Whitlock: Softly, they melted down
 

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13432731.htm

Softly, they melted down
JASON WHITLOCK

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It’s not just Larry Johnson. The Chiefs — as a group — are soft.

Given a 24-hour head start to put pressure on Pittsburgh, San Diego and Jacksonville in the AFC wild-card race, the Chiefs exposed a soft underbelly inside Giants Stadium, calling into question whether they’re really a playoff-caliber squad.

Giants 27, Chiefs 17.

Kansas City’s defense surrendered a career-high 220 rushing yards to Tiki Barber and couldn’t take advantage of an opposing quarterback who desperately wanted to give the game away… if only KC’s defenders would’ve cooperated and hit Eli Manning.

Kansas City’s tackling was embarrassingly bad. How bad? Larry Johnson allegedly could be heard along the sideline telling KC’s defenders that he could block them. Kendrell Bell agreed.

But we’ve grown used to Kansas City’s defense melting down in crucial and inconsequential games. What we’re not used to is Kansas City cranking up its ground game and being held to 17 points.

Johnson kept his 100-yard streak alive, running for 167 yards and two TDs. His streak is now at seven games. When Kansas City’s ground game is rolling, that almost always means its play-action-passing game will click.

Not on Saturday. Trent Green threw for just 176 yards. Kansas City’s receivers — Eddie Kennison, Chris Horn, Tony Gonzalez, Tony Richardson and Johnson — repeatedly dropped passes that hit them in the hands. Kennison and Samie Parker lost fumbles after catches.

Given the importance of the game, the performance of Green’s receivers was unprofessional. They gave the game away.

The only thing worse was the offensive strategy that relegated Johnson to sideline-watcher on obvious passing downs. “Larry Lite” is the best description of KC’s offensive game plan. “Larry Lite” tastes great and is a lot less filling.

I don’t blame Dick Vermeil and Al Saunders for the “Larry Lite” offense. It seems quite obvious now that Johnson is refusing to block. After scoring just 10 points in the opening half running the “Larry Lite” offense, Vermeil and Saunders stuck Johnson in the game on a couple of passing downs in the second half. Johnson’s blocking effort was soft.

It’s impossible to properly explain just how limited Kansas City’s offense is when its most-explosive player, its most-consistent scorer has to stand on the sideline on third and 4.

Priest Holmes was brilliant at turning third and 6 into first and 10 by catching a screen pass, a swing pass or running a draw. Tony Richardson is a tremendous blocker. He did an awesome job of picking up free rushers. Richardson, however, did not pick up one first down on Saturday.

Johnson’s refusal to block handicaps Kansas City’s offense. Pretty much, when he’s on the field, the defense knows he’s going to carry or catch the ball 90 percent of the time. The other 10 percent, the Chiefs will fake a handoff to Johnson and throw the football.

The key to Saunders’ offense is unpredictability. He’s constantly sending guys in motion and switching formations trying to fool the defense. He likes to run when people think he’s going to throw. And he likes to throw when the defense is keying the run.

Before implementing “Larry Lite,” the only thing predictable about Saunders’ offense was its reliance on running behind Willie Roaf and Brian Waters.

Again, you can’t pin this loss solely on Johnson’s refusal to block. Saturday’s meltdown was a group effort. The Chiefs failed to tackle, failed to catch the ball, failed to hold onto the ball and were flagged for a couple of foolish, critical penalties.

Maybe the Chiefs can back their way into the playoffs. Right now, they’re not quite tough enough to earn their way.

WTF does fatboy have against LJ??? Did he F@$k his little sister over or something???

This was my biggest problem with the game today (aside from the rushing D).

We dropped 7 passes by my count. At one point Green had 5 incompletions, and 4 of them were drops.

*sigh* :(

Didn't we only score 3 points in the first half?

Fatlock deliveres... (Hee Hee)...
"Kansas City’s tackling was embarrassingly bad. How bad? Larry Johnson allegedly could be heard along the sideline telling KC’s defenders that he could block them. Kendrell Bell agreed."

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I actually agree with him that not having LJ in there on passing downs hurts us... I said that during or right after the game, I forget when, it's all a blur now... but he's right about that. Simply because we're good at that little underneath dump where the RB can turn and make something happen... like at the end of the Oakland game. He can't do that if he's on the sideline. He was getting better at blocking too, I don't know what's happened the last couple weeks. I still don't think it's that he just refuses to block, I don't know why LJ would ever think that, but I don't know, maybe Whitlock knows something I don't.

It's not our only problem though, should be mentioned but we've got other issues. Whitlock's never been one to refuse the opportunity to twist an open wound. LJ's just gotta prove him wrong. If I was gonna have any gripe with LJ right now it'd first be that he needs to learn to dive in those goal line situations. Just as concerning to me is the fact that people are running over Jared Allen. He looked like the guy who got run over by Q Griffin in the opener against Denver last year. We gotta fix that.

:cuss::bang:FatlockSTFU:BS:

Bastard

The thing is, LJ is already getting 30-35 touches a game. How much more do we want this guy getting pounded and handling the rock??

**** fatlock and **** chiefs planet...look around for other chiefs boards

I would really like to know what the **** LJ has done to piss Whitlock off so bad. His columns bashing on LJ are turning personal.

www.nepachiefs.com

Have fun.

Me too, its getting a little ridicules to keep bashing our top playmaker when you have guys that cant catch and tackle. Sure, LJ isnt a great blocker, fine.....But hes NOT the reason we have lost the past 2 weeks.

I'm not talking about me...just telling you guys how I feel about this site...I mean its sill legal at facistplanet isnt....bowser lol

If our receivers didn't have hands of stone and fumblitus, TG would have had a descent game. We killed ourselves on every drive with some kind of stupid shit, bad play calling, false starts, dropped passes, fumbles, holding, unsportsmanlike conduct, high or bad passes/ bad route running. How many ways can you posibly screw up-a bunch by my count. DV has lost complete control over this team.

Oh and don't forget the shredded defense and the nice field position we gave them on kick offs practically every time. Mcleon seemed lost-just running around, not covering anyone. Sad very sad.

WTF..?
I think he's called a columnist.

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