Andy blames himself, not Alex, for Chiefs' sputtering offense

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

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

[NinerDoug]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

This is apparently an "ok" offense: 25th in yards, 26th in yards per play, 27th in completion percentage, 21st in 1st downs, 27th in 3rd down percentage, 21st in penalties, 26th in passing yardage, 28th in yards per pass, 21st in first downs via the pass, 29th in passing 1st down percentage, 21st in qb rating. On the plus side they're 9th in rushing, 12th in rushing yards/game, 12th in rushing average, 10th in rushing first downs and 13th in rushing 1st down percentage.

I guess that's "ok" for some, but I don't see an offense that's good at anything. They're 'ok,' but not great, running the ball, and they're bottom third in every passing category aside from interceptions. This being a team that's pass-first....

The few statistical categories where they're close to or at the top of the league, scoring (9th), time of possession (7th) and turnovers (1st) are primarily attributable to the defense, who's leading the league in TD returns, sacks, passes defensed, 3rd down percentage and turnovers forced.

It's "ok" as long as you have a killer defense. Fact of life.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

This might be one of the dumbest things I've ever read on this board.

The Packers and Cowboys marched up and down the field in both your examples, yet still lost.

Why?

Because they don't have our defense.

If they did, they'd be favorites to win the Super Bowl.

Just like if we had their offense, WE would be favored to win the SB.


If THIS team could score "all the points in the world", they'd be damn near unbeatable.

If this offense could score 23 points a game and sustain more than 1 drive in the first 3 qrtrs, they'd be damn near unstoppable.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

This is apparently an "ok" offense: 25th in yards, 26th in yards per play, 27th in completion percentage, 21st in 1st downs, 27th in 3rd down percentage, 21st in penalties, 26th in passing yardage, 28th in yards per pass, 21st in first downs via the pass, 29th in passing 1st down percentage, 21st in qb rating. On the plus side they're 9th in rushing, 12th in rushing yards/game, 12th in rushing average, 10th in rushing first downs and 13th in rushing 1st down percentage.

I guess that's "ok" for some, but I don't see an offense that's good at anything. They're 'ok,' but not great, running the ball, and they're bottom third in every passing category aside from interceptions. This being a team that's pass-first....

The few statistical categories where they're close to or at the top of the league, scoring (9th), time of possession (7th) and turnovers (1st) are primarily attributable to the defense, who's leading the league in TD returns, sacks, passes defensed, 3rd down percentage and turnovers forced.

So, it's the Defenses fault for being greedy and wanting to hog all the scores for themselves! ???

[milkman]

Originally Posted by NinerDoug

It's "ok" as long as you have a killer defense. Fact of life.

Marty deciple?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by milkman

If this offense could score 23 points a game and sustain more than 1 drive in the first 3 qrtrs, they'd be damn near unstoppable.

You're basically talking about an additional field goal in each game, since they're averaging 19.5.

Had Avery not fumbled in the Red Zone, that number would be higher.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You're basically talking about an additional field goal in each game, since they're averaging 19.5.

Had Avery not fumbled in the Red Zone, that number would be higher.

I am also talking about sustaining drives consistently.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by NinerDoug

It's "ok" as long as you have a killer defense. Fact of life.

You could say that the entire team is "ok" because the defense is "elite" enough to prevent the ineptitude, to date, on offense from costing the team games. But that doesn't change the fact that the offense - judged on its own merit - has been bad.

If or when the offense ascends to the level of a true ball-control unit with real game management in the passing game - which has not thus far happened - the team as a whole will be truly elite. They are not, for instance, the 9ers from 2011, because the offense isn't executing anywhere close to that level. So far.

The real issue here is that people are trying to characterize the Chiefs offense as something it's not: martyball. When the reality is that they're - so far - just a bad unit that can't execute their scheme.

Winning excuses a lot. But I find it beneficial to not wear blinders. Don't get too high when they win, don't get to low when they lose, try my best to see them for exactly what they are. And what I think they are is a championship-level defense and an underperforming offense that I believe may eventually be able to execute well enough to hold their own in january.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by milkman

I am also talking about sustaining drives consistently.

Which would itself lead to more points.

Everybody has this misguided idea that people asking for "better offense" means "more explosive offense". While some more explosive plays would be great, the thing that can take this team over the top will be more 6-8 minute drives, allowing them to control the game on both sides of the ball. Other teams are already having difficulty scoring, imagine if the Chiefs defense is given more opportunity to play with a lead, and the opposition has fewer possessions...

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Hell, if the offense could score 23 or 24 points a game, they'd be damn near unbeatable. Because the defensive scores would take that up around 30.

Similarly, if the offense could convert first downs and sustain drives, they'd be damn near unbeatable.

That's what people who think talking about this stuff is just us "bitching" don't get: what we're really saying is that we see the possibilities for what this team can actually be.

And they could or perhaps should be better than they are. Even sitting at 6-0 there's tons and tons of room for improvement. The sky could really be the limit, if the offense ever begins to click.

This.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Hell, if the offense could score 23 or 24 points a game, they'd be damn near unbeatable. Because the defensive scores would take that up around 30.

Similarly, if the offense could convert first downs and sustain drives, they'd be damn near unbeatable.

That's what people who think talking about this stuff is just us "bitching" don't get: what we're really saying is that we see the possibilities for what this team can actually be.

And they could or perhaps should be better than they are. Even sitting at 6-0 there's tons and tons of room for improvement. The sky could really be the limit, if the offense ever begins to click.

This
Posted via Mobile Device

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by milkman

I am also talking about sustaining drives consistently.

Absolutely. But I think that either Allen and Fisher need their respective "light bulb" to turn on, or they need to be replaced for this to happen.

I'm not a huge fan of Schwartz or Stephenson but it *appears* to me that neither is starting because they're effective swing players. From my POV, it's a mistake not to find a place on the line for them. I'd also like to see Rishaw Johnson, who held his own in the few plays he's been on the field.

Outside of that, Fasaso's return should help to extend drives, especially with he and McGrath on the field. And finally, I wish someone would step up and claim the slot.

[Down4Chiefs]

Long as our punter continues to be lights out like he is,our d shuts them down forcing them to punt deep from their territory giving us good field goal position. Our offense HAS to be able to move 30-40 yards when those oppurtunities present itsef. I think that's the dissapointing part,they've been decent early in the season,but it seems like they've had some really good field position at times set up by the d and haven't capatilized enough on that. Feels like we've left a lot of points on the field that we should've had.

[Down4Chiefs]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Which would itself lead to more points.

Everybody has this misguided idea that people asking for "better offense" means "more explosive offense". While some more explosive plays would be great, the thing that can take this team over the top will be more 6-8 minute drives, allowing them to control the game on both sides of the ball. Other teams are already having difficulty scoring, imagine if the Chiefs defense is given more opportunity to play with a lead, and the opposition has fewer possessions...

Amen,the other team seems to have a lot of oppurtunitys to make a comeback lol. Luckily our defense is so great it hasn't mattered how many chances teams gets. As well. As our o has come through late in the game.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by milkman

I am also talking about sustaining drives consistently.

Have we no led every game or almost every game in TOP?

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Have we no led every game or almost every game in TOP?

sadly that's because of the defense, not because the offense is driving the ball.


we still have time to develop though

Our offensive line is young and not used to working with each other or in this system. They have also been rotating guys in and out with injuries all year. Better performance from the Oline will improve the offense across the board.

better running game
ability to run longer routes
more confidence for QB

*cross fingers*