Three-Phase Thursday: Chiefs Coordinators from The Mothership
An overcast sky, that later included rain, kept the Kansas City Chiefs indoors for their Thursday practice at the University of Kansas Hospital Training Complex. The team is just days away from another AFC West showdown, Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.
Following the morning walkthrough, the Chiefs coordinators addressed reporters, during their weekly Thursday media session.
Chiefs Swear By Defensive Coordinator Bob Sutton -- And His Famous Sun Tzu Quotes from FS Kansas City
All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.
"He doesn't talk a lot," cornerback Brandon Flowers says. "So when he talks, we all listen."
More than that, they trust. Going into Sunday's tussle with San Diego, the Chiefs rank second in the NFL in sacks (36) and points allowed (13.8). Flowers describes a playbook that's three inches deep in blitz looks, overload packages and funky formations such as the 1-4-6, the 1-3-7, the 2-3-6 and the 2-4-5. It's a treatise of organized chaos, one that, even in lean times -- The Andy Gang hasn't recorded a sack in either of the last two games -- the Chiefs continue to swear by.
Inside The Lines: Chiefs vs Chargers from The Mothership
Kansas City's defense has recorded 12 interceptions through Week 11, returning those interceptions 294 yards, ranking first in the AFC and second in the NFL in team return yards. Kansas City's 24.5 yard per interception return average leads the NFL (294 yards on 12 interceptions).
The Chiefs are first in the AFC and second in the NFL with 24 takeaways.
Chiefs' Offensive Line Is Bit Suspect And Banged Up from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City
Donald Stephenson and Geoff Schwartz might as well consider themselves starters the way the two Chiefs offensive linemen have been pressed into service this season.
In an ideal world, Stephenson is supposed to be the backup offensive tackle, Schwartz the reserve offensive guard. But a series of injuries to just about everybody on the Chiefs' already-suspect line has resulted in each of them playing in every game this season.
Chiefs Players Opine On Hitting QBs from Chiefs Spin
"It's tough because you want to play fast and you want to try and get there," Catapano said. "It takes every ounce of energy that you got going 1,000 mph to actually get close to him. So it's hard to kind of choke it off and to have complete control of your body where you're not going to hit him in a certain area. It's hard."
Catapano, who has one sack on the season, adds he'd like to see the league find a middle ground given the speed of the game.
"We don't want guys getting hurt, we understand the reasons," Catapano said of the rules. "But there has to be a happy medium where players can play fast and it's not extravagant where people are getting fined for touching somebody. There's got to be a happy medium to be found somewhere."
Preview: Chiefs Look To Regain Their Rhythm Against San Diego from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City
Coming off their first loss, the Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in an unfamiliar position.
While another huge matchup with the Denver Broncos looms in Week 13, coach Andy Reid's team will first try to get back on track Sunday against the struggling San Diego Chargers.
After holding opponents to 17 points or fewer in winning each of its first nine games, Kansas City (9-1) lost 27-17 at Denver in last Sunday's much-anticipated showdown. The Chiefs, averaging an NFL-best 3.6 sacks, have now gone without one in consecutive weeks after failing to get any pressure on Peyton Manning.
Chiefs Prepared To Get Chargers' Best And Final Shot from FS Kansas City
As safety Kendrick Lewis stated emphatically this week: "There are no trap games in this league. Everyone knows you have to play as hard as you can each week to get a win. It's that tough every week."
And what really should get the Chiefs' attention is that the Chargers are in full desperation mode.
The Chargers sit at 4-6, a game back in a frantic race for the final wild-card spot. Another Chargers loss almost surely puts them out of the playoff picture.
DT Kyle Love Gets Another Chance With Chiefs from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City
After getting his weight under control, defensive tackle Kyle Love turned his attention to getting his diabetes in check. Now, he's ready to focus on playing football again.
The Chiefs signed the former Patriots lineman after a workout this week, and he could be pressed into service as early as Sunday against San Diego. Defensive tackle Mike DeVito did not practice Wednesday because of a sprained knee and might miss the game.
"I'm not sure about roles or anything. I just want to play," said Love, who was celebrating his birthday Monday when the Chiefs asked him to visit Kansas City for a workout.
KCChiefs.com Video: Focus Points for Week 12
KCChiefs.com Video: Doug Pederson Thursday Press Conference
KCChiefs.com Video: Under The Helmet With Quintin Demps
NFL.com Video: Preview: San Diego Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Have Opponents Caught Up To KC's D? from ESPN
"If [the opposing quarterback] wants to throw it [quickly], it really doesn't matter if five [pass-rushers] are coming or six are coming or four are coming. If he just wants to get rid of the ball, he can do that. Obviously the more people we put in coverage, the [more] we can affect who he can throw to."
Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker Helps Replace Stolen Turkeys from KCTV5
Hundreds of turkeys meant for struggling families were taken from Mission Solano in Fairfield, CA. The group had planned to collect nearly 1,000 turkeys to serve the homeless in the area.
When Johnson heard about the theft he said it was a no-brainer to try and replace what was lost.
Chiefs Won't Pressure Smith For Big Plays from ESPN
The Chiefs were trying to make Smith more aggressive, though certainly not reckless, with his choices. Still, Smith has tried a relatively small number of passes of 20 yards or more.
Their underproductive offense could use the boost provided by some big passing plays, but offensive coordinator Doug Pederson said the Chiefs have backed off asking Smith to be more aggressive with his throws.
ARAMARK Venues Sweep Top Spots On PETA's Most Vegetarian-Friendly NFL Stadiums List from The Sacramento Bee
For the fourth consecutive year, the Philadelphia Eagles' Lincoln Financial Field topped PETA's list with offerings including vegan steak sandwiches and veggie dogs. Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, was ranked second for offering meat-free meals like a hearty lentil burger and grilled vegetable pasta salad.
Week 12 Predictions: Broncos, Chiefs Keep Pace; Bears Fall from NFL.com
How conservative will Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt's game plan be? The more he employs Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead and even Ronnie Brown, the better; Mathews and Woodhead trucked for 148 yards on the ground last Sunday. San Diegohas to neutralize what will be a very motivated Chiefs pass rush, which was just shut out against theBroncos. Having Philip Rivers run a no-huddle offense would be understandable at Arrowhead -- arguably the loudest stadium in the league (still a tough call between that and CenturyLink). However, he can't be required to change a bunch of plays at the line, nor should he attempt more than 40 passes. One way to ensure that is to commit to the run and stay with it.
Chargers, Ryan Matthews vs. The Chiefs from The San Diego Union-Tribune
Say the Chargers offense puts up 24 points. In half of its games, Kansas City has scored 23 or fewer. A McCoyism is that there's a way to win any game. Here's the way: tame the edge rushers by feeding Mathews; use Green in the red zone, not just between the 20s; mix in a few timely wrinkles. Force the Chiefs offense to actually win a game.
Brrr! Chargers Prep For First Cold Game Of 2013 from NBC San Diego
Kickoff at Arrowhead Stadium is set for noon, when the weather forecast calls for a balmy 29 degrees or so. It should "heat up" to around 33 degrees by the end of the game.
So, inevitably, the questions came this week about how the Chargers will deal with going from "70 and sunny" to "how do people actually live in these conditions?"
JFK Remembered: Tom Pratt from ESPN
"I mean, it was a shock that went through everybody because, particularly, we had so many former players that were from Dallas because we had moved the team from Dallas that year. It was the first year of the Chiefs in Kansas City."
Week 12 Start 'Em And Sit 'Em from CBS Sports
It appears like Rivers has turned into a pumpkin. He now has one game with 20-plus Fantasy points in his past five outings, and the Chargers are thriving running the ball. We doubt Rivers will snap out of his recent funk at Kansas City after the Chiefs just lost their first game of the season at Denver. They held Peyton Manning to 16 Fantasy points, and only Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jason Campbell have scored more than 17 points against Kansas City this year. Rivers has five games this season with 20-plus Fantasy points, but three of them came against terrible defenses in Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington (the other two were Oakland and Houston). Kansas City is in a different class than those opponents, especially at home, and Rivers is not worth the risk this week.
NFL Week 12 Cheat Sheet: Playoffs Will Be A Payoff In NFC from FOX Sports
I saw a few "pundits" calling the Chiefs "frauds" on Twitter Sunday night after their loss to Denver. Guess what? The Chiefs impressed me. They kept Peyton Manning in check, limited the explosive plays and were able to rattle off a few big ones of their own. Denver won the one in Denver, but I may like the Chiefs in Kansas City next week. Oh, I'€™m looking ahead. Sorry. Yeah, they'll beat San Diego.
The Pick: Chiefs 30, Chargers 24
Chargers' Secondary Seeks Redemption from ESPN
The Chargers are giving up an average of 276 passing yards a contest and have allowed 39 passing plays of 20 or more yards, both 27th in the league. San Diego has just five interceptions on the year, and opposing quarterbacks have posted a healthy 102.3 passer rating against the Chargers.
Beyond those troubling statistics, San Diego's defense does not pass the eye test. The defense fails to regularly rally to the ball, and left by themselves defenders struggle to make tackles in the open field.
Gilchrist and Wright have heard the criticism and are focused on putting a better product on the field, beginning Sunday at Kansas City.
NFL MVP Projection: Cam Newton Makes List, Manning Still On Top from CBS Sports
7. Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles: If you stayed up and watched the Broncos-Chiefs game until the end, you may have noticed that on the final play of the game, Alex Smithchecked down. It was the most Alex Smith thing ever. Smith could have taken a shot down field -- an interception doesn't matter with five seconds left -- but he didn't, he checked down. What I'm trying to say here is that the Chiefs are 9-1 with a quarterback who would check down a check down after he checked down another check down if Andy Reid designed a play that did that. Jamaal Charles is why the Chiefs offense is able to function.
Chiefs Made Right Decision To Pass On FG from ESPN
The Chiefs weren't necessarily afraid of the long kick. It was probably out of Succop's range, but Denver's altitude would have given it a chance.
They weren't necessarily afraid of having a kick blocked because of the low trajectory a long kick requires. Succop had a 57-yard attempt blocked earlier this season against the Dallas Cowboys.
WHS Graduate Long-Time KC Chiefs' Doctor from The Winfield Daily Courier
Cris Barnthouse, a 1973 Winfield High School graduate, is a Kansas City Chiefs' physician who has worked with the team almost daily since 1990.
"I joined an orthopedic group, and the Chiefs asked if (one of the partners) and I would like to be their doctors," said Barnthouse. "We said yes, and I've been (working with the Chiefs) for over 20 years now."