Winning With Weis: The Kansas City Chiefs Have Reason For Hope

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name… 

That’s pretty much anywhere for Charlie Weis. 

Since serving as offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots for all three of their Super Bowl victories since the new millennium, Weis has been widely recognized.

Months ago, Weis was the highest paid college football head coach (before Lane Kiffin went to Tennessee in his escape from Oakland) where he achieved mixed results.

Weis’ offensive wile led to strong offensive recruiting and the development of one of 2010’s top quarterback prospects, Jimmy Clausen. 

However, recruiting proved a different game than what Weis was familiar and the secluded planning of imaginative game design may be more suited to Weis than the emotional hoopla of the college game.

Kansas City head coach and last year’s offensive coordinator Todd Haley is a long-time friend of Weis.  While Haley bit off more than he could chew with the Chiefs, for him to be willing to relinquish control in any capacity is noteworthy.

Haley said in a press conference that he would have final say in any coaching changes, so there is significant initiative on Haley’s part to hand over the reigns. 

What does Weis bring to the Kansas City offense? 

What Haley and Weis do similarly

The strength of both a Haley and Weis offense is the short passing game with the intent of playmakers earning yards after the catch.

Tackle-breaking Dwayne Bowe can be a force if he can learn to hold onto the ball.  Yet, while Bobby Wade was a beneficial pickup this past year, KC lacks a strong slot receiver who can create matchup problems. 

It seems every team is looking for the Wes Welker/Davone Bess or even a Jordy Nelson, who can work underneath and crossing routes with sure hands and possess more quickness rather than straightaway speed.

What does Weis bring to the table 

Charlie Weis has been a guru in developing quarterbacks and will serve as mentor to Kansas City’s big investment of last year, quarterback Matt Cassel. 

Cassel has had accuracy issues and Weis will examine meticulously every intricacy of Cassel’s mechanics and help him develop in his reads. 

While the emergence of Jamaal Charles is exciting news for Chief fans, it is the maturation of Cassel around which significant success may hinge.

Also, Weis has a great eye for talent and this may be seen as early as the 2010 draft. 

What question marks remain

Star of the second half of Kansas City’s season, the speedy, elusive, and surprisingly physical Jamaal Charles has a skill set that provides great versatility to the offense.

Charles runs with the patience of Priest Holmes and has the hands of a wide receiver.  He is unlike any tool Weis has had in recent history.

New England’s Super Bowl teams never featured an elite rusher (outside of a brief spot in the sun for Laurence Maroney), and his ability to utilize a running back in the passing game is yet to fully be unveiled. 

Perhaps Weis never showed what he might do with a back like Charles because a back like Charles is rare.  He can be implemented similarly to the successfully versatile Brian Westbrook in Philadelphia.

Kansas City is putting the right people in their corner and while there are many gripes to be had with the team’s performance this year, let’s remember the squad doubled its number of wins.

Four wins might not seem great, but maybe eight is right around the corner. 

After that?  Perfect season?  Maybe not, but there is reason for hope in Kansas City.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Reincarnation Weekend, Part Two: Jets vs. Bengals, Sanchez vs. Palmer

 Week 17 is rehashed in our second game examined as part of reincarnation weekend as the Cincinnati Bengals host the New York Jets.

The Back Story

These teams have a lot in common.

Neither team has a “playoff experience” advantage. 

Since 1990, the word “winning” itself has been foreign to Bengal players, while the Jets start a rookie quarterback.

Both teams feature starting running backs who are cast aways from Chicago. Thomas Jones was released by the Bears to feature a fourth overall pick named Cedric Benson. Jones would land in New York, while Benson underperformed and was shipped off to Cincinnati where his career has been revived.

Both quarterbacks, Carson Palmer and Mark Sanchez, are former Heisman trophy winners out of the University of Southern California.

The irony here is that neither team has excelled with a passing attack. The Bengals rank 26th in passing yards per game, while the Jets ranked 31st during the regular season. 

Strangely, it is a reliance on the discarded runners that has been the crux of both offenses. The Bengals rank ninth in rush offense and the Jets are No. 1 overall in the NFL.

While the Jets boast the NFL’s leading defense, are eighth in run defense, while the Bengals are seventh. 

The Jets have adopted the defensive mentality of their head coach, Rex Ryan, who brought the 3-4 with him from Baltimore.

Oddly enough, both teams rank in the bottom half of the league in sacks of opposing quarterbacks.

The Players

The popular matchup here is Jets corner Darrelle Revis against Chad Ocho Cinco.  However, it is likely the No. 3 receiver for Cincinnati, Andre Caldwell, will be the ultimate wildcard here. 

Opposite Revis is athletically gifted, longtime Eagle, Lito Sheppard. Sheppard’s coverage skills are on par with a high standard. Yet, his tackling leaves something to be desired, and the Bengals could send their powerful backs in the direction of the 194-pound Sheppard. 

New York nickel back Dwight Lowery is sure to be challenged by the Bengals when they run multiple receiver sets. 

The Bengals will look to exploit the linebacker heavy 3-4 with a passing attack that may force the Jets into their nickel package. In this case, the Bengals hit Caldwell in one-on-one matchups with Lowery.

If early passing success drops the Jets into a soft zone out of their base 3-4, the Bengals can hand the ball off to Benson. 

Although, the most common strategy of the 3-4 is blitz and Cincinnati can combat this with screen passes, delayed handoffs, and again, using their slot receiver. 

In the story of the run game, the Bengals have a distinct advantage. 

Outside linebacker Calvin Pace came to New York from the Cardinals two years ago and as a pass-rush specialist, the converted defensive end has great up-field movement in pursuit of the quarterback, but lacks ideal pursuit speed and lateral movement. With eight sacks on the year, he has only 55 tackles.    

To hold Benson in check and force Palmer to win the game with his arm, the Jets have to have big games from their middle linebackers Bart Scott and David Harris.

Look for the Bengals to run to the left, away from talented Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis and toward Calvin Pace and Lito Sheppard. 

While the Jets are the league’s second-worst pass offense, Sanchez will need to challenge the Cincinnati safeties and hit at least two big pass plays for the Jets to have a chance. 

Acquired from the Browns during the season, Braylon Edwards finally gave Sanchez a deep-ball weapon. However, talented corner Leon Hall is sure to be locked onto Edwards. 

However, if the Bengals play any deep zone, look for Edwards to beat free safety Chris Crocker and get behind strong safety Chinedum Ndukwe who may creep up for run support.

The Outcome

The Bengals are in a position to stick to their game plan, run first, pass second. The two elements of the offense can work in partnership as the Bengals will use a between the tackles run game paired with some three wide-receiver sets to get the Jets defense spread out by the second half.

New York must play outside of its comfort zone and beat the Bengals through the air.  Sanchez does not have to put up huge numbers, but he does have to deliver some big plays.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Kansas City Chiefs-Denver Broncos: Three Key Matchups

The season is dead, but the team’s pulse is still pumping. 

If fans only care about outcomes, then they were walking for the exits on the Kansas City Chief’s season weeks ago. 

However, a team with nothing left to play for but pride can be a very scary team to face for an organization under the pressure of earning a playoff birth.

When the Chiefs march into Denver to face the Broncos, the red and gold will attempt to cast themselves as spoilers to the playoff hopeful Broncos.

In their last meeting, Denver trounced Kansas City to the tune of 44-13, and some key matchups can be examined to see if the result will be something different or painfully similar.

 

Jamaal Charles vs. Knowshon Moreno

Knowshon Moreno, rookie out of Georgia, running back for the Denver Broncos, is 103 yards from a 1,000-yard rushing season while averaging 3.8 per carry. 

Jamaal Charles, second-year running back for the Chiefs, who assumed the starting role since Week 10, is 139 yards from a 1,000-yard rushing season while averaging 5.2 yards per carry. 

Unfortunately, against Denver in Week 13, Charles averaged 3.1 yards per carry, a low since assuming the starting role.     

Still, the numbers clearly show Charles to be the more explosive runner, but an impressive game from both ball carriers is likely. 

Moreno is facing an atrocious Kansas City run defense.

Charles is on a hot streak that puts him on par in recent weeks with the likes of Barry Sanders. 

In fact, in 1998, Sanders would average only 3.1 yards on 22 carries against the Minnesota Vikings, while the rematch in Week Eight would see Sanders with a 5.3 yards-per-carry average.

Can Charles show a similar resilience and make his bid to be considered the elite running back of the AFC West as the incumbent LaDainian Tomlinson’s career continues to fade?  Or will Moreno prove the type of back in the Bronco running back carousel that continues to give Kansas City defenses nightmares?

 

Matt Cassel vs. Kyle Orton

The franchise quarterback of the future in Kansas City, Matt Cassel, came into camp and signed a monstrous long-term contract. 

Since then he has thrown for 2,717 yards with 16 touchdowns and 15 picks for a 70.1 quarterback rating. 

Oft-booed in Chicago, Kyle Orton appeared to be a desperate reach for Denver when their hand was forced to make a trade of pro bowl quarterback Jay Cutler. 

The former offensive coordinator for New England and new Bronco head coach, Josh McDaniels, disgruntled Cutler by conducting trade talks regarding Cassel, who had one year of experience under McDaniels.    

This season, Orton has thrown for 3,371 yards with 20 touchdowns and only nine picks for a quarterback rating of 89.3.

With the dust settling from all of this, two story lines emerge.

Do the Broncos have their quarterback of the future, or are they looking to supplant Orton with a player capable of making “all the throws,” so they can better stretch the field?

In fact, the Bronco’s pass game is a short game with lots of receiver bubble screens.

With the Chiefs locked into a long-term deal with Cassel, has the franchise been set back by commitment, is their enough flexibility to move in another direction, or is Cassel showing enough to merit the tenure of the starting quarterback spot?

 

Kansas City Chiefs’ Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast vs. Job Security 

It was an offseason of upheaval and new faces for Kansas City.  New general manager, new head coach/offensive coordinator, new quarterback, and new defensive coordinator.

Kansas City also introduced a new 3-4 defense.

The Chiefs have stumbled their way through a season of transitioning to the 3-4. 

Kansas City has been gashed with big plays and average next-to-last in the NFL for rushing yards allowed. 

It is unlikely Kansas City will have similar offseason changes this summer as the new faces will be given more than a year to prove their merit.  However, the one person least likely to have some leniency regarding performance is Pendergast. 

In the late ’90s Kansas City had a powerful defense with limited offense to match it with. 

In the early part of the new millennium, Dick Vermeil led a Kansas City team with a dominant offense and no defense to provide support.

As we enter the second decade of the new millennium, Kansas City is a team with a weak defense partnered with a struggling offense. 

Kansas City is currently 3-12 and it’s a small mystery why.  

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Kansas City Chiefs—Cincinnati Bengals: Three Key Observations

Kansas City’s games have had decreasing importance over recent weeks, but every game is vitally important to the seasons yet to come. 

In alignment with Christmas spirit, Kansas City fans remember fondly the seasons past, given their success through the nineties, haunted by the season present, but fighting to show fans hope for seasons yet to come. 

Looking to the future, there are three key notes regarding the Week 16 matchup against the playoff bound Cincinnati Bengals.

Offensive playmaker of the future

The adage goes, “It is better to give than it is to receive.”  With the release of running back Larry Johnson, essentially “giving” him to the Bengals, Kansas City discovered one of the up-and-coming stars of the NFL in Jamaal Charles. 

It has been easy to praise Charles in recent weeks as he has the second most rushing yards in the NFL since Week 10 (trailing only Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans). 

Yet, it is the manner in which these yards have been earned that is so promising.  Charles looks eerily like the reincarnation of Priest Holmes. 

Using his blockers well, Charles shows great patience as a runner and finds opportunities to utilize his speed.  Quarterback Matt Cassel has also praised the receiving ability of Charles by stating that he may have the best hands on the team.

This is the cog that will make the Kansas City offense go.  Charles will be an asset to the Chiefs the way Brian Westbrook has enjoyed such success with the Philadelphia Eagles.  The future is now for the Chiefs’ run game and it doesn’t look too shabby.

Defensive playmaker of the future

Praised throughout the season for his uncanny tackling, Brandon Flowers flaunted his superior skills in coverage.

Cornerbacks are never given the benefit of the doubt in the offensive-minded NFL.  Illegal contact, or the dreaded, pass-interference, are terms slapped upon corners with such frequency that fans of defense are left to wonder, “what is the defender supposed to do?”

With the grace of Lynn Swann, Flowers went airborne on a deep pass attempt, not even grazing the Bengals’ receiver, to break up a pass.  On another play, Flowers closed on the receiver from behind and found a way to get his arms around to break up the pass without putting a hand in the receiver’s back. 

Flowers is quickly becoming a shut-down type of corner.  Having confidence in one of your cover guys allows a defensive coordinator to have great flexibility in using the rest of the players on the field in a versatile arsenal of plays.

Key problem for the future

Todd Haley came in as the Kansas City head coach to find a team out-of-shape.  No team likely lost as much weight in training camp as the Chiefs.  Unfortunately, while the players have put down the pumpkin pie this holiday season, Haley could not relieve them of butterfingers.          

Leading the league in dropped passes, Kansas City fans are left to ponder what the offensive statistics might look like if you added nearly 50 completions to the offensive totals. 

This problem is most severe for Kansas City’s number one receiver, Dwayne Bowe.  Bowe, like many great receivers, is guilty of making the tough catches while dropping the easy ones. 

An offense struggling to put points on the board cannot be guilty of foolish mistakes.  Fans and Todd Haley are tired of asking, “who dropped the ball on this one?”

Play of the game

On 3^rd -and-10 at the Cincinnati 20, Cassel dropped back to pass and found Tim Castille, a backup fullback, on a pattern straight up the middle of the field. 

Catching the ball in traffic is an understatement as three Bengal defenders converged upon Castille at full speed. 

In a play most would assume to be incomplete because of contact made as soon as the ball touched Castille’s hands, the fullback rolled along the turf of the end zone clutching the ball. 

With strong hands and nonpareil concentration, Castille, a recent acquisition, earned his spot on the roster. 

Chief fans hope the ghost of football future is showing signs of promise and not of gloom.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

What’s Wrong With Kansas City’s 3-4 Part II: Shortchanging the Formation

 

Like a 2-liter bottle of soda left with the cap off, Kansas City’s defense is flat! They play flat and they look flat. 

This isn’t a commentary about playmaking or passion, however, but literally the Chiefs line up in a flat 3-4. 

There are two primary benefits to running a 3-4: confusing offenses and having more athletic playmakers on the field.

The 3-4 puts another athletic playmaker on the field at the linebacker spot, a player who can blitz, drop into a zone, play man coverage, or stop the run. Vital though is disguising, pre-snap, which of these responsibilities a linebacker assumes.

Key, though, is that the linebackers can perform any of these functions lining up anywhere on the field. 

The Chiefs are guilty of lining up very shallow on nearly every snap defensively. The defense stacks itself up upon the line of scrimmage as both outside linebackers look like defensive ends in a two point stance, in what looks like a 5-2.

Even if the outside linebackers are not going to blitz from this formation (thus disguising it, but the Chiefs almost always send their outside linebackers), it is difficult for converted defensive ends like Tamba Hali or Andy Studebaker to play in space for zone coverage, and may lack the speed to play man. 

It is no surprise the Chiefs have had to run a bastardized version of the 3-4, due to a lack of proper personnel. 

To build upon part one of this two part series, one reason the Chiefs are limited in capitalizing on the potential of a 3-4 defense in that the players they field may be athletically incapable of performing with the versatility required of linebackers. 

Lacking the arsenal of players to throw the full complement of 3-4 defense complexities at opposing offenses, the Kansas City Chiefs put up a defense suspect to giving up the big play, that same big play that has been a dagger to the Chiefs all season long.      

With the outside linebackers lined up essentially as defensive linemen, the inside linebackers are held close to the line of scrimmage as well.

If an outside linebacker is locked up with a tackle, they are unable to utilize their speed and read the offense to come in, plug running holes, or help force a running back wide toward the sideline.

Instead, the middle linebackers have a responsibility to plug the holes, (which suck them in on play-action and leave gaping holes in coverage right over their heads and in front of the safeties) and running backs have a corner to turn.

Most frustrating is that with all these bodies at the line of scrimmage, the Chiefs typically hold a running back to three yards or less, or give up the big run. 

Without the outside linebackers helping in coverage, the inside linebackers are asked to cover a lot of field, often against faster slot receivers.

This defense has a long way to go if it is truly the future for the Chiefs. Right now we have players outside of their position running a 3-4 defense that may be blander than a 4-3. It kind of defeats the purpose of the whole transformation.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Kansas City Chiefs Vs. Buffalo Bills: Three Key Observations

 

The often overlooked red-headed step-daughter of the NFL team family is special teams.  However, all too often, the neglected child is the difference maker in key games.

Less talented teams require exceptional plays on special teams to keep themselves in games.  Great teams call on the favor of special teams to tip the scales in close games. 

With two mediocre teams facing off as the Buffalo Bills battled with the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead stadium fans of both teams had to know special teams would be key. 

Therefore it is a look at special teams that will wrap up our highlight of the game’s three key elements, but first, a look at the face of the franchise.

Face of the franchise:

The new arrival with a monster contract acquired via trade and touted as the quarterback of the future for the Kansas City Chiefs is not the most important part of the offense…right now.  Rather it is second-year running back Jamaal Charles who looks like Kansas City’s best player.

Dare I say the reincarnation of Priest Holmes?  A patient runner, exceptional in the passing game, but with an element of speed that is new to Kansas City at the running back position, Charles is a threat to score anytime he gets into the open field.  He had a 76-yard touchdown run against the Bills.

Charles has very quickly become the key player on a majority of Kansas City’s offensive plays.  The speedster not only racked up well over 100 yards, but also led all Chiefs with seven receptions.

Use this player wisely and don’t let his body take too much of a beating and he can be a meshing of Priest Holmes and Brian Westbrook of the Philadelphia Eagles (pre-injury bug).  Give this man a new contract!    

What about Matt Cassel?  Lingering concerns and new improvements:

Struggling with accuracy for much of the season, Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel showed an exceptional completion percentage against a staunch Bills defense in the first half, but by the end of the game had thrown four interceptions and now touchdowns.

Cassel doesn’t get a lot of help from his receivers, as the Chiefs’ receiving corps leads the NFL in dropped passes.  However, there is visible improvement in Cassel’s reads and mid-range accuracy.

Perhaps Cassel is finally developing a rapport with what has been a rotating cast of characters catching passes, and maybe he now understands the scheme Haley is attempting to install.  The numbers don’t tell the tale of a quarterback situation that looks more promising after this week than week’s prior.

Still, where’s the tenderness?  Cassel has shown no touch throwing the deep ball.  Repeatedly running under overthrown balls, it is difficult not to wonder if Cassel throwing to Moss in New England made him appear better than he is.  This is old hat, and has been much discussed, but in the face of adversity perhaps Cassel will show he can persevere.  

Special Teams:

Field position is vital to a struggling team that finds itself competitive in low-scoring games.  Not only does a struggling offense turn to its kickers to salvage points by kicking for three when an offense fails to get in the end zone, but a short field means requiring less of the offensive unit. 

However, too often, the Chiefs have struggled to capitalize on great field position (typically inherited due to forced turnovers) and again, special teams comes in to play the unheralded hero. 

Down 13-10 in the fourth, Kansas City should have had great field position, but the entire tone of the fourth was established after Buffalo punter Brian Mooreman booted a 73 yard punt.

Backed up, the Chiefs went three an out.  Dustin Colquit kicked an atypical poor punt.  Seemingly doomful for KC, Buffalo returned the graces of special teams’ errors with a missed field goal.  With good field position after the Ryan Lindell miss for Buffalo, Kansas City turned the ball over, but because of the length of the field the Bills had to march they were limited to a field goal and the fame stayed within one score for Kansas City, who was down by six. 

Twice after this, Kansas City had the ball with a chance to make the game-winning score.

Perhaps it says something of the excitement of Chiefs’ football this season that the most intriguing element of the larger portion of the fourth quarter was derived from an examination of field position and special teams.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

What’s Wrong with the Kansas City Chiefs’ 3-4 Defense, Part One: The Personnel

I like the 3-4 defense.

I like how creative a team can be with its blitzes.  

I like having more playmakers on the field at the linebacker spot.  

I like rangy, athletic linebackers who can lay a hit or make a pick with soft hands.  

I like the zone-blitz packages that rattle young quarterbacks.  

I like the 3-4 defense when it’s done well.

Kansas City does not play the 3-4 well.  

When the Chiefs made Clancy Pendergast, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals, their defensive coordinator, it became immediately clear the speculation of the franchise moving to a 3-4 was a reality.

With the entire offseason ahead of him, General Manager Scott Pioli had to acquire the tools to make this transition work.  

Perhaps the greatest card in the Chiefs’ hand was the third-overall pick in the draft.

I know it’s easy to evaluate a team critically in retrospect, but let’s point out what the Chiefs missed out on by drafting defensive end Tyson Jackson with their first pick.

Admittedly, the jury is still out on Jackson.  

Over several seasons he may prove a solid contributor, but no one expects him to be a Pro Bowl talent.  

However, let’s look at his stats this year.

Starting 11 games and appearing in 12, Jackson has totaled 17 tackles with no sacks and no forced fumbles.   

 

Who the Chiefs Missed Out On to Draft Tyson Jackson:

 

1) Aaron Curry: 56 tackles, two sacks, and two fumbles forced

The linebacker out of Wake Forest would have been ideal to begin building a 3-4 defense around.  

Linebacker is the position requiring the most depth and the biggest range of skills for any position.  

Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said of Curry’s position at Wake, “You have to be really strong. But they also put him out in space…almost like a nickelback. Those are two almost mutually exclusive skill sets.”

 

2) Brian Orakpo: 40 tackles, seven sacks

The winner of college football’s awards for best defensive player and best defensive end, Orakpo has become an outside linebacker for the Washington Redskins.  

He wreaks havoc as a tenacious pass rusher.

 

3) Clay Matthews: 35 tackles, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles starting nine games

Matthews was the least-renowned of the three USC Trojan linebackers chosen in the 2009 draft.  

Although all three are starters making real contributions.  

Matthews plays in Green Bay’s 3-4 and is obviously a weapon, given his sack total.  

His instincts are starting to kick in, and he was a highlight reel in this week’s Monday night game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Now, it isn’t really fair to compare tackling totals of linebackers with a defensive end.

So, let’s compare Jackson to another defensive lineman.  

How about a defensive tackle?  

That’s a selfless position that doesn’t need an impressive stat line to prove they make a difference.

 

4) B.J. Raji: 17 tackles, one sack

The defensive tackle out of Boston College hasn’t started a single game for the Green Bay Packers, and still shows more impressive stats than defensive end Jackson.  

Raji has huge upside and was viewed as the consensus top defensive tackle of the ’09 draft.  

Raji could have been the nose tackle that the 3-4 relies on that requires two offensive linemen to block and clog the running lanes inside.  

What the Chiefs missed out on becomes even more glaring as we examine the numbers of the team’s star outside linebacker, Tamba Hali.

 

5) Tamba Hali: 51 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles.  

Fewer sacks than either Matthews or Orakpo and fewer tackles than Curry, Hali would have even better numbers if teams had to compensate for any of the above players playing alongside Hali.

 

What the Chiefs Do Have

Kansas City’s linebacking corp is a hodge-podge of newcomers, journeymen, and converted defensive linemen.  

With linebacker meant to be the spotlight position of the 3-4, this rag-tag assembly hasn’t come through.

While I’ve lobbied to see former first-round draft pick Derrick Johnson on the field, it is clear from game footage that he is a timid tackler.  

Despite outstanding athleticism, the extra three to four yards he gives up in making a tackle are inexcusable.

Jovan Belcher and Corey Mays are functional but not exceptional at inside linebacker.  

These are the players I would love to see on the roster as backups.  

Spelling playmaking starters, where you’re happy for them every time they make a play. 

Demorrio Williams is catching up to another 100-tackle season as the other inside linebacker. Williams has broken a hundred tackles once before with the Atlanta Falcons, but could do this a lot more with the Chiefs. At the other outside linebacker spot, Andy Studebaker has outplayed veteran Mike Vrabel in his two opportunities to start.  

Studebaker was the star of the game in the win against Pittsburgh, pulling down two interceptions. He showed great pass-rush in the preseason as well.  

Studebaker and Hali are interesting prospects as converted defensive linemen. Questions still arise surrounding their ability to play in open space and cover receivers, and the pass rush is still less than ideal.

In the secondary, Jon McGraw is another function, but not exceptional player.  

His tackling fundamentals are good near the line of scrimmage but deteriorate as he is required to make plays downfield.

McGraw is consistently late in coverage and is only starting because of an injury to starter Jarrard Page. Unfortunately, it appeared early in the season that Page may have maxed out his potential and may do better with another team a la Bernard Pollard in Houston or Alfonso Boone in San Diego.  

Why do these players only look weak on our team?

Mike Brown is a ball-hawk type safety the Chiefs want a younger version of.  

It’s hard not to like what the Chiefs have on the corners. Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr are a duo that will continue to develop together and be a strong tandem for years to come.  

Carr has some difficulty covering the short passing game, but this may be scheme as much as skill. 

It’s clear something (many things) are wrong in Kansas City, and the 3-4 defense is one of them.  

It’s clear the personnel wasn’t there, and KC forced the issue.  

Part Two will focus on how the Chiefs don’t maximize the potential of the 3-4 by watering down the potentially complicated defense.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Leonard Pope, Brad Cottam, Sean Ryan Not Getting It Done for Kansas City Chiefs

When a team comes off a loss like the Kansas City Chiefs suffered in week 13, it may appear odd to point out one position as a problem area. 

This is especially true because this is not a (soon to be popular) criticism of Matt Cassel and the quarterback situation.

Rather, this is a small area of concern for a team that has a large number of problems, but the absurdity of it all makes it worthy of note.

Kansas City needs a tight end. 

For the first time in over a decade, Kansas City is without a premier tight end. A void left after the trade of future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons has become increasingly apparent.

The position has undergone more changes than the color of a mood ring over the course of the season. 

Last season the hype was around heir apparent Brad Cottam. Cottam, a 6’7″ rookie selected in the third round out of Tennessee, was to be taken under the wing of Gonzalez and groomed to fill his place. 

The knock on Cottam was that while showing talent, he was oft injured in college and thus was drafted based on potential more than proven ability.

With the departure of Gonzalez, many fans were surprised when Cottam lost the starting role to Sean Ryan. 

Ryan has bounced around the NFL since 2004. Kansas City is the sixth team he has played for. In his career, Ryan has never (prior to this season) had more than six receptions and had only one complete 16-game season. His history includes appearing for both the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints for only one game before being waived.

Yet this was the Chiefs’ opening day starter.

There was hope as he scored his first NFL touchdown in the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. However, the suspect hands of the converted college defensive end came into focus in the ensuing weeks. 

Ryan’s poor performance led to the acquisition of former Arizona Cardinal Leonard Pope. 

Pope had his best season in 2007 when he notched five touchdowns but had only 23 catches. Pope was never the Cardinals’ full-time starter and was released in 2008, as he had only nine catches. 

For Kansas City, Pope has hauled in 11 passes, but his yards-per-catch average is a meager 6.4 yards. Furthermore, the monstrous 6’8″ body isn’t proving the effective big target in the red zone that teams covet. 

Cottam sat for Ryan, who sat for Pope, and of recent, Cottam has finally earned his way back onto the field—not with positive results though.

Cottam had only one catch prior to pulling in three against Denver in week 13. 

There is still hope that Cottam might prove functional in the tight end spot. There is hope that Cottam might put up numbers that will make fans question the delay in his receiving more looks. 

However, it is clear the team lacks a marquee tight end. With Dwayne Bowe still serving his suspension, the Chiefs lack a relevant red zone threat. In fact, it is the lack of a red zone threat that has largely contributed to Jamaal Charles earning Kansas City’s first rushing touchdowns of the season. 

While the presence of Tony G was certain to be missed by all in Kansas City (both on and off the field), it has become most glaring in the past couple weeks. With the team’s No. 1 receiver out, the offense has struggled without the security blanket of a tight end in the middle of the field. 

Where, oh where has our tight end gone? Where, oh where can he be?  

Tony G isn’t coming home. It’s time to start asking, “How much is that tight end in the window?”

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos: Three Key Matchups

Fallen from the early glory of a 6-0 start, the Denver Broncos are looking to right the ship after losing four of their last five.

Despite a wretched performance against the San Diego Chargers in Week 12, the Kansas City Chiefs have won two of their last three and look to build on what they’ve done right.

The two teams square off in Week 13, with a number of intriguing matchups taking center stage.

 

Elvis Dumervil vs. Branden Albert

Denver’s Dumervil has exploded onto the scene this season. Dumervil has proven he’s an effective pass rusher for the past three years, but in this, his fourth season, he is off the charts, collecting 14 sacks through 11 games.

Kansas City left tackle Branden Albert can expect a handful from the pass rush of outside linebacker Dumervil.

Albert is an interesting case. Touted as one of the most athletically gifted offensive linemen, and possibly possessing the biggest upside of any in the 2008 draft class, Albert is Kansas City’s cornerstone left tackle.

While it is clear Albert has a place starting on the line there have been recurring questions as to just where he is best suited to play. Many theorize on his movement to right tackle, or even his college position of guard.

His ability to marginalize Dumervil will continue to tell the tale of whether Albert is indeed the foundation of KC’s line, or simply a key building block.

 

Brandon Marshall vs. Brandon Flowers and the Chiefs’ secondary

The dagger to the Chiefs’ heart has been the big pass play. Week after week it appears customary for Kansas City to have most of its yards surrendered on a couple of plays. Brandon Marshall is a definite pro-bowl talent who has found his stride midseason, following contract disputes in the offseason.

However, with Kyle Orton as the Bronco quarterback, some of the down-the-field possibilities are limited.

It is Marshall’s ability to win jump balls in the 20-30 yard range, and his skill at breaking tackles, which make him a threat. Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers happens to be one of the best tacklers in the game for his position, so Marshall can be held in check on many short-yardage passes.

Still, look for the Chiefs’ secondary to be exposed as safeties Mike Brown and Jon McGraw lack ideal closing speed and have been suspect tackling in the open field. Stopping Marshall is a job for the entire secondary, but look for Flowers to frustrate the talented receiver on screens and slants.

However, if Marshall is lined up against opposite corner Brandon Carr, look for those same routes to be exploited for big gains, because Carr has struggled covering the short passing game.

 

Kansas City and Denver vs. Self-fulfilling prophecies

Which team believes it is capable of winning? A team develops a winning identity by winning close games and learning how to win. This means an ability to win by coming from behind, by maintaining a lead, or playing the clock to one’s advantage in a contest with many lead changes.

Regardless of the kind of victory, great teams possess a mentality no matter the score and no matter the matchup. Given the recent meltdown of Denver, and the nature in which many shrug off the Chiefs’ ability to compete, it is easy for either franchise to fall victim to how the media paints its portrait.

One of these teams will take offense at the nonchalant way in which they are both disregarded as subpar teams, and with a chip on its shoulder, will rise to the occasion. Rather than fall victim to the scrutiny and assume the negative perceptions as an actual identity, both teams are looking to defy outsider views and adamantly declare their worth.

This game is sure to be a heated affair.

 

Fantasy tip of the week: Matt Cassel

The pairing of Champ Bailey and Dre Bly was arguably the best tandem of corners in the NFL.

With Bly gone, Bailey plays opposite veteran journeyman Andre’ Goodman. Despite playing well, Goodman is a clear downgrade.

Denver has also been known to bring in veteran safeties that still have something left in the tank. First John Lynch played this role and now it’s Brian Dawkins. Dawkins is as disruptive as ever since leaving the Philadelphia Eagles for Denver, but is out due to injury.

With Denver sure to key on running back Jamaal Charles given his recent success, look for Cassel to utilize his assortment of receivers and put up some solid numbers. On the low end, he is good for a couple hundred yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Kansas City Chiefs: Week Twelve Report Card

The win streak is finally over.  Maxing out at two games, the Kansas City Chiefs could not parlay the momentum of toppling the reigning Super Bowl Champion Steelers into a victory over the surging San Diego Chargers. 

No one believed Kansas City to be the more talented team in this matchup, but at times executed an offensive game-plan that was startlingly good. 

However, if a team is to pull an upset it is common to hear the need for “mistake-free” football.  The Chiefs (in the spirit of Thanksgiving) threw up a cornucopia of mistakes from which they could not recover.  

Here’s how the grades shake out:

Pass Offense: C-  

The Stat line—19/31, 178 yards, one touchdown, and one interception – not egregious, but the numbers only tell half the story. 

Chiefs’ quarterback Matt Cassel is finding more time to throw than earlier in the season, but this is largely attributed to pocket awareness. 

Cassel seldom has a place to set his feet and scan the field.  While he doesn’t always need to scramble or entirely leave the pocket, every down Cassel slides away from the pass rush in a makeshift shanty of a pocket. 

Wide receiver Chris Chambers continues to be a solid playmaker, but with Dwayne Bowe still out due to suspension the team struggles to find other legitimate receiving threats.  The lack of a strong tight end has become a gaping hole on the team’s roster.  No heir apparent to the great Tony Gonzalez has emerged.

Run Offense: B 

Running back Jamaal Charles continues to prove himself a great asset to this team.  Despite nearly a hundred yards on only 14 carries, for an average well above six yards-per-carry, Charles is haunted by a looming concern: ball security. 

To ask Charles to minimize his use of spin techniques is to marginalize his effectiveness, but while such fancy footwork can lead to hard-fought extra yards, those yards come at increased risk of fumbling.  It is becoming clear that KC has a feature running back on their roster. 

Charles can be compared to Tiki Barber, the now-retired running back for the New York Giants.  Barber was not the largest runner, was known as an exceptional receiver, and early in his career was questioned for his tendency to fumble. 

If the Chiefs get anywhere near similar results from Charles over the course of his career there is reason to be excited.

Pass Defense: D 

Slogan of the 2009 Chiefs: “We give up big plays.” 

Still stinging after being hit in the face for a 54 yard pass to Charger receiver Malcolm Floyd, the Chief’s defense played a deep, soft zone.  So, the defense was suspect to body-shot after body-shot as Charger tight end Antonio Gates delivered repeated blows to the gut of the Chief’s defense. 

The ability of the Kansas City linebackers to play coverage in the 3-4 is something many saw as a problem area as they field many converted defensive ends.  There is a learning curve and this week Kansas City fell on the low end of the spectrum. 

Where Kansas City is most clearly lacking is in their pass rush.  Charger’s quarterback, Philip Rivers was never sacked and was nearly never even pressured on his way to 317 yards and two touchdowns on 28 pass attempts.  Talk about time to look down field.

Run Defense: B

On a day where the commentators emphasized Charger running back, LaDainian Tomlinson’s climb up the list of all-time leaders in NFL rushing yardage, it was easy to overlook his mere 39 yards on 13 carries.  In fact, as a team, the Chargers were held to 2.8 yards-per-carry.

In summary:

Run offense and defense = good

Pass offense and defense = need improvement

Kansas City continues to show signs of being a talented team, but four turnovers that resulted in 28 San Diego points is too much for even the best teams to overcome.

Play of the game: The redemption song of Chris Chambers came on a seven yard touchdown pass from Cassel.  On third and four from the Charger’s eight yard line, Chambers came underneath on a two-yard drag and caught the ball in space as he cleared from the middle of the field.  Chambers took for the sideline and spun back toward the middle of the field, falling backward, with ball extended to break the plane of the end zone against his former teammates.      

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010