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

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by O.city

And that's all on Alex smith?


Have you paid your daily compliment to mav today btw?

They're not gelling as a unit.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Did you even read the stats you posted?

Do you have any capacity at all to limit a discussion to the topic, without throwing in some snotty line about another poster?

As far as the rest of your comment goes, there's no way that I can characterize an offense that ranks 25th in yards per game, 26th in yards per play and 27th in third down percentage as a unit that "usually moves the ball".

(As far as first down frequency goes, I don't have a specific number for that, but as far as number of first downs per game, they're 21st in the league. Despite being 9th in the league in total offensive plays. I would tend to think that indicates a low frequency.)

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Do you have any capacity at all to limit a discussion to the topic, without throwing in some snotty line about another poster?

As far as the rest of your comment goes, there's no way that I can characterize an offense that ranks 25th in yards per game, 26th in yards per play and 27th in third down percentage as a unit that "usually moves the ball".

(As far as first down frequency goes, I don't have a specific number for that, but as far as number of first downs per game, they're 21st in the league. Despite being 9th in the league in total offensive plays. I would tend to think that indicates a low frequency.)

We are 16th in 3 and outs. We move the ball then stall. Move the ball then stall. For several reasons.

As I have stated many many times, yes we need to play better on offense but its a number of issues.

And honestly I blame Reid because there are too many issues. OL, QB, play calling, and WR, in that order IMO.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

We are 16th in 3 and outs. We move the ball then stall. Move the ball then stall. For several reasons.
O.

We don't move the ball.

Yards per play is the defining statistic for offenses.

26th = nope.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Pam Oliver's Forehead

We don't move the ball.

Yards per play is the defining statistic for offenses.

26th = nope.

For someone who is constantly wrong you sure are full of yourself.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

For someone who is constantly wrong you sure are full of yourself.

Stop feedingt he discredited troll

[Ragged Robin]

Last three weeks have been brutal. Need to hit that bye week and get their shit back together.

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by Pam Oliver's Forehead

Who cares? The offense had TWO DRIVES WORTH A SHIT last game.

This has been going on for awhile.

Stop making this complicated. The offense ****ing sucks, and it's primarily because the passing offense is a dumpster fire.

and the run offense is gold??? bullshit wendler.

the whole offense has always been Jamaal. not the OL. they are shit up front. shit pass OL. shit run OL.

ain't no different "trouble" offense than any other season since after 2006.

[CoMoChief]

First and foremost, if this is going to be a ball controlling offense, then we have to do a lot better on 1st down. Must make it 2nd n short, then you become less predictable. Isn't there a stat that says most big plays on offense come from 2nd n short plays? Pretty sure I saw that somewhere, and it makes sense. Do defenses think you're going to try and go a few yds for the 1st down or since you have a couple cracks at it are you going to go for a play that gets you big chunks of yardage? Neither option is particularly wrong, but there's a lot to work with there in those situations and it keeps the defense guessing. When you keep the defense guessing the offense has a better chance of beating his defender to the point of attack, beating them on the first couple steps, and then it's advantage offense.

The Oline isn't blocking worth a shit. That is 10000% painfully obvious. Maybe it's youth, and while partially true, they need to play much MUCH better if this offense plans to score. Charles isn't getting sprung free either. This offense really needs to get Charles going. I mean it is what it is, but the Eric Fisher pick just screams bust all over it. The guy is just getting overwhelmed out there at times. I hope if/when he moves to LT his play changes like night and day. I mean it needs to be that much of a transition. He needs to bulk up, get stronger, and he needs to play to his strength which is on the left side. It's going to suck to see Albert go, but it's the only way the Fisher pick is going to be justified because they absolutely can not go forward having this guy play like the amount of suck-ass he's been playing like. Our interior line is dogshit in the running game. They just get pushed around like little girls. Hudson, Allen, and sometimes even Asamoah even though he's sadly the best of the 3 are getting worked in the running game, and our RT gets ****ed in the ass constantly in the passing game. Hopefully they can have Stephenson solely work RT and improve and slide him in RT next season...hell in the time he's played there this season already he's outplayed Fisher.

Alex Smith is hesitant to make passes down field that are outside the hash marks. That's on Smith and that needs to change. He needs to look at WR more often, but then again how can he when he's running for his life because Fisher is sucking cock?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Pam Oliver's Forehead

We don't move the ball.

Yards per play is the defining statistic for offenses.

26th = nope.

So, Mr. Football Genius, what's the answer?

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

So, Mr. Football Genius, what's the answer?

Geno smith!!!! Throw it deeep

[CoMoChief]

We need Tony Gonzalez

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

So, Mr. Football Genius, what's the answer?

We have a poor offense that scores under 20 PPG.

It is what it is.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Ace Gunner

and the run offense is gold??? bullshit wendler.

We are 12th in the NFL in YPC.

The running game is decent.

The passing game is a turd.

[BossChief]

Even if we don't have a chance at Tony returning, I think that Fasano is gonna give the offense a little more umph...once this OL begins to play as a unit, that should provide another boost.

Alex is a guy that needs a legit option at tight end and the line to be playing at a high level for him to be successful and I still think those are gonna come. It's just taking longer than we would hope it would.

Fasano coming back will help things.