Chiefs Charles interview on Grantland - Page 3

**the Talking Can** · 07-09-2013, 02:49 PM

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...-video-podcast

plus a review/preview of the Chiefs:

Quote:

The main concentration of that talent remains on the defensive side of the ball. Tamba Hali has been one of the league’s top pass-rushers for years, but last season, second-year outside linebacker Justin Houston joined him among the NFL’s best. Houston has noted that working alongside Hali has accelerated his learning process as a pass-rusher, and considering the development of most rushers, there’s reason to believe he’ll be even better in Year 3. On the inside in Kansas City’s linebacking corps is Derrick Johnson, who remains consistently great and consistently overlooked. Over the past few seasons, Johnson may belong at the top of the non–Patrick Willis list of players at the position. On the back end, Brandon Flowers continued his run as one of the league’s better corners, and although Eric Berry’s name and draft status still outweigh his production, he’s an undeniably talented 24-year-old safety.

The options at the other corner and safety spots are both underwhelming — Miami didn’t seem too broken up about trading out Sean Smith for Brent Grimes — and although 2012 first-round pick Dontari Poe deserves more time to develop at the nose, the remainder of the Chiefs’ front is made up of known, ordinary commodities. Still, there remains a core of talent on that side of the ball that should far exceed what we saw a year ago.

It’s on the other side where a leap forward should ultimately make the difference, and that leap starts where most NFL success does — with the quarterback and head coach. Last year, Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn finished 36th and 38th, respectively, in quarterback DVOA. If you’ll recall, there are only 32 teams in the NFL. Alex Smith was 10th. Smith is not Tom Brady — he isn’t even Colin Kaepernick — but going from wholly inept to mildly competent at quarterback can make all the difference for an offense, and Smith is nothing if not mildly competent....

Ace Gunner · 07-10-2013, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

Interesting stat I wasn't aware.

In every game that Charles has 20 or more carries, he has run for 100 yards or more.

ya that is pure badass right there

Sweet Daddy Hate · 07-10-2013, 11:19 AM

Then the midget...

**loochy** · 07-10-2013, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Hate

Then the midget...

...fumbled a lot...

saphojunkie · 07-10-2013, 12:07 PM

the 'mildly' part stuck out to me.I'd give Alex Smith a full "competent" grade. He is limited with his physical tools, but his intelligence and ball safety make him absolutely a competent QB. Having said that, we aren't going to the playoffs, and even if we do, we aren't winning. But at the very least, the Chiefs will be ****ing watchable again.

I think people (even with all the Cassel hate) don't realize just how atrocious the QB play was the last four years. Going from "Guy who shouldn't be in the league" to "guy who is a competent NFL starter" is a massive jump. Massive.

We still need our QB. It is the most important position in all of team sports, and it would be ****ing nice if one ****ing time the most important position was occupied by our most talented player.

Until then, at least I can watch the games again.

**Rausch** · 07-10-2013, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

the 'mildly' part stuck out to me.I'd give Alex Smith a full "competent" grade. He is limited with his physical tools, but his intelligence and ball safety make him absolutely a competent QB. Having said that, we aren't going to the playoffs, and even if we do, we aren't winning. But at the very least, the Chiefs will be ****ing watchable again.

I think he's an excellent "game manager."

If we let him continue to play that way and stay healthy I could see a possible 9-7 with this record. Some years that's good enough for the post season.

If we try and make him this gunslinger throwing the ball 35+ times a game I don't see any of that happening...

**Mav** · 07-10-2013, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

the 'mildly' part stuck out to me.I'd give Alex Smith a full "competent" grade. He is limited with his physical tools, but his intelligence and ball safety make him absolutely a competent QB. Having said that, we aren't going to the playoffs, and even if we do, we aren't winning. But at the very least, the Chiefs will be ****ing watchable again.

I think people (even with all the Cassel hate) don't realize just how atrocious the QB play was the last four years. Going from "Guy who shouldn't be in the league" to "guy who is a competent NFL starter" is a massive jump. Massive.

We still need our QB. It is the most important position in all of team sports, and it would be ****ing nice if one ****ing time the most important position was occupied by our most talented player.

Until then, at least I can watch the games again.

So are you going to tell me that the Ravens best player is Joe Flacco, and that the Giants best player is Eli Manning? That is so not the case. Ray Rice, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata are all better than Flacco, and at the very least, JPP is better than Manning. Having a complete team is far more important than having a Franchise qb. If you have one great, but you can still win with an average to above average qb. Which the chiefs do have.

**Mav** · 07-10-2013, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

I think he's an excellent "game manager."

If we let him continue to play that way and stay healthy I could see a possible 9-7 with this record. Some years that's good enough for the post season.

If we try and make him this gunslinger throwing the ball 35+ times a game I don't see any of that happening...

That means you are trailing a lot, and not using your best player in Jamaal Charles. I agree whole heartedly.

**Easy 6** · 07-10-2013, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

I think people (even with all the Cassel hate) don't realize just how atrocious the QB play was the last four years. Going from "Guy who shouldn't be in the league" to "guy who is a competent NFL starter" is a massive jump. Massive.

Truth be told.

**Easy 6** · 07-10-2013, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick91579

So are you going to tell me that the Ravens best player is Joe Flacco, and that the Giants best player is Eli Manning? That is so not the case. Ray Rice, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata are all better than Flacco, and at the very least, JPP is better than Manning. Having a complete team is far more important than having a Franchise qb. If you have one great, but you can still win with an average to above average qb. Which the chiefs do have.

Not even one of those players impacts the game the way a starting QB does.

In the grand scheme of things, yes, their best player is Flacco.

**Mav** · 07-10-2013, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

Not even one of those players impacts the game the way a starting QB does.

In the grand scheme of things, yes, their best player is Flacco.

You have got to be kidding. JPP single handedly destroyed the Packers, 49ers, and Patriots passing games in route to winning that super bowl. Stop it.

Just like, it was ultimately, the Ravens defense, that ultimately won their super bowl for them.

Again. The past two seasons, the team with the best qb, hasn't won in my opinion. I don't think flacco is a better qb than Kaep, and I don't think that Eli Manning is a better qb than Tom Brady. The better teams won. The more well rounded teams win. Again. Having a franchise qb, if you can get one, is great, if you cant, which the chiefs couldn't, then build up the rest of your team, which is what the chiefs did.

A great example of this, is two plays by Flacco, that were more a RESULT of the opposing teams crap defenses. For instance.

Against the broncos, if they had a competent safety, such as say BRIAN DAWKINS, that pass never happens that got the Ravens the win. If the 49ers had a better safety, Whitner is awful in coverage, then Jones doesn't get that wide open td. Where as, it was the ravens secondary, who ultimately stopped the 49ers.....

Its just me, I think the desperation for a franchise qb gets blown way out of proportion.

saphojunkie · 07-10-2013, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick91579

So are you going to tell me that the Ravens best player is Joe Flacco, and that the Giants best player is Eli Manning? That is so not the case. Ray Rice, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata are all better than Flacco, and at the very least, JPP is better than Manning. Having a complete team is far more important than having a Franchise qb. If you have one great, but you can still win with an average to above average qb. Which the chiefs do have.

And they have to have a great defense to win super bowls. Which is possible, but having your best player at QB is far easier to maintain extended success.

I'd take Aaron Rodgers and the #15 defense over Joe Flacco and the #1 defense every single year. it's not even close.

**Mav** · 07-10-2013, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

And they have to have a great defense to win super bowls. Which is possible, but having your best player at QB is far easier to maintain extended success.

I'd take Aaron Rodgers and the #15 defense over Joe Flacco and the #1 defense every single year. it's not even close.

Like I said. if you have a franchise qb, you don't say no, id rather have a complete team. Unfortunately, aaron Rodgers, hasn't had the 15th ranked defense. More like 25th. That's why they cant win. Same with Tom Brady.....hasn't won since what 05?

aturnis · 07-10-2013, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick91579

So are you going to tell me that the Ravens best player is Joe Flacco, and that the Giants best player is Eli Manning? That is so not the case. Ray Rice, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata are all better than Flacco, and at the very least, JPP is better than Manning. Having a complete team is far more important than having a Franchise qb. If you have one great, but you can still win with an average to above average qb. Which the chiefs do have.

Yeah. Totally. Why don't you look at the playoff/Superbowl teams over the last 10 yrs. Overwhelmingly full of franchise QB's.

There is nothing more important in all of sports. Period.

**the Talking Can** · 07-10-2013, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick91579

You have got to be kidding. JPP single handedly destroyed the Packers, 49ers, and Patriots passing games in route to winning that super bowl. Stop it.

Just like, it was ultimately, the Ravens defense, that ultimately won their super bowl for them.

Again. The past two seasons, the team with the best qb, hasn't won in my opinion. I don't think flacco is a better qb than Kaep, and I don't think that Eli Manning is a better qb than Tom Brady. The better teams won. The more well rounded teams win. Again. Having a franchise qb, if you can get one, is great, if you cant, which the chiefs couldn't, then build up the rest of your team, which is what the chiefs did.

A great example of this, is two plays by Flacco, that were more a RESULT of the opposing teams crap defenses. For instance.

Against the broncos, if they had a competent safety, such as say BRIAN DAWKINS, that pass never happens that got the Ravens the win. If the 49ers had a better safety, Whitner is awful in coverage, then Jones doesn't get that wide open td. Where as, it was the ravens secondary, who ultimately stopped the 49ers.....

Its just me, I think the desperation for a franchise qb gets blown way out of proportion.

yeah, Flacco is just a lucky bum...with the most playoff road wins of any QB in NFL history...the only thing he has done since entering the league is win...what a schmuck

but Smith...well, he's the real deal...it took him a decade to become a game manager, and to even be healthy for a whole season, and then to get benched....so he's awesome

there is never a time when QBs are discussed on this board that I don't wish to commit genocide on my own face...with a shotgun, of course

Ace Gunner · 07-10-2013, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

...fumbled a lot...

in his bum

07-10-2013, 11:19 AM	#32
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07-10-2013, 12:07 PM	#34
saphojunkie MVP Join Date: Aug 2011 Casino cash: $3746550	the 'mildly' part stuck out to me.I'd give Alex Smith a full "competent" grade. He is limited with his physical tools, but his intelligence and ball safety make him absolutely a competent QB. Having said that, we aren't going to the playoffs, and even if we do, we aren't winning. But at the very least, the Chiefs will be **ing watchable again. I think people (even with all the Cassel hate) don't realize just how atrocious the QB play was the last four years. Going from "Guy who shouldn't be in the league" to "guy who is a competent NFL starter" is a massive jump. Massive. We still need our QB. It is the most important position in all of team sports, and it would be ing nice if one **ing time the most important position was occupied by our most talented player. Until then, at least I can watch the games again.
Posts: 12,790