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."



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Sorry if Q

[the Talking Can]

no offense needs a game manager

every offense needs to score points...when you can't score because your QB sucks, you call him 'a game manager' and pretend you like not scoring points...

but i like the 'we're young line'....hilarious

we sure as hell didn't hear any of this 'we're trading 2 seconds for a game manger who can't score points' crap before the season...

[IowaChiefs83]

I say go all in on this year and trade for Nicks and Gonzales. Both players more than likely won't be here next year, but at 6-0 I say take a shot.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Mavericks Ace

No. That's where you are wrong. And you would understand just how wrong you are if at ALL Jamaal Charles misses any time.

There is a severe lack of weapons on this team.

If you look at what I would consider to be the 6 or so teams that you could legitimately could win the super bowl this year.

The Chiefs are so far at the bottom of that list when it comes to offense.

It really is a bad offense skill position wise, and that's not even incorporating how bad the oline has played at times, and how piss poor Alex Smith has played the past two weeks.

When your slot receiver is a combination of Chad Hall, McCluster, Aj Jenkins. That aint good.

The tight end position is very weak as well.

While I agree with you, Avery is a nice number two, he is probably better as a three.

I also wonder if Bowe, wouldn't do better in the slot. I am seeing that a lot in the past two years where teams are moving their better options into the slot.

The 49ers did it last year with Crabtree, the Cowboys move Dez everywhere, Justin Blackmon was in the slot almost exclusively vs the Broncos.

maybe that is what Andy means by not putting his guys in the right positions.

The skill positions on offense, are VERY bad.

If Charles goes down, I don't know how this team would score on offense at all.

That's just too much pressure on a guy.

packers,
Saints,
49ers,
Seahawks,
Broncos,

those are those legitimate teams to me along with the Chiefs that have a chance. All have VASTLY more weapons than the Chiefs.

With the Seahawks, and 49ers having similar defenses.

It depends really. Look at those teams who you have listed having better weapons.

Look who they have under center.

Save the 9ers, who I don't think have better weapons than the Chiefs TBH, they all have guys who do a really good job distributing the ball and getting it to guys in space to make plays.

Alex hasn't done a good job doing that recently.

I do think the skill positions could be upgraded, sure. But it's not nearly as bad as you are saying.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by O.city

It depends really. Look at those teams who you have listed having better weapons.

Look who they have under center.

Save the 9ers, who I don't think have better weapons than the Chiefs TBH, they all have guys who do a really good job distributing the ball and getting it to guys in space to make plays.

Alex hasn't done a good job doing that recently.

I do think the skill positions could be upgraded, sure. But it's not nearly as bad as you are saying.

You might be right.

I laugh at the 49ers comment. I stated they needed weapons when Alex was the qb, and got told I was an idiot.

All of a sudden, they go back to playing Alex Smith type offense, and they are destroying people.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Originally Posted by IowaChiefs83

I say go all in on this year and trade for Nicks and Gonzales. Both players more than likely won't be here next year, but at 6-0 I say take a shot.

Something called the Cap. So you wanna give up a First for Nicks then let him walk after this year? Chiefs in 2014 are a mess with cap.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

no offense needs a game manager

every offense needs to score points...when you can't score because your QB sucks, you call him 'a game manager' and pretend you like not scoring points...

but i like the 'we're young line'....hilarious

we sure as hell didn't hear any of this 'we're trading 2 seconds for a game manger who can't score points' crap before the season...

another classic post from the Talking Can.

Wrong as usual.

But, still classic.

You can score all the points in the world. The Packers marched up and down the field on the 49ers week one, Tony Romo threw for 500 yards and 5 tds against the broncos, and both lost. And the Cowboys lost because Romo turned the ball over at the worst time imaginable.

Of course you want to score points, but you also have to know your limitations as a team.

All of the Chiefs talent save Jamaal Charles, is on the defense. The offensive talent is poor.

You play to the strengths of your team. But of course, if Tom Brady was on this team, this team would be scoring 40 points game because, well, with a similar situation in New England they are doing just that.

Oh, WAIT. No they aren't......

Guess Tom brady is now a game manager too.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Mavericks Ace

You might be right.

I laugh at the 49ers comment. I stated they needed weapons when Alex was the qb, and got told I was an idiot.

All of a sudden, they go back to playing Alex Smith type offense, and they are destroying people.

I think a bigish problem is that we havne't been able to sustain drives and give any of our other offensive players a chance to make plays. We're always in 2 and 3 and long and seem to always be fighting uphill.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by O.city

I think a bigish problem is that we havne't been able to sustain drives and give any of our other offensive players a chance to make plays. We're always in 2 and 3 and long and seem to always be fighting uphill.

That's a very true point. I would love to see the offense focus more on the run game early. use more playaction.....Too many passes for my liking.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Mavericks Ace

That's a very true point. I would love to see the offense focus more on the run game early. use more playaction.....Too many passes for my liking.

I'm fine with the passing game to be quite honest early, but I think it needs to be more predicated on taking some deep shots, EARLY. Loosen up the secondary etc.

[hometeam]

Originally Posted by O.city

So it's elite or bust huh?

How many elite Qb's do you think there are in the NFL?

Well yes.. pretty much. If your team has no elite QB, then there is room for improvement at that, the most important, position.

Do you agree?

[MahiMike]

Originally Posted by O.city

Avery is a good enough 2.

Hemmingway needs to overtake Dexter in the slot for the most part. The offensive skill positions aren't as dearth as some make it out to be. We aren't the Broncos in terms of skill guys, but theres talent there. It's all about finding the mismatches and capitalizing when they are found.

I agree. From what I've seen from Avery and Junior, they are more than adequate. I think we should take a deep shot to Avery with the first throw of every game. Even if it's 10 yards overthrown, we need the "threat" of going deep.

[mr. tegu]

Avery has been getting open on the deep routes but Smith is just missing him. Last week he had a long TD if the ball isn't overthrown.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by O.city

They need to get guys like Knile Davis (if he can hold on to the football), Gray, Hemmingway and Jenkins ( I know some are down on him, I think there's something there) the football and give them some chances to develop now, so when December rolls around, they're ready to go.

Jenkins has shown absolutely nothing. IMO, Davis should be cut and placed on the PS. No one is going to claim that fumbling machine. It's too bad Draughn is a member of the Ravens.

Dorsey needs to continue to churn the roster.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Fisher and the rest of the line will come around and then Alex will be unstoppable

[warrior]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Jenkins has shown absolutely nothing. IMO, Davis should be cut and placed on the PS. No one is going to claim that fumbling machine. It's too bad Draughn is a member of the Ravens.

Dorsey needs to continue to churn the roster.

Don't want to sound like one of the weeping vaginas but we should have taken K Allen in the third Draughn and Gray would have been fine, we needed a wr.