Chiefs Clunker against the Colts underscores concerns about Chiefs’ offense - Page 2

**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.

ChiefRocka · 12-23-2013, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pam Oliver's Forehead

We are 2-4 in our last six games....jesus

2-13 last year this time.

Dayze · 12-23-2013, 07:54 AM

The Chiefs mantra for sealing deals / taking advantage of opportunities since 2000.
"I don’t know if we thought they were going to lay down or lay over or what.”

AntiPioli · 12-23-2013, 08:05 AM

Too be honest im not too worried if you guys dont realize the broncoz h as ve lost to every team we lost to but themselves

**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.

Dayze · 12-23-2013, 09:07 AM

Clunker against the Colts underscores concerns about Chiefs’ offense

...ironic.

TEX · 12-23-2013, 09:11 AM

Smith probably will "Learn from it" but some of us finally did too. We learned that these Chiefs are not able to beat good teams with good QB's under any circumstances. They are EXACTLY who we feared they were. That should not take anything away from a fine season except the expectation that this finally might be the season for a post season win. Ain't gonna happen...

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.

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.

hitchief · 12-23-2013, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pam Oliver's Forehead

We are 2-4 in our last six games....jesus

whats with the we crap, you only have one thing on your mind and that's proving you are right. You could care less what the Chiefs are doing as long as Alex has a bad day you are golden.

This one trick pony of yours is getting very old indeed. Must be tough watching them play and rooting for our starting qb to suck. Oh well, proceed with your brilliant analysis and enlighten all of us.

TEX · 12-23-2013, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hitchief

whats with the we crap, you only have one thing on your mind and that's proving you are right. You could care less what the Chiefs are doing as long as Alex has a bad day you are golden.

This one trick pony of yours is getting very old indeed. Must be tough watching them play and rooting for our starting qb to suck. Oh well, proceed with your brilliant analysis and enlighten all of us.

You may may not know this, but he actually was in the Brodie Croyle camp! -

That says it all...

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?

Chief Roundup · 12-23-2013, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEX

Smith probably will "Learn from it" but some of us finally did too. We learned that these Chiefs are not able to beat good teams with good QB's under any circumstances. They are EXACTLY who we feared they were. That should not take anything away from a fine season except the expectation that this finally might be the season for a post season win. Ain't gonna happen...

So then what is our record going to be like next season when we have a much tougher schedule? When we don't get to run down backup QB row.
Will we back to the worst 3rd of teams in the league?

ChiefsLV · 12-23-2013, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEX

Smith probably will "Learn from it" but some of us finally did too. We learned that these Chiefs are not able to beat good teams with good QB's under any circumstances. They are EXACTLY who we feared they were. That should not take anything away from a fine season except the expectation that this finally might be the season for a post season win. Ain't gonna happen...

You guys seem to know everything about when the Chiefs will win and who on the team sucks. In your opinion, should I even keep watching?

Discuss Thrower · 12-23-2013, 04:03 PM

Only if you want to be disappointed.

12-22-2013, 11:52 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $532813	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: 42,170

12-23-2013, 07:54 AM	#17
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $4849358	The Chiefs mantra for sealing deals / taking advantage of opportunities since 2000. "I don’t know if we thought they were going to lay down or lay over or what.” __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
Posts: 37,377

12-23-2013, 08:05 AM	#18
AntiPioli Rookie Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $10004900	Too be honest im not too worried if you guys dont realize the broncoz h as ve lost to every team we lost to but themselves
Posts: 15

12-23-2013, 09:05 AM	#20
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, 09:07 AM	#21
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $4849358	Clunker against the Colts underscores concerns about Chiefs’ offense ...ironic. __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
Posts: 37,377

12-23-2013, 09:11 AM	#22
TEX Out Gunning CP's Fandom Police Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Laguna Beach, CA Casino cash: $1983127	Smith probably will "Learn from it" but some of us finally did too. We learned that these Chiefs are not able to beat good teams with good QB's under any circumstances. They are EXACTLY who we feared they were. That should not take anything away from a fine season except the expectation that this finally might be the season for a post season win. Ain't gonna happen... __________________ "The CHIEFS, HAVE THEIR DYNASTY!"
Posts: 34,775

12-23-2013, 04:03 PM	#30
Discuss Thrower "You like to drink?" Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: "I like to drink." Casino cash: $2876869	Only if you want to be disappointed. __________________ Chiefs 2016 Opponents: Home: JAX, TEN, NO, TB, NYJ. Away: HOU, IND, ATL, CAR, PIT Chiefs 2017 Opponents: Home: BUF, MIA, PHI, WSH, AFC North. Away: NE, NYJ, NYG, DAL, AFC South
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