Chiefs vs Texans - Breaking Down The O-Line Tape

By Bewsaf Oct 18, 2010, 10:00am CDT

Week #6

Losing in the last minute of a game is hard to take no matter who you are playing. But teams in the NFL learned one thing this past Sunday...you can't put the Chiefs down as a gimme loss any longer.

Jake O'Connell got into the game this week against the Texans and represented the third tight end in many formations. Yes, there where three tight ends in the game at the same time...and a fullback from time to time.

Let's take a look at those O-Line grades.

	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	00
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.
Click on Bewsaf Past Posts at the bottom of this post for any past o-line articles you might have missed.

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Kansas City Chiefs vs Texans - Line Play

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Performance Perspective

60% or below		70%		80%		90% or above
60% is an indication the lineman was some defenders boy toy.		70% is a rough day in both the run or passing game. The lineman probably got notice a lot and won't hold a job scoring 70% every week.		80% is a solid day for run blocking but only an average day for pass blocking. Players strive to be above 80% every game.		Player had great game run or pass blocking if they score a 90%. All pro players are consistently in the 90%.

RUN BLOCKING

PASS BLOCKING

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Percent Scale											Percent Scale
Albert											Albert
Waters											Waters
Wiegmann											Wiegmann
Lilja											Lilja
Richardson											Richardson
Pope											Pope
Moeaki											Moeaki
O'Connell

Run & Pass Blocking Notes:

Because of technical difficulties and a Monday morning deadline I was unable to grade the first Chief's drive of the second half.
Every lineman graded out in the 80% range in the run blocking department. A solid day by the whole unit.
O'Connell saw some action at tight end and did a good job when he was in.
Richardson graded out better in the run game but continues to look awkward at times when making his blocks.
From time to time Waters demonstrates a lack of quickness off the ball to make those difficult reach blocks. However, he makes up for that with some tricks he has picked up over the years (It is basically called getting the job done).
1st and goal in the 3rd quarter with 3:50 to go Matt Cassel throws a quick pass to his left and Mario Williams bats the ball down. At first blush the play looks like the line missed an assignment. But after closer review...3 to 4 lineman were down field run blocking and Thomas Jones, after not taking a handoff, just kinda stopped in mid run. I think somebody forgot the play or didn't hear the audible.
Albert continued his streaky play against the pass rush getting beat 2 out of 3 plays in a row in the middle of the game and two in a row near the end of the game. He scored 79% in the plays I graded him (not the first drive in the second half).
After a great game pass blocking against the Colts, Lilja has an off day.
Moeaki's blocking grades where down this week due to him being asked to block a little more in the traditional tight end position.

SECOND LEVEL BLOCKING

POINT OF ATTACK BLOCK

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Percent Scale											Percent Scale
Albert											Albert
Waters											Waters
Wiegmann											Wiegmann
Lilja											Lilja
Richardson											Richardson
Pope											Pope
Moeaki											Moeoki

Graphic bars from draftboardinsiders.com

Second Level Blocking Notes:

When Waters got to a defender on the second level during the Texans game he usually made his block.
At the end of the game Richardson gets driven but picks up on a looping linebacker.
The last play both Albert and Richardson go beat on the pass rush.
In the long pass to Bowe (the one that was close to being a trap) Waters picks up a nice stunt by the linebacker that ends up letting Cassel make that play.
2nd and 3 in the 4th quarter with 7:33 left in the game the Chiefs are on the Texan's 33 yard line. The Texans come with an all out blitz up the gut while the Chiefs try a run and Wiegmann, Waters, Lilja have defenders on each arm holding them up as Thomas Jones scampers wide left for the first down. Nice blocking!

OTHER SEASON STATS