Chiefs Clunker against the Colts underscores concerns about Chiefs’ offense

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-22-2013, 11:52 PM

Clunker against the Colts underscores concerns about Chiefs’ offense
By VAHE GREGORIAN
The Kansas City Star

With quarterback Alex Smith suddenly surging from a sluggish start to the best season of his NFL career, with running back Jamaal Charles further ascending into superstardom, the Chiefs had hoarded 101 points in their previous two games.

And they seemed poised for a similar scoring spree against Indianapolis on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium when Charles barged 31 yards for a touchdown less than four minutes into the game.

“Marching down the way we did,” Smith said, “it felt like things were going to be kind of the way they’ve been.”

So maybe the Chiefs just sagged in what crumbled into a 23-7 loss. Or maybe Indianapolis out of nowhere became really good on defense after giving up 133 points in its last four road games.

“We certainly didn’t match their emotion and execution today,” said Smith, who a week after having a “perfect game” with a 158.3 passer rating dipped to a 41.3 and committed three turnovers.

He added, “I don’t know if we thought they were going to lay down or lay over or what.”

Or maybe it was a sort of mulligan stew of miscues that wouldn’t necessarily converge again with a do-over. And for now, anyway, a rematch against the Colts is exactly what shapes up in the AFC wild-card playoff game in two weeks.

Whatever really happened, it diminishes any concrete conviction that the Chiefs offense and Smith are beyond concern.

Especially considering the Chiefs entered the day with much to play for: They were still in contention to win the AFC West, and they knew they were taking on their most likely first playoff opponent.

But for all it meant, the Chiefs showed only that they were capable of an uninspired overall effort and that their repertoire still features an offensive clunker.

In this case, weeks removed from managing just 80 points in four games, they gave the ball away a season-high four times and mustered just 228 yards after the fool’s gold of the opening drive.

As he is prone to, coach Andy Reid tried to protect his players, blaming himself for play-calling that “wasn’t putting the guys in the position I needed to.”

And to be sure, this was an entire approach that was out of sync.

Charles rushed for 106 yards on just 13 carries, meaning he was averaging more than 6 yards even without the 31-yard TD. Couldn’t he have carried the ball more?

Receivers had a hard time getting open, perhaps explaining some of Smith’s forced attempts as he connected on just 16 of 29 passes for 153 yards.

And Smith didn’t seem to get much chance to go downfield, either because receivers couldn’t shake free, play selection or sheer harassment: He was sacked four times and rushed repeatedly.

The Colts disrupted the Chiefs’ passing game by mixing coverages, pressures and personnel, said Smith, who acknowledged the Chiefs didn’t stretch the field as much as they had been until they had to.

“You’re trying to pick your shots to take shots,” he said.

But this day also was a regression for Smith, who came into the game with a career-high 23 TD passes, career bests of 3,160 passing yards and 384 rushing yards and just six interceptions.

For all the relatively gaudy numbers he’s been assembling as he’s exerted what Reid considers essential leadership of this team, Smith still has one prime directive:

First, do no harm.

As he has most of the season, he has to stay above the chaos around him -- not be susceptible to it as he was on Sunday.

It’s hard to blame Smith for the first interception he threw, the one that came with Robert Mathis crunching his arm as he released, and that set up Donald Brown’s 51-yard TD run two plays later.

But if you had to diagram the very play that Smith can’t mishandle, it was the underthrown ball intended for a well-covered Anthony Fasano in the end zone from the Indianapolis 15-yard line with 10:02 left.

Of course Smith was eager to make a play, as he was in the futile final minutes when he got “careless” and fumbled one away.

But that interception lingers.

After all, it was second down and time to exercise discretion, not desperation, and go to the next play. A TD there and a two-point conversion would have made it a one-possession game and changed the dynamic to put the onus on the Colts.

“I kind of lost vision and didn’t get it out there,” Smith said. “I was trying to give him the chance to go up and make a play, but it was just underthrown, a poor pass.”

Smith’s gracious, poised pocket presence with the news media is a reminder of his character and what makes him a respected leader. Believe he means it when he says this “stings” and he’ll learn from it.

That and what he’s done most of the season is why Smith figures to respond well next week at San Diego and do the things he’s wired to do first and foremost even as he’s expanded his game.

But now you can’t just assume it, not any more than that the Chiefs would score heaps more after their first touchdown on Sunday.

Carlota69 · 12-22-2013, 11:58 PM

Today's game was hands down the worst performance by this team this year. Every facet of the team sucked and had no heart, at all.

chiefzilla1501 · 12-23-2013, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlota69

Today's game was hands down the worst performance by this team this year. Every facet of the team sucked and had no heart, at all.

Take away Kendrick ****ing Lewis and a day full of turnovers and 3-and-outs, and the defense played pretty well. They'll only play better when they add Houston.

The offense is the unit that laid the big goose egg.

BlackHelicopters · 12-23-2013, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlota69

Today's game was hands down the worst performance by this team this year. Every facet of the team sucked and had no heart, at all.

Our punting was pretty good.

**HemiEd** · 12-23-2013, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlota69

Today's game was hands down the worst performance by this team this year. Every facet of the team sucked and had no heart, at all.

Yeah, this was by far their worst game.

Wallcrawler · 12-23-2013, 09:05 AM

Reid's excuse is getting old, but the fact of the matter is that its true. Playcalling once again, was ****ing abysmal.

3rd and 2, with Jamaal ripping the Colts defense to shreds to the tune of 6 yards per carry, and we go with a pass that ends in disaster.

Jamaal is the hub of the offense. I don't know how you can forget, or lose sight of that, and get away from trying to get him the ball. It isn't like this is the first versatile back that Reid has had in his offense over the years.

I just don't get this. Youre going 3 and out, trying to find a way to move the ball, and here you have Charles with minimal touches in the game.

Andy's a smart guy. I don't know why this concept of getting the football to your best player isn't being understood and executed. I guess its because Andy doesn't like to rush the ball, and even if it means losing the ****ing game, he's going to stay pass oriented no matter what.

The Colts were so focused on Jamaal that Alex Smith twice took off for huge gains on the fake. Had we been feeding Jamaal the football, any sort of play action passes would have amazingly improved. We're faking the run to a guy we barely run the football with.

If the playcalling gets rectified, the defensive woes ease as well, because then youre not going out there and getting a 3 and out after giving up a TD and putting an already demoralized secondary unit right back out there.

7 points isn't winning you shit in the NFL, I don't care how good or bad your defense plays.

Aspengc8 · 12-23-2013, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wallcrawler

Reid's excuse is getting old, but the fact of the matter is that its true. Playcalling once again, was ****ing abysmal.

3rd and 2, with Jamaal ripping the Colts defense to shreds to the tune of 6 yards per carry, and we go with a pass that ends in disaster.

.....

I just don't get Andy's play calling sometimes. On that 3rd-2, we came out in I form with Mccluster in the slot, bowe split outside of him, avery all alone and Charles/Sherman in I form. Defense was in a straight nickel with only 6 in the box! Easy first down jeeeeez Andy.

Chief Roundup · 12-23-2013, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aspengc8

I just don't get Andy's play calling sometimes. On that 3rd-2, we came out in I form with Mccluster in the slot, bowe split outside of him, avery all alone and Charles/Sherman in I form. Defense was in a straight nickel with only 6 in the box! Easy first down jeeeeez Andy.

Why didn't Smith change the play at the line of scrimmage?

chiefzilla1501 · 12-23-2013, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wallcrawler

Reid's excuse is getting old, but the fact of the matter is that its true. Playcalling once again, was ****ing abysmal.

3rd and 2, with Jamaal ripping the Colts defense to shreds to the tune of 6 yards per carry, and we go with a pass that ends in disaster.

Jamaal is the hub of the offense. I don't know how you can forget, or lose sight of that, and get away from trying to get him the ball. It isn't like this is the first versatile back that Reid has had in his offense over the years.

I just don't get this. Youre going 3 and out, trying to find a way to move the ball, and here you have Charles with minimal touches in the game.

Andy's a smart guy. I don't know why this concept of getting the football to your best player isn't being understood and executed. I guess its because Andy doesn't like to rush the ball, and even if it means losing the ****ing game, he's going to stay pass oriented no matter what.

The Colts were so focused on Jamaal that Alex Smith twice took off for huge gains on the fake. Had we been feeding Jamaal the football, any sort of play action passes would have amazingly improved. We're faking the run to a guy we barely run the football with.

If the playcalling gets rectified, the defensive woes ease as well, because then youre not going out there and getting a 3 and out after giving up a TD and putting an already demoralized secondary unit right back out there.

7 points isn't winning you shit in the NFL, I don't care how good or bad your defense plays.

The game plan seemed ultra conservative. Reid took Charles out for a lot more breathers than usual, including the second or third drive where they ran a lot of empty backfield sets. I didn't see many screens, playactions, and they used Charles sparingly. We didn't have many plays with designed shots down the field. You can see from Alex's progressions that the playcalling seemed really conservative by design. The only thing innovative we did, really, was the playaction bootleg.

I'd like to think the shitty playcalling was Andy's way of not showing his hand. I am going to be an optimist and say we come out with much more aggressive playcalling the next time around.

TambaBerry · 12-23-2013, 12:09 AM

That's the main reason, most of our player's didn't want to be out there it seemed like.

The thing I hate about Smith is, he gets happy feet, on one of his sacks today he had perfect protection, he then freaks out steps forward allowing Stephenson to get beat and Alex got sacked. If Alex stays where he was the pocket holds up for a couple more seconds and maybe a receiver gets open.

salame · 12-23-2013, 12:20 AM

some of these writers man

how do I get that job?

Discuss Thrower · 12-23-2013, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salame

some of these writers man

how do I get that job?

Freelance write high school stories until you can land a full time job as a sports writer for a small (less than 10,000 readers) paper.

Hope said paper doesn't fold or lay you off.

Work for 2-4 years while applying for jobs at papers in larger towns that hopefully have a college team playing in them.

Repeat step 3.

Apply for jobs at larger papers after working another 2-4 years..

scho63 · 12-23-2013, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

As he is prone to, coach Andy Reid tried to protect his players, blaming himself for play-calling that “wasn’t putting the guys in the position I needed to.”

I'm really getting sick of this EXACT statement every time we lose!

Hammock Parties · 12-23-2013, 01:02 AM

i thought that alex was hitting his stride guys, chucking that pigskin down the field, happy days are here again right

MMXcalibur · 12-23-2013, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pam Oliver's Forehead

i thought that alex was hitting his stride guys, chucking that pigskin down the field, happy days are here again right

Yup, you sure showed us.

12-22-2013, 11:52 PM	Topic Starter
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $582813	Clunker against the Colts underscores concerns about Chiefs’ offense Clunker against the Colts underscores concerns about Chiefs’ offense By VAHE GREGORIAN The Kansas City Star With quarterback Alex Smith suddenly surging from a sluggish start to the best season of his NFL career, with running back Jamaal Charles further ascending into superstardom, the Chiefs had hoarded 101 points in their previous two games. And they seemed poised for a similar scoring spree against Indianapolis on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium when Charles barged 31 yards for a touchdown less than four minutes into the game. “Marching down the way we did,” Smith said, “it felt like things were going to be kind of the way they’ve been.” So maybe the Chiefs just sagged in what crumbled into a 23-7 loss. Or maybe Indianapolis out of nowhere became really good on defense after giving up 133 points in its last four road games. “We certainly didn’t match their emotion and execution today,” said Smith, who a week after having a “perfect game” with a 158.3 passer rating dipped to a 41.3 and committed three turnovers. He added, “I don’t know if we thought they were going to lay down or lay over or what.” Or maybe it was a sort of mulligan stew of miscues that wouldn’t necessarily converge again with a do-over. And for now, anyway, a rematch against the Colts is exactly what shapes up in the AFC wild-card playoff game in two weeks. Whatever really happened, it diminishes any concrete conviction that the Chiefs offense and Smith are beyond concern. Especially considering the Chiefs entered the day with much to play for: They were still in contention to win the AFC West, and they knew they were taking on their most likely first playoff opponent. But for all it meant, the Chiefs showed only that they were capable of an uninspired overall effort and that their repertoire still features an offensive clunker. In this case, weeks removed from managing just 80 points in four games, they gave the ball away a season-high four times and mustered just 228 yards after the fool’s gold of the opening drive. As he is prone to, coach Andy Reid tried to protect his players, blaming himself for play-calling that “wasn’t putting the guys in the position I needed to.” And to be sure, this was an entire approach that was out of sync. Charles rushed for 106 yards on just 13 carries, meaning he was averaging more than 6 yards even without the 31-yard TD. Couldn’t he have carried the ball more? Receivers had a hard time getting open, perhaps explaining some of Smith’s forced attempts as he connected on just 16 of 29 passes for 153 yards. And Smith didn’t seem to get much chance to go downfield, either because receivers couldn’t shake free, play selection or sheer harassment: He was sacked four times and rushed repeatedly. The Colts disrupted the Chiefs’ passing game by mixing coverages, pressures and personnel, said Smith, who acknowledged the Chiefs didn’t stretch the field as much as they had been until they had to. “You’re trying to pick your shots to take shots,” he said. But this day also was a regression for Smith, who came into the game with a career-high 23 TD passes, career bests of 3,160 passing yards and 384 rushing yards and just six interceptions. For all the relatively gaudy numbers he’s been assembling as he’s exerted what Reid considers essential leadership of this team, Smith still has one prime directive: First, do no harm. As he has most of the season, he has to stay above the chaos around him -- not be susceptible to it as he was on Sunday. It’s hard to blame Smith for the first interception he threw, the one that came with Robert Mathis crunching his arm as he released, and that set up Donald Brown’s 51-yard TD run two plays later. But if you had to diagram the very play that Smith can’t mishandle, it was the underthrown ball intended for a well-covered Anthony Fasano in the end zone from the Indianapolis 15-yard line with 10:02 left. Of course Smith was eager to make a play, as he was in the futile final minutes when he got “careless” and fumbled one away. But that interception lingers. After all, it was second down and time to exercise discretion, not desperation, and go to the next play. A TD there and a two-point conversion would have made it a one-possession game and changed the dynamic to put the onus on the Colts. “I kind of lost vision and didn’t get it out there,” Smith said. “I was trying to give him the chance to go up and make a play, but it was just underthrown, a poor pass.” Smith’s gracious, poised pocket presence with the news media is a reminder of his character and what makes him a respected leader. Believe he means it when he says this “stings” and he’ll learn from it. That and what he’s done most of the season is why Smith figures to respond well next week at San Diego and do the things he’s wired to do first and foremost even as he’s expanded his game. But now you can’t just assume it, not any more than that the Chiefs would score heaps more after their first touchdown on Sunday.
Posts: 42,161

12-22-2013, 11:58 PM	#2
Carlota69 MVP Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Las Vegas Casino cash: $9925282	Today's game was hands down the worst performance by this team this year. Every facet of the team sucked and had no heart, at all. __________________ Women want someone who can make them laugh and protect them. So basically a Clown Ninja.
Posts: 6,592

12-23-2013, 09:05 AM	#6
Wallcrawler How tall is this thing? Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ground 0 for enema of US. Casino cash: $4162912	Reid's excuse is getting old, but the fact of the matter is that its true. Playcalling once again, was **ing abysmal. 3rd and 2, with Jamaal ripping the Colts defense to shreds to the tune of 6 yards per carry, and we go with a pass that ends in disaster. Jamaal is the hub of the offense. I don't know how you can forget, or lose sight of that, and get away from trying to get him the ball. It isn't like this is the first versatile back that Reid has had in his offense over the years. I just don't get this. Youre going 3 and out, trying to find a way to move the ball, and here you have Charles with minimal touches in the game. Andy's a smart guy. I don't know why this concept of getting the football to your best player isn't being understood and executed. I guess its because Andy doesn't like to rush the ball, and even if it means losing the **ing game, he's going to stay pass oriented no matter what. The Colts were so focused on Jamaal that Alex Smith twice took off for huge gains on the fake. Had we been feeding Jamaal the football, any sort of play action passes would have amazingly improved. We're faking the run to a guy we barely run the football with. If the playcalling gets rectified, the defensive woes ease as well, because then youre not going out there and getting a 3 and out after giving up a TD and putting an already demoralized secondary unit right back out there. 7 points isn't winning you shit in the NFL, I don't care how good or bad your defense plays. __________________ She did not open her eyes this morning. I don't know what else to say.
Posts: 6,937

12-23-2013, 12:09 AM	#10
TambaBerry MVP Join Date: Jan 2013 Casino cash: $1385541	That's the main reason, most of our player's didn't want to be out there it seemed like. The thing I hate about Smith is, he gets happy feet, on one of his sacks today he had perfect protection, he then freaks out steps forward allowing Stephenson to get beat and Alex got sacked. If Alex stays where he was the pocket holds up for a couple more seconds and maybe a receiver gets open.
Posts: 10,623

12-23-2013, 12:20 AM	#11
salame Under the Sofa Join Date: Apr 2009 Casino cash: $10010607	some of these writers man how do I get that job?
Posts: 4,907

12-23-2013, 01:02 AM	#14
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4380478	i thought that alex was hitting his stride guys, chucking that pigskin down the field, happy days are here again right __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 278,885