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10-16-2013, 10:05 AM | |
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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." http://www.foxsportskansascity.com/n...75&feedID=5117 Sorry if Q |
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10-17-2013, 03:38 PM | #271 |
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10-17-2013, 03:43 PM | #272 |
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well, have you had one of those burritos? Once you go spicey, you never go back!
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10-17-2013, 03:54 PM | #273 | ||
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10-17-2013, 03:59 PM | #274 |
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10-17-2013, 04:07 PM | #275 | |
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so it's difficult, yah know? Besides, most people on the planet have a sense of humor. Except for you. You're better at being a loser.
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10-17-2013, 04:08 PM | #276 |
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10-17-2013, 04:08 PM | #277 |
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Okie dokie
Back to the mange, mang |
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10-17-2013, 04:14 PM | #278 |
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How often has the offense been able to generate points without being handed the ball in plus territory? Not just TDs, but FGs as well. The defense has had an enormous impact on the Chiefs scoring even when they didn't take the ball into the end zone themselves.
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10-17-2013, 04:15 PM | #279 |
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I'd need to go back and re-read game logs to give you exact instances but there have been several scoring drives of 80 yards or more.
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10-17-2013, 04:39 PM | #280 | |
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13 total drives. 3 scoring drives. A TD starting out our own 45. A TD starting from the Raiders 23. A FG starting from the Raiders 29 vs. Titans 13 total drives. 5 scoring drives. A FG starting from our own 36. A FG starting from our own 1 A TD starting from our own 34 A FG starting from their 33 A FG starting from their 33. vs. Eagles 13 total drives. 5 scoring drives. A FG starting from their 48. A FG starting from our own 18. A FG starting from our own 39. A TD starting from our own 38. A FG starting from our own 5. vs. Giants 13 Total Drives. 5 scoring drives. A TD starting from our own 2. A FG starting from our own 36. A TD starting from their 30 A TD starting from our own 10. A TD starting from their 35. vs. Jaguars 12 Total Drives. 3 scoring drives. A TD starting from their 24. A TD starting from their 21 A TD starting from our own 43. vs. Cowboys 11 Total Drives. 3 scoring drives A TD starting from our own 23. A TD starting from our own 20. A FG starting from their 31. |
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10-17-2013, 04:41 PM | #281 |
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6 games.
75 total drives. 24 scoring drives. Starting on opponent's side of field - 10 Starting on our side of the field - 14 |
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10-17-2013, 04:49 PM | #282 | |
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And what is the offense supposed to do when they get the ball in good field position anyway? Bitch at the defense because they dont get to rack up yards before scoring? The article about the defense stated teams had better statistical chance of turning the ball over than driving for a FG on any given drive. That is going to result in good field position. People act like every time we get the ball at our 20 we go 3 and out and that's just bullshit. |
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10-17-2013, 04:50 PM | #283 | |
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They had one 8 play drive against Jacksonville, which began on their own 43 and ended in a TD. 57 yards. Longest drive of the day in both plays and yardage. They were handed the ball three times in Jags territory, resulting in 2 TDs and a punt. The first drive of the Cowboys game went 77 yards for a TD, and the final drive of the third quarter went 80 yards for a TD. They were handed the ball 3 times in Dallas territory, which resulted in two punts and a field goal. There were two 4th quarter drives against the Eagles that ran 62 and 75 yards for a combined 10 points. There was a 69-yard drive earlier in the game for a FG as well. They were also handed the ball 5 times in Philadelphia territory that day (and a 6th time at their own 45 yard line) but only managed to score one field goal. There were two extended drives against the Giants, one 98, one 80, both resulting in touchdowns. They were handed the ball three times in Giants territory, which resulted in a fumble, an interception and a touchdown. They had one 10-play 94 yard drive against the Titans which resulted in a field goal. They also had a 10-play 66 yard drive that ended in a TD. They were handed the ball twice in Titans territory, which resulted in two field goals. They had two 9 play drives against Oakland, one produced 38 yards and a punt, the other 57 yards and Avery's fumble. Nothing even close to 80 yards in that game. They were handed the ball twice in Oakland territory, resulting in 10 points. They also scored a TD on a 55-yard drive, which could go either way; handed the ball on their own 45, but drove 55... In any case, now that I look, it's actually worse than I thought. They're not consistently driving the ball, and they're not consistently taking advantage of the opportunities the defense gives them. 18 possessions beginning in plus territory in 6 weeks (not counting another pair that started at the 45), and they've totaled 4 TD, 5 FG, and 9 punts or turnovers. As far as 80-yard drives go, there were 4. Total. 6 if you count the 70s. In 6 weeks. So one per game. |
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10-17-2013, 04:51 PM | #284 | |
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10-17-2013, 04:51 PM | #285 | |
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