Good Gretz Article on KC's lack of run defense

[Chiefnj2]

from bobgretz.com

The Problem Waiting For Romeo … Wednesday Cup O’Chiefs
January 13, 2010 - Bob Gretz | Comments (23)

If Romeo Crennel has watched the Chiefs at all during the 2009 NFL season, he already knows the biggest challenge facing him when he takes over the club’s defense. If Crennel wasn’t watching, then he’s got a real bad surprise coming to him if/when he signs on.

There are a lot of hurdles the Chiefs must overcome to return to contender status. Scott Pioli, Todd Haley, Charlie Weis and soon it appears Crennel will have their hands full lifting all parts of the franchise.

The area that is the most important and needs the biggest change comes with their ability to stop the run.

With the exception of their AFC West division mates in Oakland, nobody in the league has been worse against the run over the last three seasons than the Chiefs. They have given up an average of 148.7 rushing yards per game. And, there is no coincidence that they are 10-38 in those three seasons.

There is also no doubt that one of the cornerstones for any real contender is being able to stop the run. Over the last three seasons (2007-09) here are the stats for the best and worst defenses in the league, along with the team’s overall record:

NFL RUSHING DEFENSES (2007-09)

[CHART OMITTED]

It’s pretty remarkable that over the last three years, three of the worst five run defenses in the league have been in the AFC West. San Diego has given up an average of 109.1 rushing yards per game in the last three years, with a 32-16 record and three division titles.

The Chiefs have gotten worse when it comes to stopping the run in each of the last three seasons. This year, when you pull the curtain back on the 531 carries and 2,504 yards that opponents racked up against the K.C. defense during the’09 season:

YARDS ALLOWED: That 2,504-yard total was next to last in the league. Tampa Bay was last allowing 2,531 rushing yards. The best rushing defense was Green Bay, as the Packers allowed 1,333 rushing yards. The NFL average was 1866.7 yards.

YARDS PER RUNNING PLAY: Opponents averaged 4.7 yards per carry against the Chiefs, placing them tied for 30th among the league’s 32 defenses. Baltimore led the league with the lowest average per carry at 3.4 yards. The NFL average was 4.2 yards.

NEGATIVE RUNS: The Chiefs were tied for 30th in the league in runs stopped for negative yardage. It was 26 runs for a minus-48 yards. The New York Giants and Oakland led the league with 55 stops for minus yards.

RUNS ALLOWED FOR +4 YARDS: They were 29th, as 47.5 percent of the runs against them went for four yards or more, that was 252 out of 531 carries.

RUNS ALLOWED FOR +10 YARDS: The KC defense was 26th in the NFL, giving up 57 runs for more than 10 yards. The leader with the fewest was Pittsburgh with 35.

FIRST-DOWN RUSHING – The Chiefs were 31st in the league, giving up 1,467 of their rushing yards on first down, an average of 5.22 yards per carry. Only 12 of those first down running plays were stopped for minus yards.

Massage the numbers and they all come out the same: the Chiefs are horrible against the run and it’s the biggest problem keeping them out of the victory column each Sunday. In the last 48 games, the Chiefs have allowed 20 running backs go for 100 yards or more. Those numbers came down in 19 games. In those games the Chiefs were 4-15, or a .210 winning percentage.

During his four seasons as defensive coordinator of the Patriots, Crennel saw his defense help win three Super Bowls. In the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons, the New England defense finished 19th, 4th and 6th against the run. They allowed an average of 101.3 rushing yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry.

So Crennel knows good run defense. He’s seen it, he’s coached it and he’ll demand plenty of it when he takes over the Chiefs defense.

For the Chiefs to get out of the NFL basement, they have to get out of the defensive basement when it comes to stopping the run.

[InChiefsHeaven]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Gretz, why did you leave out the ranking for the 2002 Patriots?

In the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons, the New England defense finished 19th, 4th and 6th against the run.

Because they finished 31st against the run?

C'mon, man.

I think it's because that was the years they went to and won the Superbowl...that's my guess anyway. He's trying to prove a point about run defense and its importance towards winning a Superbowl...or 3.

[B_Ambuehl]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

In fairness, I think Haley is a very competent play caller, but his offense sucked ass in KC.

There can be other factors involved. Naturally, this doesn't excuse our newest fat man completely.

Well when you bring in a Shaun Rogers and have Corey Williams and Robaire Smith along your defensive front* and actually regress from 27th to 28th in the NFL in rushing D it sure doesn't cast your defensive coordinator in a good light.

* Both quality 3-4 DE's. See: http://profootballfocus.com/by_posit...=25&numgames=1

So, who would you have liked to see brought in as DC?

Anyone besides another Patriot asshat.

Actually I don't really put Crennel in that same "we're smarter than everybody else so fuck you" group of "Patriot Way" douches like Pioli, Mcdouche, etc. I like Crennel but I don't think he's very progressive in his thinking as a DC, and if anything the stats back that up.

If I was brininging in a new DC I'd have to look hard at up and comers on Capers, Phillips, Rex Ryan, Nolan, or even Ron Riveras staff.

[cmh6476]

Originally Posted by milkman

Yeah, that too.

However, my post is due to the fact that CoMo thinks he should be our first pick.

Kiss of death.

funny, "Kiss of Death" is actually playing right now right when I was reading this. I'm on Split Lip Rayfield's website.

[cmh6476]

[Kylo Ren]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Gretz, why did you leave out the ranking for the 2002 Patriots?

In the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons, the New England defense finished 19th, 4th and 6th against the run.

Because they finished 31st against the run?

C'mon, man.

Because they won the SB in '01, '03 & '04. His point stands. They were 31st in '02 and didn't win the SB in '02. They were 9-7 in '02.

[Extra Point]

Reading these posts, gotta feel that McClain makes the most sense as the 1st pick in the draft.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by John_Wayne

Because they won the SB in '01, '03 & '04. His point stands. They were 31st in '02 and didn't win the SB in '02. They were 9-7 in '02.

'02 was the nightmare known as "Steve Martin". The impact of the upgrade from him to Washington was immediately obvious. That's what the Chiefs are going to need to find if they really want to be competitive for titles.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

In fairness, I think Haley is a very competent play caller, but his offense sucked ass in KC.

I've mentioned this a few times, but I was actually impressed with what he was able to do with the personnel he had to work with, particularly since he didn't start his install until 2 weeks before the season. The line became almost below average over the course of the season, which I attribute largely to scheme and playcalling. Whether it was happy accident or not, he 'discovered' Charles' value as a weapon, and went with it, particularly notable because he's always been a pass-happy coordinator. He got production out of midseason waver-wire wide receivers and scrap heap tight ends. There were early flashes of scoring as the season progressed (Dallas, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh) and then the two highest scoring games of the year came in the last three weeks.

It was not "good" by any stretch of the imagination, and that's not what I'm saying, but I think it did show some possibility for the future if the front office side of the franchise equation is able to put competitive players on the field, instead of a patchwork team of journeymen and castoffs. The system they want to run has already shown that it can work here, potentially; the real issue is whether or not Pioli and friends give them enough pieces to compete.

[L.A. Chieffan]

TJax will destroy next year. It always takes DEs a year to adjust to the NFL, everybody knows this

[B_Ambuehl]

Clevelands rushing D with Romeo as HC:

2008: 28th
2007: 27th
2006: 29th
2005: 30th

Keep trying to pour the kool-aid!!

Bump. In lieu of Whitlock's recent article I hope everyone pays attention to this.

And this:

When you bring in a Shaun Rogers and have Corey Williams and Robaire Smith along your defensive front* and actually regress from 27th to 28th in the NFL in rushing D it sure doesn't cast your defensive coordinator in a good light.

* Both quality 3-4 DE's. See: http://profootballfocus.com/by_posit...=25&numgames=1