes the field).
2) Over-confident or lack of passion. With the uncanny amount of talent on this defense I can understand how they believe that if they are up by a touchdown or two that the game is over and they automatically win. When healthy and all together (which unfortunately is never) they can make teams look like they should not have even suited up to play. The problem is that once K.C. goes on top the defense goes into cocky "we got this" mode. The pass rush stops, the corners are playing man-up coverage but lining up 10-15 yards off the receiver. Essentially, they give up because they think they won already. Look at the playoff game with the Colts, look at the 1st game against Houston when they (Houston Texans) almost came back; look at the game against the Broncos at our house. In all these games the defense went soft after getting a lead only to find out that they couldn't defend hurry up offenses.
3) Lack of adjustment. I am a big, big fan of Sutton and his defensive philosophy with the exception of these things. Why are you playing man coverage when you are winning the game? Why are you playing man coverage with your cb's 10-15 yards away from the receivers and wondering why they keep getting first downs and stopping the clock? Why is Cooper still on the team? Why does your prevent defense allow?... Just wondering. 4) If it is clear to see that you have a mismatch (i.e. Branch, and Cooper coverage) why don't you adjust and give them over the top help?

Special note:

I think that this D is absolutely amazing and I love what they do. I see so much potential in this group; I think they can shut down any offense when they play with passion. When they don't play with passion they are just an average D at best. Listen to these names: Johnson, Houston, Berry, Poe, Hali, Smith, Peters, Devito, Howard, Abdullah, Parker. How can this group not succeed? They are all good players. If the offense could stay on the field for more than three plays imagine the possibilities.

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.