Keys to tonight's game against the Chargers

[petegz28]

Offense:
Play smart. No penalties, no idiotic turnovers or bad snaps

Run the ball. Keep Rivers off the field.

Protect Cassel.

Dink and dunk will work to our advantage as long as we move the chains because it keeps Rivers off the field.


Defense:

Shut down the run.

Pressure Rivers. He will toss picks trying to force a play. Hit him, hurry him, knock him down and sack him if you can.

Contain Gates. We aren't going to stop him so we have to contain him to meaningless yards when he catches the ball.

Don't give up the big play. Pretty obvious there but Rivers has a way of busting a couple big plays a game against us. We must be disciplined in our coverage.

Special Teams:

Arenas has to get us good starting field position

Coverage teams need to continue what they did in pre-season and keep the Chargers staring inside their 25


I think a low scoring game can favor us. We lose in a shoot out. So tonight is probably not the night for Cassel to prove he can launch the deep ball unless we are up by a couple scores. Keep the ball, win the ToP battle, keep Rivers off the field, wear down the SD defense.

[Hoover]

and score more points than the Chargers!!!

[KCrockaholic]

http://www.nfltouchdown.com/keys-to-...iego-chargers/

As we kick off the 2010 season, most people seem to think the match-up between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football is the only “guarantee”. Claiming, San Diego is far Superior and above the Chiefs.

What these people seem to forget is, these Kansas City Chiefs aren’t the 2009 version. These Chiefs have either improved or stay the same at every single position on the roster. And at many positions, they didn’t just improve, but they added playmakers that can score every time they touch the ball.

Now we take a look at the top “keys to the game.”

1. San Diego must stop the Chiefs running game, and force Matt Cassel to throw the ball.

The Chargers have no small task in stopping a team that could potentially rank in the top 3 of rushing in 2010. Kansas City comes with a bundle of fury, leadership, and speed.

Starting with Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs have a player who ranked 2nd in the NFL in rushing over the last 8 games of the season, behind only Chris Johnson. With that said, Charles still managed to lead the NFL in YPC with 5.9. Stopping the shifty Longhorn should be goal #1 for a San Diego run defense who ranked 20th last year.

On the other hand, the Chiefs added veteran runningback Thomas Jones into the mix during free agency. Jones will not only give Charles a much needed breather, but he will also be productive on goal line carries. When Kansas City reaches the red zone, San Diego had better be ready.

Last but not least, the red and gold bolstered their halfback position even more by adding all-purpose phenom Dexter McCluster. Despite his small frame, McCluster has been a huge addition to the Chiefs offense. He has shown the speed to outrun any defender in the NFL if need be. Expect McCluster to not only show up in the running game, but also split out wide as a receiver, and returning kicks with Alabama star Javier Arenas.

2. Eric Berry Vs Antonio Gates

Antonio Gates has enjoyed much success over the last 4 years against Kansas City. He averages 5 catches, for 70 yards, and 1 TD against the woeful Chiefs defense. But Gates has a match-up that he has never seen in a Chiefs uniform.

Kansas City added versatile playmaker Eric Berry in the first round of the NFL draft this year, and largely upgraded a position that was arguably the worst in the NFL with Mike Brown as the starting strong safety. Berry offers something special, between his speed to run step to step with nearly any player in the NFL, and his quickness to break on the ball and jar it loose, and his strength to fight off blocks, and make plays in the backfield. Gates will have his work cut out for him, much like the rookie Berry will. If San Diego plans on winning this game, getting Gates involved in the passing game should be priority #1. Motion him out wide, bring him tight, and put him on a linebacker such as Jovan Belcher to find a mismatch. But when Berry is on the field, Gates will not enjoy the type of success he has in recent years. Eric is the ultimate playmaker, and the next Ed Reed so to speak. If Philip Rivers attempts to pick on him too often, he will find his pass in the other endzone. Don’t mess with the wrong Berry.

3. Matt Cassel Vs San Diego pass defense

The Chiefs might be able to run the ball on San Diego, but at some point they will be forced to pass. Quarterback Matt Cassel finished the worst game of his season last year against San Diego as he threw for just 10 completions on 25 attempts, and 3 interceptions. Cassel lacks the confidence to unleash the deep pass, therefore every time he throws, he’ll toss a check down to the runningbacks, and screen passes to Dwayne Bowe on the outside.

Facing a Charger secondary with always reliable Quinten Jammer at cornerback, and young gun Antoine Cason will be a difficult task for Cassel to be successful with. Not only that, but safety Eric Weddle has proven to be a solid player in a short amount of time. Weddle is a good tackler, and reliable in coverage.

If Kansas City can find mismatches, by using Dexter McCluster all over the field, I expect the Chargers to have a difficult time. But if they are capable of containing McCluster, not letting him get behind the defense, and keeping the rest of Cassel’s throws short, the Chargers will thrive off the incompetency of the Chiefs quarterback position.

4. Stopping runningsback Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles

It may sound strange but when the Chiefs defense is on the field, their first goal will be to stop the Chargers rushing attack, and force Philip Rivers to throw the ball.

Ryan Mathews has been a pleasant addition to a Chargers running game that ranked 31st in the NFL last year. To pair with Mathews, the Chargers still have speedster Darren Sproles, who will always play a role in the Chargers game, but may never see a full workload.

The Chiefs front 3 will be tested, especially defensive end Tyson Jackson. Teams know he is the weak link on the defense, so expect a lot of off-tackle carries and toss sweeps to Jackson’s side of the field. Will he rise to the occasion, or fail under the pressure? I expect the lather. Jackson is already a bust, and he had a difficult time beating 2nd and 3rd string right tackles in training camp. The biggest problem is that the Chiefs have a defensive end better than Jackson, in Wallace Gilberry. They just refuse to start him over the #3 overall pick. Still expect Gilberry to get atleast 15 snaps.

5. Tamba Hali Vs Brandyn Dombrowski

With the holdout of pro-bowl LT Marcus McNeill, the Chargers are forced to play young, inexperienced, Dombrowski. Although Dombrowski has looked good in pre-season, after moving from right guard in college, to left tackle in the NFL, this will be the first start of his career.

On the other side, the Chiefs come prepared with the best AFC West pass rusher (after the injury of Dumervil). Tamba Hali, who lead the AFC in quarterback hurries will be ready to attack the young Dombrowski, and Hali will need to put pressure on QB Philip Rivers on a consistent basis. If Rivers has time the pocket, he could have a field day, but if Tamba can pressure him, and force him to release the ball quickly or to roll out of the pocket, that is when Rivers can be forced into making mistakes. I expect Tamba to have at least 2 sacks, and to eat Dombrowski alive.

6. Yards After Catch

With all the short, west coast-ish style the Chiefs come with, the receivers, and backs will have to pick up big chunks of ground after the catch. As I said earlier, Cassel is too timid to attempt very many deep passes. Even when he has options wide open downfield, he still checks the ball down to his athletic playmakers.

Dwayne Bowe will have to run over cornerbacks, and play the like star that he has potential to be in order for the Chiefs to pull this game off.

Chris Chambers was Kansas City’s best wide receiver last year, and he will be put in a position to make plays against his former team. Last year when Chambers played his old team, he had a decent showing, making 7 catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.

Offensive weapon Dexter McCluster will need to be involved in the screen game for the Chiefs to be able to move the ball downfield consistently. Once the ball is in his hands, anything can happen. Expect about 12 total touches for McCluster in this game.

In conclusion, the Chiefs aren’t as bad the the media likes to make them out to be, but at they same time they aren’t at the same level as San Diego because of quarterback play. The Chiefs have their first Monday Night football game in many years, and the fans will be absolutely crazy. It’s known as “the longest day in Kansas City history”. A good 20,000 fans will be attending the game across the parking lot first at Kauffman stadium, and when they stick around for the Chiefs game, they will only be primed to give Rivers and the Chargers the toughest experience they’ve had at Kansas City in some time.

[Mr. Laz]

1. run the ball and stop the run
2. Chiefs must pass the ball enough to keep chargers D honest
3. play smart and with energy

[CupidStunt]

It's pretty simple to me. Give Charles 20 carries, stop Ryan Matthews, and don't let Rivers beat 'em deep.

Do that, game over. Chiefs win.

[-King-]

Step 1: Run the ball effectively
Step 2: Stop the run
Step 3: ????
Step 4: Victory!

[milkman]

Originally Posted by kcrockaholic4life

http://www.nfltouchdown.com/keys-to-...iego-chargers/

Don't know who that is, but that's pretty good breakdown.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by kcrockaholic4life

http://www.nfltouchdown.com/keys-to-...iego-chargers/

That was written by a homer.

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by milkman

Don't know who that is, but that's pretty good breakdown.

I just typed in keys to the game chiefs-chargers, and looked through google and found it.

[-King-]

The Chiefs might be able to run the ball on San Diego, but at some point they will be forced to pass. Quarterback Matt Cassel finished the worst game of his season last year against San Diego as he threw for just 10 completions on 25 attempts, and 3 interceptions. Cassel lacks the confidence to unleash the deep pass, therefore every time he throws, he’ll toss a check down to the runningbacks, and screen passes to Dwayne Bowe on the outside.

Looks like someone actually watches games

[chefs fan in omaha]

How the hell am i going to say up until 9:15? Thank the geeks for inventing the DVR

[the Talking Can]

But if they are capable of containing McCluster, not letting him get behind the defense, and keeping the rest of Cassel’s throws short, the Chargers will thrive off the incompetency of the Chiefs quarterback position.

let that sink in....

[petegz28]

Cassel needs to keep his dink and dunk going. But if we are running the ball well the PA pass has to go for more than 4-8 yards unless the coverage is just there. I don't want to Cassel to pick tonight to prove he can go deep. But early in the game it may not be a bad idea for him to chuck 1 or 2 down the field, even if they get picked.

That being said the ToP is what I think wins us the game tonight. Playing against Rivers is like playing against Peyton. The longer he is on the pine the less he can do damage to us.

[SnakeXJones]

Originally Posted by KcChiefsKing

Step 1: Run the ball effectively
Step 2: Stop the run
Step 3: ????
Step 4: Victory!

Profit!!!!!!

[Fritz88]

1. San Diego must stop the Chiefs running game, and force Matt Cassel to throw the ball.

He's a ****ing joke. Cassel **** off