Andy blames himself, not Alex, for Chiefs' sputtering offense
 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- When you're 6-0 and coming off a 2-14 season, there really shouldn't be any complaining.

There can't be a football fan or scout or executive anywhere on the planet who could have forecast the amazing turnaround general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid have conducted with the Chiefs -- certainly not to the extent of a 6-0 start.

But -- and isn't there always a but? -- there is one small area of concern that even Reid himself continues to address: a sluggish offense.

The Chiefs are 25th in the NFL in offense, chugging along at just 326 yards per game, a remarkably low figure for a team unbeaten this far into the season.

No one is more aware of the offense's struggles than Reid. The offense is his baby.

"Listen, I'm never going to make excuses," Reid said Monday. "That's not how we roll here. But the reality of it is we're a little young, but we have to get better.

"I see some phases we're getting better at. But I've got to do a better job of getting these guys in the right position to succeed. We've all got a little piece of the pie to get things right. We're learning on the fly, but we're going to get better."

The Chiefs likely will have to. Fans in this area have seen this script before. They've seen the Chiefs' teams of the 1990s soar through the regular season on the strength of their overpowering defenses and elite special teams.

Then those fans saw the same teams misfire in the postseason, mainly because the offense couldn't step up and contribute when it had to.

To avoid revisiting that script, the Chiefs must get more production out of quarterback Alex Smith, whose numbers keep sinking.

Smith is 26th in the league in passing yards at just 221.7 per game. He's also 20th in the league with a passer rating of 79.8.

But if you're looking for Reid to point any fingers toward Smith, you'll have a long wait.

Reid knows what kind of team he has. He knows, outside of Jamaal Charles and at times Dwayne Bowe, he doesn't have an explosive offense.

Reid also knows you can win in this league simply by not messing up, and letting the opponent beat itself. The Chiefs are No. 1 in the league in turnover ratio at plus-12, and don't have the appearance of a team that will beat itself anytime soon.

"Not turning the ball over is very important to us," Reid said, "especially when you have a solid defense like we have and the kicking game we have, both from our punter and our kicker."

In that respect, Smith is giving Reid all he needs, even if the offense has that familiar conservative look of the '90s. After all, there is a fine line between wanting more offensive production, and opening the offense up so much that more turnovers occur. Reid isn't likely to stand for that.

"You want to always start off by protecting the ball," Reid said. "There's no fine line there for me. ...

"Alex is doing that. And we need to point out the way Alex continues to manage this offense."

And that is the key in Reid's mind: He simply wants Smith to manage the game, which also includes managing the different personalities in the huddle.

"We've got a guy at quarterback, this kid, he's a stud," Reid said. "The things he does for this team is unbelievable. He's making people around him better. He takes the blame for things -- that's what good leaders do.

"At the same time, he's able to teach and explain to other guys with a clear head. Those are valuable things for us as coaches to see. I'm very pleased with the job (Smith) is doing."

In Reid's mind, let the other quarterbacks around the league possess the pretty passing numbers; Reid will take the ultimate one that counts. That is, for now, 6-0.

Still, Reid also has been around long enough to know that his offense will have to improve as the season wears on, even if it's just incrementally.

And that will be up to Reid himself as the play-caller and architect of the offense, something Reid has mentioned almost every week.

"I think we have done some good things, but we have plenty to work on," Reid said. "I don't think I've done a very good job of putting guys in position to make plays. That has been obvious at times. I have to do a better job."



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Sorry if Q

Tamba d player of the week per Gretz

So what he is saying is that we need the game manager to manage the game?

Pretty sure Q, but, I have a question, and a comment.


If that is the CASE, the GIVE WHATEVER ATLANTA wants to get Tony G.

I know this, other people know this, I don't know jack shit about the NFL but I know that the Chiefs probably have the worst collection of skill players in the league.

If this can be put out there by THE HEAD COACH himself, then something should be done......

This offense needs a game manager, because the talent on it after Bowe, and Charles, is pathetic. And the only people who think it is anything more than that, are blind homer Chief fans, or Alex Smith haters......

What he's kind of saying is that a man needs to know his limitations(Clint Eastwood style). They have a bunch and they are dealing with it.

Avery is a good enough 2.

Hemmingway needs to overtake Dexter in the slot for the most part. The offensive skill positions aren't as dearth as some make it out to be. We aren't the Broncos in terms of skill guys, but theres talent there. It's all about finding the mismatches and capitalizing when they are found.

They need to get guys like Knile Davis (if he can hold on to the football), Gray, Hemmingway and Jenkins ( I know some are down on him, I think there's something there) the football and give them some chances to develop now, so when December rolls around, they're ready to go.

This offense needs an elite QB.

So it's elite or bust huh?

How many elite Qb's do you think there are in the NFL?

No. That's where you are wrong. And you would understand just how wrong you are if at ALL Jamaal Charles misses any time.

There is a severe lack of weapons on this team.

If you look at what I would consider to be the 6 or so teams that you could legitimately could win the super bowl this year.

The Chiefs are so far at the bottom of that list when it comes to offense.

It really is a bad offense skill position wise, and that's not even incorporating how bad the oline has played at times, and how piss poor Alex Smith has played the past two weeks.

When your slot receiver is a combination of Chad Hall, McCluster, Aj Jenkins. That aint good.

The tight end position is very weak as well.

While I agree with you, Avery is a nice number two, he is probably better as a three.

I also wonder if Bowe, wouldn't do better in the slot. I am seeing that a lot in the past two years where teams are moving their better options into the slot.

The 49ers did it last year with Crabtree, the Cowboys move Dez everywhere, Justin Blackmon was in the slot almost exclusively vs the Broncos.

maybe that is what Andy means by not putting his guys in the right positions.

The skill positions on offense, are VERY bad.

If Charles goes down, I don't know how this team would score on offense at all.

That's just too much pressure on a guy.

packers,
Saints,
49ers,
Seahawks,
Broncos,

those are those legitimate teams to me along with the Chiefs that have a chance. All have VASTLY more weapons than the Chiefs.

With the Seahawks, and 49ers having similar defenses.

Of course Reid blames himself. That's his job.
All this offense needs is a solid #2 running back and a decent tight end.

I'd seriously doubt ATL would give up TG...
That pipe dream needs to be put to bed.

The WRs probably need to be upgraded or others need to be given more chances (Hemmingway and Jenkins). The key to this offense getting better and as much as I love what McGrath is contributing an upgrade at TE would do it.

Every offense would like to have an ELITE qb.

The problem with having an Elite qb, as the Ravens are finding out, is that other areas of your team, struggle, and struggle mightily if you wrap 20 mil into your qb.

Im in the minority, and I recognize that, id rather have a complete team, with a good to above average qb, than to just have an elite qb.

Sad thing is, most of the elite qbs, have that.

Denver, Green Bay, New Orleans.

Zach Sudfeld was released by the Pats. Really surprised they didn't take a look at him.

and no. This team needs a slot receiver in the worst way. Like a Davone Bess type.