Mellinger: Chiefs are built for an era thats past.....

[Deberg_1990]

Babb and Mellinger, just killin it this week.



http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/19...is-on-the.html




The talk this week is about Scott Pioli’s competence, Clark Hunt’s commitment and Romeo Crennel’s laid-back leadership, and that’s all good and relevant in many ways, but it also misses a very important point that can be summed up something like this:
Even at full strength, the Chiefs are metaphorically not only running a race on a tightrope but doing it directly into the wind.

Matt Cassel’s limitations have been exaggerated and dramatized, a topic as omnipresent around here as potholes, but the argument for him being anything better than a bottom-quarter passer in the NFL is difficult to make.

That’s frustrating enough on its own, but it becomes a game-changer when you put context to the bigger plan on which Pioli is essentially betting his career in Kansas City. The organizational hope — or foundation, because the whole thing crumbles if they’re wrong here — is that Cassel is good enough to facilitate a championship team.

Even a distracted child can realize, just by watching games, that the NFL is a passing league. But when you look at some plain and simple numbers, you will dismiss any notion that the Chiefs are making chicken salad out of something much less appetizing.
Actually, they’re giving their fans the same old meal.
The numbers are clear, and they’re not encouraging.

________________________________________
The forward pass got a late start in American football, banned for the sport’s first few decades, and in a lot of ways has been playing catch-up ever since. Even now, when the NFL’s three most expensive positions are the quarterback, the left tackle who protects the quarterback and the defensive end who sacks the quarterback, our clichés are stuck in the days of black-and-white television.

Do a quick Google search on all the coaches who say they have to establish the run and stop the run.

And then digest some statistics that say they’re all full of hooey.
“Everybody says you gotta stop the run, stop the run,” Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson says. “But you gotta stop the pass, too.”

Last year, the 10 teams that ran the ball most effectively (by yards per carry) went a combined 82-78. The 10 teams that threw the ball most effectively (by passer rating) went a combined 113-47.

The 10 teams that stopped the run most effectively went a combined 83-77. The 10 teams that stopped the pass most effectively went a combined 96-64.
Put another way: The teams that excelled in the running game won as many times as they lost, while the teams that excelled in the passing game won enough to make the playoffs. That’s the whole thing right there: mediocre or successful, fired or given a raise.
This is more than the anecdotal evidence often used about the Giants winning the Super Bowl last year with the league’s worst running game. And it is particularly timely this week, because the Saints and Chiefs rank fifth and sixth in yards per carry, respectively, and have yet to win a game.

Turnovers have been a particular problem for both teams, but again, the biggest chunk of that problem is coming through the air: Matt Cassel has thrown three interceptions and fumbled twice, while Drew Brees has thrown four interceptions and fumbled once.
Nearly 70 percent of the yards gained in the NFL this season have come through the air, which would be the highest rate in league history.

Perhaps the new maxim should be, “We need to establish the pass and stop the pass.”
“Kind of, because you need to make plays in the passing game,” Charles says. “When you throw the ball down the field, more often those are bigger plays than running plays.”
This is all particularly discouraging when studied through the prism of the Chiefs, and not just as it pertains to the health of defensive backs Eric Berry, Brandon Flowers and Kendrick Lewis. Over the offseason, the Chiefs downgraded at cornerback, going from Brandon Carr to Stanford Routt, while improving at running back, by signing Peyton Hillis to pair with Charles. On top of that, so much of the Chiefs’ focus through recent drafts has been on finding defensive linemen to stop the run.

Meanwhile, if you allow for improvement from young players like Jacksonville’s Blaine Gabbert and Cleveland’s Brandon Weeden, it’s not a stretch to say the Chiefs have one of the three worst quarterback situations in football.

The NFL world is zigging right, and the Chiefs are zagging left.
Increasingly, it looks like they’re being left behind.
________________________________________
One of Pioli’s biggest successes in Kansas City has been surrounding Cassel with one of the league’s better groups of skills players. There just aren’t many teams that can match the Chiefs’ crop of receivers, running backs and tight ends.

So it’s not that they’re ignoring the pass. Bowe is making close to $10 million this year, and new tight end Kevin Boss made a remarkable touchdown catch against the Falcons — and then was injured in Buffalo. It’s just that they are increasingly emphasizing the run, which by definition increasingly de-emphasizes the pass.

When Todd Haley was hired as head coach, he went from designing a pass-first offense with Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald to a power running game featuring Charles. Cassel’s success in 2010 is often credited to former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, but it’s just as likely that Haley benefitted from defenses having to focus so much on the run (as well as string of would-be interceptions dropped by defenders). Crennel is now the head coach, his reputation in large part anchored by coordinating defenses that stopped the run in New England.

There is a bit of a chicken-and-egg aspect to all of this — of course the Chiefs would love to have an elite quarterback; but since they lack one, they are trying to create and emphasize other strengths.

But it’s hard to find a team anywhere else in the NFL that’s stressing the run as hard as the Chiefs. And it’s impossible to find another time in the league’s history where doing so is less important.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

Those numbers are COMPLETELY deceiving.

COMPLETELY.

The running game was absolutely pathetic in the first half against Buffalo.

The whole offense was garbage until the drive at the end of the first half, which was basically two plays - the big pass to Boss and Cassel's scramble.

Funny how this offense works when we get big plays, and usually doesn't when we try to dink and dunk shit.

COULD IT BE ANY MORE OBVIOUS WHAT WE NEED?

I love how you post as if you have discovered some secret about what we need. We all know it.

That being said, the defense in spite of Cassel should still be playing better than they are.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

That and Atlantas defense is not what you would call stout. Even with 4 turnovers Denver almost won that game.

Three or four straight possessions running the ball with a 240lb Turner who is averaging about 2.6 YPC will do that to you. IIRC Atlanta threw the ball ONE time in the third quarter.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

That being said, the defense in spite of Cassel should still be playing better than they are.

This is true, but in a league where the rules favor offenses nowadays you can't expect an 85 Bears or a 2000 Ravens/Titans defensive performance. Heck, you can't expect your defense to perform even at an above average peformance on a consistent basis. Look at the 49ers defense, which is considered by most in the league as the best. They gave up 22 and 19 points in their two games against potent offenses, that's good. But that's still 22 and 19 points. Back in the day, that's not THAT good. Today that's good, considering the offenses and the rules that favor them.

I won't say what you already know. Ok, I will. We need a QB. When your defense isn't having its best day you can't count on him to bring you from behind or keep the pressure on the defense if you have the lead.

[whoman69]

Originally Posted by Bewbies

What's sad is the millions and millions of dollars paid to folks who should know this...we are building a team to compete in the 1980's NFL.

We'll get there soon. Herm was building a team built for the 70s.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Brock

Where is this strong running game, btw?

My thoughts exactly. Any success or strength the Chiefs possess under Peeholi is all theoretical at this point.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by whoman69

We'll get there soon. Herm was building a team built for the 70s.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

Those numbers are COMPLETELY deceiving.

COMPLETELY.

The running game was absolutely pathetic in the first half against Buffalo.

The whole offense was garbage until the drive at the end of the first half, which was basically two plays - the big pass to Boss and Cassel's scramble.

Funny how this offense works when we get big plays, and usually doesn't when we try to dink and dunk shit.

COULD IT BE ANY MORE OBVIOUS WHAT WE NEED?

Everyone knows what we need. Any Chief fan that doesn't sip the cool-aid just cause the Chiefs are "their team" has seen it for a few years. Leadership doesn't see it cause Clark lets Pioli do whatever he wants, the coaches want their jobs, and Pioli is blinded by his desire to be right about Cassel.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

Those numbers are COMPLETELY deceiving.

COMPLETELY.

The running game was absolutely pathetic in the first half against Buffalo.

The whole offense was garbage until the drive at the end of the first half, which was basically two plays - the big pass to Boss and Cassel's scramble.

Funny how this offense works when we get big plays, and usually doesn't when we try to dink and dunk shit.

COULD IT BE ANY MORE OBVIOUS WHAT WE NEED?

Yep. Completely obvious.

Strong veteran interior offensive linemen and a true fullback.

Once you get those, you draft some TEs, and some real WRs who can catch.

Then more RB depth.

Anything else? I don't think I'm missing anything...

[007]

Originally Posted by scho63

I have personally never seen the Chiefs media so strong and bold against the organization. It seems like they all have been emboldened since Babb tore into the team first and now it's a free-for-all.

GOOD!

I bet once Babb is gone it will stop too.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Guru

I bet once Babb is gone it will stop too.

Perhaps not, Mr. Guru. Once the Star determines that their editorial position of exposing Dr. Evil and his despicable methods has resulted in recycling fewer papers from their boxes, advertising will increase and, as advertising increases, they will intensify their efforts to disclose the truth about Dr. Evil through the power of the printing press who will then have no choice but to escalate his own contemptible campaign of duplicity through a new and even more blatant wave of lies, deceit, deception and blatant obscurantism in order to save himself which will, in turn, result in even more damning evidence as his prevarications are revealed for what they are and he is at last discredited and smoked out of his lair to be sent packing back to the stinking pit of hell where he belongs.

FAX

[Unsmooth-Moment]

It is a passing league, but that doesn't mean you cannot win running the football. The best team in the league is a run first and play tough defense (SF).

[Coogs]

This play shows the ineptitude of our QB. Every damn receiver on the team is open via NFL standards. Hell, even by Jr. High school standards. The ball should have been out already to which ever receiver he wanted. (Whoever is running the seam rout at the 48 would have been the best option IMO) And the result of this play was a fumble by Cassel... that resulted in a TD by Buffalo a few plays later.

http://i.imgur.com/RO8xp.jpg

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Coogs

This play shows the ineptitude of our QB. Every damn receiver on the team is open via NFL standards. Hell, even by Jr. High school standards. The ball should have been out already to which ever receiver he wanted. (Whoever is running the seam rout at the 48 would have been the best ooption IMO) And the result of this play was a fumble by Cassel... that resulted in a TD by Buffalo a few plays later.

http://i.imgur.com/RO8xp.jpg

Okay. That's pretty sad.

But, here's my question ...

The guys on the team study the film from the last game, correct? And they all see the same thing, right? The same thing we see when we look at shocking photos like that, right? And they are football players ... they've played football all their lives and know what good quarterbacking is and what "open downfield" means, correct?

If all that is true, it seems to me that the guys would be absolutely sick and freaking tired of running routes and blocking their asses off for no reason since the result of all their effort and risk of injury is going to be some sort of screw up ultimately resulting in a loss.

The defense has to see this stuff, too. I mean, they know that, regardless of how well they play, they will never have the luxury of a lead or, most often, even any rest between series.

I have to believe that there is a lot of grumbling going on amidst the troops ... I know that I, personally, would have a freaking hard time being a good and loyal and generous and hardworking teammate to a dumbass like Cassel. Especially after seeing stuff like this every week.

FAX

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by FAX

Okay. That's pretty sad.

But, here's my question ...

The guys on the team study the film from the last game, correct? And they all see the same thing, right? The same thing we see when we look at shocking photos like that, right? And they are football players ... they've played football all their lives and know what good quarterbacking is and what "open downfield" means, correct?

If all that is true, it seems to me that the guys would be absolutely sick and freaking tired of running routes and blocking their asses off for no reason since the result of all their effort and risk of injury is going to be some sort of screw up ultimately resulting in a loss.

The defense has to see this stuff, too. I mean, they know that, regardless of how well they play, they will never have the luxury of a lead or, most often, even any rest between series.

I have to believe that there is a lot of grumbling going on amidst the troops ... I know that I, personally, would have a freaking hard time being a good and loyal and generous and hardworking teammate to a dumbass like Cassel. Especially after seeing stuff like this every week.

FAX

Been trying to say this for a long time. You just said it a lot better.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Unsmooth-Moment

It is a passing league, but that doesn't mean you cannot win running the football. The best team in the league is a run first and play tough defense (SF).

I would agree with this. I think you an win with this model, but the fact is that you either have to be elite on running the ball and defense, or you have to have a qb that is anoutstandng game manager. For example, I think the steelers are moving toward this philosophy. Big Ben has proven he can win on his arm alone, but putting him into more a game manager role, in my opinion, will make Pittsburgh downright dangerous. Of course, I'm oversimplifying. Being a good game manager isn't easy. It requires you to make big plays in big moments and to be nails on third down. Few can do that very consistently.