High Marks For KC Chiefs OC Brian Daboll

It's been a while since the KC Chiefs have had a first quarter like that, preseason or not. As the KC Star's Kent Babb writes this morning, new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll "earned some trust" in his initial outing in red.

Let's review that first quarter...

The Chiefs had two consecutive scoring drives, going up 14-0; 2-for-2 in the red zone (the red zone!); Matt Cassel completed 5-of-6 passes for 67 yards; Dexter McCluster has three catches for 45 yards; Peyton Hillis was averaging 10 yards per carry; KC had 10 first downs -- four rushing, five through the air and one via penalty; 145 total yards -- 71 on the ground and 74 through the air.

More?

The yards came in chunks. McCluster had a 29-yard reception and Hillis rumbled 28 yards. Charles and Hillis combined for three catches. The average drive started on the 33 yard line.

I could go on for a while but the point is, as you know, the Chiefs new OC had a nice game, and the players noticed.

"We started fast that's what we're looking for," Tony Moeaki said after the game.

How many blog posts last year did I include a quote from a player about starting fast? The Chiefs were desperately trying to do that last year but often didn't find success.

"[Daboll] knows what he's doing," Hillis said, the second time he'd complimented Daboll in a two-minute stretch. "He knows how to create mismatches."

Hillis is probably more familiar with Daboll than anyone. After his night at Arrowhead, I can see how he had that career year of 1,100-plus yards under Daboll two years ago.

"Coach Daboll did a great job of calling the right plays and the young guys did a great job of executing the plays," Charles said standing at his locker after the game. "Keeping the young guys in the game, keeping them excited and telling them to protect the house and they did that."

You must protect this house!

"Coach Daboll does a great job of impressing upon the guys about technique, fundamentals but also just doing your job," Cassel said as a throng of reporters stood at his locker. "He talks about it all the time. It's about being a professional. The way he does that, everyone buys in. Coming out here tonight, and the way he called the game, I thought it was great."

I could get used to this offense.