Whitlock: Chiefs are going the wrong direction

[Tribal Warfare]

Chiefs are going the wrong direction
JASON WHITLOCK COMMENTARY

It’s not working, the “process,” the “Patriots Way,” the musical wide receivers, the $63 million quarterback, the yelling and screaming.

Sunday, the Chiefs darn near made your eyes bleed.

The Denver Broncos took the baton from the San Diego Chargers and obliterated the last pieces of progress left over from the Chiefs’ thought-to-be shocking-at-the-time victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A week ago, I spared you the final score. This week I will not shield you from the unfiltered truth:

Denver 44, Kansas City 13.

This thing is headed the wrong direction. Not only was the Pittsburgh victory a total fluke, but it’s lost all of its glitter, thanks to the Steelers’ four-game losing streak, including a loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

You can’t shine this up. For the first time since 1983, John Mackovic’s first season as head coach, the Chiefs surrendered 40-plus points in back-to-back games.

That’s right. This is starting to smell like the 1980s on the field and in the stands. Arrowhead Stadium was just a touch more than half-filled on Sunday, and Broncos fans comprised a good 30 percent of the spectators.

The only thing missing was Bill Kenney. Unfortunately, Matt Cassel wishes he played at a level as high as Kenney.

Todd Haley benched The Sixty Million Dollar Man after Scott Pioli’s prize acquisition completed 10 of 29 passes for 84 yards and two interceptions through three quarters of play. Haley denied Cassel the opportunity to get angry, fling the ball with confidence and authority and put up some meaningless stats.

Cassel’s 14.6 QB rating for the afternoon wasn’t all his fault. His receivers, particularly Bobby Wade, dropped numerous passes, failed to complete routes and generally conducted themselves as if they had little interest in risking a Brian Dawkins mouth shot.

So much for the myth that this Haley-coached team never quits. His players don’t care that he yells and screams anymore, if they ever did. He’s getting tuned out. In the first quarter, Wade shouted back at his coach and had to be restrained by his teammates.

The scare-and-intimidation tactics by Haley and Pioli aren’t a viable long-term plan. This “process” is immature. You can see it in the players’ uneven performance and demeanor. Even a proud, distinguished veteran like Mike Vrabel is beginning to crack.

When the Broncos converted a fourth-and-inches into a fourth-quarter touchdown, Vrabel flipped his middle finger to the Denver bench as he walked off the field.

“I was frustrated,” said Vrabel, the former Patriots star. “I’ve been on the other end of one of those (blowout victory) and it’s a lot of fun. Well, now I’ve been on the other side, and it’s not good.”

None of this is good. The Chiefs aren’t getting better. They have a lone bright spot — linebacker/defensive end Tamba Hali, who recorded three sacks on Sunday and has 6 1/2 for the season. He’s drawn several holding penalties this year and has been a consistent defensive force.

No disrespect to Hali, but let me ask this question: Is this the emergence of a true pass-rush force or the second coming of Eric Hicks?

You remember Hicks’ 2000 season. He put up 14 sacks in a disappointing 7-9 season. For a season, Hicks looked like a building block, a foundational block for a bright defensive future.

Over the next six seasons, Hicks recorded 26 1/2 sacks. He was a solid NFL player. He never had another double-digit sack season.

You could argue that if Kansas City had a second playmaker along its front four, Hali would get 10-plus sacks this season. Someone else might argue that Hali is simply doing what he did his first two seasons when he was playing opposite Jared Allen, and Hali’s 6 1/2 sacks look awesome solely because no one else on the Chiefs gets a whiff of the opposing quarterback.

Hali had eight sacks his rookie year and 7 1/2 sacks in year two. He had three sacks last season.

I’m sorry. I can’t pinpoint a legitimate bright spot. Running back Jamaal Charles can’t hold onto the football. He’s fumbled three times. Chris Chambers? He’s likely to fall off the same cliff as the other off-the-street receivers Haley showcases for a week or two.

This season is a disaster. You can’t blame these back-to-back blowout losses to AFC West foes on Carl Peterson and Herm Edwards.

When they took over, Marty and Carl didn’t blame Frank Gansz and Jim Schaaf.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

I'm still a Haley supporter.

That said, I was severely disappointed in his performance yesterday without a doubt. The decisions he made (other than 19 plays of the 20 play drive) were indefensible.

His personality is such that offensive inability causes him to press and force calls that just aren't there. When they got the field goal to get within 8 going into the half, you know he was going to get more points on that first drive of the 2nd half come hell or high water. Unfortunately it wasn't there and they went 3 and out, leading to the well-designed punt fake. Unfortunately you just can't run that play in that situation, period.

Sometimes it looks like he's trying to drive my 2004 minivan like it's a new Corvette.

I agree. I am a Haley Supporter, but he has disappointed me like he has with everyone else. I like his fire, and his willingness to take a risk. But sometimes, it feels like he is playing Madden, not coaching an NFL team. The punt fake: WTF was he thinking? The stretch play to the outside when all you needed was 1 yrd to make a TD? Come on Todd, what was that shit? His clock management has been awful. He needs to make up his mind. He calls plays that show he has no faith in his team; the stretch play at the one shows me that he doesn't believe he can win at the Point of Attack. The 4th and 1 field goal attempt shows that he wanted to play close a close game, not risky. Then he comes out on our own 30-ish yard line and attempts a fake punt? Make up your ****ing mind Todd.

If you're going to be a risk takes, take the right risks when it matters.

Every game he seems to have a "WTF?" moment. we must have the most bi-polar coach in the NFL right now. But, if we had better players, and we succeeded, how much better would he look? would he become "exciting" all of a sudden?

Like you said, he is trying to drive his mini van like it's a new vette. But, will it pay off once we get better players?

And will we get better players? What high priced "stars" will wanna come to a losing team so they can get berated? That's what REALLY worries me.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by mmaddog

While Kenney is towards the bottom of the list, I can name about 10 other starting QB's that are worse than him on the all time Chiefs rosters. And some of the are 1st and 2nd round picks.

mmaddog
*******

And that's why this team hasn't won anything in my lifetime.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

I agree. I am a Haley Supporter, but he has disappointed me like he has with everyone else. I like his fire, and his willingness to take a risk. But sometimes, it feels like he is playing Madden, not coaching an NFL team. The punt fake: WTF was he thinking?

The sad part is that the fake punt might have worked had Brokie Croyle done more than just stand there like his feet were planted in cement. Had he pump-faked the guy and then thrown the bullet passes he is supposedly famous for it could have succeeded. There wasn't anyone within 15 yards of the intended receiver.

mmaddog
*******

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by mmaddog

While Kenney is towards the bottom of the list, I can name about 10 other starting QB's that are worse than him on the all time Chiefs rosters. And some of the are 1st and 2nd round picks.

mmaddog
*******

Yeah, and Kenney would have easily made a lot of the passes that Cassel is screwing up, IMO.
Kenney was always running for his life, the OL sucked.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Mecca

And that's why this team hasn't won anything in my lifetime.

Luckily for me I have seen one...I feel for all you younger guys who haven't seen a real team play.

mmaddog
*******

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by mmaddog

The sad part is that the fake punt might have worked had Brokie Croyle done more than just stand there like his feet were planted in cement. Had he pump-faked the guy and then thrown the bullet passes he is supposedly famous for it could have succeeded. There wasn't anyone within 15 yards of the intended receiver.

mmaddog
*******

That is true, but the risk is to great for a call like that. That's a call you make when you're near the fifty. When you can at least give your D a CHANCE to stop a score. Because, as we saw, if you fail that attempt, it's at LEAST 3 points.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

That is true, but the risk is to great for a call like that. That's a call you make when you're near the fifty. When you can at least give your D a CHANCE to stop a score. Because, as we saw, if you fail that attempt, it's at LEAST 3 points.

Make no mistake...I thought that was a stupid call. But what was sad was it completely caught everyone off guard, as evidenced by how open he was, and we still failed. Part of that blame goes to Brodie Croyle....

mmaddog
*******

[BigChiefFan]

Originally Posted by mmaddog

Make no mistake...I thought that was a stupid call. But what was sad was it completely caught everyone off guard, as evidenced by how open he was, and we still failed. Part of that blame goes to Brodie Croyle....

mmaddog
*******

Agreed. Brodie looked like a deer in headlights. The play called was sound, the excution of the play sucked ass.

[Hammock Parties]

Gafford would have dropped it. You know he would have.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by TheGuardian

A defensive end on the other side of the line is in no way, shape, or form the same as having a great inside guy playing right next to you.

Hate to break this to you, but when a guy commands double teams, and one of those guys is the best pass blocker on the team, it frees you up far more than a guy needing a center and a guard to block him while you face the left tackle.

Let's see, would you rather go up against the Left tackle 1 on 1, or the right tackle 1 on 1??

I understand the idea of interior push in the pocket and how that helps out the ends, but a guy like Dwight Freeney makes Robert Mathis far better than Chester McGlockton ever would.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Gafford would have dropped it. You know he would have.

The way our luck has run...not only would he have dropped it, but he would have fumbled it in the air long enough for a Bronco player to pick it off and run it back for a TD.

But just imagine how much fun it would have been had he caught it. Tease the Donk fans about a Center eligible completion.

mmaddog
*******

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Buster Hymen

So, here we are again.

The same group of people, savoring in the failure of the Chiefs. Like a group of children on Christmas morning, in giddy anticipation of the failing of the team they supposedly love. The "I told you so" factor, much more important to them than any semblance of success. No regard for the fact that the team is on track to finish as many, including themselves had predicted, a 4 or 5 win team.

Is this the point where a faux fan like ROR jumps off for a few years until the team is rebuilt to respectability? If he has in the past, which he's admitted to, this would be the time. Will he take any others with him?

Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it. It doesn't take long to figure out who just doesn't have the stomach for the bad. It's easier to have such lofty expectations when you don't have anything invested emotionally. They'll say their concern is genuine, and that they just want whats best for the team. Yet the hate for the team is stronger than any troll exhibits. If the 2-14 team of last year wins 4 or 5 this year will it be enough to subdue the hate?

Doubtful.

Here we go again.

Again.


Baghdad Hymen telling everyone who can actually formulate and defend an opinion based on watching the game that they aren't fans because they realize that rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic and handing over the reigns to the skipper of the Exxon Valdez wasn't an idea that demands absolute fealty.

[Simply Red]

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Buster Hymen

So, here we are again.

The same group of people, savoring in the failure of the Chiefs. Like a group of children on Christmas morning, in giddy anticipation of the failing of the team they supposedly love. The "I told you so" factor, much more important to them than any semblance of success. No regard for the fact that the team is on track to finish as many, including themselves had predicted, a 4 or 5 win team.

Is this the point where a faux fan like ROR jumps off for a few years until the team is rebuilt to respectability? If he has in the past, which he's admitted to, this would be the time. Will he take any others with him?

Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it. It doesn't take long to figure out who just doesn't have the stomach for the bad. It's easier to have such lofty expectations when you don't have anything invested emotionally. They'll say their concern is genuine, and that they just want whats best for the team. Yet the hate for the team is stronger than any troll exhibits. If the 2-14 team of last year wins 4 or 5 this year will it be enough to subdue the hate?

Doubtful.

No one's, at least I'm not, giddy about continued failure. But continued failure is what we have. The BEST we can hope for is that the present is a 'tune up' situation, where teams look like dogshit, not because the engine sucks, but because it's out of tune. You can have a blown 454 with nitrous, and if the carburetor or distributor is so much as a couple degrees out of tune, a Yugo will blow it's doors off. What leads to a sense of schadenfreude is that the play on the field isn't just plodding or half-hearted, it's resulting in historically inept big plays, whether it's a 'football follies' play where the snap goes over the QBs head, or the defensive player takes it right out of the QBs hands for a TD, or more pedestrian runs of consecutive 3&outs on O or opposing teams running with abandon on D.
This isn't a just bad team, it's a spectacularly, eye-poppingly bad team. A team that should be accompanied by circus music, or the Benny Hill theme. A team that guarantees the opposing team a dominating string of highlights at the end of each week's sportscenter.

[Red Dawg]

Haley and Scott have not blamed Carl and Herm. It's their fault but they haven't said so.