Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/24

Chiefs Fall To Vikings 30 To 12 from The Associated Press via The Mothership

The Chiefs' Alex Smith was just 14 of 24 for 124 yards with two red-zone interceptions, and the Chiefs' first-team offense only managed a 21-yard field goal by Cairo Santos.

They still have not scored a touchdown in 16 possessions this preseason.

While the third preseason game is typically a dress rehearsal for the regular season, both teams sat plenty of star power due to injuries and personal reasons.

Chiefs vs Vikings: Game At A Glance from The Mothership

Last week against the Carolina Panthers, it was penalties. Saturday night against the Vikings, it was turnovers. The Chiefs once again found ways to make life more difficult on themselves.

The Chiefs offense finished with three turnovers and surrendered five sacks.

After the game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid took some responsibility for the offensive performance on Saturday night.

"I've got to make sure that I put the guys in a better position to do things and then when given the opportunity, we've got to make sure we execute," Reid said. "Offensively, it clearly wasn't good enough. Whether it was protection or blocking we've got a seam and holes.

Post Game Press Conferences from The Mothership

What are your concerns with the offensive line and depth? "Well the depth - I want to make sure guys get in there and have a chance to work. We have a new right tackle and left guard and they needed the work so I left them in there a little longer so they could get a little bit of that. They're good players and we'll continue to work and get ourselves ready."

Can you talk about Jeff Allen at right tackle and the two guards who you shuttled in?"There were issues. I probably need to look at the tape before I say too much here, but obviously it wasn't good enough. The quarterback was hit too many times, you can't do that."

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Chiefs vs Vikings

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Chiefs vs Vikings Tailgating

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs vs Vikings: Postgame Report

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs vs Vikings: Andy Reid Press Conference

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs vs Vikings: Alex Smith Press Conference

KCChiefs.com Video: Post Game Locker Room

KCChiefs.com Video: This Is The Preseason

KCChiefs.com Video: #LoudAndProud

KCChiefs.com Video: Alex Smith In Kansas City

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Blueprint - Episode 5

KCChiefs.com Video: Doug Pederson 1-On-1

KCChiefs.com Video: BJ Kissel Interviews Dontari Poe

KCChiefs.com Video: Rachel Santschi Interviews Mike Garrett

KCChiefs.com Video: Rachel Santschi Interviews Tavia and Gracie Hunt

NFL.com Video: Vikings vs Chiefs Preseason Highlights

KC Offense Again Quiet In 30-12 Loss To Vikings from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

The most disappointing thing for Alex Smith about Saturday night's game against Minnesota wasn't his two interceptions in the red zone. Nor the fact that Kansas City's first-team offense still has not scored a touchdown this preseason.

It was that the Chiefs treated this week as if they were preparing for a regular-season game, a true dress rehearsal -- and they were routed 30-12 by the Vikings.

"It hurts," Smith said simply.

Miscues Lead Chiefs To Ugly 30-12 Loss To Vikings from Chiefs Spin

The Chiefs starting unit's dress rehearsal for the regular season turned into a performance unworthy of a curtain call.

Five total sacks allowed, two red zone interceptions by quarterback Alex Smith and 10 points contributed to an dreadful 30-12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

The Chiefs starting offense, all of whom likely won't play the preseason finale, finished three weeks of preseason action without a touchdown.

Observation Deck: Kansas City Chiefs from ESPN

The starting defense similarly doesn't look ready for the regular season. The Chiefs allowed pass plays of 31 and 53 yards on Minnesota's first possession. The Chiefs again played without safety Eric Berry, who has an injured heel. His replacement is Daniel Sorensen, an undrafted rookie. Sorensen took a bad angle on the 53-yard touchdown pass.

Chiefs' Highs And Lows From Saturday Night from Chiefs Spin

HIGHS

Chiefs coach Andy Reid called the 13 penalties for 131 yards in last week's preseason game against the Carolina Panthers a "significant issue." The Chiefs had seven penalties in the preseason opener and entered Saturday night with 20. Whatever Reid said to the team throughout the week apparently worked, as the Chiefs were penalized just twice for 15 yards against the Vikings.

Sacks, Turnovers -- Cassel Returns To KC, It Was Like He Never Left from FS Kansas City

With 10:08 to go in the third quarter and the Kansas City Chiefs spinning wheels like hell at their own 11, Alex Smith scrambled for his life up the right boundary.

Inside the press box high above, the sonorous voice on the public-address system piped to the media said this:

"Cassel on the carry."

Open palm. Insert face.

With the exceptions of perhaps De'Anthony Thomas early and Travis Kelce late, everything in Chiefsland felt a bit ... well, off on Saturday night.

First-Team Defense Continues To Shine, Vikings Beat Kansas City from The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Sure, a cynic might say that is a little ambitious. They might also point out that the Chiefs were without star running back Jamaal Charles and top wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.

But for two quarters the Vikings harassed the first-stringers the Chiefs did trot out there, including quarterback Alex Smith, before Zimmer removed his defensive starters. And if not for some crafty scrambling by Smith, the Vikings might have doubled their total of five sacks.

"We probably could have made quite a few more if we were more disciplined in our rush lanes," Zimmer said.

Observation Deck: Minnesota Vikings from ESPN

What Cassel will have to hope for, however, is better pass protection than he had Saturday. He was sacked three times, and left tackle Matt Kalil -- whose quickness is supposed to be his forte -- was beaten around the edge on a speed rush by Tamba Hali. Phil Loadholt also left with an injury in the first quarter, and before he came back, undrafted free agent Austin Wentworth was beaten by Jaye Howard, who forced a fumble that went out of the end zone for a safety.

Villamue: The Tell Tale Game from The Minneapolis Star Tribune

The first team I ever hated in my Vikings-based life was the Kansas City Chiefs. As I was just cognizant of a world bigger than my hometown, I learned through playground football games that the Chiefs had embarrassed my Vikings in Super Bowl IV. Despite being from the much stronger NFL, heavily-favored Minnesota fell 23-7 to the AFL Chiefs in early 1970...

...Fast forward to 2014. Minnesota faces the Chiefs in Arrowhead, one of the toughest places to play in the NFL. Kansas City rebounded from a miserable season two years ago (2-14-0) to start last year 9-0-0. They finished 11-5-0 and made the playoffs. Alex Smith, a 49ers castoff, gave the Chiefs a reliable quarterback, something that had been lacking for some time. Jamaal Charles provided most of the offense from the running back position. And the defense was top ten in the NFL, holding teams to under twenty points per game.

I know I was happy to see them fail last year down the stretch and in the playoffs.

I have not forgotten.

Ault Featured In College Hall Of Fame Presentation from The Reno Gazette-Journal

Wolf Pack fans who visit the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta in the coming months will see a familiar face: Chris Ault.

The former Nevada football coach, who stepped down after 27 seasons following the 2012 season and is now a consultant with the Kansas City Chiefs, is part of an interactive video presentation on the innovative offenses of college football.

The presentation includes interviews with such offensive luminaries as Terry Donahue, Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, John Robinson and Barry Switzer.

The NFL's Emperor Has No Clothes from NY Daily News

If there is any truth to the saying that the apple does not fall far from the tree, then NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell appears to be a notable exception. Goodell's unwillingness to face up to the NFL's problems lays in stark contrast to the way in which his father, the late Sen. Charles Goodell (R-N.Y.), handled difficult issues during his decade in Congress...

...Dwayne Bowe, wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, was arrested last November for marijuana possession. The NFL's response? A mere one-game suspension, despite Bowe's previous four-game suspension for violating the policy on performance-enhancing drugs in 2009.

Berry Twins Keep Up Family Tradition At Tennessee from The Associated Press via The Washington Post

Tennessee twins Elliott and Evan Berry say they don't feel extra pressure playing defense for the Volunteers, following the path of their older, successful brother.

Eric Berry starred for Tennessee from 2007-09 before getting selected in the first round of the NFL draft. He won the 2009 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top college defensive back and earned his third Pro Bowl selection with the Kansas City Chiefs last year.

Lakeside's Rashad Roundtree Enjoying Time In Spotlight As Five-Star Prospect from The Augusta Chronicle

Even when just looking at his family, it's clear the safety isn't the first great prospect to come from the Augusta area. He won't be the last, either. So when Roundtree does come across those who have experienced the pressure of being a famous recruit, he looks for advice.

Just this year, Roundtree talked with former Westside star Sanders Commings, who started at Georgia and is now with the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I told him, ‘You have to do what's best for you and your family,' " Commings said. "Don't go where everybody else wants you to go. You have to do what feels right for you."

Former Great Shockley Mentoring UGA Starter Mason from Online Athens

D.J. Shockley, nine years after leading Georgia to its most recent SEC championship, might be considered the Bulldogs' quarterback whisperer.

"He's always around, he's always there to help," said Murray, now a rookie with the Kansas City Chiefs. "It's great. He's really willing to help us through the maturing stages of understanding what it takes to be a quarterback, the difficulties you might face on the field, off the field, just in the public eye."