Some people will say "defense wins the game" others will point to a powerhouse offense ( "the best defense is a good offense" ), meaning, if you just go and score dang near every time your on the field, it's hard for the other team to catch up               ( provided your defense  can stop the other side at least once.).

As most reasonable fans and players know though, it takes everyone on the team and all units to be playing at their best to win a football game.

In order to win, your defense absolutely MUST prevent the other teams offense from scoring.  How does the defense do that?  By creating turnovers.  Interceptions, Knocking the ball out or away from the intended receiver/carrier. Control the line of scrimmage and pressure the QB.

As several other posts here have shown recently, the Kansas City defensive unit, is not doing these things very well at all.

Of course, it is then incumbent on your teams offense to out there and pound that little ball into the goal every chance it gets.  Not at selected times or whenever it wants to.  They must work to score EVERY time they take the field.  How many touchdowns does it realistically take to win an NFL football game?  Many people will reasonably expect any good team to put up at least two touchdowns.  So, your offense needs to be able to put up three.  Minimum. 

Kansas City offense has been in that position several times over the last few weeks.  They have put up three touchdowns in a game and still lost. 

Another rule of thumb is to not permit turnovers.  It's the Offenses job to keep that ball, not give it up to the other team over rookie mistakes like not catching, carrying or throwing correctly.  Here is another area Kansas City is doing a good job.  They are not turning the ball over, little, if at all.  They are still losing the games.

Any coach who takes shame in piling up points over any other team, huge underdog or or not, has no business on the field.  Your offense has one job as a unit.  SCORE.  That's it.

There is a tendency to give a bit to much emphasis on a teams quarterbacks.  The quarterback runs the offense, not the whole team.

He doesn't run the defense and he doesn't tell special teams what to do.  They have their own leadership establishment and they know their jobs.

What about special teams?  How do they help win the game?  By providing short fields for their offense and taking every opportunity to run that ball as far as they can get it toward the goal.  That pretty much says it all for special teams, offensively anyway.  Conversely, on the  kicking side of th ball, your special teams needs to make sure the ball stays as far back as possible.  Trying to put your opponents in the worst possible position to start a drive from.

The Kansas City special teams have been about fifty fifty on terms of performance and I might be a bit optimistic there.

In the NFL, the Head Coach isn't the dictator or or hand holder that a college or high school coach is.  That's not his job.  His players are pros who are getting paid well to know their jobs and perform.

The best NFL coaches are more like coordinators or facilitators.  They see a whole big picture, they even mostly paint the picture.  They then lay that picture out and give the team what it needs, the people it needs, the asst coaches it needs, etc... to make this picture happen.

You have some coaches who like to be more involved at the ground level though.  They want to be in on the action at the performing level.  Where the coordinators and unit coaches are.  They want to have direct input with the players.  They want to take the player by the hand and point them to what the HC thinks that player should be doing.

More often than not, it is the sign of a coach who hasn't moved past his own need to be in the middle of the action.

If the head coach has a plan laid out and has the people with the abilities to make that plan come together, he should have a successful season.  If not, he needs to watch carefully  what the [people around him are doing, provide direction and make changes when necessary.  If he doesn't or can't do that effectively, he has the wrong job.

In order to win, Kansas City needs to have it's offense be able to score more than it's opponents should average, which they can and have done., tey need to keep possession of the ball and control the line of scrimmage as well as the clock to maximize their opportunities.  Kansas City does need to work on this part of the game.

The defense should be able to contain the opposing offense and put pressure on the key players, be where the ball is at all times.  They have not adequately or consistently done this.

Special teams needs to consistently place their teams possessions in the best possible position at every chance it touches the ball.  Kansas City special teams are not the worst at this, but do need to improve quite a bit.

Overall, Kansas City "can" win games if they improve the overall play of the defensive and the special teams and pick up the low spots on the offense.

If the Head Coach and his staff cannot provide the tools, atmosphere and people to do this, they need to look at changes there as well.  Right now, the Kansas City Head Coach isn't coming across as entirely successful in that light. There is hope though.  There are some good people in place and there are moments where hard work and direction are showing themselves more every week.  Is it enough though?

I am a fan of this team like no other team.  I watch or find myself at least near a radio or something to "attend" the games as best  I can.   I wear my KC gear like a flag and proud of it.

KC is more than just a team to me, they are part of who  I am.  If all I saw was the glass half full side I will someday be sorely disappointed to find it entirely empty from a lack to see something I might not like.   I will praise their achievements, I will will defend their character to the end and I will never miss the opportunity to help prevent them from becoming complacent and accept "good enough".

As a "fan" my role in helping them win is to let them know at every opportunity that I believe in them as a team and their ability to beat the living crap out of any other team they come up against, if they bring their best game.   I might get frustrated sometimes with what  I see as bad play or choices, but that's just because I know they are capable of so much better.

GO CHIEFS!!

I think Thigpen deserves a game by game evaluation of the starting spot for the rest of the season.

In that I mean that depending on his play for the current game, combined with his past play should determine his ability to start the next game.

As of right now,  I say he earned the start to the next game.  Not the rest of the season, just the next game.

He is not afraid to be mobile and can move pretty well.  With this O-Line, you have to have a QB that can be quick on his feet.

He does have the ability to make good passes. he does have the ability to think on his feet ( literally) being chased out of the pocket and still managing to not only find his receiver, but get the ball to him as well.

What he needs most right now is confidence and time on the field.  He is inexperienced and because of that will flub a bit here and there.  The big thing to watch is will he learn from his mistakes.

Also, I think he's fun to watch.  He scrambles and makes an effort to get it done.  I personally started calling him scooter after watching him get around on that field.

He he hit what? Like 7 different receivers out there, so he's not just falling back on his "safe" guys, he's actually trying to find connections.

He ran the ball himself and had at least one other RB out there to carry the ball as well.

Yes, with a better O-Line, he likely could have performed even better, but  I think in a way, it's better for him to start behind a less than great line like this because it will teach him to not get over confident in his line.  He won't take it for granted when it finally does improve.  This will help him to stay on his toes and keep his eyes open.

Yes, Tyler Thigpen was the QB of the week at KC this week.   I have no doubt he should get the start next week.  then we'll see how it goes from there.

Well, I saw highlights of the bears game.

 I read coverage from a variety of sources about the bears game.

I have tried to catch up on all the news overall about the team, and the OL.

My take?

Sorry, they don't cut it.

They will be average at best.  Iwill watch this game to see what behind the line changes they make to speed up play and carry out plays without dragging tteir feet, but the offense cannot enjoy the long counts they got under Trent Green , Willie Roaf, etc...back then.  You remember those guys.

Now, they weren't just a group of exceptional players, they were an exceptional unit.

What we have now is one or two exceptional players and a bunch of guys that need to get their act together.

If they can get themselves together as a unit, and think as a unit, they may be pretty dang good.

I don't see it happening this season.  But,  I have hope.

I do not, have not, will not be a Herm fan.  I thought it was a bad decision to bring him aboard and I think it's a bad decision to keep him.

We make do with what we're given though.

I'll be happy to see 8-8 this year and not blow out a QB.  This kid is gonna get killed though I'm afraid.  I just hope he's tough enough to keep taking the hits.

Big Bear

ps...  Yes, I will try to post with more specifics per player and the unit as  I go along,

heya folks.

I've been absent a bit.  Things have been very busy and I don't get to do everything I always want to do.  I am here now though and ready to get all the info on the Chiefs and their new season.

Looks like the new site is very nicely, good job Chris and everyone.

I plan to brush up on this seasons O line and drop my two cents when  I can, where  I can.

I'll be back.

Big Bear

I have collected NFL cards since i was a kid.  It was always a way, even in the offseason, to stay involved with football ( not counting playing some streetball or practices).

I hope it isn't too big an issue, but this site kind of inspired me to set up a card traders forum.  It is ONLY for trading, no sales allowed.  It is intended to be fun and promote good sports and having some fun.

The link to it is:
http://cardtraders.forumsland.com

If anyone here is interested helping to get this card traders forum 'kicked off', I would be more than glad to welcome you.

This is one of the very few sites I have been part of that people just have fun still.  That is very cool and my compliment to the whole bunch of you.

Big Bear

I am dead certain that with someone like Trent Green as The KC QB coach, Brody Croyle would shape up into on e dynamite QB.

Croyle has the athleticism and ability.  Combine that with Trent Green's savvy and prowess and you have a HOF QB growing in your own backyard.

People can talk all the trash they want about Trent Green, I think he got the shaft in losing his spot at KC and for lack of a better defense at the time, could very well have gone to a superbowl at KC.

No doubt in my mind.

In many ways, the team management let Trent down.

A great way to give him his proper dues would be to bring him back as QB Coach. ( and fix the defense).

Big Bear

I just read his article on Croyle and whether he is a success or not.

His biggest criticisms are on Croyle's decision making abilities and behavior on the field.

Last time I checked,  Croyle makes no play decisions on the filed.  He does what he is told.  They ( the OC and Herm ) decide what he will do, not Croyle.  Which, if the play is a success, well then he looks ok and the coaches are gods for the playcalling, but it leaves Croyle without playcalling and decision making experience.

If the play fails, well, Herm says it's the players fault for not playing up to snuff.  Never mind that it was the wrong play to send in for the situation and Croyle takes the fall for something that shouldn't have happened.  NOw, if Croyle fumbles or falters then of course, it is his fault.  or if the receivers drop it, don't run routes correctly, etc, etc... it is part their fault for not doing what they are paid to do and performing as expected.  again, provided the play was the correct play to send in in the first place and Croyle still gains no experience on decision making on the field.

If you want to find out how well a QB thinks on his feet in a game, you have to let him off the leash.

Herm has made it obvious, he isn't ready to do that, so any assessments of Croyles abilities are incomplete until he starts doing so.

The kid has demonstrated a calm demeanor,, seems to be pretty unshakable from the video footage I've seen.  What he needs is experience.

It is way to soon to be talking stud or dud on Croyle  it is only fair to give him at least one full season if not two to see how he builds himself up.

Plus, it never hurts to give him some help on the field.

Big Bear

One thing I mention more than once in posts around here is playing for the love of the game.

It's true, you have to love the game to keep playing or you will burn and crash hard.

However.  Let's not kid ourselves,  Playing in the NFL means more than that.  it means money.

Now, for the "visible" positions, RB's Receivers and QB's,  There is LOADS of money to be had.  Not to mention the publicity and advertising money to be chased down as well.  If a "visible" player is successful in the NFL, his earning potential skyrockets without "outside" opportunities often exceeding their NFL contracts, which are nothing to sneeze at on their own.

On the other side of the lights though are the "invisible" players.  The "Big Boys", being linemen and "grunt" back positions.

These boys Love the game.  Often it's one of the fewest opportunities they will ever have come their way to make that kind of money, which very often might equal half of the "visible positions at best.

They generally NEVER see the publicity and advertising opportunities come their way, once in a while you get a standout shot, a William Perry, a "Mean Joe" Green, etc. but those are the exceptions, not the rule.

But still, an NFL base contract for linemen is pretty good.  Better than most opportunities a "big Boy" will ever get.

Truck Driver,  Dock loader, farmer/rancher, etc.

I know this because I and a lot of Retired or short term 'invisibles" I know have ended up doing those exact jobs after the NFL was through with them.

A friend of mine was a starting offensive Lineman for the Chiefs in the late 70's, Larry Brown.  That dude was good back then.

got hurt, retired ( nice way to put it ) and what does he do now?

He's a truck driver.  ( just like me)

I don't ever give the "visibles" a hard time for wanting to get what money they can out of the NFL,  the owners make more from their teams than they could ever spend.  and it's the players backs theyr are making that money on.  

but the "visibles" are only really at their best, when some "invisibles" are excelling at their jobs.  where are the bonuses for making the opportunities happen for them?  you got to have a damn good agent to see that happen and even then, count yourself very lucky to even be heard on the subject.

Even the "bad" O line guys we have in KC, I love em.  they play their hearts out, even if they aren't the best and I don't blame them for taking every minute a coach gives them on the field.

Yes, football is just a game.  It's a game that pays the guys who play it very well if they make it to the Pro's.  But that doesn't make the game any easier to play.  

Big Bear

the interaction of ethnics, minorities, pick your term in the NFL, has a real history.

It took until 1987, in the 20th century of educated, "enlightened" and "equal" people in the world, for a black person to be a starting quarterback in the Superbowl ( Doug Williams).

The topic  is an uncomfortable one for everyone involved because regardless of the "truth" of the situation,  it really is one of those topics that as humans, we should have grown beyond by now, yet many haven't.  Thus forcing the issue to the forefront occasionally.

I am what this society calls a "minority" ( I'm xicano and native american) but that's just a cultural identification.  People identify themselves by various terms, depending on the topic.  
If we discuss nationalsim, there is the "American" "French" Mexican" etc ID.   In the Gender wars, there is Man, boy, Woman, girl, etc ID's.

all of these kinds of identifications are not a definition of who we are, but what we think are.
How we describe ourselves.

To look at a player, and the discussion of a players performance and just assume that any critical comments might be related to "racism" or something other unpleasant automatically assumes that any positive comments in that discussion must be similarly prejudiced.

If we are accusing of criticizing someone of being a poor sport and that is because of racism, then when we praise their talents or performance, is that also then because we are recognizing their "ethnic" ability to perform in a particular way?

I think it is time for all humans to get off the race card bus and start to acknowledge that race id is still around because there are some characteristics in people of certain races or ethnicities that are often obvious in their performances.

That is most often a reflection of human adaptation amongst a group of people living in a geographic region which requires the inhabitants to adapt or "evolve" if you will, to develop tendencies that will best afford them to live in said geographic region.

With the world having seen humans leave their geographic "homes" of so long as technology has created more ways of swiftly moving masses of people around more conventionally, many people are introduced to people from other geographic areas they may never have seen or known of before and they are sometimes awed by the characteristics that have come to be in folks who have come from an area that required certain abilities in order to successfully survive.

Now, this is a long, drawn out text trying to say,

let's get over ourselves and instead of complaining about what someone may look like or a physical capability due to geography, let's appreciate the talents and fine collection of talent from around the globe that has has been brought together to create the greatest NFL football team in the world.

The KC Chiefs.

Big Bear

There is a rumor floating around here in Nebraska that Bill Callahan, recently fired Nebraska head coach, is on a straight path to the Chiefs as Herm's new OC.

I have no idea if this is even close to true.  It may not even make a decent rumor.  However, to stop and think about it for a moment, Would Callahan, or someone like him be a good OC for the Chiefs?

I don't think Bill is head coach material.  But he, like Solari, is a "specialist"  perhaps a bit more so than Solari.  He would be ok I think in that position.

Just thought I'd share some of the breeze flying around these parts.

Big Bear