Chiefs Gretz:Answering Some Whys?

**Tribal Warfare** · 11-27-2008, 10:27 PM

Answering Some Whys?

November 27, 2008 - Bob Gretz |

I’ll go through a game or a day, picking up information, seeing things happen and invariably write in my notebook next to something new or different, WHY?

I’ve had a bunch of those notations lately, so I spent some time trying to get answers to the various whys I have collected.

Like why does at least once a game Dwayne Bowe drop a pass that should have been an easy catch? It’s a weekly occurrence. These are never tough catches he flubs. In fact, they are generally the easiest passes to catch that he’ll see that day. We have seen in almost two seasons that he has very good hands and can make some remarkable catches. But the drops keep getting in the way.

Why?

So I ask around and the general consensus is that Bowe loses focus at times during games and that’s the biggest reason for his drops. It’s a very simple habit of watching the ball all the way into his hands, rather than grabbing at it and turning his head and eyes away from the catch point to look for running room up the field. The coaching staff has worked with Bowe on fixing this problem, but he can’t seem to get over the hump. It was a problem in the season opener against New England and it continued last Sunday against Buffalo. Right now it’s a flaw in his game.

Another why: with the return of Larry Johnson to the offense two games ago, they’ve lined him up directly behind quarterback Tyler Thigpen in the spread? It seems very constricting to both of them. First, Thigpen had to move closer to receive the snap. When he drops back from the spot he now gets the ball, Johnson has to quickly dance out of his way. It’s like a new I-formation.

Why?

I checked with Chiefs offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and the reason they’ve gone to this comes down to structure: if you move Johnson to the left or right, that restricts the running plays that can be called for him by half. Line him up to the left and with Thigpen in the spread, the only way Johnson can get the hand off is to run to the right. If you line him up on the right, the only way he gets the hand off is to run to the left. By lining him up behind Thigpen, the Chiefs may run him either left or right, forcing the opponent to guess where the attack point may be in the alignment.”

“It’s different,” Gailey acknowledged. “But it keeps more of our running game in play.”

In all the roster shuffling the Chiefs have done in recent weeks included bringing Jackie Battle up to the active roster and then sending rookie Dantrell Savage to the practice squad. To make this happen, the Chiefs had to expose Savage to league wide waivers. Savage cleared and he remains with the Chiefs.

Why make the move?

All this came about with the activation of rookie Kevin Robinson from the Physically Unable to Perform List. The Chiefs drafted Robinson because of his ability to return both punts and kickoffs. Once they decided to activate him, Savage became the No. 2 man at both positions. Battle is a much better special teams contributor in other kicking games areas – he’s on all four of the key units in returns and coverage – so keeping Savage active was a luxury, especially with injuries at so many other positions.

And what’s with all the direct snaps to running backs this year? There are some around the country who think the use of the so-called “Wildcat” package by Miami was what got all this started, and other teams around the league followed the Dolphins’ lead. But that’s not the case in Kansas City, where the Chiefs were working on direct snaps to Larry Johnson and other running backs during the off-season program.

What’s the deal in the first place, why has everybody jumped on this bandwagon?

Talk to coaches and observers of the game and they believe it’s simply a trend, this season’s flavor of something different. Since most of the direct snaps have led to the running back who received the ball taking off on a run, it’s not hard to defense. Now wrinkles off the direct snap like passes, reverses, etc. add new dimensions that will make any defense clutch for a second, long enough to get a big play on the board.

The direct snap is like teams that sometimes use an unbalanced offensive line, setting up three linemen to the right of the center and just one to the left, rather than two on each side. The first time catches a defense unaware. The second play may work too. But any defense that’s fooled on the third direct snap or the third time an offense uses the unbalanced line is just a badly prepared unit.

Expect to see both the Chiefs and Raiders run the direct snap on Sunday.

blueballs · 11-27-2008, 10:51 PM

Why do you still have a job

Agent V · 11-27-2008, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueballs

Why do you still have a job

'Hamas' Jenkins · 11-27-2008, 10:57 PM

Why isn't Gretz intelligent enough to counter Gailey's response to the lack of options with Johnson lined up left or right in shotgun with "Have you ever heard of a counter play?"

dj56dt58 · 11-27-2008, 11:10 PM

Gailey>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Solari

bringbackmarty · 11-28-2008, 10:32 AM

Gunther = wet noodle < GROB.
Herm = douchebag > Matt Millen or C.Petersen.

Nero's Neptune · 11-28-2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Why isn't Gretz intelligent enough to counter Gailey's response to the lack of options with Johnson lined up left or right in shotgun with "Have you ever heard of a counter play?"

Yeah, I don't understand that at all. Since when can a running back only run to the opposite he's lined up on? wtf?

chiefsngop · 11-28-2008, 12:16 PM

Why Gretz ?

How about How ?

Like ; How do you type articles with Herm's package in one hand, and Carl's in the other ? How Gretz ?

**Rain Man** · 11-28-2008, 12:20 PM

Why do I ever open a thread that has "Gretz" in the title?

chiefsngop · 11-28-2008, 12:33 PM

I wonder what Herm & Carl are getting Gretz for Christmas ?

I bet it's something real nice........ clark.

Deberg_1990 · 11-28-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefsngop

I wonder what Herm & Carl are getting Gretz for Christmas ?

I hope Clark has a new GM under the tree this year for the fans...

**Skip Towne** · 11-28-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I hope Clark has a new GM under the tree this year for the fans...

Fat chance

Mr. Laz · 11-28-2008, 01:13 PM

why is the football that weird pointy oblong shape?

Sweet Daddy Hate · 11-28-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Why do I ever open a thread that has "Gretz" in the title?

Answer:

Thank you Sir, may
I have another"?!?!

talastan · 11-28-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Why do I ever open a thread that has "Gretz" in the title?

Same reason you're a Chiefs' fan

11-27-2008, 10:27 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $882813	Gretz:Answering Some Whys? Answering Some Whys? November 27, 2008 - Bob Gretz \| I’ll go through a game or a day, picking up information, seeing things happen and invariably write in my notebook next to something new or different, WHY? I’ve had a bunch of those notations lately, so I spent some time trying to get answers to the various whys I have collected. Like why does at least once a game Dwayne Bowe drop a pass that should have been an easy catch? It’s a weekly occurrence. These are never tough catches he flubs. In fact, they are generally the easiest passes to catch that he’ll see that day. We have seen in almost two seasons that he has very good hands and can make some remarkable catches. But the drops keep getting in the way. Why? So I ask around and the general consensus is that Bowe loses focus at times during games and that’s the biggest reason for his drops. It’s a very simple habit of watching the ball all the way into his hands, rather than grabbing at it and turning his head and eyes away from the catch point to look for running room up the field. The coaching staff has worked with Bowe on fixing this problem, but he can’t seem to get over the hump. It was a problem in the season opener against New England and it continued last Sunday against Buffalo. Right now it’s a flaw in his game. Another why: with the return of Larry Johnson to the offense two games ago, they’ve lined him up directly behind quarterback Tyler Thigpen in the spread? It seems very constricting to both of them. First, Thigpen had to move closer to receive the snap. When he drops back from the spot he now gets the ball, Johnson has to quickly dance out of his way. It’s like a new I-formation. Why? I checked with Chiefs offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and the reason they’ve gone to this comes down to structure: if you move Johnson to the left or right, that restricts the running plays that can be called for him by half. Line him up to the left and with Thigpen in the spread, the only way Johnson can get the hand off is to run to the right. If you line him up on the right, the only way he gets the hand off is to run to the left. By lining him up behind Thigpen, the Chiefs may run him either left or right, forcing the opponent to guess where the attack point may be in the alignment.” “It’s different,” Gailey acknowledged. “But it keeps more of our running game in play.” In all the roster shuffling the Chiefs have done in recent weeks included bringing Jackie Battle up to the active roster and then sending rookie Dantrell Savage to the practice squad. To make this happen, the Chiefs had to expose Savage to league wide waivers. Savage cleared and he remains with the Chiefs. Why make the move? All this came about with the activation of rookie Kevin Robinson from the Physically Unable to Perform List. The Chiefs drafted Robinson because of his ability to return both punts and kickoffs. Once they decided to activate him, Savage became the No. 2 man at both positions. Battle is a much better special teams contributor in other kicking games areas – he’s on all four of the key units in returns and coverage – so keeping Savage active was a luxury, especially with injuries at so many other positions. And what’s with all the direct snaps to running backs this year? There are some around the country who think the use of the so-called “Wildcat” package by Miami was what got all this started, and other teams around the league followed the Dolphins’ lead. But that’s not the case in Kansas City, where the Chiefs were working on direct snaps to Larry Johnson and other running backs during the off-season program. What’s the deal in the first place, why has everybody jumped on this bandwagon? Talk to coaches and observers of the game and they believe it’s simply a trend, this season’s flavor of something different. Since most of the direct snaps have led to the running back who received the ball taking off on a run, it’s not hard to defense. Now wrinkles off the direct snap like passes, reverses, etc. add new dimensions that will make any defense clutch for a second, long enough to get a big play on the board. The direct snap is like teams that sometimes use an unbalanced offensive line, setting up three linemen to the right of the center and just one to the left, rather than two on each side. The first time catches a defense unaware. The second play may work too. But any defense that’s fooled on the third direct snap or the third time an offense uses the unbalanced line is just a badly prepared unit. Expect to see both the Chiefs and Raiders run the direct snap on Sunday.
Posts: 42,088

11-27-2008, 10:51 PM	#2
blueballs Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	Why do you still have a job
Posts: 14,233

11-27-2008, 10:57 PM	#4
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Why isn't Gretz intelligent enough to counter Gailey's response to the lack of options with Johnson lined up left or right in shotgun with "Have you ever heard of a counter play?" __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,827

11-27-2008, 11:10 PM	#5
dj56dt58 Banned Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9960055	Gailey>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Solari
Posts: 6,361

11-28-2008, 10:32 AM	#6
bringbackmarty Gonna go back in time.... Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $2995510	Gunther = wet noodle < GROB. Herm = douchebag > Matt Millen or C.Petersen. __________________ https://www.facebook.com/The-Pheasan...6018120266009/
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11-28-2008, 12:16 PM	#8
chiefsngop Starter Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	Why Gretz ? How about How ? Like ; How do you type articles with Herm's package in one hand, and Carl's in the other ? How Gretz ? __________________ We'll be fine. At least Carl Peterson's 5 year plan is finally completed.
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11-28-2008, 12:20 PM	#9
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3288491 VARSITY	Why do I ever open a thread that has "Gretz" in the title? __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
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11-28-2008, 12:33 PM	#10
chiefsngop Starter Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	I wonder what Herm & Carl are getting Gretz for Christmas ? I bet it's something real nice........ clark. __________________ We'll be fine. At least Carl Peterson's 5 year plan is finally completed.
Posts: 494

11-28-2008, 01:13 PM	#13
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	why is the football that weird pointy oblong shape? __________________
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