Chiefs' offense: "one of the worst in the league, by nearly every measure"

[the Talking Can]

http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2013/9...chiefs-offense

some numbers to chew on from arrowhead pride

The Chiefs are actually 12th in the league in PPG, at 23.7. But if you take away the 14 points the defense is directly responsible for, that number drops to 19 PPG, which would be tied for 23rd - with the Raiders. The Chiefs are relying on the defense to score points, which isn't good. Defensive scoring is random and shouldn't be part of the game plan. They didn't need Tamba Hali's pick-6 to beat the Jaguars, but they did need Eric Berry's against the Eagles.

They also are just not moving the ball; their 333 yds/gm is 21st in the league and their 4.9 yds/play ranks 25th. "Well Kyle," you may ask, " if the Chiefs offense is so bad, how are they undefeated this year?" That's an excellent question, thank you for asking. The answer is that the defense and special teams are much, much better than we thought.

The problem the Chiefs are having is getting to the Red Zone in the first place. They're 30th in yards per drive, with only Tampa Bay and Jacksonville behind them, and Cleveland directly in front of them (not good company to be in). This is a really, really bad offense. But here's the real kicker: the Chiefs' offense has the best starting field position in the NFL this year, and still can't score.

The Chiefs average 17 yards per drive better field position than their opponents (ok, ok, 16.95), the best mark in the NFL (2nd table). Only two other teams average more than 10 yards better starting field position than their opponents (New England and Chicago). The Chiefs' average starting line of scrimmage (LOS) is their own 36.97 yard line (best in the NFL), while their opponents average starting LOS is their own 20.02 yard line (also best in the NFL). What all of that means is the Chiefs's offense is handed consistently great starting field position and can't do anything with it, then they let the special teams pin opponents deep in their own territory. The defense bails out the offense by not letting opponents move the ball, giving the offense the ball back with great starting field position. Lather, rinse, repeat.

There's a nice breakdown of our defense against philly over there as well:
http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/9/2...p-kelly-eagles

I have to reiterate and emphasize just how much the Chiefs played man to man -- like a ton of it. And they have the secondary to handle it, unlike most teams in the NFL. Specifically, they matched up Sean Smith on Cooper a lot on the outside. If this had been a prize fight, Cooper's corner would have thrown in the towel somewhere around the middle of the second quarter. Smith owned him right up until the end of the game when he started cramping up. Cooper just couldn't shake him, especially on those aforementioned deep routes Kelly had him running all game.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Yea because 66% is a realistic 3rd down conversion rate.

Good grief dude.

Our 3rd down conversion rate sucks because we cant run it on 3rd and short. 0-6 on 3rd and 2 or less.

Think about it. You are a prime example of someone who likes to bitch about things but dont look at what the real issues is.

Somehow you are going to try to turn an inability to run on 3rd and 1 to a QB issue.

More fatties!

[whoman69]

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Hate

Sustaining drives? Can we get at least 2/3 ratio going on 3rd down conversions, please?

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Yea because 66% is a realistic 3rd down conversion rate.

Good grief dude.

Our 3rd down conversion rate sucks because we cant run it on 3rd and short. 0-6 on 3rd and 2 or less.

Think about it. You are a prime example of someone who likes to bitch about things but dont look at what the real issues is.

Somehow you are going to try to turn an inability to run on 3rd and 1 to a QB issue.

Gotta agree that 66% is unrealistic. Reid teams have always had trouble with 3rd and short because they rely on finess running. Charles has become more physical this year, but I would rather rest him on those down, give the wear and tear to Davis, much bigger at 227.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by milkman

This team with Alex Smith and last year's defense is 1-2 going into today's game, and 5 win team for the season, 6 wins at best.

With a Stanton, Gradkowski, Campbell, they are 1-2 right now and a 4 win team.

These Chiefs are winning because of scheme change, personnel upgrades, and player improvement on defense.

There might be one or two games that Smith won't lose this season that a free agent QB might.

But Alex Smith is not winning these games.
The defense is.

That's silly. Smith was pretty bad against Dallas, but he was stellar in the 4th quarter against Philly which is the biggest thing I want out of a QB. Like I said, we need to see that Philly performance on a regular basis, but saying he didn't help big time in beating Philly is false.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by milkman

Signing a free agent stopgap rather than trading 2 picks for a stopgap.

If the Chiefs win a playoff game with Alex Smith, and I believe they can, that is completely worth the picks we traded away. If in 2015, we extend Alex Smith and designate him to be our long-term guy, I'll be pissed (unless he really, really shows us something)

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

That's silly. Smith was pretty bad against Dallas, but he was stellar in the 4th quarter against Philly which is the biggest thing I want out of a QB. Like I said, we need to see that Philly performance on a regular basis, but saying he didn't help big time in beating Philly is false.

And Milk is a guy who continually claims he doesn't care about any stats except clutch performance.

So far Smith has been clutch when necessary.


I saw somewhere that KC's situationaly adjusted offensive numbers put us in top 10.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

And Milk is a guy who continually claims he doesn't care about any stats except clutch performance.

So far Smith has been clutch when necessary.

I saw somewhere that KC's situationaly adjusted offensive numbers put us in top 10.

Am thoroughly convinced that many of these people are just grinding their axe against the QB while claiming to be "just giving small criticisms in an effort to discuss team improvement."

The disgruntled just won't call it what it is. When the drive stalls out on 3rd and 1 on a handoff run? The QB failed us!

Considering the TE injuries, OL suckage, and everyone learning the new scheme? This offense is doing a decent job so far. They will have to up their game vs the best competition... but there's no reason to think they won't.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

This team's inability to convert short yardage has been the real killer.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

And Milk is a guy who continually claims he doesn't care about any stats except clutch performance.

So far Smith has been clutch when necessary.


I saw somewhere that KC's situationaly adjusted offensive numbers put us in top 10.

Well, Smith played completely terrible in the clutch against Dallas. The defense saved his ass. You can't keep going 3 and out in a close game. Against Philly, he dominated the late part of the game. We have to see that Alex Smith to win.

But I'm in agreement with milk that unless Smith is a clear Super Bowl answer, he's not a franchise option. I disagree with him because I don't think the team can afford another miserable season. This year is going to bring Arrowhead back and it is already lifting the team's morale, and probably help attract future free agents. I can bet that lots of free agents are watching clips of fiery Andy Reid and putting KC on their short list of places they want to play.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Well, Smith played completely terrible in the clutch against Dallas. The defense saved his ass. You can't keep going 3 and out in a close game. Against Philly, he dominated the late part of the game. We have to see that Alex Smith to win.

But I'm in agreement with milk that unless Smith is a clear Super Bowl answer, he's not a franchise option. I disagree with him because I don't think the team can afford another miserable season. This year is going to bring Arrowhead back and it is already lifting the team's morale, and probably help attract future free agents. I can bet that lots of free agents are watching clips of fiery Andy Reid and putting KC on their short list of places they want to play.

DeezNuts, you asked about why Smith was stellar against Philly in the 4th. He engineered a critical TD drive on the second-to-last drive, and on the last drive engineered an 8-minute drive including two critical 3rd down conversions. All to set up a field goal that put the game away. If we get that kind of Alex Smith consistently, that's okay with me. But again... I didn't like what we saw from him in the playoffs against New Orleans and week 2 against the Cowboys, so I very highly doubt he can be consistent enough to do this consistently in a playoff run.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

And Milk is a guy who continually claims he doesn't care about any stats except clutch performance.

So far Smith has been clutch when necessary.


I saw somewhere that KC's situationaly adjusted offensive numbers put us in top 10.

Alex has exhibited almost precisely what I projected a successful iteration of him to be thus far, with the lone major remaining demand is that he be clutch in the playoffs.

Thus establishing the sublime irony that, while the multitudinous naysayers demand playoff success before letting him into the cool kids club, my blueprint is nearly, but not quite realized, again with the playoffs as the crucible, only, instead of it being his first chance to earn respect, it is the point at which he could well lose the respect he's enjoyed during the season.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Alex has exhibited almost precisely what I projected a successful iteration of him to be thus far, with the lone major remaining demand is that he be clutch in the playoffs.

Thus establishing the sublime irony that, while the multitudinous naysayers demand playoff success before letting him into the cool kids club, my blueprint is nearly, but not quite realized, again with the playoffs as the crucible.

Your blueprint is going to get raped. Just sayin'.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Well, Smith played completely terrible in the clutch against Dallas. The defense saved his ass. You can't keep going 3 and out in a close game. Against Philly, he dominated the late part of the game. We have to see that Alex Smith to win.

Didn't we have a long TD drive when we got behind?

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Didn't we have a long TD drive when we got behind?

Yes. Don't let that stop his buffoonery.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Hate

Your blueprint is going to get raped. Just sayin'.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Didn't we have a long TD drive when we got behind?

yep. It was 13-7 in the 3rd Q, and KC immediately responded to the Dallas first drive FG.

Smith threw 8 passes.. including the Bowe TD pass to cap an 80 yd TD drive. How much help was the run game on that drive? Charles had 3 of those yds on 2 carries.

... but... but...


( aside from 1 later play? that was KC's only possession of the quarter )

Then on that next KC drive, we got a FG to add on.

Late in the 4th, KC offense put together a nice drive to not let Dallas have the ball back until 16 seconds were left in the game..

.... but... but...