Real Talk: The Defense

[DenverChief]

So I was having a conversation with a fellow Chiefs fan the other day that has had the opportunity to watch some game film from since the San Diego game. I just wanted to get some good football opinion on what he said because it makes sense to me.

Basically Earlier in the season we were screaming that our offense was vanilla and we weren't doing many "dynamic" things. In week 11 and 12 we saw a different offense, more dynamic plays and Alex throwing down the field. There were some theories that the reason the offense was so vanilla was that we weren't trying to give up the whole playbook right away.

Starting in week 12 we saw a huge departure of the defense we had come to love in the first 11 weeks. Granted some of the departure could have been due to injuries (Hali/Houston) but what interests me the most is that my friend has said that we are not blitzing or stunting as much as we were earlier in the season. I'm wondering if we are going "vanilla" on defense so that there will be less game film on what we will really do come playoff time? I know conspiracy theory, but I think it makes sense, as long as we know we can do what we did in the Raiders game and not have another San Diego game.

I didn't get a chance to watch the game yesterday, I get it Lewis is a terrible safety I have been saying that all year too, however I think that the lack of blitzing and stunting has left our secondary even more exposed than normal.


So what do the CP experts think?

[O.city]

We've blitzed more the past 4 games, than the first however many. You can't just bring 6 guys each down.

Until we get versatile guys on the DL who can rush the passer, we'll have problems like this.

This is why Sorter and Myself, were extremely interested in Sheldon Richardson.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

His point is that it was a sign of things to come. Which it was. I would take it a step further actually and look at the Texans game.

OTWP's point is that the writing was on the wall long before it was exposed. It just took a quality starting QB to truly expose it.

the Texans game was BEFORE the Cleveland game

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I just don't know what kind of pressure we're expecting. You have two guys in Devito and Jackson, who are pretty invisible in the passing game. Poe looks a little gassed. So basically, of your core 5 guys who are going to rush the passer most of the time, only one of them can really create pressure. 2 when Houston gets back. I mean... we saw what happens when Zombo does anything but rush the passer. He got clowned in coverage yesterday.

And if you blitz a guy like Peyton or Rivers, they can easily just throw it to Cooper or at the spot where Kendrick Lewis should be, but never will be.

The problem is that our dominant performance the first half of the year misled us. This defense has a long ways to go talent-wise. I don't agree with people who think that blitzing more is some kind of magical cure-all.

I agree. From what i've seen of the NFL, blitzing is a great strat against piss ass QB's but is just asking to get ****ed by top 15 QB's.

The key is to be able to create pressure WITHOUT blitzing.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

the Texans game was BEFORE the Cleveland game

Exactly.

Case Keenum was throwing it up all over our D.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by O.city

Until we get versatile guys on the DL who can rush the passer, we'll have problems like this.

Makes me wonder whats up with Catapano, i'm sure he's green as grass but damn... you'd think they could scheme up ways to put some raw talent out there once in a while.

[Jimmya]

Safe is exactly what was said about Sutton. Jaws even asked if guys like Kiffin and Sutton have let the game pass them by?

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

His point is that it was a sign of things to come. Which it was. I would take it a step further actually and look at the Texans game.

OTWP's point is that the writing was on the wall long before it was exposed. It just took a quality starting QB to truly expose it.

But I'll play along

Keenum had 271 yards passing was sacked 5 times with one turnover

11 drives =
5 punts
3 FGs
1 End of Half
1 turnover
1 TD

Still not bad

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Exactly.

Case Keenum was throwing it up all over our D.

I really thought the Denver #1 game and the first half against San Diego defense... that was a much more accurate read on what we have than what we saw in Houston and Cleveland. Our defense looked completely exhausted in those games.

If we play more games like we played the first half against San Diego, that is a pretty good playoff defense.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

His point is that it was a sign of things to come. Which it was. I would take it a step further actually and look at the Texans game.

OTWP's point is that the writing was on the wall long before it was exposed. It just took a quality starting QB to truly expose it.

Exactly.

Had we put up a similar effort against decent QB's and not 4th stringers, we likely would have lost those games.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Exactly.

Case Keenum was throwing it up all over our D.

He pointed to the Cleveland game as the start of the decline - so how could you lump the Texas game in there if it was prior to the decline?

[Jimmya]

So not blitzing and giving up 461 yds to the raiders is just fine? Now that's something to laugh about.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

But I'll play along

Keenum had 271 yards passing was sacked 5 times with one turnover

11 drives =
5 punts
3 FGs
1 End of Half
1 turnover
1 TD

Still not bad

You're looking at stats and not remembering the game. Keenum....a 3rd string QB making his first start @ arrowhead.....was throwing bombs up on our D. Also, iirc, that one turnover and most of those sacks came towards the end of the game.

When a 3rd string QB who's making his first start is throwing bombs on your secondary, the writing is on the wall.

The more i think about it, the more i realize that it was the Texans who exposed this D.

[O.city]

We did blitz against the Raiders.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

He pointed to the Cleveland game as the start of the decline - so how could you lump the Texas game in there if it was prior to the decline?

Like i said, "I will take it a step further"...as in i think OTWP is wrong...I think the Houston game is when we first saw some issues.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I just don't know what kind of pressure we're expecting. You have two guys in Devito and Jackson, who are pretty invisible in the passing game. Poe looks a little gassed. So basically, of your core 5 guys who are going to rush the passer most of the time, only one of them can really create pressure. 2 when Houston gets back. I mean... we saw what happens when Zombo does anything but rush the passer. He got clowned in coverage yesterday.

And if you blitz a guy like Peyton or Rivers, they can easily just throw it to Cooper or at the spot where Kendrick Lewis should be, but never will be.

The problem is that our dominant performance the first half of the year misled us. This defense has a long ways to go talent-wise. I don't agree with people who think that blitzing more is some kind of magical cure-all.

If you have the means to watch Hali and Houston in the first half of the season, watch much more quickly they get into the line, engage their blockers, or get around the edge.

Everyone keeps pointing at Poe, which is absolutely true.
But Hali, Houston, and even DJ are just gassed.